Putin orders Ukrainians living in occupied territories of Kherson and Zaporizhia to hold Russian passports

Ukrainians who are living in the occupied territories are “illegally” being forced to hold Russian passports in the cities of Kherson and Zaporizhia.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine have condemned the decree issued by Vladimir Putin over the illegal passportization of residents of the territories temporarily occupied.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine said, “Illegal passportization in Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, as well as in Crimea and in the temporarily occupied part of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, is a gross violation of the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine, the norms and principles of international humanitarian law, as well as the obligations of Russia as an occupying state, in in accordance with Article 45 of the Hague Convention of 1907 and Article 47 of the Convention for the Protection of Civilian Population in Time of War of 1949.

“The decree of Russia’s president is legally null and void and will have no legal consequences.

“This decision will not affect the citizenship of Ukraine for residents of the territories temporarily occupied by Russia.”

The Ministry said the forced passportization of Ukrainians in Kherson and Zaporizhia regions is further evidence of the criminality of Russia’s war against Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba said, “Ukraine calls on the international community to stop Russia from committing crimes against Ukraine and Ukrainians on a scale unknown in Europe since the Second World War.

“We demand the immediate adoption of the sixth EU sanctions package, which includes an embargo on Russian oil, and the start of work on the seventh sanctions package.

“The Russian regime must be held accountable, and the Russian military machine must be deprived of financial resources.”

The Ministry also called on international partners to expedite decision-making on the further provision of weapons to Ukraine.

“Delay will only encourage the Putin regime to further crimes against Ukraine and the destruction of peace and security in Europe,” the Foreign Ministry said.