Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha has expressed gratitude to the Georgian and Moldovan authorities for helping facilitate the safe return of Ukrainian citizens stranded at the Dariali border crossing on the Russian-Georgian border.

Following President Zelenskyy's directive, 65 Ukrainians—including 10 women and 8 seriously ill individuals—were evacuated from the buffer zone between August 21 and 22. In total, 109 citizens have been repatriated in recent months, thanks to joint efforts involving Ukraine’s embassies, local authorities, and international organisations.

Sybiha attributed the crisis to Russia’s sharp increase in deportations of Ukrainians to the Georgian border since June, calling the situation a “planned operation” and reaffirming Ukraine's commitment to protect its citizens.