Based on various sources and literature, the article deals with the position of the Russian military administration in the issue of restoration of villages abandoned by the residents during the military operations in the Kumyk possession in the 1840s - early 1850s. As evidenced by the data presented here, this position was varied depending on the situation and was significantly changed by the end of the Caucasian war. Rich factual material, quotations from archival sources and their analysis are given in the article.