British intelligence reveals Putin's ultimatum goal for Ukrainians in occupied areas
Photo: Russian President Vladimir Putin (Getty Images)
Russian President Vladimir Putin recently signed a decree that forces Ukrainians in occupied territories to either accept Russian citizenship or leave. This could be part of a policy aimed at Russification policy and the destruction of Ukrainian identity, reports the UK Ministry of Defense.
According to British intelligence, on March 20, 2025, Putin signed a decree that requires Ukrainian citizens living in Russia or on the sovereign Ukrainian territory illegally occupied by Russia to "settle their legal status" by September 10, 2025, or leave the territory.
“Putin's decree is almost certainly intended to force the departure from Russian-occupied Ukrainian territory of Ukrainian nationals who refuse to accept Russian passports and citizenship,” the intelligence noted.
Meanwhile, according to the UK, Putin and Russia's top leadership continue their Russification policy on the illegally occupied Ukrainian territory, part of their long-standing efforts to destroy Ukrainian culture, identity, and statehood.
"Russia erroneously and illegally defines both occupied and unoccupied Ukrainian territory in the Ukrainian oblasts of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, Kherson, as well as Crimea, as being part of Russia. This is in direct contradiction with Russia's own stated recognition of Ukraine's independence and sovereignty following the collapse of the Soviet Union, as well as broader international recognition of Ukraine," the British intelligence stated.
Russian ultimatum
On March 20, Putin signed a decree requiring Ukrainians "illegally staying in Russia" to legalize their status by September 10 or leave the country.
The phrase "regularize their status" likely refers to obtaining Russian passports.
