Putin decrees forced citizenship or expulsion for Ukrainians
Putin's decree concerning the alleged "regulation of the status of foreigners in Russia" aims for complete control over Ukrainians on Russian territory and, in the occupied regions, gradually compels them to take Russian citizenship. - This constitutes ethnic cleansing - states Dr Wojciech Siegień, an expert on Russia from the University of Gdańsk.
President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on 20 March 2025 requiring Ukrainians residing in Russia to legalise their status by 10 September; otherwise, they will have to leave the country. The new regulations also include mandatory medical examinations for "foreigners" (implicitly Ukrainians) in territories annexed by Russia. What is behind these regulations, and what is their actual goal?
- These actions are essentially ethnic cleansing, aiming to erase Ukrainian identity. In the Russian-occupied territories, residents are forced to determine their allegiance, resulting in the necessity to accept Russian documents - comments Dr Wojciech Siegień, an expert in Russian propaganda analysis and author of the podcast "Eastern Bloc" on the Krytyka Polityczna website.
- Those who do not comply must leave or will be deported. Russia anticipates that subsequent generations raised in these areas will undergo Russification over time. He adds that this is already underway in the Donbas region, which has been occupied since 2014.
According to the interlocutor, especially in the occupied territories, Russia is conducting an aggressive policy of delegalising Ukrainianness, including forced assimilation, potential ethnic cleansing, humiliating controls and surveillance, and the stigmatisation of the population. The latter is evident in the announcement of mandatory HIV and drug tests for Ukrainians.
According to Ukrainian statistics, before the Russian invasion, more than 8.5 million people lived in the occupied regions of Ukraine. About 2 million of them emigrated or were evacuated to Ukraine and Russia. Between 200,000 and 500,000 people currently reside in the Kherson region, which Russia annexed. (The figures differ between Russian and Ukrainian authorities.) Approximately 350,000 Ukrainians are estimated to remain in the Zaporizhzhia region.
Russia wants to "regulate" the status of Ukrainians: humiliating tests
According to the decree, Ukrainians residing in Russia must either legalise their stay or leave the country by 10 September 2025. This date may not be coincidental. Analysts at the Centre for Eastern Studies suggest that progress in integration with the Kremlin will be announced on 30 September, "Unity Day with Russia."
The decree also imposes on people living in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk republics and in the occupied territories of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions a mandatory examination for HIV and drugs (by 10 June). These actions are perceived as typical of colonial and eugenic policies.
Russian media, such as TASS and Gazeta.ru, present these regulations as necessary steps to "ensure legal stability" and "protect national interests" in Russia. TASS cites the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs' justification, claiming that many Ukrainians have not regulated their status, supposedly posing a "threat to national security."
What is Russia's true goal?
Analysis of the decree's content and comments from Russian officials suggest that the Kremlin is attempting to achieve several key goals, including strengthening control over Ukrainians in Russia. Authorities also aim to completely identify and register all Ukrainian citizens residing on Russian territory. Those who do not comply with the new regulations may be deported or face restrictions on movement and employment.
The requirement for medical examinations, including HIV and drug tests, in the annexed regions, not only has an administrative aspect but may also serve as a tool of psychological pressure. Adding additional procedures may compel those reluctant to engage with the Russian administration to leave these areas.
Dr Siegień reminds us that Russia has pursued a policy of erasing Ukrainianness and all its traces since 2014, and this policy intensified following the full-scale war that began in 2022. The interlocutor refers to the Russian term "zhdun" (derived from the Russian word "zhdat," meaning to wait).
Russians use this word contemptuously toward those who "sit quietly" in cities like Luhansk, Donetsk, parts of Zaporizhzhia, or Crimea, waiting for the return of Ukrainian authority. A zhdun is portrayed as a secret "betrayer" or potential collaborator. These regulations target such people, he concludes.
In November 2024, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs proposed restricting the right to reside for Ukrainians who had been convicted of crimes or posed a threat to "social stability." The new regulations could be used to eliminate individuals deemed inconvenient by Russia.
Increasing the number of Ukrainians accepting Russian citizenship
Since 2022, Russia has enforced a policy of "passportization," encouraging or coercing residents of occupied territories to accept Russian citizenship. In May 2022, Putin simplified the procedures for obtaining it for residents of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson and, subsequently, for all Ukrainians. Gazeta.ru reports that in 2024, around 600 Ukrainian citizens applied for a Russian passport.
Russian media openly reports that individuals who do not comply with the new regulations will be deported. TASS also states that authorities have expanded the powers of migration and police officers, who can decide to expel foreigners without lengthy legal procedures.
