Russia's 'Flag-Hopping' Campaign: The Villages Targeted for Symbolic Capture by 2026.

Russian Military Command Issues Directive

According to TSN.ua: Russia's military command has issued orders to seize or plant its flags in approximately ten Ukrainian settlements by February 24, 2026. The list of villages specifically targeted includes:

• Novoselivka
• Oleksiivka
• Oleksandrograd
• Novooleksandrivka
• Voskresenka
• Orestopil
• Terpove
• Zelenyi Hai
• Andriivka
• Klevtsove
• Vidradne
• Bratske
• Ternuvate
• Prydorozhnie

These settlements are situated along the administrative borders of the Donetsk, Dnipropetrovsk, and Zaporizhzhia regions. This area has been a focal point of intense fighting and shifting front lines since the full-scale invasion began.

A New Russian Military Tactic

Security expert Vladyslav Voloshyn noted that the Russian Federation's primary goal is not the actual occupation of these villages.

"In reality, the occupiers' task is to enter, take photographs, and leave, to have video evidence of their supposed 'control' over these villages," he emphasized.

"This tactic has already been named 'Flag-Hopping'—when Russian soldiers enter a settlement, quickly record a video with their flag, and depart," Voloshyn added.

Consequently, Russian command continues to pursue its objectives in Ukraine by employing novel methods aimed at creating an illusion of control over entire regions. This situation points to strategic shifts in Russia's military approach, which could have serious implications for regional security. The use of 'Flag-Hopping' tactics indicates an attempt to manufacture a perception of control without physically holding territory, potentially influencing how the international community views the conflict. Such actions may also provoke new tensions within Ukrainian society by undermining stability and security in the area.