Plans have been reported to deprive any Ukrainians living in occupied Donbas of their pensions or social benefits if they take Russian citizenship. The move may be an understandable reaction to Russia’s new act of aggression in offering its citizenship to Ukrainians in the so-called ‘Donetsk and Luhansk people’s republics’ (‘DPR’, ‘LPR’), but it is one that would be of very questionable legality. It would also make reintegration of the occupied territory into government-controlled Ukraine even harder.
Russia's War Against Ukraine
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Halya Coynash: Ukraine wrong to stop pensions to Donbas residents
This file photo taken on April 17, 2015 shows a general view of the town square where people attend the unveiling of a Lenin statue in the town of Novoazovsk in Russia-controlled part of Donetsk region, eastern Ukraine.
