Russia turning occupied Donbas into ‘huge military base to frighten Europe’
Al Jazeera • • world
Key Points:
- A reported scheme in Russian-occupied Donetsk involves officers facilitating quick marriages between soldiers and local women to claim “coffin money” after soldiers are sent on fatal missions, with profits shared between the officer and the woman.
- The occupation has led to a booming black market economy including drugs, stolen weapons, and illicit services, fueled by the presence of tens of thousands of Russian troops and corruption within local administration.
- Moscow is militarizing the Donbas economy to create a strategic military base outside Russian territory, but reconstruction efforts are marred by corruption, criminal conflicts, and ineffective projects that prioritize political control over genuine recovery.
- Russian federal funds are insufficient for rebuilding, so Moscow compels various Russian regions to financially support infrastructure and social services in occupied
