Official: Russia returns worst forms of Sovietism to occupied areas

Occupied Ukraine sees the return of Soviet-era practices, including coercion in recruitment, unpaid wages, long lines for services, and suppression of rights, as reported by a Zaporizhzhia Oblast official.

Apr 3, 2024 - 06:49

Official: Russia returns worst forms of Sovietism to occupied areas

Zaporizhzhia Oblast Council Head Olena Zhuk told Liga that in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine, Russian occupiers are reinstating the worst aspects of the Soviet era. She noted that residents are facing unpaid wages, long lines for services, and a lack of legal protection and quality services.

“If I may put it briefly, on the temporarily occupied territories, the worst aspects of the Soviet era are returning […] Censorship, total control of behavior on the internet, wiretapping of phone calls and conversations in queues – these are the new realities for people who were accustomed to living in a democratic society under Ukrainian governance,” Zhuk stated.

She highlighted that Ukrainians in occupied areas are denied access to healthcare, social benefits, and jobs without a Russian passport.

“There’s coercion in all spheres, particularly in recruiting our people into the enemy’s army. The occupiers are registering teenagers, conducting zombification (aggressive indoctrination, – Ed.) in schools and colleges, and organizing aggressive information campaigns to force Ukrainians to fight against Ukrainians,” explained the head of the Zaporizhzhia Regional Council.

Earlier, during his visit to Washington DC, Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church leader Sviatoslav Shevchuk warned that Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine is exterminating religious freedom, returning to Soviet-era levels of persecution. As per his data, Russians imprisoned or killed around 50 religious ministers of various faiths in the occupied territories.

Read also:

You could close this page. Or you could join our community and help us produce more materials like this. We keep our reporting open and accessible to everyone because we believe in the power of free information. This is why our small, cost-effective team depends on the support of readers like you to bring deliver timely news, quality analysis, and on-the-ground reports about Russia's war against Ukraine and Ukraine's struggle to build a democratic society. A little bit goes a long way: for as little as the cost of one cup of coffee a month, you can help build bridges between Ukraine and the rest of the world, plus become a co-creator and vote for topics we should cover next. Become a patron or see other ways to support. Become a Patron!