The Ministry of Justice announced that Ukrainian citizens forced to obtain Russian passports in Russian-occupied territories won’t bear responsibility, the Ministry of Justice press service reported on Monday, Sept. 30.

By threatening to deny essential government services, such as medical care, education, and social services, the Kremlin de facto forces many Ukrainians living in Russian-occupied parts to accept Russian citizenship, the Ministry said.

The Russian documents have no legal force and are not recognized anywhere except in the occupied territories, the Ministry said.

According to the Center for National Resistance (CNS), starting in January 2025, the occupation authorities plan to further increase pressure on Ukrainians.

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Pensioners are the most vulnerable category, as they rely on their government pensions for survival.

This situation is part of a broader Russian strategy to control the occupied territories and attempts to legitimize its rule, the Ministry wrote.

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