According to reports from the Ukrainian National Resistance Center (NRC), Russia intends to dump its waste in the temporarily occupied areas of Ukraine. NRC reports that Moscow intends to spend 1.3 billion rubles, the equivalent of about $13.56 million, to equip landfill sites in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhia and Kherson Oblasts. These funds are intended for special equipment and waste containers.

Interestingly, Russia also wants to use vehicles and equipment stolen from Ukrainian utilities in these areas. The NRC notes that the funds flow through various shell companies and eventually end up in the hands of Mikhail Mishustin, the head of the Russian government.

Little consideration for the civilian population

The NRC’s view is clear: Russia shows little consideration for the civilian population in the occupied territories, especially when it comes to waste disposal. The priority for the Russian authorities seems to be to divert the funds before these areas could possibly come back under Ukrainian control. The NRC expresses the suspicion that Russia is primarily interested in financial gain and not in the well-being of the population.