Russia Offers Subsidized Mortgages In Ukrainian Cities, Including Kyiv-Controlled Kherson

The Russian government’s Family Mortgage program has started offering subsidized loans to Russian citizens who want to buy property in Ukrainian towns -- including some under Kyiv’s control -- alongside cities within Russia.

Some of the Ukrainian cities on the list, such as Melitopol and Primorsk, remain under Russian occupation, while others -- including Kherson, Beryslav, and Snihurivka -- have been included despite being recaptured by Ukrainian forces.

Dom.rf, the financial institution operating the program, has been offering these mortgages to families with children under the age of 7 since April 1.

In cities still under Ukrainian control, daily life continues despite the threat of attacks.

Kramatorsk, the administrative center of the Donetsk region, was retaken by Ukrainian forces in the summer of 2014, during the early stages of the conflict in eastern Ukraine. Today, it is home to around 60,000 people.

“If someone bought my apartment or house, I’d break their arms and legs. How else could I react?” said Mykola, a 55-year-old schoolteacher who lives locally. “Imagine someone buying your home without your knowledge -- how would you feel?!”

'A Political Maneuver'

Although most schools in Kramatorsk were destroyed by missile attacks and classes are now held online, hospitals, shops, and other essential services remain operational, according to RFE/RL reporters on the ground.

“I believe Russia is doing this to psychologically pressure Ukrainians and destabilize our society,” Mykola said.

Russia maintains that Ukraine’s Kherson, Zaporizhzhya, Donetsk, Luhansk, and Crimea regions are part of the Russian Federation -- a claim that has been broadly rejected by the international community.