Russian President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree allowing residents of Transnistria to obtain Russian citizenship under a simplified procedure — without meeting standard requirements such as five years of residence in Russia, proficiency in the Russian language, or knowledge of Russian history and legislation, according to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation under the National Security and Defense Council.
“This step signifies not only an attempt to label the territory as supposedly ‘its own,’ but also a search for new resources for the war, including potential military personnel. According to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, this is part of Moscow’s broader strategy to expand its influence and destabilize Moldova. He also emphasized that the growing military contingent and the presence of intelligence services in the region pose a threat to Moldova’s security and stability,” the statement on the Telegram channel said.
The Center for Countering Disinformation stressed that the Kremlin’s goal is to legitimize its military presence in Transnistria through mass passportization and to create grounds for the future “protection of Russian citizens,” as was done in Donbas.
“Russia systematically uses the issuance of passports as a tool of hybrid aggression, preparing the groundwork for occupation under the pretext of ‘protecting compatriots,’” the Center concluded.
