Putin plans to prevent Russians from leaving Crimea

“The data on preparations for the blockade of the Crimean Bridge towards Russia by Russian Guard forces have been confirmed. The occupying power will also restrict the ferry service and flights from the peninsula to Russia. A formal reason for such actions is the fight against Ukrainian saboteurs and the prevention of possible ‘terrorist attacks’,” the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine posted on Facebook.

According to intelligence data, in this way Putin's government is trying to respond to the panic among Russian citizens who illegally moved to the Ukrainian Crimea after February 2014. The invaders are trying to stop the flow of fugitives from the peninsula.

“In recent weeks, after the Russian army invaded Ukraine in February, there has been a trend towards the outflow of Russian citizens from Crimea. In particular, members of the families of Russian officers, law enforcement officers and representatives of the occupation administration of Sevastopol city were the first to flee. They urgently sell real estate, change the registration of residence, withdraw business and assets from the peninsula," the Chief Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine explained.

As noted, by restricting the possibility of leaving Crimea, Putin actually holds hostage 600,000 Russian citizens who now stay illegally on the peninsula and begin to understand the uncertainty of their legal status.

On February 24, Russian president Putin started a full-scale invasion of Ukraine. Russian troops shell and destroy key infrastructure, massively fire on residential areas of Ukrainian cities, towns, and villages using artillery, multiple-launch rocket systems, and ballistic missiles.

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