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Reuters
Reuters
Politics

Beneath a portrait of Putin, some Ukrainians embrace Russian passports

Local residents stand below a portrait of Russia's President Vladimir Putin as they go through a procedure to acquire the Russian citizenship and passport at an interior ministry office during Ukraine-Russia conflict in the city of Kherson, Ukraine July 25, 2022. REUTERS/Alexander Ermochenko

As the Soviet-era melody of the Russian national anthem filled the room, a small group of Ukrainians in this city seized by Russian troops nearly five months ago swore allegiance to Moscow before being handed freshly minted Russian passports.

"I love Russia. Glory to Russia!" said Igor Chaika, 58, one of the three, after pledging to defend the Russian Federation. Another, Alexandra Safronova, 92, wiped tears from her eyes. "I am happy. Thank you," she said after being handed a Russian passport by an armed man wearing a medical mask.

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