The Cabinet of Ministers of Russia has moved to annul the previous order that extended the temporary stay of Ukrainian citizens who were living in specific areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions of Ukraine. The formal document confirming this change is published on the legal information portal, which serves as the official record of government acts and amendments.
According to the new decision, the Government of the Russian Federation recognizes as invalid Decree No. 1744 issued on December 29, 2018. That decree had previously provided for a permanent extension of the temporary residence period for certain Ukrainian citizens in the designated Donetsk and Lugansk regions of Ukraine. With the cancellation, the prior framework for extending stay in Russia for this group is set aside, and the status quo is restored to the position that existed before the 2018 decree.
The transition to the new arrangement becomes effective on the date of its publication, which is marked as March 20, 2023. This means that the legal basis for the extended stay loses its force from that moment, and affected individuals must comply with the updated rules or seek new permissions under the current regulations.
Earlier statements from Russia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs suggested that there could be a cap on the duration of visits by immigrants, potentially limiting short stays to 90 days within a single year. Such a limit would influence planning for those who travel for work, family reunification, or other purposes and could affect temporary workers and residents who rely on the possibility of longer stays.
On a broader regional note, neighboring countries have also been adjusting their policies toward Ukrainian travelers. For instance, authorities in Georgia had previously expanded the visa-free period available to Ukrainians to as long as two years, a move that contrasts with changes observed in Russia and highlights how bilateral policies can diverge across the region. The evolving landscape reflects ongoing geopolitical considerations, the management of migratory flows, and the desire of different states to balance security, economic needs, and humanitarian concerns.
The Russian government’s decision to invalidate the 2018 decree thus marks a shift in the legal treatment of a specific group of Ukrainian nationals who were previously covered by an extended stay arrangement. The practical impact hinges on how regional authorities implement the new rules, how consular and migration services interpret the change, and how individuals affected by the decree adjust their residence plans. In the months following the publication, migrants and legal observers would likely monitor any subsequent regulations, clarifications, or transitional provisions that might accompany the shift, ensuring they understand updated eligibility criteria, documentation requirements, and the process for lawful residence in Russia under the current framework. (Source: legal information portal)