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Russia is now offering citizenship to all foreign individuals who join Moscow’s army in the fight against Ukraine, according to an intelligence report.
Foreigners who are currently residing in the territory of Russia while waiting to obtain citizenship will automatically be granted the document if they voluntarily enlist in the Russian army, as per operative information published by the General Staff of the Armed Forces of Ukraine (UAF) on Monday.
“On the territory of Russia, foreign citizens who are pending to become citizens of the Russian Federation are offered to voluntarily enlist in the enemy army and automatically obtain Russian citizenship,” the UAF General Staff said in its intelligence report.
Apart from offering a fast-track process to citizenship for foreigners, Ukraine also alleged that Russia is pressuring businesses in Moscow to financially support the country’s army by donating at least 10 million rubles ($146,400).
Russian President Vladimir Putin first eased the process for foreigners who join the army to obtain Russian citizenship in September 2022. The process also applied to foreigners who cannot return to the battlefield due to injuries sustained in combat even before the end of their six months of service.
Additionally, Putin’s decree covered the spouses, children and parents of foreign nationals who signed a contract with the army, The Moscow Times reported.
Prior to the signing of the decree, foreign contract servicemen should have resided continuously in Russia for five years after obtaining a residence permit before they can apply for Russian citizenship.
The UAF General Staff’s reporting comes as the war between Russia and Ukraine extends into its 11th month. Since February last year, Russia has lost 116,080 soldiers, including 790 who died over the past day.
Moscow’s losses also include 3,118 tanks, 6,204 armored personnel vehicles, 2,099 artillery systems, 1,872 UAVs and 4,870 vehicles and fuel tanks, as per estimates from the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
In his nightly address Sunday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky said that the battle for the eastern town of Soledar continues “without any respite, without any stop.”
Russia claims its army has captured Soledar after weeks of brutal fighting. Kyiv, however, has denied Moscow’s claim.
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