Ukrainians forced to become Russian

Accept a Kremlin or face jail, citizens told passport

- CHRIS HUGHES

KREMLIN forces have stolen the nationalities of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians by forcing them to accept Russian passports.

It means many of the men who have had to become Russian could be drafted in to fight against their compatriots who are trying to free them.

The mass identity steal counts for almost the entire Population of occupied Ukraine territories, which sources say, is 20 percent of the country. Ukrainians have been ordered to become Russian or face lengthy jail terms and beatings and be blocked from accessing healthcare in the region.

The passport coercion was stepped up ahead of this weekend's farcical presidential election.