Russian retail chains enter Kherson region and displace local businesses

In the temporarily occupied territory of Kherson region, Russia continues to form its own economic model, displacing local businesses and controlling trade.

According to the National Resistance Center, one of the steps was the entry of the federal retail chain Semya. The relevant lease agreement was signed on April 1, 2026, with the participation of the Kherson Region Development Corporation, headed by Oleksiy Batkaev.

The agreement provides for the placement of brownfield stores, i.e. on the basis of existing outlets without open tenders. In particular, such facilities are planned to be opened in Henichesk, Chaplynka, Kakhovka and Nova Kakhovka.

In fact, this means the gradual displacement of local small businesses and their replacement by Russian chains. The occupation authorities create privileged conditions for their companies, which leads to market monopolization and limited choice for local residents.

As a result, the profits from the activities of such networks are directed not to the development of the region, but to the Russian economy.

Thus, Russia has been consistently forming its own economic zone in southern Ukraine, using the occupied territories as a source of income and a controlled market.

As a reminder, in the temporarily occupied territories (TOT) of Kherson region, the invaders introduced a scheme to siphon off money under the guise of paying for school meals. Despite regular payments from parents, children are actually left without food.

Earlier, Intent wrote how in the temporarily occupied part of the Kherson region, the Russian occupation authorities began issuing Russian passports to local residents. Such cases are reported, in particular, in Chaplynka, Henichesk and Skadovsk.

In addition, the occupiers are forcing residents of the left-bank Kherson region and other temporarily occupied territories to renounce their Ukrainian citizenship.

Андрій Колісніченко