New Order for Property Expropriation in Luhansk Region

On March 12, 2026, the so-called 'people's council' of the self-proclaimed Luhansk People's Republic (LPR) approved new legislation aimed at legalizing the nationalization of residential properties belonging to Ukrainians. Oleksiy Kharchenko, head of the Luhansk regional military administration, reported on Telegram that the occupiers have attempted to consolidate existing laws into this new framework.

The new legislation aims to provide a legal basis for the confiscation of homes that have been declared ownerless. According to Kharchenko, the occupying authorities recognized that for over three years, they have arbitrarily declared properties as unowned without legal justification.

The new order establishes guidelines for identifying, registering, and claiming municipal ownership of real estate in the occupied areas. Kharchenko also noted that the occupiers plan to create a registry to document confiscated properties, which he characterized as an acknowledgment of their ongoing illegal activities.

In a related development, Russian forces in Sievierodonetsk are preparing to demolish another 79 apartment buildings that were heavily damaged during military actions in 2022, despite previously announcing plans for restoration. The lack of substantial repairs carried out on many of these buildings further highlights the disregard for local housing needs in the occupied regions.

Most of the restorations announced appear directed at buildings requiring minor repairs, while larger structures are being slated for demolition. Kharchenko criticized the occupying forces for their failure to follow through on promises made to residents regarding rebuilding efforts, emphasizing that significant work on damaged buildings has yet to be initiated.

While tensions remain high in the region, the ongoing property appropriation efforts signal a further entrenchment of Russian control and a continued violation of the rights of Ukrainian property owners. This situation complicates the landscape for potential post-war recovery and reconciliation efforts.