Russia’s “velvet occupation” of Crimea began 30 years ago – expert
Russia had been preparing to annex Crimea almost from the first days of Ukraine’s independence. In particular, a so-called Luzhkov program was launched in the 1990s to finance and develop infrastructure projects on the peninsula.
In 2000s, Russia launched a program known as 'Luzhkov program' under which entire residential neighborhoods were built in Crimea with Moscow's money, alongside kindergartens, schools, and sanatoriums. This program encouraged retired military personnel to remain in Crimea, contributing to the peninsula's Russification. According to Ukrainian military officer Vasyl Servatiuk, if Ukrainian military had supported housing construction in Crimea and relocated Ukrainian pensioners there, the events of 2014 might never have occurred.
Russia's initiative, funded by the Moscow city budget and continued until 2010, aimed to build housing in Crimea, including in Kerch, Shcholkine, Simferopol, and Yevpatoria. The 'Moscow Quarter' near Admiral Fadeev Street in Sevastopol is an example of this. Servatiuk noted that Russian servicemen would serve in Crimea until they were close to retirement, then leave the military, receive housing, and settle there. This long-standing Russian initiative thus laid the groundwork for the annexation of Crimea.
Written by urgent.news from Ukrinform - Politics's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
