Russia distributing its passports in occupied territories to show invasion as success – British intelligence

The UK Ministry of Defense said this in a tweet, referring to the latest British intelligence update.

“The authorities in occupied areas of Ukraine are almost certainly coercing the population to accept Russian Federation passports,” the report says.

It is noted that Russia is using passports as a tool in the ‘Russification’ of the occupied areas, as it did in Donetsk and Luhansk before the February 2022 invasion.

“Russia is likely expediating the integration of the occupied areas of Ukraine into the bureaucracy of the Russian Federation to help paint the invasion as a success, especially in the run-up to the 2024 presidential elections (in Russia – ed.),” the British intelligence noted.

As reported by Ukrinform, in its previous update, the British intelligence said that Russia's Ministry of Defense launched a major campaign to recruit volunteers as the Russian Federation seeks to delay open mobilization to minimize domestic dissent.