Over 100K Ukrainians Return to Russian-Occupied Donbas

[solblue]

What are your thoughts on the news that despite the war, Ukrainians are choosing to move to Russian territories? Russia actually refused a couple hundred thousand additional migrants.

Over 100K Ukrainians Choose to Return to Russian-Occupied Donbas as Economic Hardship Grows

IDPs who fled Russia’s invasion in 2022 are returning to their homes in the Donbas under Russian occupation because they cannot keep up with the cost of living in Ukrainian-controlled territory.

www.kyivpost.com

 

[Caucacel]

Like most countries that have never had wealth, Ukraine heavily prioritises urban centres over rural areas. They invest most of their revenue into major cities in order to create a facade of a prospering nation to woo investors/tourists. As I know the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine have sort of a command economy which guarantees the bare minimum necessities for most people, which I imagine is attractive to those struggling to make ends meet in the city. The people in these provinces are also open to the idea of joining Russia because they have been living with the significant Russian minority there for their entire lives, so they don't see them as enemies but kind of like cousins.

 

[Anarcho Nihilist]

Like most countries that have never had wealth, Ukraine heavily prioritises urban centres over rural areas. They invest most of their revenue into major cities in order to create a facade of a prospering nation to woo investors/tourists. As I know the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine have sort of a command economy which guarantees the bare minimum necessities for most people, which I imagine is attractive to those struggling to make ends meet in the city. The people in these provinces are also open to the idea of joining Russia because they have been living with the significant Russian minority there for their entire lives, so they don't see them as enemies but kind of like cousins.

It's about money. As far as I have read, rental housing in large cities of the territory of Ukraine, which extends far from the front line, such as Lviv, after February 24, 2022, the rental price increased by 2 times. Thus, residents of large cities of Ukraine left for Europe, received benefits as refugees and received money in parallel for renting out their apartments to refugees from eastern Ukraine. At some point, they raised prices so much that it's easier for people to live under Russian rule.

 

[solblue]

Like most countries that have never had wealth, Ukraine heavily prioritises urban centres over rural areas. They invest most of their revenue into major cities in order to create a facade of a prospering nation to woo investors/tourists. As I know the Russian-occupied regions of Ukraine have sort of a command economy which guarantees the bare minimum necessities for most people, which I imagine is attractive to those struggling to make ends meet in the city. The people in these provinces are also open to the idea of joining Russia because they have been living with the significant Russian minority there for their entire lives, so they don't see them as enemies but kind of like cousins.

That’s interesting. I’ve also seen people in places like Mariupol being completely indifferent to the new leadership. The WSJ even covered some of this apathy and interviewed residents.

 

[PersonalityChad]

They made the right choice. Also the Russians aren't "occupying" anything, the Donbass is historical Russian territory inhabited by ethnic Russians, and has been so for hundreds of years.