Russia's orchestrated identity crisis in occupied Ukraine

Kremlin propaganda has been influencing Russians for years, creating a world consistent with the vision of One Russia. Putin's media have crafted an image of a mighty empire standing alone against the rotten, corrupt West. Occupiers strive to instil this same image in the minds of Ukrainians who couldn't or didn't want to evacuate before their homes were taken over by the Russians.

The Kremlin is reviving a new version of Novorossiya. This is a name used by Moscow propaganda since the 19th century for the territories the Russian Empire annexed after wars with the Ottoman Empire. These are almost exactly the territories Putin plans to capture in Ukraine. Centuries ago, it also included Romanian Bessarabia.

Putin first used the term Novorossiya in 2014, in reference to the project of creating a pro-Russian state in southern and eastern Ukraine, just before the annexation of Crimea. Shortly after the creation of the self-proclaimed, puppet republics in Luhansk and Donetsk, pro-Kremlin authorities announced plans to unite the republics into the Novorossiysk Confederation.

The Novorossiya project was temporarily paused in 2015 as part of the Minsk Agreement but was revived after the start of the full-scale war and rigged referendums. Since then, it has been not just a political project but a program to create a new person, much like in Soviet times.

People in the Russian-occupied territories are subjected to an intense process of Russification, which is often not done gently. Primarily, the Russians condition the receipt of humanitarian aid on accepting Russian passports. This does not only apply to food, hygiene products, or electricity supplies but even life-saving medications.

New, very restrictive regulations came into force on January 1, 2025, at 12:00 am ET. Since the beginning of the year, Ukrainians in the occupied territories who did not receive a Russian passport have lost almost all rights. Until now, they received medication on the same terms as other residents of the Russian Federation. Not anymore. Now they must pay double the Russian market prices for medications. This primarily affects people suffering from cardiovascular diseases, asthma, and diabetes.

These are not the only restrictions for people who refused to accept Russian passports. The Russians have revoked the right to work as pharmacists, doctors, professional drivers, chimney sweeps, or specialists in heating system repairs. This has led to heating being turned off in many places, including Mariupol. Kremlin propaganda blamed the lack of heating on Ukrainians who "did not understand the needs of society and refused to cooperate with the legitimate authorities."

Even before the outbreak of the full-scale war, the Russian Federation was drafting residents of both puppet republics into service. They were sent not only to the front but also to distant corners of Russia.

Ukrainians do not have exact statistics on the mobilization of Ukrainians in the occupied territories of Donbas. However, according to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of Ukraine's Ministry of Defence, during the fall mobilization in the occupied territories, they planned to draft 26,000 people, and 55% of them were mobilized by force. In each of the previous drafts, about 5–10% of all conscripts who ended up in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation were Ukrainian citizens forcibly compelled to change citizenship.

This especially concerns experts. All doctors who received a Russian passport must register for military service for further mobilization. If they refuse, they risk losing their job. Ukrainians have little choice. Either they are forced to don the Russian uniform, or they must find a way back to their own.

The Russians claim they are extending a "helping hand" to citizens. Mobile bureaucratic brigades follow the combat units, assigned to areas consisting of two to three villages or urban-type settlements. A small village is visited once every one or two months. Each time, they explain that it "would be better" for the inhabitants if they accepted Russian citizenship. Russians primarily exert influence on adults through threats. Younger Ukrainians are being shaped in a gentler manner.

The Kremlin knows perfectly well that it's easiest to shape children who are just learning about life. All despots use this method. From chattel slavery through Russian and Soviet actions toward Poles, Lithuanians, or Kazakhs, to the Taliban.

That's why the Russians not only destroy Ukrainian cities but also try to destroy Ukrainian culture. Manipulated history textbooks and Russian literature are sent to schools. Ukrainian books have been removed from libraries.

Children from primary schools in the occupied Kherson region were forced to make gifts and write poems praising Russian soldiers. Showing the figure of St. Nicholas was prohibited, replaced by Ded Moroz. With the new school year, "cultural brigades" from the state company "Mosconcert" arrived in the occupied territories, giving concerts and performances for the youngest. These contained the Russian narrative and anti-Western rhetoric. According to information from teachers in the occupied territories, the main antagonists were characters modelled after American cartoons. Special attention was paid in December to the figure of St. Nicholas.

In the occupied territories, Russians are also opening youth centres called "Tochka," which not only deal with propaganda but also recruit youth to Russian higher education institutions. They entice them with dormitories, scholarships, and a support package for the immediate family. In 2024 alone, about 3,700 young Ukrainians moved to Russia.

In the past year, the process of Russification has significantly accelerated. Mainly thanks to the appointment of veterans to local occupation authorities under the "Time of Heroes" program. This is gaining momentum with the involvement of the army and the Russian Orthodox Church, which, under the guise of religion, spreads propaganda, justifies war crimes, and attempts to create the appearance of legitimacy for authority in the occupied territories.

Ukrainians are trying to counter this. Since December 2022, they have celebrated Christmas on December 25, not January 7, as most Orthodox Christians do. It's just a small gesture but also a jab that hurt the Kremlin. Just a year later, in 2023, the Russians significantly intensified military and propaganda actions during the holidays.

Kyiv has also somewhat changed its policy toward national minorities. Until now, they were treated like during the "best" times of the USSR. Authorities conducted Ukrainization campaigns.

Crimean Tatars and Carpathian Rusyns, including Lemkos, are still not treated like national and ethnic minorities. Authorities make it difficult for them to learn minority languages and cultivate their culture. However, in response to Russian actions, Kyiv's stance is changing slightly. For now, traditional Tatar names have appeared on signs in Zaporizhzhia. More care is being taken for the cult of Cossack heroes. In Carpathian Ruthenia, repression against national activists has been eased.

This is not just goodwill. Ukrainian authorities are beginning to understand that they must start respecting the rights of national and ethnic minorities if they want the rights of Ukrainians to be respected. And they have groups to fight for. About 3 to 3.5 million Ukrainians live in the occupied territories. Millions more have left the country and are now a national minority in allied countries.

Slawek Zagorski for Wirtualna Polska