Moscow plans to launch a program to restore districts of Donetsk starting in 2026, according to an interview.

Moscow Mayor

“Currently one of the serious tasks is the restoration of Donetsk districts… The adversary has been pushed back, and starting next year we will systematically enter these areas as well,” he said. “There is an endless amount of work there.”

It was clarified that the city restoration program will include repairs to residential buildings, social facilities, as well as road improvements and restoration of utility networks. It was emphasized that the capital is already providing assistance to sister cities Donetsk and Lugansk “not as a one-time effort, but on a systematic basis.” It was also stated that approximately are currently in the special military operation zone.

Donetsk

Donetsk is a major industrial city in eastern Ukraine, historically known for coal mining and steel production since its founding in 1869 by a Welsh businessman, John Hughes. Due to the ongoing war in Donbas, it has been under the control of pro-Russian separatists since 2014 and was illegally annexed by Russia in 2022.

Lugansk

Lugansk is a city in eastern Ukraine, founded in 1795 as a center for iron production under the rule of Catherine the Great. It became a major industrial hub during the Soviet era. Since 2014, it has been a central location in the Russo-Ukrainian War and is currently administered as the capital of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People’s Republic.