Russia Forces Passportization in Occupied Ukrainian Territories, Threatening Rights Deprivation

By the end of 2024, the Kremlin plans to “passportize” all the population over the age of 14 in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, the National Resistance Center of Ukraine reports.

An information campaign was launched among employees of enterprises, institutions, and organizations that are under Russian occupation. 

“People are intimidated by deprivation of almost any rights. From the beginning of 2025, those who have not received a Russian document will be entered into a special list and deprived of rights as a ‘foreign citizen’,” the National Resistance Center stated.

This forced passportization is part of Russia's broader strategy to change the demographic composition of the occupied territories and attempt to legitimize its control over Ukrainian lands, the Center emphasizes.

“The population of the temporarily occupied territories are faced with a difficult choice, either submit and lose their identity, or refuse and be isolated from society in their native land. This policy of the Kremlin is another step in the direction of violent Russification and assimilation of Ukrainians,” the Center reports.

The National Resistance Center also draws attention to the fact that this process is another vivid example of a violation of international law and basic human rights, aimed at breaking the will of the Ukrainian people.

Previously, Prosecutor General Andrii Kostin stated that Ukraine understands the receipt of passports of the Russian Federation by fellow citizens in the temporary occupation, since they are in a state of constant risk to their lives and are under intense pressure from the Russian authorities.

Another scare tactic of the Russian forces was used on the eve of the new school year, in the temporarily occupied Kherson region, where they conducted raids targeting families with school-age children, using intimidation tactics to force compliance with Russian-run educational programs.