This chapter explores the challenges and dilemmas of Ukraine’s “deoccupation” strategies and their implementation in areas where Ukrainian forces regained control in late 2022. The Ukrainian authorities faced significant difficulties in previously occupied territories, including the need for extensive reconstruction and demining, amid ongoing Russian bombardment. There were also political and legal challenges. After Russian forces were forced to withdraw from Kherson city and Kharkiv oblast, underlying political and social cleavages in these areas were also evident. Complex legal and moral issues related to cases of collaboration also came to the fore, with Ukraine’s legal and judicial framework at times struggling to respond to the complexity of life under occupation. Government “deoccupation” strategies focused primarily on military means, but often lacked a vital political and diplomatic dimension.
This chapter describes the different ways in which the Russian authorities launched an assault on Ukrainian media, culture, education and history in an attempt to foster more pro-Russian attitudes among the population. Russian authorities repressed local Ukrainian media and blocked Ukrainian communication networks. They created new Russian television channels, newspapers and social media sites focused on the occupied territories. The Russian authorities transformed the visual environment, replacing Ukrainian monuments and symbolism with Russian and Soviet variants, and launched a cultural offensive in theatres, cinemas and museums. They introduced Russian-language education and the full Russian curriculum in schools and universities. Russia also promoted new youth movements and study exchange programs in an attempt to promote pro-Russian sentiments among young people.
This chapter sets out the details of Russia’s military campaign in the south, including the lack of preparedness for Russia’s invasion and its early advances in the south. The territorial extent of Russia’s occupation was largely determined in the first months of the war. A determined defense of Mykolaiv prevented further Russian progress along the southern coast towards Odesa, and a Ukrainian counteroffensive forced Russian withdrawal from Kherson city and Kharkiv oblast by the end of 2022. As the Russian military advanced, they began putting in place the key building blocks of the occupation, ousting Ukrainian officials, seizing businesses and properties, and targeting potential opponents.
