Putin signs decree allowing deportation of Ukrainians from occupied territories.

Russian dictator Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing the deportation of Ukrainians in occupied territories who refuse to take Russian citizenship, Russian state media reported[1] on April 27. According to the decree, Ukrainians in the occupied territories who choose to retain their Ukrainian citizenship can be deported after July 1, 2024. Under the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court, the unlawful deportation of local populations is considered a war crime.

On April 26, Ukraine's Deputy Defense Minister Hanna Maliar reported that Russia had initiated large-scale resettlement[2] of Russian citizens to occupied territories in Ukraine while continuing to deport local populations. The local Ukrainians are being forcibly deported "under various pretexts" to Russia, especially those suspected of "adhering to pro-Ukrainian positions," Maliar wrote. "In this way, the enemy seeks to destroy Ukrainian statehood and the national self-identity of society in the temporarily-occupied Ukrainian territories," the deputy defense minister added.

Tens of thousands of Ukrainian children have also been taken since the start of Russia's all-out war[3]. The Reintegration Ministry reported[4] on March 29 that over 19,000 Ukrainian children have been forcibly deported to Russia. Additionally, the National Resistance Center reported[5] on April 12 that over 100,000 Ukrainian children from Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts have been transported to Russia under the pretext of receiving "medical treatment."

Editorial: Today's Russia is fascist.

It's time to start calling it that Editor's Note: Editorials are articles that present the opinion of the editorial team of the Kyiv Independent. "We went and killed everyone. There were women, men, seniors, and children." These were the words of Azamat Uldarov, an ex-fighter of Russia's Wagner mercenary group who personally admit...

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References

1. ^ reported (news.liga.net)
2. ^ large-scale resettlement (kyivindependent.com)
3. ^ all-out war (kyivindependent.com)
4. ^ reported (kyivindependent.com)
5. ^ reported (kyivindependent.com)
6. ^ Editorial: Today's Russia is fascist. It's time to start calling it thatEditor's Note: Editorials are articles that present the opinion of the editorial team of the Kyiv Independent. "We went and killed everyone.

   There were women, men, seniors, and children." These were the words of Azamat Uldarov, an ex-fighter of Russia's Wagner mercenary group who personally admit... (kyivindependent.com)