Russian Nationals Face Uncertain Legal Status in Ukraine

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Over 150,000 Russian nationals reside in Ukraine, with many having obtained Ukrainian citizenship after years of bureaucratic hurdles. According to official data, these individuals are primarily relatives or spouses of Ukrainians, or were born in Ukraine.

To obtain a new passport, Russians must undergo multiple rounds of processing, which can be lengthy and complex. The process typically involves renewing residence permits and obtaining Ukrainian citizenship, although some individuals face mistreatment when asked to produce their passports.

One individual, Taras, spent 11 years and two trials to replace his Russian passport with a Ukrainian one. Born in Soviet Ukraine in 1980, Taras moved to Russia at the age of 16 and later returned to Ukraine after Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. He initially obtained residence papers and a permit to migrate, but delayed applying for a new passport.

Taras’s experience highlights the challenges faced by Russians living in Ukraine. The country has banned dual citizenship until June 2025, requiring individuals to prove they have withdrawn from their previous citizenship. To submit paperwork, Taras traveled to neighboring Moldova, where Russian embassy officials denied his requests and allegedly used derogatory language.

Migration lawyer Daria Tarasenko reported that some Ukrainians’ residence permits are refused or expired, causing difficulties for Russians seeking to renew their passports. The process can take up to three trips to a third country to complete, with the risk of having Ukrainian citizenship revoked if the two-year deadline is not met.

In late 2024, Ukraine’s lower house of parliament voted to change the migration law, allowing Russian nationals to wait for the war’s end plus one month to start the termination of their red passports.

Source: Al Jazeera