The kremlin is stepping up efforts to change the demographic composition of the population of the temporarily occupied part of Ukraine in order to legitimize the claims of russian dictator vladimir putin to the occupied territories.
This is stated in the russian Offensive Campaign Assessment by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) as of March 20, 2025, the Ukrainian News agency reports.
Thus, putin signed a decree on March 20, according to which Ukrainian civilians who "illegally" live in russia and occupied Ukraine must "regulate their legal status" or leave russia and occupied Ukraine by September 10, 2025.
"The Kremlin has conducted a thorough passportization campaign to coerce Ukrainians living under occupation into obtaining Russian citizenship in efforts to legitimize Russia's territorial claims over occupied areas and tighten control over local populaces," the report says.
In addition, analysts note, the kremlin is also conducting russian resettlement campaigns to artificially reduce the number of Ukrainians living in occupied Ukraine and increase the number of russians in these territories.
Putin's decree of March 20 also obliges "foreigners", presumably including persons with Ukrainian citizenship and stateless persons entering the territory of occupied Ukraine, to undergo russian medical examinations and blood tests.
"The Kremlin has historically used these tests to obtain personal data to later exert pressure on Ukrainians to comply with occupation authorities and serve in the Russian military, as well as to forcibly deport Ukrainian children to Russia," ISW stressed.
As the Ukrainian News agency earlier reported, russian president vladimir putin signed a decree that obliges Ukrainian citizens in the occupied territory to either obtain a russian passport or leave the country.
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