The Kremlin is trying to prepare the Russians for the accession of the certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions Russian Media

Ukrayinska Pravda
·3 min read
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MAZURENKO ALONA – Thursday, May 12 2022, 20:18

The Kremlin is trying to "prepare" the Russians for the accession of the occupied regions of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts to its territory, and names the streets of Russia in honour of the Donbas militants.

Source: Meduza

Details: On 9 May it became known that in several regions of Russia the streets named in honour of fighters of so-called "DPR" will appear.

For example, in Groznoe, Yakutsk and Omsk will be streets named in honour of Oleksandr Zakharchenko – the leader of the certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, who was killed in 2018.

And in Rostov-na-Donu, Bladivistok, Maikop will appear the streets named in honour of Volodymyr Zhoha – of the dead leader of a battalion of fighters of "DPR" "Sparta."

As the social media found out, that’s all part of the strategy developed by the Presidential Administration of Russia. It must "prepare public opinion" for the certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts’ accession to Russia.

Three sources of social media, which are close to the Presidential Administration, said that these initiatives were developed in the management of public projects of the Presidential Administration under the leadership of Sergei Novikov.

"The idea itself belongs to Novikov's deputy Oleksiy Zharych and his people," said one of the interlocutors.

Dmitry Peskov, a spokesman of the Russian president, did not answer questions about that campaign.

According to the sources of the publication, the regions were offered a choice of three main options:

  •     Name the street in honour of Zakharchenko;

  •     Name the street in honour of Zhoha;

  •     Named the streets in honour of the Russian soldiers that had died in Ukraine (schools also may be named after them).

According to the source, which is close to the Presidential Administration of Russia: "Mostly, the local authorities elect Zakharchenko and Zhoha in order not to draw attention to the losses of the Russian army."

According to social media interlocutors, one of the main goals of the appearance of the streets named after the "heroes of Donbas" is to symbolically bring together the war in Ukraine and World War II: "It must also have heroes who fight with ‘Nazism’."

Another interlocutor called another goal of the campaign: "Public opinion is being prepared for the accession of "DPR" and "LPR" to the Russian Federation. Budget money will be allocated for the restoration of "republics", and it is so difficult for people because of inflation in the country. That's how they will understand - we spend not on others, but on our own. Due to the names of the streets, such a common identity can be created, the division into ‘us’ and ‘them’ will be overcome."

It is mentioned, with citing sources, that the so-called referendums on the accession of the certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts are planned for the fall of 2022.

One of the interlocutors of the social media, referring to closed opinion polls, said that most Russians do not perceive the residents of the certain areas of Donetsk and Luhansk Oblasts as fellow citizens.

Another source said, that: "The topic of the liberation of Donbas is unclear to citizens; it is not very relevant."

It is also mentioned that the regional authorities of the Russian Federation, in view of everything, "the topic of Donbas" is also "not very relevant."

After all, most of the streets, being built in the micro districts, are named after Zakharchenko and Zhoga: "It seems that they reported (before the Presidential Administration), and this street will not be calloused. There will be no unnecessary questions - how, why, and what for."