Russia resorts to blackmail to pressure Ukrainians in occupied territories
Russian Federation runs new campaign to force Ukrainians in the occupied territories to obtain its passports (photo: Getty Images)
In the first 10 days of October 2026, Russian law enforcement officers, together with the Federal Security Service (FSB), carried out another phase of Operation Nelegal-2026 ("illegal alien" in Russian) in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territories, targeting the Ukrainian population, according to the Defense Intelligence of Ukraine (HUR).
During the raids, occupation forces search for people who have refused to obtain Russian passports. Russia classifies Ukrainians without documents issued by it as "foreign citizens" and subjects them to Russian migration laws.
The operation aims to force Ukrainians to obtain Russian passports, deport them from the temporarily occupied territories, illegally seize their property, and dismiss them from their jobs.
HUR emphasizes that these actions are a tool of ethnocide: Russia is attempting to drive local residents out of occupied territories and replace them with Russian citizens.
In the temporarily occupied Luhansk region, Russian security forces are checking even minors in an attempt to force them to obtain Russian passports. If they refuse, their parents face threats of fines, imprisonment, and losing parental rights.
Thus, the occupation authorities are using threats and other forms of pressure to force Ukrainian citizens, including children, to accept Russian citizenship. Otherwise, they face forced eviction from their own homes.
Similarly, raids under Operation Nelegal-2026 are taking place in Russia. There, Russian security forces check migrant workers, who may subsequently be pressured into signing contracts to serve in Russia's army.
RBC-Ukraine previously reported that Russians are bringing in teachers from Russia on a large scale to work in occupied territories.
