russia has introduced a new law which requires Ukrainian children in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory to possess a russian passport in order to travel abroad (aside from Belarus,
Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and temporarily occupied regions of Georgia). The law, which reportedly took effect from January 20, 2026, applies to all children under the age of 14 within russia and the Ukrainian territories, UK Defense Intelligence reports.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence Analyzes Why russia Renews Energy Attacks Across Ukraine
The russian law is highly likely intended to increase the difficulties for Ukrainians with children seeking to leave those areas of Ukraine currently under russian control.
It also amounts to a further addition to the russian senior leadership's long-standing russification policy in temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory, which seeks to extirpate Ukrainian culture, identity and statehood.
This follows russian President Vladimir Putin's March 20, 2025, decree that mandated Ukrainian nationals living in russia, or in sovereign Ukrainian territory temporarily occupied by russia, to "settle their legal status" by September 10, 2025, or leave the territory.
This was almost certainly intended to compel Ukrainian nationals living in areas under russian control to accept russian passports and citizenship. Male Ukrainians aged 18-30 who hold russian passports are liable for conscription into the russian military.
As Defense Express previously reported, russia is moving to grant the Federal Security Service (FSB) with sweeping authority over the country's communications networks.
On January 27, 2026, the State Duma advanced government-backed amendments that would allow the FSB to shut down mobile internet, fixed-line internet, telephone services, and "any other means of communication" in response to vaguely defined "security threats.
Read more: UK Defense Intelligence: russia Expands Legal Framework for Nationwide Internet and Phone Shutdowns
