Ukraine to punish citizens who illegally crossed border – interior minister

Ukraine will in the future adopt a law envisaging punishment for Ukrainian citizens who illegally crossed the border and will then return home.

Ukrainian Interior Minister Ihor Klymenko said this in an interview with RBC-Ukraine, according to Ukrinform.

When asked what to do with this group of people, the minister said that there are currently no such rules and restrictions.

"But I think that after the war is over, the state will do everything to remind every citizen what they did during the war. I mean those who crossed the border illegally," he said, adding that there will be a relevant law.

Klymenko noted that this would be a joint initiative of the Cabinet of Ministers and MPs.

According to him, concerned specialists will study international experience on how to deal with Ukrainian citizens who have already broken the law once.

"They must answer for breaking the law. I think every citizen wants this and will understand the state if there are any restrictions on the further movement of these citizens, at least abroad," he said.

Klymenko said that each day, Interior Ministry employees detain people who try to cross the border using forged documents or medical documents, including as a person accompanying a person with a disability.