By Zuko Komisa
Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree to fast-track Russian citizenship for all Ukrainians.
According to a decree signed on Monday, all Ukrainians may now fast-track their application to be Russian citizens.
Previously, only citizens of the eastern Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and Luhansk, as well as those of the southern Ukraine provinces of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson, which are primarily under Russian influence, had access to this choice.
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According to Reuters, approximately 18% of the population in rebel-held regions of Ukraine got Russian passports between 2019 — the year the offer was extended to inhabitants of Donetsk and Luhansk — and 2022, however, it was unknown how many would seek Russian citizenship.
Russia is making it easier for Ukrainians wanting to become Russian citizens. The option to obtain Russian citizenship via a simplified procedure has been expanded to cover all residents of Ukraine, according to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s decree published Monday.
— Geopolitics.wiki (@GeopoliticsW) July 11, 2022
The service was made available to citizens of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions in May.
The decree also covers any Ukrainian citizens who are stateless at the moment.
Officials from Ukraine have not yet responded to Putin’s order.
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