The Cabinet of Ministers proposes to the Verkhovna Rada to ban the consideration of applications from russians for Ukrainian citizenship during martial law and a year after it

The Cabinet of Ministers has registered in the Supreme Parliament a bill regarding the legal status of foreigners and stateless persons who participate in the defence of the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine, as stated on the Verkhovna Rada's website.

The document proposes to halt the review and acceptance of applications for Ukrainian citizenship from russian citizens until one year from the cessation or cancellation of martial law, except for:

1. Persons who have made significant contributions to Ukraine or whose acceptance to Ukrainian citizenship is of national interest to Ukraine;
2. Persons who are serving/have served under contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, State Special Transport Service, or National Guard of Ukraine, including those awarded state awards of Ukraine;
3. Persons who have served under contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, State Special Transport Service, or National Guard of Ukraine, whose contract has been terminated due to inability to serve due to health conditions;
4. Persons who were involved in the defence of Ukraine as part of the territorial defence forces or voluntary formations of territorial communities; minor children who have legitimate grounds for acquiring Ukrainian citizenship.

The bill also provides for:

• The possibility of obtaining immigration permits or Ukrainian citizenship based on passport documents that have expired, as well as the possibility of obtaining temporary residence certificates by foreigners and stateless persons involved in the defence of Ukraine as part of the territorial defence forces or voluntary formations of the territorial community;
• The right of family members of persons who have entered into a contract for service in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, and the National Guard of Ukraine to obtain temporary residence certificates;
• The obligation of russian citizens and citizens of the Republic of belarus, who have acquired Ukrainian citizenship and have committed to renounce foreign citizenship, to submit a document on the termination of foreign citizenship within a year from the day of cessation or cancellation of martial law, if the deadline for fulfilling such an obligation has already expired;
• The right of individuals who have acquired Ukrainian citizenship during martial law and have committed to taking exams on the basics of the Constitution, history of Ukraine, and proficiency in the state language, and who are serving under contract in the Armed Forces of Ukraine, the State Special Transport Service, or the National Guard, to fulfil the undertaken obligation within two years from the day of cessation or cancellation of martial law.

In addition, the Cabinet of Ministers proposes to oblige russian and belarusian citizens, who have acquired Ukrainian citizenship under the law On Citizenship of Ukraine and have committed to terminating foreign citizenship, to submit a document on the termination of foreign citizenship within a year from the day of cessation or cancellation of martial law, if the deadline for fulfilling such an obligation has already expired.

Background. Mind previously reported that exams were being introduced in Ukraine for acquiring Ukrainian citizenship.