Ukraine: Caritas supporting displaced people at the Belarus border

There is a bitter irony in the route Ukrainians must take to leave territories occupied by the Russian Federation and reach areas under the control of the government in Kyiv. Instead of crossing directly into Ukraine, they are forced to travel through Russia and Belarus. After journeys spanning thousands of kilometres, countless procedures, and hours of inspections, they eventually arrive at the Mokrany–Domanove border crossing in the Volyn region, on the border with Belarus, where the only active humanitarian corridor for Ukrainian citizens remains open today. By the time they reach Ukraine, many are exhausted, traumatised, and in urgent need of support.

One of the humanitarian organisations assisting them is Caritas Ukraine, which has been working at the crossing since February 2025.

“Our work begins with people’s needs and the conditions in which they arrive,” explained Hryhorii Seleshchuk, Vice President of Caritas Ukraine. “At first, the needs were very practical. People were arriving at the border with no means of continuing their journey and no access to transport. We therefore organised travel arrangements, particularly for elderly people travelling alone and for those with reduced mobility who lacked the resources to manage the logistical difficulties on their own. The journey from the occupied territories often lasts three, four, or even five days, with multiple changes of transport. It is long and extremely exhausting. For us, it was essential to respond to these needs while respecting people’s dignity, so that they would feel welcomed and acknowledged.”