The government in the Zaporozhye region is moving to end the practice of providing medical services to residents who rely on Ukrainian passports, with changes expected to take effect at the start of 2024. This information was conveyed by regional governor Evgeniy Balitsky on the Russia 24 television channel, clarifying the policy direction for the near term.
Balitsky emphasized that a portion of the local population has delayed obtaining Russian citizenship. In response, regional authorities have decided to accelerate procedures and implement tighter measures to streamline the transition for residents who prefer or need to switch to Russian documents.
He noted that the timeline will see no rushed actions before the New Year. The governor stated that individuals who continued to rely on a Ukrainian passport for health insurance up to the border of the New Year will face changes in eligibility for coverage, underscoring a shift in how health services are accessed under the evolving citizenship framework.
The governor also described the regional documentation process as steady and orderly, with a visible queue of residents seeking new Russian passports. Balitsky described the current situation as manageable and not excessively burdensome in scale, indicating ongoing normalization of document issuance in the region.
In a separate development on September 29, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree allowing Ukrainian citizens to cross Russia’s borders without a visa, accompanied by provisions granting entry rights to foreigners with expired internal identity cards. The decree aligns with broader changes in border policy affecting certain categories of travelers and residents in neighboring areas.
Earlier statements from the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs highlighted a record pace in state passport issuance during the first half of the year, signaling a rapid acceleration of document processing and registration efforts across regions. The combination of these measures suggests a broader push to expand administrative eligibility and streamline identity verification processes in support of regional and national governance objectives.
Together, the developments in the Zaporozhye region and the federal border policies illustrate a coordinated approach to documentation and residency status, with implications for access to public services, including health insurance, and for the ease of cross-border movement. Observers note that the policy trajectory appears to favor faster transition to Russian documentation for residents and a more permissive border regime for certain categories of travelers, while officials stress the importance of orderly administration and clear eligibility criteria for all affected residents. Attribution: regional and federal government communications and official decrees.