Kyiv accuses Russia of leaving Ukrainians stranded at Georgian border

KYIV (Reuters) -Ukraine's overseas curate accused Russia connected Saturday of deporting Ukrainians into Georgia and leaving them stranded determination without due documents hundreds of miles from their home.

Andrii Sybiha said Russia was stepping up the expulsions of Ukrainians - galore of them erstwhile prisoners - implicit the confederate frontier, alternatively than sending them straight implicit its borderline with Ukraine.

That amounted to Russia "weaponizing the deportation of Ukrainian citizens," helium added connected X.

There was nary contiguous effect from Moscow, which has denied accusations of mistreating oregon targeting civilians since its penetration of Ukraine successful February 2022.

"Since June, Russia has importantly accrued the fig of deported Ukrainian nationals, mostly erstwhile convicts, to the borderline with Georgia," Sybiha wrote.

"As a result, dozens of people, galore of whom deficiency due documentation, person been stuck successful the transit zone."

Sybiha said 43 citizens, including erstwhile governmental captive Andrii Kolomiyets, person been transported from Georgia to Ukraine via Moldova, but much radical stay successful "difficult conditions" astatine the border.

Sybiha called connected Russia to transport them to the Ukrainian borderline instead.

Earlier connected Saturday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy said helium had discussed the substance with Sybiha.

"These are Ukrainians released by Russians from prisons and penal colonies successful Russia-controlled territory," Zelenskiy said.

"Ukrainian diplomats are arranging the transit of these citizens of our authorities backmost to Ukraine."

(Reporting by Anastasiia Malenko; Editing by Andrew Heavens)