In a detailed feature for the Greek investigative media outlet Inside Story exploring Russia’s motives for insisting on full control of the Donbas, Maksym Chebotarov, expert at the Transatlantic Dialogue Center (TDC), provides an analytical perspective on both the symbolic and strategic dimensions of the region in Vladimir Putin’s worldview.
“Putin’s obsession with occupying the entire Donbas is linked to his broader vision to dismantle Ukrainian statehood and reassert Russia as a dominant power in the Eurasian space. For him, the Donbas is not just a piece of land — it is the ideological, historical, and psychological core of his war,” Chebotarov says.
He explains that for Putin, the Donbas has become the central symbol of the “Russian World” — a myth that Russians, Ukrainians, and Belarusians form one historical nation unjustly divided by the West.
“To retreat in Donbas would mean acknowledging that Ukraine exists as a sovereign and distinct nation — a reality that undermines his entire worldview.”
Chebotarov also details the military dimension of the region:
“Since 2014, Kyiv has turned the western axis of Donetsk into a 50-kilometre-long, multi-layered defence belt of trenches, minefields, and fortifications. Losing it would mean abandoning reinforced positions and accepting a period of increased vulnerability until new lines are built.”
Finally, he emphasises the societal implications of any territorial concession:
“Even as fatigue from war grows, Ukrainians are drawing a clear line between peace and surrender. The experience of occupation in Mariupol and Bucha has convinced most that any Russian control means oppression, not peace.”
Read the full story: Why is the Donbas so important to Putin? – Inside Story
