Russia has denied entry to multiple Ukrainians for deleting content from their phones, state media reports

Russian state media reports that there have been multiple cases of Ukrainian citizens being denied entry to Russia after deleting messages and photos from their phones prior to crossing the border.

A report published Sunday by RIA Novosti cites “dozens of court documents” related to appeals of entry bans and highlights two specific cases. In the first, the outlet writes, a woman “deleted chat messages and her entire photo gallery, and hid her YouTube viewing history.” In the second, a Ukrainian man reportedly erased 5,000 photos and videos and deleted several contacts from his device.

Meduza found another such case in Russia’s public court database. According to the court’s ruling, border officials inspected a Ukrainian woman’s phone after she flew to Moscow from Serbia and discovered that she had “intentionally wiped” chat data in Telegram, WhatsApp, Viber, and Instagram. She had also cleared her photo gallery and hidden her viewing history in the YouTube mobile app. Additionally, the court documents state that her phone contained contacts linked to Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) and members of the Ukrainian Armed Forces.

Citing “security threats and the international situation,” authorities deemed these findings a threat to national security and public order, and denied her entry to the country.

Meduza also found a second case from July 2024, in which a court reviewed the entry denial of a Ukrainian man who arrived in Russia from Turkey. His phone showed signs of “partial data deletion.” The court concluded, based on his messaging activity and other content, that he held “a consistently pro-Ukrainian stance, sympathized with Nazi ideology, and maintained a strongly negative view of the special military operation.” His device also contained contacts labeled “SBU” and “retired SBU officer — working,” which he was reportedly unable to explain. The court upheld the entry ban.