Russia issues over half a million passports to separatist republics

Russia has issued over half a million passports to the residents of the separatist republics in the last two years, in a process that's being called 'passportization'.

Ukraine says it's illegal, but many residents are travelling large distances just to become Russian citizens.

Sky's Moscow Correspondent Diana Magnay reports .

SUBSCRIBE to our YouTube channel for more videos: http://www.youtube.com/skynews

Sky News videos are now available in Spanish here/Los video de Sky News están disponibles en español aquí https://www.youtube.com/channel/skynewsespanol

Follow us on Twitter: https://twitter.com/skynews and https://twitter.com/skynewsbreak

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/skynews

Follow us on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/skynews

For more content go to http://news.sky.com and download our apps:

Apple https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/sky-news/id316391924?mt=8

Android https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.bskyb.skynews.android&hl=en_GB