These Russians are rebuilding the conquered territories at the risk of their lives

The Kremlin wants to offer the inhabitants of the conquered territories cities where life is good. Russian agencies therefore recruit thousands of workers, lured by false promises. Explanations.

Sebastian Kohler

Vladimir Putin faces a series of problems that he himself created with the invasion of Ukraine two and a half years ago. Western sanctions are penalizing the Russian economy, embargoes are causing material shortages and public support for the brutal attack on its neighbor is dwindling.

In an attempt to deliver the final blow to Ukraine in an exhausting war, Putin therefore ordered by decree to increase the strength of the army to 1.5 million soldiers.

The armed forces have already left behind hundreds of thousands of square kilometers of scorched earth. But the Kremlin does not want to take ownership of a pile of ruins. Rather, it seeks to offer the inhabitants of conquered territories cities where life is good. Russian agencies therefore recruit thousands of workers, generally lured by false promises and risking their lives.

Between reconstruction and bombings

The Russian independent network Meduza published an investigation on this subject, which contains frightening elements including broken promises, delayed construction projects and poverty wages. All this while the profits of the companies involved are exploding.

According to Meduza’s investigations, employment agencies are desperately looking for personnel to rebuild the devastated regions of eastern Ukraine. While at the start of the occupation these agencies still regularly published updates on the progress of the work, the situation seems to have stalled at least since March 2023.

1000 housing units were to be completed by this date. But state-mandated construction companies recently and vaguely extended the deadline for “several hundred” of them. We also don’t know if they will actually be habitable.

Ghost towns

A worker who worked for several months in different cities in eastern Ukraine also doubts it. The man, who calls himself Igor, speaks of rudimentary work and unsanitary conditions.

His task was limited, according to him, to erecting the facades of the houses. The St. Petersburg worker explains:

Steel and weapons manufacturers, call centers, breweries and even travel agencies are also moving from Russia to the occupied territories. In this context, various sources report low wages and dangerous working conditions. For less than 1100 euros per month, Igor risked his life every day in Donetsk.

In the resource-rich capital of Donbass, Igor says rockets, drones and bombs were falling several times a day. He says:

At least 23 workers were killed while on duty. Vladimir Putin awarded a posthumous distinction for their courage to twelve of them.

Another metropolis, another setting: “In Mariupol, we are safe, even if all the streetlights do not work”continues Igor. 25,000 people died there under bombs during Russian attacks, 95% of the buildings were destroyed. Which pushes the witness to speak of a “ghost town”, where only completely drunk alcoholics remain.

121 job advertisements available

Meduza has identified 121 job advertisements that unscrupulously attract workers to Donbass. Entrepreneurs would thus ignore the difficult, even fatally dangerous, conditions. Employees should also often give up on their pay. And this even though recruiters in Russia complained about it.

Meanwhile, temporary employment companies continue to reap significant profits. SPK Zeleny Gorod Group, which manages housing construction, civil engineering and landscaping projects in Ukraine, increased its turnover by 56%.

Workers regularly get injured or quit due to low wages and working conditions. Online advertisements for jobs without qualifications will therefore continue to run on repeat.

(French adaptation: Valentine Zenker)

More articles about Russia