Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree on Thursday expediting the process for foreigners to obtain Russian citizenship if they join the country’s military, particularly amid the ongoing 22-month-long conflict in Ukraine. The move is part of Moscow’s efforts to bolster its forces in Ukraine, employing various methods, including the recruitment of migrants.
Russia has been a destination for hundreds of thousands of individuals from less affluent Central Asian nations, and many of them express a desire for Russian citizenship each year.
Putin initially introduced an expedited citizenship track for foreigners entering contracts with the Russian army in September 2022, shortly after announcing a partial mobilisation to draft 300,000 reservists for Ukraine.
Under the initial policy, immigrants who signed a contract for at least a year and actively participated in hostilities for a minimum of six months were eligible to apply for citizenship without meeting the usual residency requirements. Additionally, spouses and children were included in this provision.
A subsequent decree in May 2023 further simplified the procedure by removing the requirement for active hostilities participation for at least six months, allowing anyone with a year-long contract during the “special military operation” in Ukraine, along with their families, to apply through the fast-track process.
The latest decree signed on Thursday further accelerates the citizenship application process, reducing the decision time to one month instead of three. No official explanation for this change has been provided by the Kremlin.
This development coincides with reports of police raids in Russian cities targeting migrants. According to these reports, individuals detained in such raids are often encouraged or pressured to sign military contracts. The most recent raid in St. Petersburg on New Year’s Eve resulted in over 3,000 migrants being detained, with the goal reportedly being recruitment into the army.
Since the invasion of Ukraine, Russia has sought to increase its military strength, with Putin ordering multiple increases in troop numbers.
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu has emphasised the need for a force of 1.5 million to ensure Russia’s security. The decision to recruit more troops follows a shift in the assessment of military requirements after encountering stronger-than-expected resistance from Ukraine.
Putin’s mobilisation decree is open-ended, allowing the military to call up additional reservists as needed. Regional authorities have also formed volunteer battalions for Ukraine, while recruitment campaigns across Russia promise cash bonuses and employ various strategies to attract new enlistees.
In a recent statement, Putin mentioned that 486,000 new soldiers signed contracts with the military in 2023, without specifying how many were foreign nationals. Reports suggest that authorities may have offered amnesty to prisoners in exchange for military service. Both Russia and Ukraine maintain secrecy regarding military casualties, with Western estimates indicating significantly higher figures than officially reported by the Russian military.
