Kharkiv (Ukraine): Russian President Vladimir Putin on Monday signed an order expanding the expedited process for granting Russian citizenship to all Ukrainians in an effort to increase Russian influence in Ukraine. Until recently, the citizenship process was simple only for people from Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk region, as well as southern Zaporizhia and Kherson region. Russia has control over a large part of these areas. Ukrainian officials have not commented on Putin’s announcement.
In 2019, the process of granting citizenship was first started for residents of Donetsk and Luhansk, and this year Russian passports were given to about 18 percent of the population of the two rebel-held regions, or more than 720,000 people. In May, three months after the attack on Ukraine, an accelerated process was also started for residents of the Zaporizhia and the Kherson region. Russian passports were given to people in these areas about a month ago.
Meanwhile, Russian bombardments continued in Ukraine’s second-largest city Kharkiv, where three people were killed and 31 others were injured on Monday. Earlier, Russian troops fired three missiles at several important sites in Kharkiv, which Ukrainian officials described as a “terrorist act”.
Kharkiv Governor Oleh Sinihobob said on social media Telegram that several rocket launchers were fired and those hospitalized included children between the ages of 4 and 16. Sinihobob said a shopping center, and a residence in Kharkiv were targeted. Several vehicles were also damaged in the attacks. Russian troops continue to attack the eastern part of Ukraine as well. Luhansk Governor Serai Haidai said the attacks were carried out on settlements bordering the Donetsk region.
