Why Russia is creating a “military elite” in the TOT of Kherson region
russian propaganda has announced the launch of the program “Heroes of Kherson Region” in the temporarily occupied settlements of the region, within which 600 participants in the war against Ukraine will undergo training for interviews aimed at inclusion in the staffing reserve of the occupation authorities.
▫️ This project is a continuation of the all-russian program “time of heroes,” which aims to create a new “wartime elite” — a group of people who owe their social status not to professional achievements but to their participation in the war. By framing the war as a social lift, the occupiers seek to recruit as many residents of the temporarily occupied territories as possible into the russian army.
The launch of this program in the occupied Kherson region is yet another tool for legitimizing russian presence in the area. By appointing local war participants to positions, moscow aims to increase loyalty to the local authorities and create the illusion of “people’s power,” rather than power formed by incoming russians.
