Putin orders Ukrainian citizens in Russia and occupied territories to legalize or leave

The decree, titled "On the legal status of certain categories of foreign citizens and stateless persons in the Russian Federation," was published on Russia's legal information website.  

According to the document, "Ukrainian citizens who are in the Russian Federation and do not have legal grounds for staying (residing) in Russia must leave the country voluntarily or regulate their legal status by September 10, 2025." 

Additionally, the decree states that foreigners and stateless persons residing in the so-called DPR, LPR, as well as the occupied parts of Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions, must undergo a medical examination to confirm the absence of infectious diseases and drug use.  

Ukraine's National Resistance Center has explained that this decree marks the beginning of a new stage of repression against Ukrainians in Russia. The Center believes the decree serves as a tool of coercion and intimidation, aiming to force Ukrainians to accept Russian citizenship, which would later enable their conscription into the Russian army. Those who refuse could face deportation, arrest, or persecution.

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy says that in negotiations with Russia, the red line for Ukraine is the recognition of its occupied territories as Russian.