ISW: Occupants force Ukrainians to obtain Russian passports to use SIM cards
Kyiv • UNN
Russian occupation authorities demand that SIM cards be re-registered to Russian passports by July 1, 2025. This is done for forced passportization in the occupied territories.
The Russian occupation authorities continue to conduct forced passportization in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine. This is reported by the Institute for the Study of War (ISW), UNN informs.
Details
It is noted that the occupation head of Kherson region, volodymyr saldo, announced that Russian SIM cards must be re-registered with Russian passports by July 1, 2025.
Russian law requires a SIM card to be tied to a passport, and the application of this Russian law in the occupied territories is likely aimed at forcing Ukrainians to obtain Russian passports or risk losing the ability to communicate via mobile devices.
The ISW adds that this is not the first attempt by Russia to "passportize occupied Ukraine" by tying Russian citizenship to the ability to obtain basic services and necessities.
Recall
In March, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a decree, according to which Ukrainian citizens who are illegally staying in Russia are obliged to leave by September 10 or legalize.
In 2023, Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a decree stating that Ukrainian citizens will be able to enter the Russian Federation and leave the country without visas on the basis of an internal passport.