**Forced Passportization in Occupied Kherson Oblast: A Tool of Terror**
The occupation authorities in Ukraine’s Kherson Oblast are using a sinister tactic to maintain control over the population. According to reports from the Center of National Resistance, parents who refuse to obtain Russian passports are being threatened with the loss of their parental rights.
These threats are not empty promises. The Governor of Kherson Oblast, Ivan Dudary, has spoken out against this practice, calling it “instruments of terror.” He is not alone in his concerns. Kateryna Rashevska, a legal advisor at the Regional Center for Human Rights in Kyiv, has also warned about the dangers of forced passportization.
**The Consequences of Refusal**
Ukrainian civilians living under occupation are being coerced into obtaining Russian passports. Those who refuse face severe consequences. They will be denied medical assistance, and their children may be taken away from them. The risk of mobilization is also very real, as the authorities can demand that anyone without a Russian passport join the military.
This is not just a case of bureaucratic red tape. The occupation authorities are using every tool at their disposal to erase the identity of Ukrainians living under occupation. They aim to create a sense of dependency and fear, making it impossible for people to resist or even think about opposing the occupation.
**A Tool of Oppression**
The use of forced passportization is a classic tactic used by oppressive regimes to maintain control over their populations. By stripping individuals of their national identity and forcing them to adopt the identity of the occupying power, the authorities can break down any sense of resistance or opposition.
In this case, the occupation authorities are using every trick in the book to ensure that Ukrainians living under occupation identify as Russian rather than Ukrainian. This is a deliberate attempt to erase the cultural and national identity of the people, making it impossible for them to resist or even think about opposing the occupation.
**The Human Cost**
The human cost of forced passportization cannot be overstated. Families are being torn apart, and individuals are being coerced into adopting identities that are not their own. The trauma and stress caused by this practice are immense, and the long-term effects will be felt for generations to come.
**What Can Be Done?**
While it is impossible to undo the harm that has already been done, there are steps that can be taken to prevent further trauma. Human rights organizations, governments, and individuals must work together to expose and condemn this practice. The international community must also take a stand against forced passportization and demand that the occupation authorities cease this oppressive tactic.
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