Ukrainians seek refuge in the EU across a deadly river
Along the border between Ukraine and Romania lies a deadly river. The Dniester separates the war-worn state from the European Union, acting as a boundary. In search of refuge, Ukrainian males cross its treacherous waters, risking their lives in the process.
Since the war began in early 2022, Ukrainian men aged 18 to 60 are barred from leaving their country legally. Their duty calls them to the front lines. Yet, increasing numbers of young Ukrainians have been trying to escape. With the Dniester serving as a border for about 65km, the swift current and freezing water make it a lethal passage.
Following the start of the war in 2022, 33 Ukrainians have lost their lives attempting to swim across the Dniester into Romania. The youngest to perish was just 20. This number is probably considerably higher. The Ukrainian border guard speculates that many drowned bodies rest hidden beneath the reeds underwater and have not yet surfaced.
The engineer, Matviy, a 24-year-old, recently tried to flee to Romania with three companions. They underestimated the peril of the river, as Matviy revealed in an interview with the British "Economist." The swift current swept up the strongest swimmer in their group and carried him 200 meters downstream, while two others were pulled 400 meters away. "We could hardly breathe. We were almost drowned," he recounted.
Despite the risks, the Dniester remains the simplest way for many to attend Europe. The threat of conscription combined with the promise of a better life beyond has provoked a surge in demand for illegal border crossings, even as grim images of drowned Ukrainians are released in attempts to deter them.
In the first three months of this year, nearly 2400 illegal crossings from Ukraine were noted by Romanian authorities, with most offenses reported in the mountainous Subcarpathians. Here, a bustling smuggling scene has existed pre-war, and residents survive on the trafficking of contraband like unstamped cigarettes and smuggled petrol.
With the advent of war, the petty criminals have diversified into human trafficking, charging €3,000 to €12,000 euros per person. Matviy, the 24-year-old engineer who swam across the Dniester, parted with $5,000 for his perilous journey to Romania, as he attested in his interview.
The fear of war or the desire for a better life in the EU drives Ukrainian males to uproot themselves. Also factoring into their decision is a sense of injustice, blamed on corrupt recruitment centers where men have gained discharges via bribery. An individual labelled as a conscientious objector shared his frustrations with NTV reporter Kavita Sharma last autumn. "The rich have fled to foreign lands or exchanged money for their freedom and continue to reside in Kyiv, leaving the poor at the front lines."
In response to this, President Volodymyr Zelensky called for severe penalties for corruption during wartime, equating it to treason. The judgment would be in effect until the end of the conflict. "If corruption in wartime is held at the same level as treason, this could be a potent deterrent against even thinking of getting corrupted," Zelensky reasoned in the past year.
Despite Zelensky's proposal, Ukraine's parliament has yet to act. However, the government has adopted more rigorous border controls, with National Guard units stationed in nearby regions. A representative of the Ukrainian border guard estimates that on average, seven out of ten refugees are caught before they even reach the river.
In the face of harshening conditions, some refugees have opted for the lengthier mountain route, employing smugglers to guide their passage. Others remain steadfast in their conviction regarding the safety and simplicity of the river. As a smuggler, Vasyl, told the "Economist," "You simply need to know the right places. I can show you how to cross the river without getting your feet wet."
Consequently, smugglers are profiting from desperate Ukrainians while risking their lives. These refugees must venture across the river solo, preferably under the cover of darkness, when the dangerous current is at its worst.
