The Internal Affairs Ministry will begin replacing Ukraine?s internal passport system with identification cards in August. Concorde Capital: While this news may not seem exceptional to those who have never had to grapple with the draconian registration system used in the former Soviet Union, this may not seem like big news. For those who have been subject to registration rules in places like Russia and Kazakhstan, this is a significant step toward creating a more liberal society. While Ukraine did away with registration requirements a couple of years ago, the internal passport was a lingering Soviet relic that has long been in need of replacement. The ID cards will bring Ukraine up to Western European standards.