Putin Orders Ukrainians in Occupied Territories to Accept Russian Citizenship or Leave
A new Kremlin decree intensifies efforts to Russify occupied Ukrainian regions, mandating citizenship or expulsion by September 2025 and imposing additional repressive measures.
- Russian President Vladimir Putin has issued a decree requiring Ukrainians in occupied territories to obtain Russian citizenship or leave by September 10, 2025.
- The decree includes mandatory medical tests for infectious diseases and drug use by June 10, 2025, adding pressure on residents to comply.
- This policy is part of a broader strategy to erase Ukrainian identity, consolidate Russian control, and prepare for potential future military actions.
- Residents in these regions face severe repression, including restricted access to healthcare, education, and employment, as well as arbitrary arrests and property confiscation.
- The Kremlin's tactics mirror historical precedents in Georgia's Abkhazia and South Ossetia, where similar policies were used to justify military interventions.
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