Russians are replacing Ukrainians in leadership positions in the occupied territories – a study by “Realnaya Gazeta” 

Researchers from “Realnaya Gazeta” analyzed the “governments” in the Russian-occupied territories of Ukraine; from 2014 to 2026, there has been a trend of replacing local collaborators with Russians. From the very beginning of the occupation, Russians have predominated in the Donetsk region, while there were fewer of them in the Luhansk region. 

Sofia Dikhtyarenko, a researcher, spoke about this at the Ukraine Media Center. 

“The share of Russian Federation citizens in executive bodies has risen from 3%

to 35%—more than tenfold over twelve years. At the same time, the share of local 

residents in the authorities of Luhansk Oblast decreased from 93% to 65%, and in Donetsk Oblast from 93% to 65%. Russians occupy and control key positions and posts in the self-proclaimed governments in the occupied territories of Ukraine,” the researcher noted.

The occupiers are in charge of key sectors—the economy and security. In Luhansk Oblast, Russians who moved there from Chelyabinsk and took up positions in the “government” are in the majority.

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