Two members of the Ukrainian delegation that participated in negotiations with Russia on Friday in Istanbul fled Turkey and did not return to Ukraine, according to reports.
Oleg Golovko, who served as a translator for the Ukrainian delegation, and an assistant secretary accompanying the team, reportedly left Istanbul during a break in the talks. Golovko is believed to have crossed into Bulgaria after departing Turkey.
Golovko had been working as an interpreter for Ukraine’s Ministry of Defense since 2023.
While his role may appear minor, Golovko’s defection highlights a growing concern for the Ukrainian government regarding the reliability of officials selected to participate in foreign-based negotiations. The incident raises questions about vetting and trust at a time when Kiev is under pressure to continue direct talks with Russia.
The flight of government officials and citizens abroad has become a sensitive but widespread issue in Ukraine. Since February 24, 2022, the Ukrainian government has banned men aged 18 to 60 from leaving the country. Many have risked and, in some cases, lost their lives attempting to escape via the dangerous rivers along Ukraine’s borders with Romania and Hungary.
Special exit permissions are typically reserved for individuals on official state business or for those who can afford to pay substantial bribes, according to reports.
Athletes, for example, have been among those granted travel exemptions—yet some have refused to return. Most recently, two members of Ukraine’s national karate team failed to come back after participating in a tournament in Italy in December.
Politicians have also been implicated. In October, Oleksandr Kunitsky, a member of parliament from President Volodymyr Zelensky’s Servant of the People party, left Ukraine under the pretense of official business and never returned. At the time, it was reported that as many as 40 members of Zelensky’s party had expressed a desire to resign from their positions and leave the country.
In January 2023, President Zelensky introduced a formal ban on international travel for government officials unless it was strictly for official duties. Following Kunitsky’s disappearance, Zelensky called for even stricter limitations on such travel to prevent further defections.