The occupiers cannot ensure the loyalty and support expected by the Russian authorities from Ukrainians in the temporarily occupied territories. This was announced at a press conference on the situation in the territories temporarily occupied by Russia, Andrii Yusov, a representative of the Main Intelligence Directorate of the Ministry of Defense of Ukraine.
“The function of the Russian invaders, representatives of the FSB, and other structures in the occupied territories is to actually intimidate the local population and suppress protest sentiments. In general, they understand that they were unable to fulfill this task in good faith or ensure the loyalty and support of Ukrainians in the occupied territories; this task has failed”,- he said.
According to the representative, the disloyal population poses a serious threat to the Russian regime.
“In general, despite repression, despite human rights violations, genocidal practices, forced identity changes, the enemy has still not been able to establish control over the local population… Young Ukrainians in the occupied territories literally hate Putin, the Putin regime and the Russian security forces, they do not go cooperation, which causes a separate wave of repression, in particular against children. Against teenagers, who are often invited, in fact, called or taken for preventive conversations by the Russian special services, measures are taken to restrict freedom without any legal basis. People can be detained very often”,- Yusov said.
He also noted that many events were held in 2023 that helped advance the deoccupation process.
“The scale of support from the local population is so large and does not allow, despite all the repressive measures, the occupiers to control and limit this process”,- he added.