Why putin sent artem zhoga, a “dpr” militant, to the urals
russian propaganda has been very enthusiastic about the news of the appointment of “dpr” militant artem zhoga as the russian president’s plenipotentiary representative in the urals federal district. The kremlin emphasizes that he is one of the participants in putin’s “Time of Heroes” program.
▫️ Propagandists are trying to present this decision as a symbol of great changes and a sign of the formation of a new elite in russia. In occupied Donetsk, Zhoga had considerable influence, often participated in kremlin-organized events and was seen as a potential candidate for the leadership of the so-called “dpr”.
▫️ By assigning this prominent “dpr” terrorist a role in the urals, putin is effectively exiling zhoga, limiting his influence at home. At the same time, the kremlin seeks to strengthen its control over the region through this highly publicized appointment.
This move reflects the kremlin’s typical personnel strategy concerning the occupied territories: moving influential local figures to symbolic positions in remote parts of russia, while filling key positions with people from russia.
