Upon arrival at Moscow's airport in December, a flight was met with the presence of security services.
A group of Russian nationals, including several activists who had been rejected for political asylum in the United States, were among the passengers on the flight.
One of the women deported from Ukraine, who has had her identity protected for her safety, described the experience as incredibly terrifying, stating that her knees trembled with fear.
Two years prior, Katya had departed her home country and subsequently applied for asylum in the United States.
Following Russia's large-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, numerous countries extended public support and welcome to Russian nationals seeking refuge.
The regulations governing refugee status have been significantly strengthened over the past four years.
The number of Russian nationals who identify as pacifists and are being forcibly repatriated from Western countries is increasing, with Katya's situation serving as a notable example of the potential dangers they may encounter.
A U.S. immigration official denied asylum for the individual, citing her involvement in protests and alleged membership in an opposition movement as grounds for the decision.
Russian Federal Security Service agents in Moscow have reportedly provided military documents to all deported men, requiring them to register at local recruitment offices. Those who do so may subsequently be ordered to report to the battlefront.
Two separate sources, a passenger and an activist, have corroborated their accounts.
Multiple individuals, including the woman in question, were subjected to lengthy interrogations lasting several hours.
Katya stated that investigators had discovered potentially incriminating data on her mobile phone at some stage during the inquiry.
The individuals' expressions shifted abruptly, leaving the speaker with a sense of intense fear that they might be taken away without explanation.
Katya was subsequently released and permitted to reside with her family members.
The woman reports that law enforcement officials remain in contact with her, making repeated phone calls and visiting her residence.
A local resident expressed feelings of vulnerability and anxiety, stating that the presence of police vehicles triggers a sense of fear and apprehension, prompting concerns about potential harassment or persecution.
Katya presented the BBC with documentation and photographic evidence supporting her claims, which align with the testimonies of other individuals who have been deported.
The number of expulsions from the U.S. significantly increased from 222 in 2023 to over 1,200 in 2025, coinciding with a notable surge in deportations during the latter part of Donald Trump's second term as president.
Reports indicate that individuals who were forcibly deported from Russia included deserters and dissidents, with some subsequently facing imprisonment upon their return to the country or being redeployed to the front lines.
Leonid Melejin, a Russian pacifist activist, fled to the US for asylum following his arrest for participating in protests in Russia.
A Russian citizen, Melejin, has posted online images of President Vladimir Putin, accompanied by a statement labeling him as a murderer, fascist, and usurper.
A Russian national was convicted of promoting terrorism and received a six-year prison sentence, stemming from a conviction that followed his deportation from a foreign country the previous year.
Andrei Pivovarov, a representative of the Anti-War Committee, the primary Russian opposition organization in exile, notes that several individuals have received eight-year prison sentences for crossing into Russia.
A group of individuals is being forcibly removed from European territory, marking the culmination of a removal process initiated by relevant authorities.
The organization advises dissidents fleeing Russia that the European Union is no longer a secure destination, recommending that they seek asylum in alternative locations instead.
Germany has significantly stepped up the pace of deportations of Russian nationals, resulting in a notable increase in the number of individuals being removed from the country.
Government statistics indicate that the number of returned individuals increased from seven in 2023 to over 110 by 2025.
Between 2022 and 2025, a total of over 21,000 Russian nationals submitted asylum applications in Germany. However, the percentage of successful asylum decisions declined significantly during this period, with a notable drop from 29% in 2023 to approximately 6.8% in the first 11 months of 2025.
The German immigration and asylum agency, BAMF, clarified that protection is only afforded to individuals who genuinely face a justified risk of persecution.
In 2024, Berlin halted its humanitarian visa program for Russian nationals. Official statistics indicate a decline in the proportion of Russian asylum seekers granted protection within the European Union, from approximately 23% in 2024 to around 17% in the first nine months of 2025.
In response to growing security concerns and a surge in asylum applications, governments in Europe and the United States have implemented stricter immigration policies, further limiting the options for Russian opposition activists seeking refuge from repression.
Anastasia Burakova, founder of the Kovcheg human rights organization, has stated that Western governments are prioritizing measures to restrict humanitarian programs and asylum for individuals fleeing conflict.
The government's actions, according to her statement, are a response to rising public anxiety and increasing backing for right-wing populist parties.
Russian nationals who have their asylum claims rejected are typically allowed to depart voluntarily, however, a growing number are being forcibly repatriated, often via transit through third countries.
Exiled activists have reportedly been informed by Russian immigration officials that they pose no threat to the country, with some expressing concerns that they were not adequately apprised of the potential risks associated with returning to Russia.
A former Russian soldier, Artyom, who left the military in 2022, claims he was threatened with the possibility of being sent to Ukraine or imprisoned if he did not comply with orders.
The individual expressed his frustration, stating that his concerns were not taken seriously.
Artyom claims to have furnished U.S. authorities with documentation indicating that a criminal inquiry had been initiated against him in Russia for alleged desertion.
A Russian national was transported to Moscow on a deportation flight that made a stop in Egypt.
A former soldier who experienced a harrowing ordeal has reflected on the emotional state he was in, stating that he was mentally preparing for death and contemplating ways to minimize the pain associated with it.
Artyom, who was being held in a Moscow military detention center, successfully evaded confinement.
He is now hidden abroad.
The individual expressed frustration that another country did not provide him with asylum, instead deporting him directly to Russia, leaving unanswered questions about the missed opportunity for alternative consideration.
A spokesperson for the U.S. Department of Homeland Security has stated that undocumented immigrants are entitled to due process.
The administration has stated that undocumented immigrants who are deemed to have no lawful right to remain in the country will be subject to deportation proceedings.
Memorial, a Nobel Prize-winning human rights organization, has described the current level of repression within Russia as unprecedented.
The country's list of political prisoners expanded significantly in 2025, with the number rising from 803 to a record 1,265 individuals.
The Russian embassy in London declined to provide a statement in response to inquiries.
Russian activist Mijail and his wife Dasha are anticipating potential deportation from Finland, a development they expect to occur at any moment.
Russian authorities have taken action against the individual, seizing control of his social media presence by blocking his accounts due to his posting of anti-war content. Additionally, law enforcement officials visited his mother, accusing him of disseminating false information.
Dasha identifies as a Jehovah's Witness, a group that has been prohibited in Russia due to its classification as an extremist organization.
A couple presented Finnish authorities with supporting evidence, which the BBC has reviewed, including a video showing Russian police informing their mother that over 300 publications had allegedly breached Russian law.
Publishing a single article can lead to a lengthy prison term.
A Finnish couple's asylum application has been denied by the Finnish Immigration Service for the fifth time, with officials concluding that there is insufficient evidence to suggest they would face significant human rights abuses if returned to their home country.
Mikhail expressed concern that he and others could be detained and forcibly deported to the Russian border at any moment.
The individual expressed frustration, stating that she and others had sought assistance in Finland, only to be met with a denial of their request.
The couple may be at risk of detention, prosecution, imprisonment, and potential torture if they return, according to Amnesty International, which is advocating on their behalf.
The Finnish Immigration Service has stated that asylum decisions are grounded in international refugee law, and the proportion of Russian applicants granted asylum is in line with the European Union's overall average.
A looming deportation threat is particularly concerning for Mikhail and Dasha, given the growing number of Russians who may be contemplating emigration from the country.
Russia is reportedly considering a potential new mobilization effort to bolster its military presence in Ukraine, a move that has been dismissed by the Kremlin as unfounded speculation.
A comparable mass exodus occurred in 2022, resulting in the displacement of hundreds of thousands of individuals, with many seeking refuge in neighboring countries that were formerly part of the Soviet Union, including Armenia and Georgia.
According to data from Anastasia Burakova's organization, a significant surge in aid requests from Russians seeking to emigrate was observed in August, with a tenfold increase compared to May.
The fate of those seeking asylum remains uncertain, with the West facing a decision on whether to provide them with safe haven or repatriate them to their countries of origin.
The original article was written in English and translated using an artificial intelligence tool, with subsequent review by BBC journalists to ensure accuracy before publication.
