In Ukraine’s temporarily occupied territories, the crime situation is deteriorating and living standards continue to fall. In the Kremlin, these problems are seen as risks to maintaining control over the seized regions, reports Ukraine’s Defence Intelligence (HUR).
The main threats include the illegal circulation of weapons and explosives, alcohol abuse among Russian troops, street clashes and beatings. An increase in cybercrime and the embezzlement of funds that occupation administrations receive from the Russian budget has also been recorded.
According to HUR, local residents live under constant pressure due to a tightened counter-intelligence regime, the threat of violence from Russian troops and repression by security agencies. This is fuelling negative attitudes among the population towards the occupation authorities.
The situation is compounded by worsening socio-economic conditions. In the seized territories there is a shortage of jobs, food, medicines, fuel and basic necessities. Against the backdrop of growing poverty and destruction, people are leaving the regions.
To maintain the population’s loyalty, Russia is trying to more actively promote propaganda materials about so-called socio-economic projects and programmes to raise the birth rate.
At the same time, the occupation authorities are seeking to restrict residents’ access to alternative sources of information and communication channels, including those that the Russian authorities label as linked to “foreign agents”.
The Kremlin also plans to tighten oversight of occupation administrations and collaborators who hold posts in illegally created governing bodies. According to HUR, Moscow does not fully trust even the most pro-Russian representatives of the occupation authorities.
Earlier, Ukrainian intelligence reported that the Kremlin had appointed Marat Khusnullin as the new overseer of the occupied territories. According to HUR, the day-to-day running of the seized regions is handled by a shadow special group that includes representatives of Russia’s security services and law-enforcement agencies.