Pavlo KryvenkoThe Russian occupiers of Ukrainian territory have been pressuring residents to apply for Russian passports, which is a key feature of their claim that occupied Ukraine is now part of Russia. However, the process is not happening fast enough for the Kremlin, and the occupying authorities have toughened the rules on free medical treatment to further coerce residents. To access healthcare, it is necessary to have an insurance certificate, but to get a certificate, one needs a Russian passport.
Yevgeny Balitsky, the Russian-appointed governor of Zaporizhzhia Oblast, announced that from January 2024, those with Ukrainian passports would be denied treatment. While emergency assistance is still provided, people are sent to Crimea to be treated, mainly in Simferopol, where some are told their insurance isn’t valid. The attitude of doctors towards locals is hostile, and there aren’t enough qualified specialists to provide medical assistance.
Another problem is the lack of hardware, and what is provided isn’t always usable. Medical equipment has been looted by Russian forces from regional hospitals, but there are no specialists to assemble it. The situation is dire, and ordinary people are better off not getting sick.
The Russian occupiers are using any means necessary to force Ukrainian residents into having Russian passports, and the latest form of coercion restricts free healthcare. The situation is a cause for concern, and the international community must take action to ensure that the rights of Ukrainian citizens are protected.