Fresh border statistics obtained by RIA Novosti show that 25,352 Ukrainian nationals have entered Russia since the beginning of 2025. The overwhelming majority-23,867 people-arrived on private visits. Another 1,094 crossed the border for work-related purposes, while 103 traveled as tourists. A small group of 31 individuals used Russia as a transit route.

Most arrivals chose air travel: 24,399 Ukrainians landed in Russia by plane. The rest entered by car (871 people), on foot (79), or by train (three travelers).

Viktor Medvedchuk, former head of the banned Ukrainian political party Opposition Platform — Za Zhizn and now chairman of the «Drugaya Ukraina» movement, suggested that many Ukrainians relocating to Russia were not planning to return to Ukraine. По его словам, они связывают свое будущее с тем, что оставшиеся на Украине люди в итоге станут частью России.