INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree Wednesday simplifying the process of obtaining Russian citizenship for Ukrainians living in
territories seized by Russian troops in southern and eastern Ukraine.The fast-track citizenship option comes amid speculation that Moscow
Over 200,000 people are estimated to have since obtained Russian citizenship.Putin's new decree extends the scheme to people living in
Republic (DNR), or the Luhansk People's Republic (LNR), permanently residing in the territory of the DNR, LNR, the Zaporizhzhia region of
decree says.Ukraine accused Moscow of violating international law with the decree."The illegal issuing of passports..
is a flagrant violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, as well as norms and principles of international humanitarian
law," the Ukrainian foreign ministry said in a statement.Putin initially said Russia had no plans to occupy Ukraine when he announced the
