Despite significant funding cuts to occupation institutions on the left bank of Kherson region, illegally established cultural centers continue to operate actively. While Russian authorities have slashed salaries for their so-called “cultural front” workers, expectations for their performance remain high. Earning next to nothing, the directors of occupation-run cultural centers and libraries have adapted by simply pretending to be busy.
A Return to the Stagnant Past
Until almost autumn 2022, Nataliia, the director of a cultural center in a village in Henichesk district, remained under occupation (her name has been changed for security reasons).
“As soon as the orcs entered our village, they first occupied the school, destroyed all Ukrainian symbols, looted everything, and left. Later, they started appointing collaborators to the occupation administration. In the summer, they took over the cultural center in the district center and eagerly got to work,” Nataliia recalls.
According to her, the heads of the occupation-run cultural center immediately began opening “branches” in local villages. Sometimes through threats, sometimes through torture, they seized equipment from village cultural centers, hung up Russian symbols and portraits of Putin everywhere, and started holding concerts and various “folk festivities.” Nataliia had to flee the occupation.
After seizing local cultural institutions, the occupiers established their own organizations on their basis. For example, in Nyzhni Sirohozy, Henichesk district, Russians illegally set up the “Nyzhni Sirohozy Center for Culture and Leisure” and 17 of its structural branches—local “cultural centers.”
In the so-called Kakhovka “municipal district,” the occupiers created the “Kakhovka Cultural Center named after D. M. Ovsianyko-Kulikovsky” with 29 structural branches. Even now, when Kakhovka city and nearby communities are essentially on the front line, most of these centers continue to operate. Only nine clubs and cultural centers in Kakhovka, Vasylivka, Sofiivka, Kalynivka, Kamianka, Chervonyi Podil, Malokakhovka, Petropavlivka, and Rozdolne are not functioning.
Residents of Shotivka and neighboring villages in Ivanivka settlement community, Henichesk district, described who is responsible for the occupation’s “culture.” In Shotivka itself, the seized cultural center is headed by Aliona Fateieva, who came from a neighboring community. As a “promising specialist,” the occupiers rewarded her with a confiscated house that belonged to Viktor Debelyi, the head of the local community.
“Under Fateieva’s leadership, the occupiers are served by Larysa Solodova (Andriiets), who previously worked at the cultural center in Anatolivka, Nyzhni Sirohozy community, Liubov Popova, Luchiia Neilo, Liubov Nechaiuk, and Tetiana Smishko. Solodova has been singing for the occupiers since the first days of the full-scale war. She and Neilo are known for their fondness for alcohol. All of them organize propaganda events and celebrations for ‘Russia Day,’ ‘Defender of the Fatherland Day,’ and other such occasions,” community members said.
Some of Putin’s “cultural front” workers—Luchiia Neilo and Liubov Solodova—involve their daughters and other relatives in their activities.
Tetiana Smishko previously worked as a director and screenwriter at the Ivanivka cultural center. At the start of the full-scale war, she left the occupied area, but later was tempted by the high salaries initially offered by the Russians to collaborators. She returned to the temporarily occupied Ivanivka community. Now she wears the “St. George’s ribbon” and promotes the “Russian world” in occupied Kherson region.
The occupation’s culture department in Ivanivka is headed by Alla Kostenko, who previously led the culture department of the former Ivanivka District State Administration.
“She was once fired from the district administration for drunkenness and stealing brass instruments. For Russia, people like her are exactly what they want,” said residents of Ivanivka community.
Residents of Tavrychanska village community, Kakhovka district, also spoke about Putin’s “cultural front” workers. In the village of Dudchyne, the occupiers put Tetiana Basova in charge of the “cultural center.” Before the full-scale war, she sang in the local ensemble “Nadiia.” She works alongside Liubov Vakulovska, who previously sang in the folk ensemble “Zhuravka.”
The occupation library in Dudchyne is headed by Tetiana Ovdiienko. Locals say she previously worked as a shop assistant but lost her job due to drinking and cheating customers.
“Just before the full-scale Russian invasion, a huge amount of work had been done at the Dudchyne library. Thanks to local activists, it won a grant, was renovated, had new windows and office equipment installed, and was about to be connected to the internet. The library had a large collection of books, including many new titles. Now, only a handful of people and a few children go there—to watch ‘Vasilisa the Beautiful.’ The occupiers have done nothing new, just looted what was there and dragged everything back to a dark, stagnant past,” said residents of Tavrychanska community.
Concerts Without Audiences and Samovars with Caps
It’s no surprise that Russians place such emphasis on culture in occupied Kherson region. Healthcare, education, transport, social services, and other areas require significant funding and hard work. But running seized libraries or village clubs repainted in Russian tricolors needs neither much money nor many people.
“When the occupiers invaded our villages, the first thing they did was blast Soviet songs everywhere, parade Soviet symbols, and play on nostalgia with a typical Soviet ‘flavor.’ This was part of their propaganda, initially aimed mainly at the elderly. Around 2023–2024, Russians sharply shifted their focus in the occupation to children and youth. Now, everywhere you hear about the Kherson occupation KVN team ‘Raccoons of Two Seas,’ whom Russian propagandists desperately try to make seem important. But these ‘raccoons’ have no real talent. Or they promote the propaganda art cluster in Shchaslyvtseve. The focus is now on young people. Pensioners are no longer the main target for Russian propaganda,” said a resident of occupied Kherson region who works in education and culture, speaking anonymously.
According to him, in the early years of occupation, Russians lured local collaborators into various positions with high salaries. From 2024, salaries were drastically cut, but expectations for performance not only remained high—they increased. Russians also began requiring their subordinates to have relevant education.
“In Henichesk district, there’s a librarian who is nearly 70 years old. Since he doesn’t have a degree in the field, he constantly travels to Melitopol for training. He spends a fortune on these trips. But he doesn’t want to lose his job, so he hopes to get the required ‘diploma,’” a MOST source from occupied Kherson region said.
At the same time, Russian authorities demand that workers in occupation-run cultural institutions publicly report on their activities. So, whatever gathering they hold—even a tea party or a three-book exhibition for “Russia Day”—they post photos or videos of the “event” on their social media. Since some collaborators don’t want to be seen in these photos, they often use children or random passersby as stand-ins.
Our sources in the occupied territories described how this works: when a librarian or club director needs to stage an “event,” they invite neighborhood children, promising them an apple or a sweet. Usually, these propaganda events amount to nothing more than photographing the young “participants” for reporting purposes, after which everyone goes home.
In recent months, with drone attacks intensifying, the occupation governor of Kherson region, Volodymyr Saldo, has banned mass gatherings altogether. But this hasn’t stopped cultural workers in the occupied territories. They’ve adapted by holding concerts and “flash mobs” with no audience at all.
“In one village in Henichesk district this year, there was a case on March 8. The local cultural center put up a poster announcing a concert for International Women’s Day. People came at the scheduled time to hear the songs, but the building was locked. Later, photos and videos of the concert appeared on social media. It did happen! In a closed cultural center, with no audience. Just for the report,” our source from occupied Kherson region said.
A similar event with no local participants was recently staged in Henicheska Hirka for Russian Flag Day. Photos released by the occupiers show that only the organizers themselves took part.
Our sources also noted that workers in occupation-run cultural institutions don’t bother making proper Russian costumes.
“Before the full-scale war, Henichesk district underwent financial decentralization. Thanks to this, communities invested heavily in culture—renovating facilities and buying lots of costumes, some in traditional Ukrainian style. The Russians stole all of it and now use it for their own purposes. In many photos, you can see stolen Ukrainian national costumes, to which they’ve added Russian kokoshniks and caps. Now they try to pass off this hellish mix as authentic Russian clothing,” our source said.
According to him, cultural collaborators from occupied Kherson region still have little understanding of what real Russian tradition is, so at most of their events, they try to add a Russian samovar. Any roundtable, children’s concert, or “From the Heart” evening is accompanied by a samovar and strings of bagels.
“It looks ridiculous when, in the sweltering summer heat, they set out a samovar, sit around it, and drink hot tea with bagels. With these clumsy details, they try to show their attachment to the ‘Russian world,’” said a resident of occupied Kherson region.