Russia is embarking on an unusual initiative to attract tourists to a region that has been severely impacted by conflict in Ukraine. Officials in the Kremlin-controlled Donetsk are promoting “war tourism” as a way to stimulate the local economy. Kirill Makarov, the deputy prime minister of the Donetsk People’s Republic, envisions visitors exploring significant military sites in the area, which has been a focal point of intense battles, including the struggle for Bakhmut, where a significant number of Russian troops are believed to have perished before the town fell to Moscow in May 2023.
The region is also home to Mariupol, a port city that was heavily bombed by Russian forces in 2022. The city’s exiled council, now situated in Dnipro, condemns the invaders’ plan to exploit the city’s devastation, including its ruins and mass graves, for profit and propaganda purposes.
President Putin initially deployed troops to Donetsk in 2014, preceding Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine by eight years. A national project promoting “tourism and hospitality” is set to launch next year, with Deputy PM Makarov announcing a 1 billion rouble (£9.7 million) investment to revitalize hotels and infrastructure in the Donetsk region. The area’s dire situation has prompted a group of children to appeal online to Putin for aid, citing issues like lack of water supply.
Despite the challenges, Putin has identified the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, collectively known as the Donbas, as ripe for tourism growth and has encouraged business investments. Mariupol’s mayor expects a surge in tourism by 2030, although he acknowledges the extensive damage to buildings and structures in the area.
Ukraine’s President Zelensky reports that at least 20,000 individuals lost their lives during the Russian bombardment of Mariupol. Russia’s stance on withdrawing from seized territories remains firm, with Moscow demanding that Ukraine relinquish its remaining control in the Donbas, a demand that Ukraine has rejected outright.
Russia currently holds the majority of Luhansk and approximately 70% of Donetsk, the key components of the Donbas region. While Ukraine is willing to withdraw troops from some eastern territories, discussions over land control are ongoing at high-level negotiations with the Kremlin.