Why is russia issuing passports to foreign mercenaries in the temporarily occupied territories
russian propaganda has circulated a message claiming that another foreigner fighting against Ukraine has received a russian passport in occupied Kherson region. The individual in question is a citizen of Uzbekistan who signed a contract to serve in the Russian army in 2023 and obtained citizenship through a simplified procedure as a participant in the war.
▫️ According to the occupying “Ministry of Internal Affairs”, a total of 30 foreign war participants have already received russian passports in the occupied part of Kherson region since the beginning of the year under the same scheme.
russia is issuing its passports to foreign mercenaries fighting against Ukraine in the occupied territories to legitimize its presence there. In doing so, the kremlin not only creates a propaganda image of “international support” for the war but also populates the region with people loyal to the putin regime. This is part of a hybrid strategy to colonize the occupied territories.
