They fled Russia. The US sent them back.

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.

Producers: Cat Farnsworth and Aron Keller

Mix: Travis Evans

Executive producer: Martine Powers

Digital producer: Sam Gruet

Senior news editor: China Collins

Photo: The FSB arrests someone in 2025. Credit: Reuters.