For thousands of Ukrainians who found themselves on temporarily occupied territories or in Russia, the lack of valid documents became an insurmountable barrier on the way home. The Ukrainian government has decided to change this situation by launching a special experimental project that will allow citizens to return to controlled territory even without paper proof of identity.

The Prime Minister, Yulia Sviridenko, announced the new measure. The new mechanism is designed specifically for those born after August 24, 1991, in territories where occupation authorities are currently operating. The main goal of the initiative is to provide the opportunity to legally return home to people whose data may be lost or unavailable in state registries due to the war.

How will the new mechanism work?

The procedure for obtaining an identity document for return to Ukraine will take place through the country's diplomatic missions abroad. The document issuance is completely free. The geographical coverage includes consulates in Turkey, Georgia, Armenia, Kazakhstan, and other states.

The key feature of the new procedure is flexibility in confirming identity. First and foremost, diplomatic mission staff will verify data against state registries. However, if there is no information about the applicant in the databases, an alternative procedure is provided:

  • Identity confirmation can be obtained through the testimony of close relatives.
  • For this, it is not necessary for relatives to be present in the same room as the consul — the procedure can be conducted remotely via video link.

This approach allows solving the problem for those who have effectively lost the possibility of legal return due to the inability to obtain or preserve Ukrainian passports under occupation conditions.

Special conditions for minors

The new procedure also takes into account the interests of children. For citizens under the age of 16, documents for return can be submitted by their parents or legal representatives. This simplifies the process for families where children do not have their own documents but need to return to controlled territory.

Yulia Sviridenko emphasized that the state is creating a clear and accessible mechanism that will work even in difficult life circumstances. According to her, in practice, this means that significantly more citizens will be able to leave the occupation zone or Russia and return home.

"Every citizen should know: the state is working to ensure that the way home remains open," the Prime Minister noted.

Context of support for citizens from TOT

This initiative is part of a broader complex of measures to support citizens from temporarily occupied territories (TOT). Previously, there was news about preferential conditions for applicants from these regions: the ability to enroll without the NMT, special quotas for budget places, free accommodation, and social support.

There are also mechanisms for assistance in confirming work experience on occupied territories and organizing the departure of youth during the admissions campaign. The introduction of the new procedure for issuing return certificates complements these measures, closing the critically important issue of documentation for repatriation.