Russian propaganda faces a new ambitious task. It is necessary to make a super-hero from a small-scale fraudster. It was such a person going by the name of Dmitry Trapeznikov who was at the behest of Moscow appointed "head" of the occupied part of Donetsk region. There is no doubt Moscow will do its best to provide deification for the new Kremlin Gauleiter. After all, they one managed to do the same for an ex-poultry dealer with ambitions "to reach London with his troops." Moreover, anyone doubting the result could always be thrown into Donbas dungeons.

After a magnificent farewell to Alexander Zakharchenko and mass coverage of his assassination in the Russian media, people are already forgetting the infamous warlord. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov is already voicing his traditional messages about the lack of alternative to Minsk agreement.And he does not even add that the signatories of the document from among the Russian proteges have already been "recalled," in various ways, from their posts. While Zakharchenko's career ended in a spectacular blasting crescendo, his accomplice in Luhansk, Igor Plotnitsky, simply disappeared in the vast expanses of Russia.

While Zakharchenko's career ended in a spectacular blasting crescendo, his accomplice in Luhansk, Igor Plotnitsky, simply disappeared in the vast expanses of Russia

Lavrov bluntly states that the Kremlin has opted for a tactic to wait in the bushes in the hope of a change of Ukraine leadership for someone who will begin a direct dialogue with Russian puppets in Donetsk and Luhansk. Appointment of a new figure in Donetsk is especially curious, because it is with him, according to the Russian idea, that Ukraine needs to negotiate the end the war.

The new director of "DPR" has been eloquently nicknamed "Signor Tomato" back in 2001. The nickname very clearly describes Trapeznikov's major feature – he blushes when he lies. Back then, he began to play a prominent role in FC Shakhtar's fan movement. Although it is possible that now he managed to cope with one of his drawbacks and his blushing is not too noticeable anymore. He is walking around Donetsk, sporting a military uniform, although he never really fought in battles, which makes really angry the aggressive adepts of the "Russian world."

The new director of "DPR" has been eloquently nicknamed "Signor Tomato" back in 2001. The nickname very clearly describes Trapeznikov's major feature – he blushes when he lies

Trapeznikov made his initial wealth of petty theft from the once-powerful ruler of Donbas, Rinat Akhmetov. Until 2004, he made dirty money on the organization of tours of Shakhtar fans to the team's away games, including abroad. The scheme was simple – he falsified numbers of fans who received money for the trips, collecting the difference. He was caught eventually, including on fraud with the club's official merchandise. Young and promising president of the official fan club started a bit too to boast his wealth and expensive cars. After an official investigation, he was dismissed in 2004 and had no more business with FC Shakhtar.

Trapeznikov made his initial wealth of petty theft from the once-powerful ruler of Donbas, Rinat Akhmetov

Ten years later, with the start of the Russian occupation of Donbas, he was noticed by the Moscow curators and gradually began to move up the career stairs. He is described as a man who can work with papers. This is a rare quality among those who are used to solving problems with a gun in their hands. He even began to push away from Zakharchenko the main "financier" of the "young republic," Alexander Timofeev, better known as "Tashkent." It is assumed that "Signor Tomato" will more obediently execute orders coming from Moscow. Apparently, Trapeznikov accepted the rules of the game.

In his touching address, expressing condolences to Zakharchenko's family, Vladimir Putin announced that those who blew up the warlord seek to "put the people of Donbas on their knees." And then he added that "they will not succeed."

Sure they won't. And that's because Donbas has long been put on its knees. And it's Russia's heavy occupational boot that is treading upon the region.

Roman Tsymbaliuk