A year ago, the Ukrainian government promised to make foreign fighters who joined the battle alongside the Ukrainian government troops against the Russian-backed militants in Donbas Ukrainian citizens but so far only two fighters have received that status, while the rest remain in Ukraine illegally, Ukraine Today reports.

Illya Bogdanov from Vladivostok in Russia's Far East has received Ukrainian citizenship, after a number of volunteer and MPs intervened on his behalf. President Poroshenko signed a separate decree relating specifically to his case. As for the other foreign fighters here – they'll have to keep petitioning the government for themselves. Some of the foreign fighters share their stories with Ukraine Today.

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