Russia to offer Russian citizenship for foreigners who enroll themselves in Russian army

Russian authorities have offered Russian citizenship to foreigners in exchange for enlisting in the country’s armed forces, said the General Staff on January 16, reported the Kyiv Independent. Meanwhile, the businesses in Moscow have been asked to support the Russian army with $145,500, said General Staff. Ukraine's General Staff shared that Russia has lost 116,080 troops in Ukraine since February 24, reported the Kyiv Independent.

While talking about the losses incurred by the Russian troops in the Russia-Ukraine war, Ukraine's General Staff said, "Russia had also lost 3,118 tanks, 6,204 armored fighting vehicles, 4,870 vehicles and fuel tanks, 2,099 artillery systems, 438 multiple launch rocket systems, 220 air defense systems, 286 airplanes, 276 helicopters, 1,872 drones, and 17 boats."

Putin signed a decree on Russian citizenship

Russian President Vladimir Putin signed an official agreement in July 2022 that allows foreign citizens to serve in the ranks of Russia's Armed Forces. This was strongly criticised by Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Klueba who said  Putin’s signing of a passport decree, which also applies to stateless residents in Ukraine, was an example of his “predatory appetites,” reported Associated Press. 

Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry has also condemned this "null and void" Russian strategy. “Russia is using the simplified procedure for issuing passports to tighten the noose around the necks of residents of the temporarily occupied territories of our state, forcing them to participate in the criminal activities of the occupying administrations and the Russian army of aggression,” Ukraine’s Foreign Ministry said in a statement released on Jully 11, 2022.

Ukrainian army gets UK military support

Meanwhile, the Ukrainian army has received donations of 14 Challenger (ACP) tanks and artillery guns from the UK, reported Sky news. The Ukrainian president Zelenskyy has also thanked the UK Prime Minister and UK Secretary of State for Defence Ben Wallace. Taking to Twitter, Zelenskyy wrote, " Tanks, APCs and artillery are exactly what Ukraine needs to restore its territorial integrity. Thank you @RishiSunak, thank you @BWallaceMP , thank you British people for this powerful contribution to our common victory over tyranny."