The Eighth Administrative Appeal Court in Lviv has confirmed the ruling of the Halytskyi District Court regarding the deportation of Russian citizen Ruslan Hakimov from Ukraine. This decision, made on June 8, follows the initial ruling from April 2, 2026, by the Halytskyi District Court, which granted the State Migration Service’s request for deportation.
According to the appellate court, the state must determine whether to expel Hakimov, whose real name is Pupkaiev, from Ukraine. The court’s role was to confirm his identity. Hakimov plans to challenge this decision in the Supreme Court, as stated by his wife, Oleksandra. She expressed hope that reason would prevail and justice would be served, insisting they would not give up on appealing the deportation order.
The deportation order was initiated by the State Migration Service on April 1, 2026, citing violations of Ukrainian immigration laws. Hakimov filed a lawsuit against this decision in the Halytskyi District Court on June 5, 2026.
Currently, Hakimov is residing at a temporary accommodation center for foreigners and stateless persons, participating in court proceedings remotely. He entered Ukraine illegally via the Belgorod region and has been living in the country since 2016. To legalize his status, he allegedly provided a forged Ukrainian passport from Sevastopol to the Migration Service, which issued him a passport under the name Hakimov, not his real name.
Hakimov has claimed that his actions were a desperate measure to escape persecution by the FSB in Russia. He converted to Islam in 2008, which led to increased surveillance by Russian authorities, prompting his flight to Ukraine. He is currently wanted by Interpol and has been labeled a terrorist in Russia.
In Ukraine, Hakimov has been active in volunteer work, reportedly developing ground robotic systems since the onset of the full-scale war. Veterans have shown support for him during court hearings, attending to back the volunteer.
A human rights organization has expressed willingness to vouch for Hakimov, a sentiment echoed by three Ukrainian Members of Parliament: Sofia Fedyna, Mykhailo Bondar, and Volodymyr Ariev.
The Eighth Administrative Appeal Court in Lviv has upheld the deportation of Ruslan Hakimov, a Russian national facing legal challenges regarding his immigration status. Hakimov plans to appeal the decision, citing his past as a volunteer and his fears of persecution in Russia.