DISINFO: Russia issues passports to Donbas citizens because Ukraine does not implement Minsk Agreements
SUMMARY
Issuing Russian passports to the inhabitants of Donbas is a humanitarian act because Ukraine is not implementing Minsk Agreements. It is a necessary humanitarian measure in the context of Kyiv's social-economic and transport blockade of the region. It is already 7 years since Ukraine is violating the rights of inhabitants of Donetsk and Luhansk.
RESPONSE
The situation in Donbas is linked to the war in Ukraine, which is not a civil conflict but a well-documented act of aggression by Russian armed forces, ongoing since February 2014.
The pro-Kremlin media is frequently trying to portray Ukraine as single-handedly responsible for the implementation of Minsk Agreements. However, as noted in “European Council conclusions on external relations, 24 June 2021”:
The European Council calls on Russia to fully assume its responsibility in ensuring the full implementation of the Minsk agreements as the key condition for any substantial change in the EU’s stance.
Kyiv is trying to support people in the uncontrolled territories in the region of Donbas. Since 2014, the Ukrainian government has required citizens in Donetsk and Luhansk to register as internally displaced persons in government-controlled areas of Ukraine in order to receive their pensions and other entitlements.
The systematic issuing of Russian passports to citizens in the two entities is now also used as a pretext to claim the right to influence in the region. Russia is also reported to be using the occupied territories as a testing ground for new weapons. Despite all this Russia officially denies its military presence in Donbas.
See other similar examples of disinformation: Only two EU countries opposed the issue of Russian passports in the Donbas; Russia gave passports to Donbas locals because Kiyv deprived them of any rights and social benefits; Issuing Russian passports to people in Donbas is a humanitarian act.