Zelensky strips collaborators of Ukrainian citizenship

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has decided to strip ten individuals of their citizenship after they were found to hold Russian Federation passports. This was announced by David Arakhamia, head of the "Servant of the People" parliamentary faction.

Who was stripped of citizenship?

Among those who lost their Ukrainian citizenship is Viktor Baransky — a businessman and Odesa City Council deputy from the banned OPZZH party. Baransky has long been under the scrutiny of US law enforcement agencies, which accuse him of fraudulent schemes in the shipping sector.

The list also includes:

• Dmytro Tabachnyk — former Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine,
• Vitaly Zakharchenko — former head of the Ministry of Internal Affairs,
• Andriy Klyuyev — former head of the Presidential Administration,
• Oleksandr Yakymenko — former head of the Security Service of Ukraine,
• Oleksandr Klymenko — former Minister of Revenue and Duties.

In addition, citizenship was revoked from:

• Mykhailo Shentsiv — Kharkiv Oblast Council deputy from OPZZH,
• Oleksandr Horbylev — collaborator and representative of the occupation administration,
• Bogdan Klyuyev and Vitaly Slaba.

Political context

This move by Zelensky is aimed at strengthening national security and purging Ukraine of individuals who support or cooperate with the aggressor. The decision to revoke citizenship reflects the Ukrainian authorities' determination to curb the activities of those who threaten the state's sovereignty.

Many of the individuals on the list previously held high-ranking state positions and became symbols of corruption and pro-Russian policies. Their links to the occupiers and possession of Russian passports now officially deprive them of the right to remain citizens of Ukraine.

Consequences

Stripping such individuals of their citizenship is a signal to the international community that Ukraine is actively combating internal threats. It is also a warning to other citizens: cooperation with the aggressor or acquiring the citizenship of a hostile state is unacceptable.