Why moscow is pushing collaborators out of leadership roles in the TOT

russian authorities continue their strategy of sidelining local collaborators from leadership positions in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine.

▫️ Two recent appointments exemplify this trend: the former mayor of polyarnye zori in murmansk oblast, russia, now serves as first deputy head in occupied Enerhodar, and a new bishop, previously the head of the vladivostok and primorsk dioceses of the russian orthodox church, has been appointed to lead the orthodox diocese of Donetsk and Mariupol.

▫️ A large portion of top roles in occupation administrations are now held by officials dispatched from russia, while local collaborators tend to receive mainly symbolic roles in russian regions. Those few locals in prominent positions are often paired with “supervisors” from moscow.

By appointing individuals with no prior ties to local communities, the kremlin aims to consolidate power and tighten control over the TOT. Despite ru-propaganda’s claims, moscow does not view local collaborators as “its own” and seeks to limit their influence.