Ukrainians in occupied territories face deportation - UK intelligence
Ukrainians without Russian passports might be deported from the occupied territories (Getty Images)
Ukrainians residing in the occupied territories who have refused Russian passports face deportation to detached regions of Russia, according to the Ministry of Defense of Great Britain.
According to the summary, based on data from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs, there are approximately 2.8 million residents living in the temporarily controlled territories (TCT) of Ukraine who currently possess Russian passports. Russia conditions access to services in these regions, including social services and healthcare, on obtaining Russian passports.
In April 2023, Russian President Vladimir Putin issued a decree whereby residents of TCT who refuse Russian passports would become foreign citizens or stateless persons. Such individuals are only permitted to reside in TCT until July 1, 2024.
According to British intelligence, there is a real possibility that any individuals in TCT after this date who do not possess Russian passports will be deported or detained. Recent rhetoric from the Deputy Chairman of the Russia's National Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, suggests that certain individuals may be deported to remote regions of Russia.
"The Kremlin is pursuing a relentless Russification policy in TCT. Another decree on military districts issued on 26 February 2024 states that TCT will now become part of the Russian Southern Military District. The Kremlin is seeking to make the integration of TCT into the Russian Federation irreversible," the UK Ministry of Defense writes.
