You're reading: Agreement: Crimea’s Ukrainians to become Russians

Moscow - The Ukrainian citizens residing in Crimea will become Russian after the signing of an agreement admitting the republic and Sevastopol as parts of Russia, unless they express their wish to retain their current citizenship within a month. 

“As of the day of the admission of the Republic of Crimea to Russia and the formation of new Russian constituent regions, the Ukrainian citizens and non-citizens permanently residing in the Republic of Crimea and in the federal city of Sevastopol are recognized as Russian citizens,” according to an agreement on the admission of Crimea and formation as new Russian constituent regions, posted on the Kremlin’s website.

An exception will be made for persons “who within one month from this day express their wish to retain their current (other than Russian) citizenship for themselves and their underage children or to remain persons without citizenship,” the document said.