They fled Russia. The US sent them back | The Global Story

After Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, many Russians who opposed the war – or feared being sent to fight in it – fled the country. In much of the West, they were welcomed as courageous dissidents. But four years on, the number of Russians being forcibly returned from the US to Russia is rising.

Is the tougher stance on Russian asylum seekers evidence of the Trump administration seeking closer ties with Moscow? Or is it part of a wider immigration crackdown, driven by domestic politics?

In this episode, Tristan Redman speaks to the BBC’s Will Vernon about the Russian refugees he has met who face persecution if they are forced to return home.

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0:00 Introduction
1:53 Who are the Russians being deported from the US?
4:01 Why Russians began fleeing after the invasion of Ukraine
5:34 The Russian soldier who refused to fight in Ukraine
7:48 The political crackdown forcing Russians into exile
11:33 Why is the US sending Russian asylum seekers back?
12:08 Is the US deporting Russians to deter others from seeking asylum?
14:22 What happens to Russians deported back to Russia?
15:29 An anti-war activist jailed for six years after deportation
16:51 Are European countries also deporting Russian asylum seekers?
19:03 Could another wave of Russian mobilisation force people to flee?
23:48 Have Russians lost faith in the West?