Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1532587
elections. There is no need for fraud, as there is effectively only one candidate, ensuring a predetermined outcome. A parliamentary structure exists, but it merely rubber-stamps Russian-style legislation. There are no political parties; instead, each republic has a single socio-political organization, which serves as the sole vehicle for parliamentary candidacies, making election results entirely predictable. Unlike Crimea, Donbas never functioned as an autonomous region with any tradition of statehood. As a result, Russia constructs a new system from scratch, largely replicating Russian governance structures in a simplified and exaggerated form. The so-called republic leaders are mere puppets. The conflict results in mass civilian displacement. Millions flee to Ukraine, and additional millions seek refuge in Russia. The region's economy, previously integrated with Ukraine, is devastated. Industry (or what remains of it) grinds to a halt. Rather than revitalizing local production, Russia extracts valuable assets and transfers them to the Russian mainland. Occupied Donbas becomes a vast military base, serving primarily to support stationed troops. The region is entirely dependent on Russian subsidies. Republican authorities introduce the ruble as the sole currency. Russia actively distributes its passports to local residents, who require them to receive wages, pensions, and Russian social benefits, essentially to survive. Real power in the region lies with Russian-appointed supervisors. The so-called governments of the republics, lacking revenue and autonomy, are mere facades. In 2015, Russia actively works to consolidate pro-Russian armed groups in Donbas. Moscow aims to eliminate the independence of various warlords, standardize unit structures, and introduce uniform command, logistics, and armament systems. The Russian military establishes two army corps and their backline in the cities of Donbas — the 1st Donetsk and 2nd Luhansk Army Corps. Existing militias and independent battalions are disbanded, merged, or reorganized to achieve this goal. Naturally, this process faces resistance from charismatic warlords unwilling to relinquish control. Here, a distinction emerges between Russian intelligence officers like Girkin and Bezler, who understand when to retreat and return to Russia, and ideological hardliners like Mozgovoy and Dremov, who attempt to oppose Moscow's consolidation efforts. According to former members of pro-Russian units and the Wagner Group, in 2015, Wagner operatives were deployed to Donbas to systematically eliminate overly independent militia leaders. Some assassinations are suspected to have involved Ukrainian special services seeking revenge for the brutal treatment of Ukrainian prisoners. Regardless, by 2020, nearly all prominent pro-Russian leaders from 2014 will either be assassinated or fade into obscurity in Russia. The so-called People's Republic armies evolved into two regular army corps. These forces primarily consist of contract soldiers, generating immense maintenance costs far beyond the economic capabilities of the puppet republics. Moreover, the local forces lack high-ranking officers capable of commanding such formations. The republics have no military academies, only a few officer training schools. This means that command, logistics, and overall operational control of these newly created forces fall directly under the Russian army. In these conditions no other possibility exists, as these two republics that remain fictitious do not have relevant human, financial, material, or personnel resources required to establish an army as such. Conclusions The Nature of the Donetsk and Luhansk People's Republics' Armies by 2021 and Beyond. By the end of 2015, the 1st Donetsk and 2nd Luhansk Army Corps are, in effect, direct components of the Russian military—officially recognized as such only in 2023. However, key differences remain between these corps and standard Russian forces. Although likely commanded by Russian generals, these units are significantly less equipped than regular Russian troops before 2023. They lack modernized www.fragoutmag.com