KYIV. June 14 (Interfax) - The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry has strongly condemned the start of the issuance of Russian passports to residents of some areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine and will continue on introducing relevant sanctions.
"Such actions by Russia are legally void. They have no legal implications and will not be recognized by the Ukrainian side and the world. The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry will continue working with our international partners to impose against those involved in the process of so-called 'facilitated passportization' of residents of the temporarily occupied territories of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions sectoral sanctions, and also broadening international personal sanctions," the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry's press service said on Friday.
The start of the issuance of Russian passports to residents of the Ukrainian territories again confirms major violations by Russia of international law and the state sovereignty of Ukraine, the ministry said.
The first group of residents of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Luhansk people's republics received Russian passports in the Rostov region earlier on Friday.