INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
A growing number of Russian officials have been handed senior jobs in occupied parts of Ukraine in what analysts said was an attempt to
strengthen ties to Moscow ahead of a possible annexation process.This week alone, appointments included a former deputy from the Russian
officials is the most recent sign that Russia is seeking to draw occupied Ukrainian areas closer into its orbit
The Kremlin has also launched a campaign to integrate occupied areas by twinning Russian and Ukrainian cities, giving out Russian passports,
Andrei Kozenko addresses the "Russia - Donbas: Unity of Priorities" forum.Nikolai Trishin / TASSOne reason why Russia has resorted to
dispatching its own officials is that Ukrainians in occupied territories are unwilling to switch sides, according to Konstantin Skorkin, an
former deputy minister in the Kaliningrad region, will oversee domestic policy, while Rodikov, an official from the Moscow region, was made
flag raising ceremony in Victory Square in Melitopol, Zaporizhzhya region
Alexei Konovalov / TASSThe Russia-backed separatist Donetsk and Luhansk republics in eastern Ukraine have also seen Russian officials
Republic.Installing Russian officials might also be a way to ensure oversight of the vast sums of money the Kremlin has earmarked for
Zaporizhzhia have already announced plans to stage a referendum on joining Russia later this year
start of the invasion of Ukraine that Russia had no plan to absorb Ukrainian territory, the appointment of Russian officials to occupied
