Russia turning occupied Donbas into ‘huge military base to frighten Europe’

Russia turning occupied Donbas into ‘huge military base to frighten Europe’ As the Ukraine war drags, Moscow is transforming the economy of the occupied Donbas region, officials, residents and analysts say. Kyiv, Ukraine - A Russian officer in the Moscow-occupied part of the Donetsk region in southeastern Ukraine has reportedly become unusually lenient towards one new soldier. As the tale goes, the officer lets him spend several days in the administrative capital, also named Donetsk, and - knowing that the serviceman is single and childless - gives him the phone number of a “nice woman”. Overwhelmed by the war, the serviceman craves intimacy, and within days, the woman persuades him to get married. Recommended Stories list of 4 items list 1 of 4 Ukraine calls on allies to raise pressure as Russia fires Oreshnik missile list 2 of 4 Russia hits Ukraine with Oreshnik hypersonic missile: Why it matters list 3 of 4 Civilian casualties in Ukraine up sharply in 2025, UN monitor says list 4 of 4 Russian drone attack kills 4 in Ukraine’s Kharkiv, as peace remains elusive Elated after a short honeymoon, he gets back to his military unit, but instead of congratulating him, the officer sends him on a mission he never returns from. The nascent widow promptly cashes “the coffin money”, between 5 and 10 million rubles ($64,000-127,000) - and splits it with the officer, who has already found her another “fiance”. “It’s a real business,” a Donetsk resident told Al Jazeera, explaining an alleged scheme that has also been reported by Ukrainian and exiled Russian media last year. The resident spoke on condition of anonymity because anyone interviewed by foreign media risks reprisal. Drugs and stolen arms But this is just one of the ways fast money can be made in the Russia-occupied part of Donetsk - about four-fifths of the rustbelt region the size of Albania, dotted with dozens of mines and factories. The presence of tens of thousands of Russian soldiers creates a bonanza for some locals. Undersupplied Russian servicemen spend part of their monthly pay of several thousand dollars on flak jackets, tactical boots and other gear. Restaurants, shops selling alcohol, underground brothels and casinos are booming, according to Ukrainian officials and media reports - along with a black market for drugs, especially amphetamines and crystal meth that help soldiers stay awake and overcome fear and boredom. There is another black market - of stolen weaponry, from pistols and assault rifles to explosives and even grenade launchers, according to dozens of Russian court records that often name Chechen servicemen as mastermind contrabandists. The market dates back to 2014, when Moscow-backed separatists carved out two “People’s Republics” in Donetsk and neighbouring Luhansk. In 2022, Moscow declared their annexation along with two more Ukrainian regions, even though none of them are 100 percent occupied. But Donetsk and Luhansk - known collectively as Donbas - still keep the vestiges of “independence” such as a “head of state”, a “parliament”, border checkpoints and customs offices....

Preview: ~500 words