Forced Passportization In Russia-Occupied Areas Of Ukraine

In August 2023, the Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab published a report on “Forced Passportization in Russia-Occupied Areas of Ukraine” finding evidence of Russia’s systematic practise of targeting the Ukrainian identity and forcing residents of occupied areas of Ukraine to accept Russian citizenship. The Yale School of Public Health’s Humanitarian Research Lab is part of the Conflict Observatory initiative documenting alleged violations of international law and crimes against humanity, including war crimes, by Russia-aligned forces in Ukraine. As the report shows, Ukrainians in the Russia-occupied territories face serious existential threats unless they accept Russian citizenship. The report comes after reports of forcible transfers of population and illegal adoptions of Ukrainian children in Russia. Indeed, the International Criminal Court (ICC) issued arrest warrants for Mr Vladimir Vladimirovich Putin and Ms Maria Alekseyevna Lvova-Belova for their unlawful deportation of population (children) and unlawful transfer of population (children) from occupied areas of Ukraine to the Russian Federation, amounting to war crimes and crimes against humanity under the Rome Statute of the ICC.

According to the report, and based on a comprehensive review of open source material, residents of Luhansk, Donetsk, Kherson and Zaporizhzhya oblasts are subjected to threats, intimidation, restrictions on humanitarian aid and basic services, and possible detention or deportation, all practices designed to force them to become Russian citizens. These practices are reminiscent of the passportization campaign that Russia has been executing in Crimea and areas of Donetsk and Luhansk since 2014.