On Tuesday, May 24, two senior Russian officials, Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu and National Security Council Secretary Nikolai Patrushev said the war in Ukraine was likely to continue. As the conflict entered its fourth month, these two close associates of Vladimir Putin, who are considered the regime’s hawks, claimed that Russia was missing its plan and would achieve its goals whenever necessary.
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While fighting continues in the Donbass, Russia, barely masked, is advancing into the already conquered areas of southern Ukraine. Moscow is seriously considering annexing the Kherson and Zaporizhia regions, like Crimea in 2014, to Russia.
On May 18, Russian Deputy Prime Minister Marat Khouznullin visited Kherson and Zaporizhia. The political leader was very clear: these regions of southern Ukraine, bordering Crimea, are destined to become Russian. “Thanks to the Ministry of Agriculture, we will use all the support measures that we have in Russia,” he told local farmers, promising them help. “We will contribute as much as possible to the development of the economy.” He urged everyone to “cooperate” and assured “that we must not be afraid of anything”, affirming that “Kherson has great prospects and a special place in the Russian family”. “We will live and work together in the future.”
In order to consolidate its influence in these two regions, Russia is proceeding as it did in Crimea: with the promise of ruble rain. The Russian currency is also in the process of becoming the official currency. In addition to grants, Moscow will soon pay pensions for the elderly. The Russian government has also pledged to rebuild the roads, particularly those leading to Russia. However, there is currently no question of organizing a referendum on the annexation of the two regions to Russia, as happened in Crimea. And with good reason: the Russian-appointed governor of Kherson recently declared that there was no need for it.