In Zaporozhye, the Russian occupiers are also trying to financially encourage the local population to collaborate.

The Russian occupation leadership continues the forced passporting of the population of the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine.

In particular, such measures are ongoing in the Melitopol district of Zaporizhzhya region, according to the evening summary of the General Staff.

It is reported that Ukrainian hryvnias are gradually withdrawn from the circulation of trade networks, and the population is forced to switch to Russian rubles.

“Also, the occupiers are trying to financially encourage the local population to collaborate, providing cash assistance to pensioners in the amount of 10,000 rubles and charging a large salary to loyal local residents who agreed to work in the institutions of the so-called occupying power,” the report says.

Forced passporting in the occupied territories

As reported, in May Russian dictator Vladimir Putin signed a decree on simplified Russian citizenship for residents of the Kherson and Zaporizhzhia regions.

On July 11, Putin signed a decree on a simplified procedure for granting Russian citizenship to Ukrainians. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine emphasized that this passportization will not have any legal consequences for our country.

Meanwhile, the Cabinet of Ministers approved a bill on criminal liability for forced Russian passporting. The Ministry of Reintegration noted that obtaining a passport of the Russian Federation in the temporarily occupied territories is justified only if a person thus tries to return to the territory controlled by Ukraine through the Russian Federation or third countries.

The head of European diplomacy, Josep Borrell, said that the European Union will not recognize such passports.