Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday signed a decree that relaxes the method for residents of two Russian-occupied areas in Ukraine to accumulate Russian citizenship and passports. In the meantime, Kyiv rapidly denounced the decree, saying the transfer infringes upon Ukraine's sovereignty.

Putin's decree applies to the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia areas, which kind a land connection between the jap a part of Ukraine and the Crimean Peninsula. Russian forces seized management of each areas quickly after Putin launched his army marketing campaign in late February.

Based on the Related Press, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khusnullin visited the areas final week and stated each areas may develop into members of "our Russian household."

Putin had beforehand relaxed citizenship necessities within the Ukrainian areas of Donetsk and Luhansk, identified collectively as Donbas, in 2019. Russian state media outlet TASS reported that the brand new decree will simplify the citizenship process and waives the same old necessities for foreigners making use of. These normal necessities that aren't relevant for Kherson and Zaporizhzhia residents live in Russia for 5 years, having proof of revenue, and passing a Russian language examination.

These making use of from the areas can even be told of a call inside three months of submitting an utility.

The Ministry of Overseas Affairs of Ukraine condemned the fast-track naturalization plan.

"Unlawful passportization in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia, in addition to in Crimea and the briefly occupied a part of Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts, is a gross violation of Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity, norms and rules of worldwide humanitarian legislation, in addition to obligations of the Russian Federation as an occupying energy..." the ministry stated in an announcement.

Vladimir Putin speaks during a Kremlin meeting
Russian President Vladimir Putin eased Russian citizenship necessities for residents dwelling in two Ukrainian areas occupied by Russian forces. On this picture, Putin is seen throughout a gathering of the State Council Presidium on the Kremlin in Moscow on Might 25, 2022. Photograph by SERGEI GUNEYEV/SPUTNIK/AFP by way of Getty Picture

"The decree of the President of Russia is legally null and void and can have no authorized penalties. This choice is not going to have an effect on the belonging to the citizenship of Ukraine of the residents within the territories briefly occupied by Russia.

"Pressured passportization of Ukrainians in Kherson and Zaporizhzhia is but another proof of the legal aim of Russia's warfare towards Ukraine—the conquest of Ukrainian territories for his or her additional occupation and integration into Russia's authorized, political and financial area."

The AP reported that Putin's decree may permit Russia to "strengthen its maintain on territory that lies between jap Ukraine, the place Moscow-backed separatists occupy some areas, and the Crimean Peninsula, which Russia seized in 2014."

Per TASS, the brand new decree for Zaporozhye and Kherson went into impact after Putin signed it on Wednesday.

Newsweek reached out to the Russian Overseas Ministry and Ukraine's Ministry of Overseas Affairs for remark.