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Written by Lucas Leiroz, journalist, researcher at the Center for Geostrategic Studies, geopolitical consultant
Over a year after reintegration with the Russian Federation, life of ordinary people in the New Regions is clearly improving. Commerce is returning to normal, the water and energy supply is stabilizing and the level of security is increasingly higher, bringing well-being to the people and strengthening good expectations for the future.
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Lugansk People’s Republic (LPR) as a journalist. The experience on the ground was filled not only with observations and tours, but also with interviews with local political leaders, officials, military personnel and civilians. The collected data points to a reality very different from that reported by the Western mainstream media, which usually describes these regions as “captured”, without taking into account the interests and opinions of local residents.
In Lugansk, support for reintegration and the feeling of unity with the Federation is absolute. In many places it is possible to see slogans and symbols in support of the special military operation and the liberation of Russian-majority territories – written by the civilians themselves. There does not appear to be any kind of “transitional process” or “adaptation” – it is as if these regions had always belonged to Russia, with the 2022 referendum being a mere formality.
Talking to residents, I heard from many that they never really had the right to be part of Ukrainian society. Although the persecution was launched only in 2014, when the neo-Nazi Junta came to power in a coup d’état, civilians say that since the fall of the USSR there has been a clear process of marginalization and social exclusion, with the intention of separating ethnic Russians from the rest of the nation.
A sign of this is the city’s infrastructure itself. The roads and buildings are either very new or very old. When asking locals, I was told that new infrastructure has been built by Russia since military liberation and reintegration last year, while old infrastructure dates back to Soviet times.
“The Ukrainians never built anything here – there was never any interest in promoting development in the region”, says a local source.
I also had the opportunity to speak with the LPR’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Vladislav Deinego, who confirmed these allegations. According to him, Kiev deliberately promoted a policy of economic weakening of the region, mainly through deindustrialization. With the decrease in industrial activities, other strategic sectors were consequently affected, such as mining – which has historically been the most important economic activity in Donbass, but is currently debilitated due to the absence of modern and efficient machinery.
Expectations, however, are positive that all this will be reversed soon. As the area becomes fully pacified, infrastructure reforms are made, and consequently economic investment grows. Today, commercial activities in Lugansk are returning to normal thanks to the high level of security achieved by Russian forces. Air defense made Ukrainian missile, drone attacks on the oblast’s capital and neighboring cities almost non-existent, enabling the flow of people and goods. As Russian military victory approaches, more and more cities will acquire similar levels of security.
“I believe there will be great development in Donbass after the end of the conflict. Something like the economic recovery in post-war Chechnya or greater,” said Andrea Palmeri, an Italian-born Russian citizen and veteran of the Donbass militias.
Talking to local politicians, the optimism is similar. They believe there will be Russian investment in the industrial sector to improve economic conditions and enable development. The head of the Lugansk Trade Union Federation, Igor Ribushkin, commented that the main sector to be invested in is metallurgy, as this will make it possible to produce equipment to resume mining – the economic sector with the most potential for growth in the region.
In fact, currently the liberated zones of Donbass are in a rapid process of stabilization. The concerns of local people gradually shift from security and basic needs to economic growth and development. More and more people stop thinking about immediate needs and start thinking about the future. Until recently, Lugansk and other regions of Donbass were so affected by the conflict and years of neo-Nazi oppression that the people’s main concern was with survival, but currently the protection guaranteed by Russian forces is making this concern unnecessary. People feel safe and begin to work for a better future.
Obviously, there are still many problems in Lugansk. Several bombed buildings still need to be restored. Positions close to the border areas still need to be fully consolidated militarily in order to free the oblast from hostilities. The same can be said about the other New Regions, where the problems of the conflict can still be clearly seen. However, it is possible to say that the most difficult task has already been accomplished. Reintegration has been achieved and the living conditions of the people have already been significantly improved.
Due to Russian military actions in Donbass, there is now economic and social development where there was once war and genocide. The experience on the ground reveals to any observer what the Western media tries to disguise: the lives of the Donbass’ people improved after the Russian special military operation.
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how can life ever return to normal when the cuckhold russians after two whole years, they still have not pushed the frontlines far enough away to prevent the ukrainians from shelling donbass! until the cuckhold russians actually gain control of the ukrainian fortified strongholds on the outskirts of donbass, citizens there will never be safe! the reason why mariupol for example is having such success rebuilding is because they are not enduring constant shelling like in donbass!
and even with mariupol the russians failed to adequately protect the city and just a few days ago, the ukrainians launched three storm shadow missiles at mariupol that destroyed a construction site where all the building material was stored, that was being used to rebuild the entire city with! russia needs to do a better job with installing air-defense systems, in areas they know are key targets of the ukrainians!
i think the operative word is “gradually”. the russians have time. its now a war of material and attrition. its like fighting a wounded bear. why risk being bitten when you can stand back and watch it bleed to death.