Analysts from the Institute for the Study of War (ISW) claim that Russia is deliberately carrying out ethnic cleansing in the occupied territories of Ukraine in order to maximally strengthen control over them.
How Russia is trying to prevent Ukraine from de-occupying its territories
The war in Ukraine is, first of all, a war for control over people, not for land. The Kremlin's occupation plan is aimed at eliminating Ukrainian identity through the forced integration of occupied Ukraine into Russia socially, culturally, linguistically, politically, economically, religiously and bureaucratically, analysts note.
It is emphasized that Moscow is trying to convince both Ukrainians and the world community that the elimination of Ukrainian identity in the occupied territories is irreversible and unstoppable.
Analysts emphasize that Russian policy in the occupied territories of Ukraine involves forced depopulation and repopulation of these territories.
By changing the demography of the occupied territories of Ukraine, the Russians hope to make their de-occupation impossible.
Putin also seeks to use Ukraine as a source of mobilized labor in part to address Russia's demographic problems
ISW researcher Carolina Gird notes that to some extent this strategy is working, because "Western leaders regularly ask whether Ukraine should even try to liberate Crimea and part of Donbas," which were occupied in 2014 and have changed demographically a lot during that time.
What else is known about Russia's actions in the occupied territories
The Russian invaders are planning to open the "Warrior" Center for Military Sports Training and Patriotic Education of Youth. Another institution for "brainwashing" children from Ukraine will work on the basis of the "Iskra" health camp.
In the temporarily occupied territories, the Russians continue to deploy militaristic camps for Ukrainian children.
The Gauleiter announced the creation of the "Voin" Center for Military Sports Training and Patriotic Education of Youth at the Zaporizhzhia Sports Complex, which is to be opened on the basis of the Iskra children's health camp.
