Kyiv says Moscow is persecuting Ukrainians with status decree, appeals to ICC

22/3/2025 6:58

Ukraine accused Russia on Friday of illegally pressuring Ukrainians in occupied territory to change their legal status or leave, and said it would report the

practice to the International Criminal Court.



Russia - which controls nearly a fifth of Ukraine's territory - issued a presidential decree on Thursday saying Ukrainian citizens living "in Russia without legal grounds" should "regulate" their status by September 10.



It did not spell out what it meant by regulate, though Russia has been pressing Ukrainians in those areas to obtain Russian citizenship.



Heorhii Tykhyi, Ukraine's foreign ministry spokesman, said the move was a "despicable act".



"It is yet another step in Russia's campaign of discrimination, persecution and forced displacement of Ukrainian citizens from their homeland, or forcing them to acquire foreigner status," he told a briefing in Kyiv.



Russia, which regularly denied accusations of carrying out abuses, did not immediately respond to a request for comment sent to its foreign ministry.