Former DPR commander explained how Russia finances separatist republics
Russia is financing separatists in eastern Ukraine and paying salaries and pensions to residents of the Donbas, the former Donetsk commander, Alexander Khodakovsky, told Reuters.
The former Ukrainian special forces soldier switched to the side of the separatists in the beginning of the conflict in eastern Ukraine in 2014. According to him, he was the commander of hundreds of armed fighters and held high positions within the leadership of the so-called DPR.
Replying to a question concerning whether Russia pays salaries and pensions in the occupied Donbas, Khodakovsky said: “Yes. These are the main directions – in the public sector and pensions – that should be closed first.”
According to him, Russia’s “aid figure exceeds those amounts we collect within the territory.”
There is a portion of the Russian budget that is closed to the public. According to the Russian Finance Ministry, in 2016 secret budget expenditures will exceed 22% of total expenses, and will comprise almost RUB 3.7 trillion (USD 59 billion). In 2017, according to Ministry of Finance, 18.3% of expenditures (RUB 2.89 trillion, or USD 46 billion) will be closed to the public.
After Kyiv stopped paying the pensions and salaries for residents of territories controlled by separatists in the beginning of the conflict, the amount of pensions and social benefits in the occupied territories has comprised RUB 47.3 billion (757 million USD) since 2015, the agency reports.