Registers of Collaborators: Russia Imitates Civil Society in Occupied Territories
The occupiers are actively working on creating fake civil society platforms in the temporarily occupied territories of Ukraine to conceal their true goal — strengthening control and legitimizing their actions. According to the Center for National Resistance, Russian occupiers are developing closed lists of their sympathizers — pro-Kremlin activists and collaborators, which are intended to serve as tools to simulate active civic positions and create the appearance of support among the local population. These lists are created in secrecy and aim to gather so-called “activists,” whose presence and activities are supposedly meant to demonstrate allegiance to the occupation authorities. However, it is quite evident that this mechanism more likely serves as a cover for the real objective — taking control of all forms of public activity in the region, providing special “soft” tools for management and manipulation of the situation. It is important to note that all these closed registers will eventually become valuable intelligence sources for Ukrainian special services, which in the future will be able to expose and condemn traitors and collaborators cooperating with the Russian authorities. The role of such lists is to create an illusion of public resistance and activity in the region, while in reality, they are used to control local population activity and serve as tools for repression or propaganda. Historical context confirms this — Russia, with its colonial experience, has repeatedly imitated social movements and values with the aim of controlling and reinforcing imperial ambitions. Therefore, it is no secret that current “activism” is merely a camouflage for a deeper strategic plan. Additionally, as part of the creation of fake platforms, over 300 profiles of collaborators who expressed a desire to move to the Russian Federation in exchange for the return of Ukrainian prisoners from Russian captivity have been posted on the state project website “Hochy Yty Do Svoikh” (“I Want to Go to My Own”). These profiles include information about the waiting time for departure and appeals to Russian authorities. The Russian side is already aware of the intentions of each of these traitors. It is worth emphasizing that Moscow refuses to return its former agents, so now, for Russia, these individuals only hold value as tools for propaganda and spreading false information. While in detention, they remain instruments of information warfare, used to create anomalous scenarios that serve to discredit Ukraine and shape a positive image of the Russian government in the eyes of its own population and the international community. This strategy of creating fake civil platforms and controlled lists clearly demonstrates that Russian occupiers are seeking to hide their true weaknesses and ensure an illusion of stability and support, while simultaneously increasing their influence and control in the regions they have occupied. Ukraine and the entire world must stay vigilant to dismantle these imitation mechanisms and lead them to their logical conclusion — the return of all territories and liberation from Russian occupation.