Russia has issued a decree forcing Ukrainians in occupied territories to obtain Russian passports by September 10 or face expulsion. This policy, seen as a coercion campaign to extend Moscow's influence and weaken Ukrainian sovereignty, follows mass passport distribution since the 2022 invasion. Many Ukrainians, like Iryna, have felt compelled to accept Russian citizenship to access basic services and avoid danger. Human rights experts criticize the policy, which has led to denial of medical care for those without Russian documents.
Russia tells Ukrainians in occupied areas to get Russian passport or leave
MoscowRussiaRussian invasion of UkraineEthnic conflictsTravelPassports and visasHuman rights and civil liberties
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TL;DR: Key points with love ❤️Russia has issued a decree forcing Ukrainians in occupied territories to obtain Russian passports by September 10 or face expulsion. This policy, seen as a coercion campaign to extend Moscow's influence and weaken Ukrainian sovereignty, follows mass passport distribution since the 2022 invasion. Many Ukrainians, like Iryna, have felt compelled to accept Russian citizenship to access basic services and avoid danger. Human rights experts criticize the policy, which has led to denial of medical care for those without Russian documents.
Trending- 1 2014: Russia illegally annexed the Crimean peninsula, distributed Russian passports.
- 2 Before Feb. 24, 2022: Putin signed a decree speeding up the passport process for those living in the self-proclaimed regions of Donetsk and Luhansk.
- 3 Feb. 24, 2022: Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine; Kherson region was seized; Ivan was living in Kherson City.
- 4 July 2022: The Kremlin announced that all Ukrainian citizens were eligible to receive passports under the fast-track scheme.
- 5 September 2022: Russia staged "sham" referendums in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson.
- 6 November 2022: Ukrainian forces retook part of Kherson, including Kherson City; Iryna and her husband were ordered to evacuate further south.
- 7 2023: The Yellow Ribbon resistance group ran an information campaign about preventing property confiscation; Physicians for Human Rights documented at least 15 cases of people being denied medical care.
- 8 Last year (2024): Iryna and her husband accepted Russian passports.
- 9 March (2025): Putin signed a presidential decree targeting the few Ukrainians still holding out; Iryna and her husband left Kherson, traveling through Crimea and Russia, then Belarus to return to Ukraine.
- 10 Sept. 10, 2025: Deadline for Ukrainians who live in Russia or the areas it purports to control to legalize their status or leave their homes.
- Forced displacement or forced citizenship for Ukrainians in occupied territories
- Human rights violations (e.g., denial of medical care)
- Consolidation of Russian control over occupied lands
- Potential for forced conscription of new Russian citizens into the military
What: Russia is forcing Ukrainians in occupied territories to obtain Russian passports or leave their homes.
When: Decree signed in March (2025); deadline Sept. 10 (2025); mass distribution since 2022 invasion; Iryna and husband got passports last year (2024); Iryna and husband left Kherson in March (2025); Ivan graduated 2021; Ivan was in Kherson City when invaded Feb. 24, 2022; Ivan's resistance group ran info campaign in 2023.
Where: Occupied territories of Ukraine (Kherson region, Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia); Dnipro River Delta; Stara Zbur'ivka; Crimea; Russia; Belarus; Dnipro (where Iryna lives now).
Why: Russia aims to extend its influence, weaken Ukrainian sovereignty, and solidify its claim over occupied territories, using the passport policy as a geopolitical tool and a means of control.
How: Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree setting a deadline for Ukrainians to legalize their status. Russian authorities have used pressure tactics, including denying access to state services (pensions, education, healthcare) and threatening detention or property confiscation, to compel Ukrainians to accept passports.