Moscow issues passports in parts of occupied Ukraine, pressing on with ‘Russification.’
The Kremlin began formally issuing Russian passports to Ukrainians living under occupation on Saturday, even as Moscow’s forces confront a growing insurgency in areas they control in southern Ukraine and struggle to provide essential services like medical care.
The move to hand out Russian identification papers is just one facet of Russia’s attempts to solidify Moscow’s control in the south, including making the ruble the legal currency and cutting off Ukrainian cellphone networks.
Such documents have not been produced in Ukraine since 1990. Ukrainian officials have urged people living in occupied regions not to apply for the passports, but also fear that Russia could use coercive measures — like requiring them for employment — to force people to exchange their documents.
@nytimes