Ukraine's Verkhovna Rada intends to simplify the procedure for granting Ukrainian citizenship to foreigners and stateless persons who participated in Ukraine's Anti-Terrorist Operation (ATO) to defend Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty.

The corresponding draft law "On Amendments to Certain Legislative Acts Concerning the Legal Status of Foreigners and Stateless Persons Who Took Part in Protecting the Territorial Integrity and Inviolability of Ukraine" (No. 3433) was passed in the first reading. Some 252 people's deputies voted in favor of the measure.

The draft law proposes amending laws on the legal status of foreigners and stateless persons, and on the citizenship of Ukraine, in order to resolve the issue of recognition of foreigners and stateless persons who participated in the defense of Ukraine’s territorial integrity. The measure, if adopted, would simplify the procedure for obtaining citizenship.

The draft law also provides for the simplified issuance to such persons of a temporary residence permit in Ukraine for the period of participation in the defense of the territorial integrity and inviolability of Ukraine.

As earlier reported, on September 20, 2018, a rally was held outside the Rada in support of a simplified procedure for obtaining citizenship for foreigners.