In October 2022, the Russian authorities announced that the so-called Donetsk People’s Republic (“DPR”) would join the Russian Federation. This year, at the beginning of September, the so-called “elections” are to be held there—simultaneously with the elections on the territory of Russia. According to some aspects – both legislative and political – this process looks like the integration of the occupied Donetsk region into the Russian space. “Head of the DPR” Denis Pushylin even became an official candidate in these elections from Putin’s party “United Russia”—with the personal approval of Vladimir Putin.

However, it seems that this “integration” is only an attempt to demonstrate at least some presence of Russians in the so-called “Donetsk People’s Republic”, in which in reality no political processes take place at all. Despite pathetic statements and speeches, it is legally separated from the Russian Federation.