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More than 8,000 former Ukrainian military in Crimea requesting Russian passports

“And about 3,000 of them have already received new assignments,” Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu says

© EPA/JAKUB KAMINSKI

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Ukraine withdraws more than 2,000 servicemen from Crimea

MOSCOW, April 04. /ITAR-TASS/. More than 8,000 former Ukrainian military, who did their active duty service in Crimea, have filed requests for getting Russian passports, Russian Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said Thursday at an extraordinary session of the ministerial board.

Most of these servicemen have also declared their willingness to join the Russian Armed Forces and the Russian commanders have given this opportunity to them, he said.

“More than 8,000 of them filed documents for obtaining Russian passports,” Shoigu said. “And about 3,000 of them have already received new assignments.”

“It’s important create all the conditions now for their earliest possible adaption to service in the Russian Army,” he said.

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