Ukraine's Kherson & Zaporizhzhya regions prefer integration with Russia: Crimean official

brutal conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to escalate even after 120 days of warfare, with no signs of a peace deal between two neighbouring nations. With Russian troops relentlessly attacking Ukrainian cities, it has come to fore that situation in Ukrainian territories is worsening. Reports have emerged that Kherson and Zaporizhzhya regions are showing a high demand for Russian passports and with this development, it is clear that local residents are supporting accession to Russia, said Crimea's Permanent Representative to Russian President, Georgy Murov.

"As for legal processes, regions need to define ir own path. However, I do know that issuance of Russian passports encouraged people to support idea of restoring historic region of Tavria. "It makes it clear that process of integration with Russian Crimea—with Russia—will continue," he pointed out," reported Russia's Tass news agency.

This came after Russian President Vlimir Putin signed a decree relaxing rules for granting Russian citizenship to residents of Ukraine’s Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions. Earlier, on June 11, Russian authorities provided first passports to Kherson region’s residents at a ceremony dedicated to Russia Day marked on June 12. As many as 23 Kherson residents were given Russian passports. A move that Ukraine has condemned and called "russification".

Kherson, Zaporizhzhya regions tend to support integration with Moscow: Crimean official

According to TASS, thousands of Ukrainian citizens have applied for a Russian passport, a claim that has not been confirmed by Russian government. However, Ukraine continues to condemn Kremlin for carrying out such operations on Ukrainian land. Earlier, Russian-appointed military governor in Kherson, Volodymyr Saldo, said, "All our Khersonite comres want to receive passport and [Russian] citizenship as soon as possible."

Meanwhile, Ukraine fears that Russia will expand this operation in areas seized by Kremlin's troops in current invasion.

Russia-Ukraine war

Ever since Russian President Vlimir Putin ordered full-scale military action against Ukraine, hostilities between neighbouring nations have caused massive damage in war-hit country. Meanwhile, Ukraine has claimed that its armed forces have eliminated at least 34,430 Russian soldiers since war began on February 24. In dition, y have also destroyed over 1,500 Russian tanks, 756 artillery systems, and 240 MLRS.

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