Russification intensifies: Kremlin's campaign to reshape identities

Kremlin propaganda has been brainwashing Russians for years, creating a world entirely consistent with the vision of One Russia. Putin's media have crafted the image of a mighty empire standing alone against the rotten, corrupt West. Occupiers strive to instil this same image into 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. Since the 19th century, Moscow propaganda has used this name to refer to the territories that the Russian Empire annexed after wars with the Ottoman Empire. These are almost precisely the territories Putin plans to capture in Ukraine. Centuries ago, Novorossiya also included Romanian Bessarabia.

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

The Novorossiya project was temporarily frozen in 2015 as part of the Minsk Agreement, but it 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 programme to create a new type of person, much like in Soviet times.

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

New, very restrictive regulations came into force on 1st January 2025 GMT. 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 those 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 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 precise statistics on the mobilisation of Ukrainians in the occupied territories of Donbas. However, according to the Main Directorate of Intelligence of the Ministry of Defence of Ukraine, in the occupied territories, during the autumn mobilisation, they planned to draft 26,000 people, and as much as 55% of them were mobilised 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 who were forcibly compelled to change citizenship.

This particularly concerns specialists. All doctors who received a Russian passport must register for military service for further mobilisation. 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 month or two. 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 more subtle 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 towards Poles, Lithuanians, or Kazakhs, to the Taliban.

This is why 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 Oblast 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 "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. This is mainly due to the appointment of veterans to local occupation authorities under the "Time of Heroes" programme. 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 the authority in the occupied territories.

Ukrainians are trying to counter this. From December 2022, they celebrate Christmas on 25th December, not 7th January, 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 towards national minorities. Until now, they were treated like in the "best" times of the USSR. Authorities conducted Ukrainisation 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 the time being, traditional Tatar names have appeared on signs in Zaporizhzhia. There has been increased care 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