Russian President Vladimir Putin made a significant announcement today, revealing that Russia plans to allocate approximately two trillion roubles, equivalent to around half a trillion Czech crowns, from its budget over a period of 2.5 years to support the development of the territories currently under Russian control in Ukraine. During a meeting with schoolchildren, Putin referred to these areas as “new Russian regions” and emphasized the need to bring them up to the standard of the broader Russian nation.

The invasion of Ukraine by Russia over the past 18 months has caused extensive damage to the invaded country, particularly in the eastern regions, where some Ukrainian towns have been left completely devastated.

Putin expressed admiration for the talented and industrious residents of these newly acquired territories, highlighting that none of them were seeking handouts and were all eager to contribute through their work. In response to a student’s question during the discussion, Putin also suggested that tourism could potentially thrive in these regions.

It’s important to note that in September of the previous year, Moscow officially declared Ukraine’s Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya, and Kherson regions as part of Russia, following territorial gains made by Russian forces. However, shortly after this announcement, the Russian military lost control of Kherson, the administrative center of Kherson Oblast.

Putin’s announcement reflects a significant commitment to the development and integration of these regions into the Russian Federation. The allocation of such substantial financial resources underscores Russia’s intention to rebuild and rehabilitate the areas it now considers part of its territory. However, it is expected that this move will further escalate tensions between Russia and Ukraine, as the international community continues to closely monitor the situation in the region.

Article by Prague Forum