"Russia's Aggressive Agenda: Erasing Ukraine's Border"
Russia is seeking to erase the border with occupied Ukraine, making crossings more comfortable for residents who have taken up Russian citizenship. Since annexing four Ukrainian territories last year, Moscow has controlled key border points, but the frontier has become more porous. Russian authorities have handed out nearly two million passports to Ukrainians in occupied regions, despite not fully controlling the annexed territories. While civilians find it easier to enter Russia, lorry drivers still face meticulous checks by Russian customs officers. The conflict between Russia and Ukraine continues to spill over, but Russian authorities are working to contain the fighting on one side of the border.