The State Migration Service of Ukraine reports that the forced passportization of Ukrainian citizens residing in the temporarily occupied territories of the Zaporizhzhia and Kherson regions is currently ongoing.

The authorities emphasize that in Ukraine the position on this process remains unchanged - everyone who was forced to receive a document from the Russian Federation remains a citizen of Ukraine. That is, the forced acquisition by citizens of Ukraine living in the temporarily occupied territories of Russian citizenship is not recognized by Ukraine and is not a basis for the loss of Ukrainian citizenship.

The only exceptions are acts of birth, death, marriage, or divorce, now they are taken into account in the courts of Ukraine.

Forced passportization violates the Geneva Convention for the Protection of Civilian Persons in Time of War, and also contradicts the principles and norms of international law.

The passport of the Russian Federation, which is issued in the temporarily occupied territories, has a certain special marking and does not give people who receive it the same legal rights that Russians have on the territory of the Russian Federation. The Ukrainian passport of the new sample meets all international standards in the field of document security.

With the beginning of the military aggression of the Russian Federation against Ukraine, a hostile and unfriendly attitude towards Russians is growing in the world, which may be faced by the holder of a Russian passport from the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. Passportization is a crime, because it calls into question the existence of Ukraine and poses a threat to everyone who receives it.

How should Ukrainians act in the temporarily occupied territories?

The State Migration Service recommends that citizens of Ukraine living in the temporarily occupied territories try to delay the day of obtaining a Russian passport as much as possible. Although it is clear that it is quite difficult to live in occupation without this document.

Obtaining a Russian passport carries a number of threats:

• A passport makes a person powerless.

• The owner can automatically be mobilized into the Russian army.

• The risk of deportation for settling in depressed regions of Siberia, the Trans-Urals, and the Far East is increasing.

If a Ukrainian has a choice between getting a passport or leaving the temporarily occupied territory, then the best choice is evacuation. Thus, you will help the Armed Forces of Ukraine to liberate our country as soon as possible.

Please note that in any situation it is very important to keep your Ukrainian passport, because it is a document confirming your Ukrainian citizenship.