Vladimir Putin fast-tracks passports for residents of southern Ukraine who wish to ‘join the big family of Russia’
- ‘The simplified system will allow all of us to clearly see that Russia is here not just for a long time but forever,’ Moscow-appointed leader of Kherson said
- But Kyiv said Moscow’s plan to make it easier for Ukrainians to receive Russian citizenship is ‘criminal’ behaviour that violates international law
President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed a decree simplifying the procedure to get a Russian passport for residents of the southern Ukrainian regions of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson.
Kherson region is under the full control of Russian troops, while the southeastern region of Zaporizhzhia is partially controlled by Moscow.
Moscow and pro-Moscow officials have said both regions could become part of Russia.
“The simplified system will allow all of us to clearly see that Russia is here not just for a long time but forever,” the Moscow-appointed deputy leader of Kherson region, Kirill Stremousov, told Russia’s RIA Novosti state news agency.
“We are very grateful to Russian President Vladimir Putin for all he is doing for us, for protecting Russian people in historically Russian lands that have now been liberated,” he added.
The new authorities want to help those wishing to “join the big family of Russia”, he said.
