Remember that ANYONE who is part of the “near abroad” can get Russian citizenship and a Russian passport, as long as they speak Russian.
Is there some facts behind Russian passports for anyone? Russian passports in Ukraine is a myth. It hapend in Georgia only and Putinistas fond a good excuse for it. Not too many people remember earlier 90s in Georgia there was official slogan ‘Georgia for Georgians!’ on state media. Facing major economic decline Georgia used nationalist agenda too much as a tool to unite people aginst the Empire of Evil. Minorities were a target to claim them as Soviet agents who are stealing Georgian freedom which wasn’t as true as it is now. These poor people were left out of basic freedoms and targeted by government military same way it was at Bosnia. I don’t give any excuse to Russians giving them passports since their intrest is clear but it sure makes some excuse giving a passport to one who unable to have a national passport since his or her own government refusing to issue one. You need one just to travel somewhere. Also why one need Georgian passport if it is possible to get Russians, to be more welcomed abroad.
As for issuing Russian passports in Ukraine it’s a joke. It is same as giving US citizenship to any Mexican who ask. Ukrainians are already busy to get East for job legally or not crawling around the border in hundreds daily. If one to give them citizenship there won’t be Ukrainians left at home.