The Russian-Ukrainian hostilities in Donbas has been going on for more than three years and is a major factor affecting the lives of people in the uncontrolled territory of Donetsk region. Everyday life of Ukrainian citizens and social processes in this territory require careful study to form relevant state policy that would help to preserve ties with of uncontrolled territories residents and facilitate their future integration into Ukrainian common political, informational, cultural, economic, and historical space. An analytical group of the NGO “Donetsk Institute of Information” (hereinafter - DII) summed up the results of 2017 for the territories which are under the “DPR” control.

1. Trends in 2017 in separate districts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Overview of
major events (memo)
The overview was prepared by the analytical group of Donetsk Institute of
Information
Editor: Vitalii Sizov
December 2017

3. Introduction
The Russian-Ukrainian hostilities in Donbas has been going on for more than three years and is
a major factor affecting the lives of people in the uncontrolled territory of Donetsk region.
Everyday life of Ukrainian citizens and social processes in this territory require careful study to
form relevant state policy that would help to preserve ties with of uncontrolled territories
residents and facilitate their future integration into Ukrainian common political, informational,
cultural, economic, and historical space. An analytical group of the NGO “Donetsk Institute of
Information” (hereinafter - DII) summed up the results of 2017 for the territories which are
under the “DPR” control.
The main trend in 2017 was the strengthening of ties between uncontrolled areas and the
Russian Federation and a significant weakening of ties with the “big” Ukraine. This is observed
in the following:
 the “DPR” organization is increasingly consolidating and forming a monolithic
management structure in separate districts of Donetsk region (hereinafter – SDDR
(ORDO));
 representatives of the “DPR” are trying to indirectly influence Russian state policy;
 the “DPR” group began expansion to the territory controlled by the “LPR” (which
controls separate districts of Luhansk region – hereinafter SDLR (ORLO)) and
intensified its influence there.
Society
Integration into Russian society. On February 18, 2017 President of the Russian Federation
Vladimir Putin signed Decree No. 74 “On the recognition in the Russian Federation of documents and
license plates of vehicles issued to Ukraine's citizens and stateless persons who reside in certain areas of
Donetsk and Luhansk regions.”1.
So Russia began to recognize the documents issued by the “DPR” group. In 2017 residents of
Donetsk and Luhansk regions received preferences in Russia to extend the migration status -
now they do not need to leave the territory of Russia.
An expected official recognition of SDDR (ORDO), controlled by the “DPR” group, by the
Russian Federation, or even integration into it, were not justified. The leaders of Donetsk
separatists, supported by Russia, have announced that this process is of phased and gradual
nature. Media Monitoring of Donetsk Institute of Information showed that at present the topics
related to the Russian Federation do not occupy a leading place in the media controlled by the
“DPR” organization2.
Politics
1
Decree No. 74 of the President of the Russian Federation dated 18/02/2017 //kremlin.ru/acts/bank/41702

4. The beginning of the election campaign, the aggravation of political struggle and
the further monopolization of power. On October 18, 2017 the election campaign started
in an uncontrolled territory. The leader of the “DPR” group, Oleksandr Zakharchenko, after the
congress of the “Donetsk Republic” public movement, not registered in Ukraine, stated that he
will participate in the 2018 elections2. Unilateral elections are not envisaged by the Minsk
agreements.
At this congress, the head of the so-called People's Council of the “DNR” Denis Pushylin was
dismissed from the position of the head of the executive committee of the movement.
Zakharchenko said that Puschylin should focus on the Minsk negotiations, on the work in the
so-called “People's Council of the DPR”, which he heads, and decide on the integration of the
SDDR (OPDO) into the Russian Federation.
Pushylin's position in the movement was taken by the director of Donetsk Music and Drama
Theatre Tetiana Volkova, who is close to Zakharchenko. Pusylin, as one of the most popular
leaders of the SDDR (OPDO), could potentially be Zakharchenko's contestant.
The “Donetsk Republic” movement is the ruling one in the uncontrolled territory of Donetsk
region and has a majority in the so-called “People's Council of the DPR”.
Zaharchenko's statement on his participation in the elections launched an informal election
campaign and intensified the covert political struggle within the group. At the moment, it is not
about the possibility of holding free and democratic elections in the militarized area of the
SDDR (OPDO), controlled by the “DPR”, but even the need for formal elections is a serious
organizational challenge for the Zakharchenko’s administration.
Individual groups will use the elections as a right time for promoting their own interests and
putting pressure on self-proclaimed power. It is also an opportunity for paramilitary groups in
the structure of the “DPR” opposed to Zakharchenko to screen the forcible takeover of the
power.
Oleksandr Khodakovskyi, the head of the “Patriotic forces of Donbas” movement, the field
commander of the “DPR” group, who directly warns the local administration from repeating the
Luhansk scenario, declared his intention to take part in the elections2.
The public conflict between the group of the so-called MP of the People's Council of the “DPR”
Pavlo Hubarev and the self-proclaimed minister of inland revenue of the “DPR” Oleksandr
2
Khodakovskyi appealed to Zakharchenko to allow him to take part in the “elections” and “refrain from election
engineering”//novosti.dn.ua/news/276852-khodakovskyy-pryzval-zakharchenko-dat-emu-pouchastvovat-v-vyborakh-y-otkazatsya-
ot-falsyfykacyy

5. Timofeev became acute. Hubarev accuses Zakharchenko's “minister” in systemic pressure on
business3.
On the eve of the elections, all the groups within pro-Russian separatist forces try to satisfy their
own interests, expecting that the government will make concessions for the sake of political calm
during the elections in 2018.
Media’s freedom
The system pressure on media continues. In June, the blogger Stanislav Aseiev was
arrested by the “DPR” representatives4. For every recorded external of illegal detention of a
journalist or blogger in an uncontrolled Donbas territory, there are 4-5 more cases that the
public does not know about5.
In the conditions when independent media and bloggers are almost unable to work in an
uncontrolled territory, the self-proclaimed government has increased pressure on its own media
and the “DPR” supporters disloyal to it. In November, the father of the “DPR” “Novorossiya” TV
channel editor was kidnapped in Donetsk. The TV channel is controlled by the group of Pavlo
Hubarev. Also, for criticism of the “DPR” leadership the journalist Roman Manekin, who
publicly opposes the territorial integrity of Ukraine, and whose activities are aimed at
strengthening the SDDR (ORDO) as a “separate state”, was abducted and imprisoned for more
than a month.
Economy
The economy cross over to Russia. On March 1, 2017, the representatives of the “DPR”
introduced an external management at the enterprises of the uncontrolled territory, which had
previously worked in the Ukrainian legal field. The reason for these actions was the blockade of
freight railways through the demarcation line, which started in January of 2017 by separate
activists and representatives of registered Ukrainian political parties and forces.
In response, by Decree of the President of Ukraine No. 62/2017 "On the decision of the National Security
and Defence Council of Ukraine dated March 15, 2017,’On urgent additional measures to counter hybrid
threats to the national security of Ukraine’”, the movement of goods through the demarcation line within
the Donetsk and Luhansk regions was temporarily suspended.
The so-called “external management” of the “DPR” was introduced in 43 enterprises - mainly
the enterprises of the metallurgical and coal-mining industries, which were closely connected
3
In Donetsk, the militants wanted to put the wife of Hubarev, the ex "People's Governor", into the basement.
//dn.depo.ua/ukr/donetsk/u-donecku-boyoviki-hotili-posaditi-na-pidval-druzhinu-eks-narodnogo-gubernatora-gubareva-
20171027665795
4
The UN mission tries to find out where the blogger Vasin is who disappeared in Donetsk //www.ukrinform.ua/rubric-
regions/2246386-misia-oon-namagaetsa-zasuvati-de-zaraz-bloger-vasin-so-znik-u-donecku.html
5
For every recorded case of illegal detention of a journalist or blogger in an uncontrolled Donbas territory, there are 4-5 more cases
that the public does not know about //detector.media/community/article/131448/2017-10-31-na-okupovanomu-donbasi-ta-v-
krimu-nebezpechno-pratsyuvati-ne-tilki-ukrainskim-a-i-inozemnim-zhurnalistam-zvit-nszhu

6. with the Ukrainian economy. Most of these enterprises are part of Rinat Akhmetov “SCM”
company structure. After the capture of the enterprises, they were restarted only partially.
Some enterprises of the metallurgical industry started to work at reduced capacity. Anthracite
coal from captured mines is partially sold on the markets of third countries and countries of the
European Union6. But this was not enough to stop the deep economic crisis in the uncontrolled
territory.
All large industrial enterprises, where the so-called external management was introduced, are
run by a Russian-based enterprise, “Vneshtorgservis”, which is exempt from taxation in the
territory controlled by “DPR”7. This enterprise became another independent centre of Russian
influence in the SDDR (ORDO).
Strengthening political influence on neighbouring territories
The “DPR” has begun political expansion on neighbouring territories and tries to
influence Russian policy. The “DPR” has increased its influence on the political situation in
the territory controlled by the “Lugansk People's Republic” illegal group. The leadership of these
two formations was in a state of permanent covert conflict because of the shady product
deliveries from the territory controlled by the “DPR” to Luhansk8. In November 2017 the “DPR”
representatives in the role of “peacekeepers” took an active part in the events related to the
power shift in Luhansk9. After Plotnitskyi, the former “LPR” head, has escaped to the Russian
Federation, Leonid Pasechnik, head of the local “MGB” (the so-called Ministry of State Security),
was appointed to this position 10. Anatoliy Antonov, the “DPR” “MGB” representative, took the
position of Luhansk “MGB” head 11.
Conclusions:
● The Ukrainian authorities should strengthen efforts to preserve the ties of citizens
residing on an uncontrolled territory with the Ukrainian space (politics, economy,
cultural ties, etc.).
● The economic blockade of uncontrolled territories contributed to their integration into
the Russian Federation. It is necessary to avoid the restrictive actions as much as
possible or gradually mitigate them, if this does not affect the safety of citizens.
6
Polish Minister confirmed the purchase of coal from the occupied Donbas//www.segodnya.ua/economics/enews/polskiy-ministr-
podtverdil-pokupku-uglya-s-okupirovannogo-donbassa-1061334.html
7
KHODAKOVSKYI: “VNESHTORGSERVIS” WAS “FEEDING” KURCHENKO THE WHOLE YEAR AND DID NOT PAY TAXES IN
THE "DPR"//novosti.dn.ua/news/275373-khodakovskyy-vneshtorgservys-ves-god-kormyl-kurchenko-y-ne-platyl-nalogy-dnr
8
How the Ukrainian pigs caused a quarrel between "LPR" and "DPR": Donetsk fellows kick away Luhansk guys
(VIDEO)//dn.depo.ua/rus/lugansk/yak-ukrayinski-svini-posvarili-lnr-ta-dnr-donetski-viganyayut-16062016105000
9
The rebellion in Luhansk: Cornet told what actually happened //www.segodnya.ua/regions/donetsk/perevorot-v-luganske-kornet-
rasskazal-chto-na-samom-dele-proizoshlo-1092527.html
10
Leonid Pasechnik became acting head of “LPR” //tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/4758603
11
“MGB LPR” appointed a person from Donetsk as their head//novosti.dn.ua/news/276901-mgb-lnr-naznachyly-rukovodyt-
cheloveka-yz-donecka

7. ● The territory controlled by “DPR” remains a dangerous place for the work of journalists
and public or political activists who want to freely convey their message to the audience.
Representatives of the Ukrainian authorities should focus on recording and documenting
such cases of human rights violations and join forces to report the monitoring results to
the general public.