Putin allows deportation of Ukrainians who refuse to take Russian passports

Russian leader Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that, among other things, recognizes residents of the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine as foreigners if they refuse to take Russian citizenship

The decree was published on the Russian state portal.

"Residents of the new territories who have not accepted Russian citizenship and are thus recognized as foreigners may be expelled from Russia if they pose a threat to its national security. In particular, we are talking about people who advocate for a violent change in the foundations of the constitutional order of the Russian Federation, plan or finance terrorist attacks or extremist crimes," the document says.

Residents of the temporarily occupied territories who have moved to Russia but have not taken Russian citizenship will also be considered foreigners.

The decree "On the peculiarities of the legal status of certain categories of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Russian Federation" stipulates that Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories who decide to retain Ukrainian citizenship can live there until July 1, 2024, after which they may be deported.