Russia Reportedly Displaces Ukrainians in Occupied Kherson Region and Replaces Them With Russian Citizens
Ukraine's intelligence agency says Russia is forcibly displacing Ukrainians from occupied parts of Kherson region and replacing them with Russian citizens through state employment programs. Estimates put the remaining population on the left bank at only 10–20% of its pre-invasion level, while hundreds of Russian teachers and doctors have been brought in under the programs.
Key points
- About 500,000 people lived on the left bank of Kherson region before Russia's full-scale invasion.
- The remaining population there is estimated at only 10–20% of the pre-invasion level.
- Russia reportedly offers teachers and medical workers one-time payments of 2 million rubles and younger medical staff 1 million rubles.
- The minimum contract for Russian workers recruited to occupied territories is five years.
- Hundreds of Russian teachers and doctors have been brought to occupied Ukrainian territory under the programs.
- Around 1,700 people remained in Ole-shky as of October 17, facing food and medicine shortages with no safe evacuation route.
- A temporary cessation of hostilities began in Ole-shky on October 27 to support a humanitarian mission and civilian evacuation.
Why it matters
The reported population decline points to mass displacement and a major demographic transformation in occupied Kherson region. The recruitment of Russian teachers and medical workers suggests Russia is building a long-term administrative, educational and healthcare presence rather than conducting isolated recruitment drives. The reported deprivation of housing and private property also raises serious concerns about the treatment of civilians, while the humanitarian distress in Ole-shky shows the immediate consequences of occupation for residents.
What happened
Ukraine's Main Intelligence Directorate reported that Russia is displacing Ukrainians from occupied parts of Kherson region and replacing them with Russian citizens. Recruitment is organized through programs including Zemsky Teacher, Zemsky Paramedic, Zemsky Doctor, Zemsky Cultural Worker and Zemsky Coach. Russian teachers and medical workers are offered one-time payments, higher salaries and other benefits, with minimum five-year contracts. Teachers and doctors receive 2 million rubles, while younger medical personnel receive 1 million ruble. Hundreds of Russian specialists have already been brought to occupied Ukrainian territory from regions including Krasnodar, Khabarovsk, Stavropol and Perm krais and Rostov, Kursk and Leningrad oblasts. GUR says medical workers are recruited primarily to serve occupation forces, while teachers are brought in to influence Ukrainian children and impose a Russian identity. Ukrainian residents are reportedly subjected to unbearable living conditions and forced displacement, often through unlawful deprivation of housing and other private property. In a separate development, a temporary cessation of hostilities began in Ole-shky on October 27 to enable a humanitarian mission and civilian evacuation.
How Ukrainian sources describe it
Ukrainian reporting focuses on alleged population displacement, the scale of the demographic decline and Russia's systematic replacement of Ukrainian residents with Russian citizens. Correspondents emphasize alleged coercion, deprivation of housing and private property, and GUR's characterization of the policy as showing signs of war crimes and genocidal practices. Ole-shky is presented as an example of severe humanitarian distress and blocked evacuation.
Background
Approximately 500,000 people lived on the left bank of Kherson region before Russia's full-scale invasion, but current estimates place the remaining population there at only 10–20% of the pre-invasion level. Around 1,700 people reportedly remained in Ole-shky as of October 17, facing shortages of food and medicine without a safe evacuation route. Ukraine conducted a humanitarian mission in Ole-shky together with Russian Commissioner for Human Rights Yanina Lantryova, with mediation and coordination by US First Lady Melania Trump.