MOSCOW, May 25. /TASS/. Residents of the Kherson region have been waiting for the possibility of obtaining Russian citizenship, the first applications have already been submitted to the regional administration, head of the region's civil-military administration Vladimir Saldo said on Wednesday during a Channel One TV broadcast.

"Many residents of our region have been waiting for this opportunity, they asked questions, applications are already being submitted to the civil-military administration," he said.

On May 25, Russian President Vladimir Putin signed a decree simplifying a procedure for applying for Russian citizenship for residents of the Zaporozhye and Kherson regions of Ukraine. Consideration of applications for Russian citizenship for such persons and the adoption of relevant decisions should be carried out within a period not exceeding three months from the date of application and submission of documents.