Russia to Strip Migrants of Citizenship to Force Military Service Against Ukraine
Russia is preparing a new law that would allow the Kremlin to revoke citizenship from naturalized migrants, potentially forcing them to fight in the war against Ukraine. According to Ukrainian intelligence, Russian President Vladimir Putin is expected to sign the law by the end of July, The Gaze reports, citing the Foreign Intelligence Service of Ukraine.
The legislation significantly expands the grounds for stripping individuals of their Russian citizenship. Official justifications include “public support for terrorism,” “cooperation with foreign states or organizations,” and vaguely defined accusations such as “aiding the enemy” or “threatening Russia’s security.”
However, Ukrainian intelligence warns that the true purpose is to use migrant communities as a pool for military conscription, avoiding further mobilization of ethnic Russians.
The law comes amid a worsening migration crisis inside Russia, marked by increasing xenophobia and frequent conflicts across the country. Hostility is growing not only toward foreign-born migrants but also toward ethnic minorities from Russia’s own Caucasus regions.
The Kremlin has tasked a newly established Citizenship and Migration Registration Service, operating under the Interior Ministry, with implementing the new measures. With over six million foreign nationals currently registered in Russia, many may soon find themselves targeted by this policy.
Analysts say this move is part of a broader authoritarian strategy—using legal ambiguity to selectively persecute vulnerable populations while solving military manpower shortages.
It reflects both demographic challenges and Russia’s effort to maintain its war effort without triggering wider unrest through another general mobilization.
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