Any advice for my Ukrainian friend currently stuck at SVO?

[roykirk]

I'll try to give the short, short, story.  I have a friend who was attempting to travel to Crimea with her son.  She was born in Ukraine and her parents live in Simferopol (hence the reason for her visit).  She is a legal U.S. resident who has lived in the U.S. over a decade.  She holds a Ukrainian passport and hasn't visited in over 3 years.  Her son was born in the U.S. and holds only a U.S. passport. 

So that's the background.  I knew she was planning a trip, but didn't think about it too much.  That was until last night when she sent me an e-mail saying she was stuck in the transit terminal of SVO in Moscow.  From what I can discern from frantic text messages, they will not let her continue on to Crimea because of her son's passport.  I'm assuming this is because since Russia considers Crimea part of Russia, they expect him to have a tourist visa (which wasn't required when Crimea belonged to Ukraine). 

At this point she tells me the only choices available to them are to come back to the U.S. or fly to Kiev and have her parents meet them there for a visit.  She hasn't seen her parents in years and I'm trying to tell her that going to Kiev is her best bet at this point.  I'm posting this here because I just wanted to double check that there's not some other option that exists for her to get to Crimea at this point. 

[Doll]

The authorities are right

[JayH]

Roy--tell her to head to Kiev.  Russian visa is required to visit Crimea  currently.
Airlines will not allow passenger to board aircraft if entry on arrival is not allowed.
I did read somewhere that Russia was going to allow short stay(3 days??) via on arrival-- but I am not certain that it was ever enacted--or is in place now. I am guessing if she was not offered this option then it is not available.

Perhaps she can sort it out in Kiev--but also note--the Crimean border is currently closed from Ukraine side( as of today)

[roykirk]

Thanks, Jay.  I've sent the message to her. 

[krimster2]

Da, in Soviet Russia, border crosses you!

(sorry, couldn't resist!)

[JohnDearGreen]

I think all car/bus/train traffic between Crimea and Ukraine is shut down at current time.


Cars now allowed:
http://news.liga.net/news/politics/4550294-ukraina_vozobnovila_propusk_legkovykh_avto_v_krym.htm

[roykirk]

I feel really bad for her, but once the dust settles on this I plan to ask her, "WTH were you thinking?!"  When Russian invaded and annexed Crimea, she was overjoyed at the time and felt there were no possible downsides to the action.  When I tried to argue that there could be significant issues with traveling she refused to believe it (and her parents also can't travel here for the immediate future).  Now she's stuck at SVO and she's not saying very nice things about the Russian government the last few messages I've received.   

[sleepycat]

  Now she's stuck at SVO and she's not saying very nice things about the Russian government the last few messages I've received.   

Are those not very nice things somewhere along the line of "F**k you Putin you f**kin midget huiiilo! etc etc"?

[Shadow]

That is why preparing for a trip it is useful to check required documents.
She can blame the Russian authorities, but should be mad at herself.

[sleepycat]

It is much more satisfying to blame that midget president...

[Doll]

Da, in Soviet Russia, border crosses you!

(sorry, couldn't resist!)

Not sure what it means but one need to respect the visa rules of any country
Try to come from Russia to the USA with no visa and you will see what happens
US citizens arrive to Russia with visa
This woman should have known it

[AkMike]

Respecting rules? LMOA Sort of like respecting international laws and treaties? Just like the Muscovi doesn't bother to do?

[roykirk]

I think she'll eventually see she has only herself to blame, but right she's just enraged.  How dare Russia tell her that she can't go back to her home in Crimea?  I can see how it could happen, however, so I have trouble being too harsh on her.  She's been going there with her son ever couple of years for many years.  When it was Ukraine, there were no issues and he didn't need a visa.  I think as she planned this trip she just sort of thought that everything was still the same and didn't stop to think that there might be problems getting her son in. 

[GregfromGa]

Her only option if  even it is one is to go to Kiev. The good thing is you will not have to tell her anything because she probably already knows all the answers. Eventually it will end up being the fault of The USA. My ex couldn't get out of the airport in Quito once. Although she had a green card and was obviously my wife they wouldn't budge. To say that it got ugly was an understatement when I was told I would have to leave her in the airport and couldn't stay with her. We were guarded by armed guards that night. Of course we flew first class back to Miami as it was the fault of United for allowing her to travel.

[jone]

Quite honestly, I have no idea why going to Kyiv is going to help her circumstances.  Has no one read what people are posting?  They have closed the border between Krim and Ukraine.  No Trains back and forth and no car traffic.  How is someone supposed to get from Krim to Kyiv?

I am interested in hearing how being in Kyiv improves her ultimate goal.  (Please someone explain!)

[AkMike]

IIRC at the moment trains and commercial trucks are shut down but auto's are allowed. (Subject to change of course)

[jone]

I had read that such changed two days ago.  But then I do not have feet on the ground.  It would seem fruitless to me to travel to Kyiv with few assurances.  Better to go back to the US.

[AkMike]

Right! Unless I called a border station directly  and found out what the current situation is I'd head home and get the correct visa.

[roykirk]

As I understand it, the plan is for her parents to fly from Crimea to Moscow and then from Moscow to Kiev.  This way they can spend some time together and the trip isn't a complete loss. 

[jone]

Makes sense.  Can't imagine flights would be too expensive.  Hopefully they'll have some electricity during their trip.

[AkMike]

Businesses haven't been affected with the 2 hour black outs from what I've seen so far. Private homes and apts. have had some. In Kyiv we had one or two every other day and here in Cherkassy it was the same for a bit but now for the last several days it's been normal.

[jone]

Probably diverted the power they were sending to Krim.

[CDW]

That is why preparing for a trip it is useful to check required documents.
She can blame the Russian authorities, but should be mad at herself.

Her dog probably ate her homework !!!

[krimster2]

Doll,
  it's a joke  ha,ha
you know in Russia, you don't cross the border, just wait and the border will cross you, I heard it in Abkhazia, no wait, it was in Crimea, no wait it was in Kaliningrad, you know come to think of it I actually heard it Sakhalin, yeah, it was in Sakhalin, you know the Eastern part of what used to be called Ukraine, What?  That's Donetsk?  OK then,I guess I heard it in Donetsk.  Too bad they only tell jokes about America on Russian TV, 'cuz Russian jokes are actually pretty funny!

[Misha]

I think she'll eventually see she has only herself to blame ... I think as she planned this trip she just sort of thought that everything was still the same and didn't stop to think that there might be problems getting her son in.

How could she not know that things changed?!? Has she not watched any news or read any newspaper or looked at any social media website for the last six months?