Putin offers citizenship to foreigners who fight for Russia

2024-01-04 15:28:54, Kosova & Bota CNA

The President of Russia, Vladimir Putin, announced on Thursday a decree which enables foreign nationals, who are fighting for Russia in Ukraine, to obtain Russian citizenship for themselves and their families.

According to the decree, people who signed contracts during Moscow's calls for a "special military operation" in Ukraine can apply for Russian passports for themselves, their wives, their children and their parents.

They must bring documents proving that they have been registered in the army for at least one year.

Citizenship can be applied for by those who have signed contracts with the armed forces, or with "other military formations" - a description that could apply to groups such as the mercenary group, Wagner.

The decree appears to be aimed at encouraging foreigners with military experience to apply to join Russia.

Moscow does not release data on the number of foreigners fighting alongside its army in Ukraine.

However, Reuters has reported in the past that Cubans, who enlisted in its army in exchange for bonuses equivalent to one hundred times the average Cuban salary, and about three Africans recruited by Wagner, two of whom were killed fighting .

A declassified US intelligence report has found that the war in Ukraine has cost Russia 315,000 dead and wounded, or more than 90 percent of the troops it started the conflict with.

Russia called up 300,000 additional soldiers in September 2022 in its first mobilization since World War II. There have been persistent reports that she will repeat the move, possibly after the March presidential election, in which Putin is expected to extend his mandate for another six years.

The Kremlin has repeatedly said it does not need any more mobilization, however, as hundreds of thousands of men voluntarily signed contracts last year to become professional soldiers.

Neither Russia nor Ukraine have indicated the extent of their losses in the already 22-month war./ REL