Russian President Vladimir Putin appears to be ramping up efforts to tighten his grip on the four territories annexed during his invasion of Ukraine, according to an intelligence report, just a few weeks after securing another six-year term.
The Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration (RANEPA), which is the nation's state-funded institution for higher education, is launching a masters degree in 'State and municipal management' which will reportedly provide graduates with skills to to work in varying levels of government installed in Ukraines' four occupied regions, according to a recent intelligence report published by the U.K. Minister of Defence.
The goal of offering the degree is likely to overcome a shortage of qualified people within the occupied territories to work for the installed government, according to the report, adding that this move is further evidence of Putin's "Russification" efforts in the regions.
The U.K. intelligence brief also revealed that the Russian Justice Minister, Konstantin Chuychenko, has established 58 new prisons in occupied Ukraine.
Latest Defence Intelligence update on the situation in Ukraine – 28 March 2024.
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Ukraine's four occupied oblasts, Luhansk, Donestsk, Kherson, and Zaporizhzhia, were annexed by Russia on September 30, 2022, seven months after Putin invaded from the eastern border. Since then, Russian officials have made numerous attempts to 'Russify' the areas, including fast-tracking Russian citizenship to occupied Ukrainians, and ousting local elected officials, according to Reuters.
None of these regions have been under full Russian control since the annexation.
