Starobilsk, Luhansk Oblast – The car belonging to Valeriy Chaika, a collaborator in the Russia-occupied region of Starobilsk, Luhansk Oblast, was destroyed in an explosion. According to Vladimir Chernov, the Kremlin-appointed head of the Luhansk occupational administration, the incident on 1 April involved a homemade explosive device planted in Chaika’s vehicle.
Chaika, who aligned himself with Russia during the 2022 invasion of Ukraine, held various positions within the occupied territories, including serving as an advisor to the head of the Starobilsk district administration and being involved in the establishment of the local branch of the self-proclaimed “Luhansk People’s Republic’s” Ministry of Internal Affairs. More recently, he held the role of deputy head of Russia’s educational organization in the “LNR.”
Reports from the British Defense Ministry on 28 March revealed efforts by the Russian government to further integrate the temporarily occupied regions of Ukraine into its legal and administrative systems through educational programs. Specifically, the Russian Academy of National Economy and Public Administration launched a master’s degree program in “State and municipal management” with the goal of addressing the shortage of skilled personnel for Russian government roles in the occupied territories.
The UK intelligence suggested that these actions were part of a broader campaign of Russification in occupied Ukraine, aimed at erasing Ukrainian culture and identity. Such initiatives are seen as attempts to solidify Russian influence and control in the region by shaping the educational and administrative landscape to align with Russian norms and practices.
The incident involving the destruction of Chaika’s car highlights the complex and volatile situation in the occupied territories of Ukraine, where allegiances, power dynamics, and conflicts continue to evolve. As Russia expands its influence through various means, including educational programs, the Ukrainian identity and resistance to such efforts remain central to the ongoing struggle for autonomy and sovereignty in the region.