"Putin Fast-Tracks Citizenship for Foreigners Joining Russian Military Efforts"

President Vladimir Putin has signed a decree that expedites Russian citizenship for foreigners who join the Russian military, a move aimed at bolstering troop numbers amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. The new decree shortens the decision time for citizenship applications from three months to one month. This follows previous decrees that waived language and residency requirements for foreign military enlistees and their families. The initiative targets migrants from Central Asian countries and comes as Russia faces a need to increase its military personnel, with Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu stating a goal of 1.5 million troops. Reports suggest that migrants are being pressured into military service through police raids and offers of fast-track citizenship.