Russia Consolidating Control Over Communications Networks And Infrastructure In Occupied Areas In 2026.

Kyiv; January 2026: Donetsk People’s Republic (DNR) occupation deputy prime minister Vladimir Yezhikov told media personnel in Kremlin on January 04^th, that the Donetsk Oblast occupation administration is prioritising the improvement of communication networks in sparsely populated areas in the coming years.

Yezhikov has claimed that the occupation administration plans to launch over 1,000 base stations with fixed transceivers that serve as a central connection hub for wireless devices in the occupied Donetsk Oblast in 2026, and that the occupation administration has implemented mobile phone coverage for over 90% of occupied Donetsk Oblast.

Yezhikov has further asserted on January 4th, that the DNR occupation administration is working on a project with the Russian Federal Research Institute of Radio on the development of digital television transmission throughout occupied Ukraine. Television and radio broadcasting has been operating to Russian standards in occupied Donetsk Oblast since July 2023. The proliferation of base stations will allow Russian authorities to exercise even greater control over communications networks and information flows in occupied Donetsk Oblast.

The Zaporizhia Oblast occupation administration discussed measures it took to consolidate control over communications and the information space in 2025. The Zaporizhia Oblast occupation Ministry of Digital Development, Communications, and Mass Media claimed on the same day that digital television coverage reached 95% of occupied Zaporizhia Oblast by the end of 2025, while radio coverage reached 97%. This means that Russian-approved and controlled television and radio broadcasts can now reach up to 97% of the occupied oblast, by Russian officials’ accounting. Zaporizhia Oblast occupation

Minister of Digital Development Grigoriy Prokhvatilov reported that the occupation administration installed 9,000 Russkiy Mir satellite dishes, built 448 base stations, and issued over 360,000 new subscriber identification module (SIM cards) to Russian passport holders in 2025.

Some international media houses have reported extensively on Russian efforts to install Russkiy Mir satellite dishes throughout occupied Ukraine in 2025 and assessed that these satellite dishes will allow Russian authorities to more tightly control the information space while cutting residents of occupied areas off from any access to non-Russian news and media sources. Those media houses similarly assessed that Russian officials levied intense pressure on residents of occupied areas to re-register their SIM cards using Russian documentation in order to support passportisation efforts and gain greater control over mobile communications networks.

Prokhvatilov’s claims suggest that Russian authorities have successfully issued over 360,000 Russian passports to residents of occupied Zaporizhia Oblast alone.

The Russian-installed leadership of the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant (ZNPP) explicitly rejected US proposals for joint operation of the plant, highlighting Russian efforts to completely and irreversibly integrate the ZNPP into the Russian power grid. ZNPP occupation director Yuri Chernichuk has addressed media reporters on January 05th, that he “can’t imagine” any scenario in which the United States, Ukraine, and Russia jointly operate the ZNPP because the ZNPP is a “Russian facility” operating under the auspices of Russian state nuclear energy operator Rosenergoatom.

Chernichuk appears to be responding to the latest US-Ukrainian-European 20-point peace plan, which contains proposed provisions for the future operation of the ZNPP. Meanwhile, the Trump government has proposed a joint US-Ukrainian-Russian operation of the plant, whereas Ukraine has advocated for a joint Ukraine-US operation. Chernichuk’s statements suggest that Russia plans to reject both possible outcomes and seeks to maintain full control over the ZNPP. Chernichuk then claimed that under Russian control of the plant, the ZNPP could supply power from “Lisbon to Vladivostok”.

Chernichuk has confirmed that the Russian ZNPP occupation administration has received several different licenses from the Russian government to operate the plant, which will eventually allow the ZNPP to gradually transition to power generation mode. The ZNPP will reportedly have the capacity to provide power to all occupied regions of Ukraine as well as energy-deficient regions of southern Russia. ISW has recently reported that Russia’s full integration of the ZNPP into the Russian power grid is nearing completion.[38] The ZNPP’s full integration with the Russian grid will severely complicate Ukrainian reintegration efforts and is likely to preclude any Ukrainian or US involvement in the future operation of the plant.

The Russian government has developed a long-term strategy for the development of occupied areas of Ukraine adjacent to the Azov Sea that will further facilitate the forced integration of these territories and their assets into Russia.

Russian Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin approved on December 31st, 2025 the “Strategy for Sustainable Development of the Azov Sea region through 2040”, as well as an action plan for the strategy’s implementation.

The Azov Sea Development Strategy pertains to coastal areas of the Azov Sea in occupied Crimea and Zaporizhia, Kherson, and Donetsk oblasts, as well as occupied Luhansk Oblast, which does not border the Azov Sea directly. The strategy seeks to optimize development in industry, recreation, transportation infrastructure, ecology, and fishery potential. The strategy also seeks to increase the population of territories adjacent to the Azov Sea to almost 09 million people, and suggests that investment in industry, transportation infrastructure, and tourism will help stimulate population growth.

The Azov Sea Development Strategy echoes other similar Russian plans for the development of occupied Ukraine, it calls for heavy Russian investment in occupied areas and assumes that Russian investment will allow Russia to reap substantial economic and demographic benefits from its occupation of Ukraine.

Team Maverick.