U.S. Plans to Deport Dozens of Ukrainians — Including Former Soviet-Era Refugees

The U.S. government is preparing to deport around 80 Ukrainian citizens — some of whom came to the United States during the Soviet era — sparking concern over their fate amid the ongoing war in Ukraine.

According to a court filing by the U.S. Department of Justice, one of those slated for removal is Roman Surovtsev, a 41-year-old who has lived in the United States since early childhood. His attorneys say he could be sent to Ukraine as soon as November 17.

Who Is at Risk

Many of the individuals facing deportation have final orders of removal due to violations of U.S. law. Among them is Andrey Bernik, who came to the U.S. in 1990 as a Jewish refugee during the Soviet Union. Bernik says he once held a green card and even tried to obtain a Ukrainian passport, but failed.l He was later convicted of second-degree murder — though supporters argue he’s rehabilitated.

Legal and Humanitarian Concerns

Surovtsev’s lawyers argue that some of the detainees are being denied a “reasonable fear interview”, a legal opportunity to express why they fear being removed — a move they say violates U.S. law.They warn that deportees could face dangerous conditions: Ukraine is under martial law, and men between 18 and 60 may be subject to military conscription.

Ukraine’s Role

Until now, Ukraine has sometimes resisted taking back individuals whose citizenship or nationality was unclear — a common issue for those born under the Soviet Union. But with its deepening dependence on U.S. support and a growing manpower shortage, Kyiv appears increasingly willing to accept deportees.An anonymous presidential adviser was quoted as saying, “We’ll find good use for them.”

Ukraine’s ambassador to the U.S., Olha Stefanishyna, confirmed that the embassy is aware of the roughly 80 individuals facing removal and said that U.S. officials are working on logistics — including the possibility of military or charter flights to Ukraine or Poland. She defended the move as a standard legal process for people who have violated U.S. law.

Risks of Returning

Critics warn that deporting people to a war zone carries serious risks. Besides the possibility of being forced into military service, returnees may face persecution or danger due to their backgrounds, language, or other factors

Advocacy groups argue that international law should protect those being sent back to a country at war. Even for people with criminal convictions, sending them to a high-risk environment raises ethical and legal red flags.

U.S. Position