Foreign veterans of Russia’s war in Donbas have formally lost their option to acquire Ukraine’s citizenship for their role in the country’s defense, according to the Legal Hundred, a Kyiv-based rights group.
An amendment regulating the admission of aliens under a simplified procedure providing a 6-month window of opportunity is now repealed, the group said in its July 13 statement.
“Not all foreigners have managed to collect and complete the paperwork to acquire Ukrainian citizenship,” the group said.
According to The Soufan Center, a U.S.-based think tank, nearly 4,000 foreign nationals, mostly Russians and Belarussians, fought in Donbas on Ukraine’s side between 2014 and 2019. Many of them hoped to get Ukrainian passports, though few did so over the years.
“Among the biggest obstacles is the requirement to terminate (an applicant’s) foreign citizenship,” the Legal Hundred said.
“For many foreigners who used to bear a part in (Donbas) hostilities, an attempt to cease their nationality may result in being jailed since the procedure requires applying to a foreign nation’s authorities.”
Ukraine’s authorities never collected any official data on the number of foreign combatants, including contracted military servicemembers, who were eligible for acquiring citizenship under the simplified procedure. However, some media reports say several hundred individuals may potentially seek Ukrainian passports to accommodate their life in the country.
According to the Legal Hundred, many foreigners currently serving in the military in Donbas face continuous issues because of their alien status, such as problems with residence permits and having their payroll bank accounts blocked.
The group recommends that the Verkhovna Rada urgently pass a bill on a new simplified admission of foreign combatants that was filed in early July.
“The bill… would regard foreigners serving as contracted military personnel with Ukraine’s Armed Forces, and also oppressed citizens of the aggressor state (Russia), and individuals with merits to Ukraine, including their children,” the group said.
“To acquire Ukrainian citizenship, one needs to file two documents: a declaration of admission and a declaration of the surrender of present foreign citizenship. The requirement to live at least 5 years in Ukraine (before requesting nationality) does not regard individuals who have (fought in Donbas).”
However, as soon as July 16, the parliament is expected to have its final hearing before the summer vacation season.
