INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Russia will extend its fast-tracked citizenship scheme to all Ukrainian citizens, not just those living in separatist or Russian-occupied
"the right to apply for admission to the citizenship of the Russian Federation in a simplified manner."Russia first introduced the
simplified passportization scheme to residents of the separatist Donetsk and Luhansk "people's republics" of eastern Ukraine in 2019.The
program was expanded in May 2022, three months into Russia's invasion of Ukraine, to include Ukrainians living in the Russia-occupied
Kherson region and the partially occupied Zaporizhzhia region.Kyiv's foreign ministry condemned Monday's decree as an "encroachment" on its
sovereignty and territorial integrity, adding that the naturalization of Ukrainians is "incompatible" with international law."Ukrainians do
not need Putin's citizenship and attempts to impose it by force are doomed to failure," Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said.Kuleba
called Monday's decree "worthless" and proof of "Putin's aggressive appetites."The passportization expansions have added to speculation that
Moscow will seek to establish permanent control over Ukrainian lands it has captured in its four-month invasion, despite Putin claiming in
roles in occupied Ukrainian territories have added to these concerns, with analysts warning of a string of potential annexations in
of obtaining our citizenship
year.AFP contributed reporting.
