Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman for Russian President Vladimir Putin, confirmed that Russian passports had been distributed in the Donbas, Report informs.
"The distribution of Russian passports in the Donbas does not violate the Minsk agreements. It is enough to read the short text of the Minsk agreements once. Moscow is doing this for humanitarian purposes," Peskov told journalists.
According to him, the social situation in these areas is difficult, and the distribution of passports serves to improve people's well-being.
After Russia annexed Crimea in 2014, military operations began in the Donbas region of Ukraine. As a result, Donetsk and Luhansk regions came under separatist control. Fighting broke out between the Ukrainian Armed Forces and militants from the Russian-backed Donetsk and Luhansk republics. Moscow denies involvement in the conflict. An absolute majority of UN members, including Azerbaijan, recognize Crimea as Ukrainian territory.