Russia’s Plan to Fully Absorb Occupied Donbas and Southern Regions by 2030: Passportization, Militarization, and Russification

Russia’s Strategy for Integrating Occupied Territories

According to ХВИЛЯ: In the territories of Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhia, and Kherson regions under Russian control, Moscow is implementing a comprehensive integration plan that reshapes legal, economic, educational, and cultural frameworks to align these areas with Russia. This approach involves forced passport issuance, militarization, property seizures, and information isolation, aiming to solidify long-term annexation and enforce Russification-especially targeting children. Such measures significantly hinder Ukraine’s prospects to regain authority over these lands.

Since 2014, Crimea has served as a testing ground for this integration, where acquiring Russian citizenship became mandatory for employment and access to public services. On June 13, 2026, Russian President Vladimir Putin set a goal to fully incorporate the occupied regions into Russia by 2030. Russian state bodies-including federal courts, tax and migration offices, security, and military agencies-are systematically replacing Ukrainian institutions in these areas.

• Without a Russian passport, residents cannot receive pensions, find formal employment, access social benefits, or enroll in schools.
• Between February 2022 and the end of 2025, Russia forcibly conscripted approximately 50,000 Ukrainians.
• Occupying authorities have confiscated or plan to seize at least 34,000 real estate properties by 2024.
• By 2045, the number of Russian settlers in these regions is projected to reach one million.

Ports in Mariupol and Berdyansk have been integrated into Russia’s maritime network, with over two million tons of grain exported through them in 2025 alone. Since 2022, Moscow has invested billions of dollars into rebuilding the occupied territories, though around 90% of industrial enterprises have been shut down or converted for military use. Independent Ukrainian media remain blocked, and messaging platforms are restricted as communications continue to be brought under Russian control since 2022.

According to UN data, from February 2022 through August 2025, roughly 15,000 civilians were detained by occupying forces. Approximately 1.6 million Ukrainian children live in these regions, where Ukrainian-language education is banned. Since 2024, military-sports centers like 'Voin' have enrolled at least 10,000 youths, while the 'Rukh Pershykh' movement counts over half a million participants. The 'Yunarmiya' youth military organization includes at least 44,000 members in occupied areas.

Residents express deep concerns about their circumstances. A young man from Kherson recalls, 'They held a gun to my head.' Another from Luhansk warns, 'Getting officially employed means a direct path to the military draft.' Meanwhile, some note that those cooperating with occupation authorities tend to experience better living conditions.

Oksana from Kherson shares, 'Military training comes first, followed by propaganda. Even kindergarteners are taught to march.'

Consequences of the Integration Efforts

Russia’s ongoing integration policy deeply unsettles both local populations and the international community. This process not only obstructs Ukraine’s efforts to reclaim its territories but also alters the demographic and cultural landscape of the region. The expanding Russian presence and forced conscription reveal Moscow’s intent to cement its control permanently. Such actions threaten not only Ukraine’s sovereignty but also regional stability across Eastern Europe.