Russians forcibly conscript Ukrainians, coercing them into fighting against their own country. The Russian 132nd Separate Motorized Rifle Brigade is now fully staffed by residents of the temporarily occupied parts of Donetsk Oblast and illegal migrants, according to the DeepState project.
Russia is transforming occupied Ukrainian regions into military bases for further aggression. For example, the Azovstal steel plant in Mariupol, Donetsk Oblast, which sheltered the city’s defenders in 2022, has now been converted by Russia into a hidden base, using its bunkers and underground shelters.
According to the report, the 132nd Brigade has long been predominantly staffed by residents of the occupied settlements of Donetsk Oblast. Recently, it has been massively reinforced with illegal migrants, mainly from Central Asian countries.
This information is particularly alarming amid ongoing US-Russia negotiations. US President Donald Trump openly states that a peace deal would include some "swapping" of territories with Russia. This means that Russia can further conscript more people from occupied territories to the war against their relatives, friends, and other Ukrainians.
“The Russian command has set the task to reach the eastern outskirts of Dobropillia in the near future,” analysts say.
The invaders aim to capture Dobropillia because it is the last major city before Pokrovsk in Donetsk Oblast, where Russia has concentrated nearly 100,000 soldiers. Taking Dobropillia would allow them to shell logistics routes to Pokrovsk and open the way for further attacks on Kostiantynivka.
DeepState also emphasizes that the 132nd Brigade has historically consisted mainly of marginal elements and criminals from the occupied districts of Donetsk since 2014, while the command has come directly from Russia.
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