In the TOT, housing is being built for Russians, not for local residents
russia is actively advancing a policy of resettling Ukrainian temporarily occupied territories (TOT) with its own citizens. One of the key tools in this process is preferential mortgage lending. Over the two years of this program’s operation, more than 11 billion rubles (approximately $137 million) have been issued for purchasing housing in the seized Ukrainian regions. Around 70% of these funds were allocated to the territory of Donetsk Oblast.
▫️The mortgage program primarily targets the relocation of russian officials, military personnel, security forces, and their families. Through subsidized mortgage loans, active resettlement is also taking place from remote and economically depressed regions of the russian federation — such as yakutia, magadan oblast, chukotka, tuva, kalmykia, bashkortostan, tatarstan, komi, and others.
▫️In this way, kremlin is implementing a population replacement policy — bringing regime-loyal russian citizens into the TOT. This not only changes the demographic structure but also strengthens control over the local population. The relocation of security and military personnel, combined with financial incentives, serves as a recruitment tool for new contract soldiers to fight in the war against Ukraine.
This is yet more evidence that russia is using the TOT not for recovery or support, but as a tool of colonization and expansion of its influence.
