Starting from October 1, only those holding the Russian passports will be able to serve in pro-Kremlin mercenary units, - Ukraine's Ministry of Defense

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The command of the Russian Federation’s Armed Forces is taking measures to accelerate the so-called "passportization" in the temporarily occupied territories in Donetsk and Luhansk regions.

This is stated in the summary of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine on the situation in the area of the Joint Forces operation.

"By increasing the number of Russian citizens in the temporarily occupied territory at the expense of the locals, the Russian Federation is trying to strengthen its position in international negotiations that are set to solve the situation in the Donbas. In addition, the Russian Federation expects to prevent the deprivation of its influence in the region - in case it is forced to agree to certain concessions in the process of the Minsk Agreements implementation and preserves its potential for further aggression against Ukraine", the Defense Ministry stated.