Thread: Future of Eastern Ukraine? / Будущее Восточной Украины?

I read somewhere that this is a bit of a "class" issue in Eastern Ukraine, and that fits with what it-ogo is saying. Essentially what I read hinted that the workers are more pro-Russia, and educated people are more pro Ukraine. I didn't quite understand why that would be, but it seems to match with the looks/behaviour of people I've seen on TV, the swearing etc, and the fact that it-ogo (pro-Ukraine) is well educated, English speaking etc.

Also - an age factor involved; younger people who paid attention in school 1992-today are slightly more likely to be pro Ukraine because of school curriculum etc, and just out of habit.

Then I read a long rant by a Russian nationalist who had somewhat conflicting themes. One of his main point was that Russian nationalists looked down a bit on Eastern Ukraine as "backwards", not very clever people, and a "Soviet mentality" (intended as an insult).

So his reasoning was "why should Russia take risks for such people". I wouldn't have any idea at all, but there are a lot of Soviet and communist flags showing on TV with the protestors. This type of outlook seems to be popular in Eastern Ukraine. The piece I read explained that this was because of the Donbass being a prestige project in the USSR with people moving there from all over.

Finally, the Russian nationalist seemed conflicted about who exactly in Ukraine is a "Slavic brother" and who isn't - and who needed to be liberated from what. I don't know a great deal about extreme nationalism in Russia so it was interesting to read that perspective.

Originally Posted by Hanna

I read somewhere that this is a bit of a "class" issue in Eastern Ukraine, and that fits with what it-ogo is saying. Essentially what I read hinted that the workers are more pro-Russia, and educated people are more pro Ukraine. I didn't quite understand why that would be, but it seems to match with the looks/behaviour of people I've seen on TV, the swearing etc, and the fact that it-ogo (pro-Ukraine) is well educated, English speaking etc.

The reason is obvious: educated people can have an idea of perspectives and real consequences of making our region a rogue state under the control of Russian militaries (there are three such states already so we can compare). Less educated people don't think about that, they just feel abused by Kiev's rebellion and say "why can't we do the same?"

Originally Posted by Hanna

Then I read a long rant by a Russian nationalist who had somewhat conflicting themes. One of his main point was that Russian nationalists looked down a bit on Eastern Ukraine as "backwards", not very clever people, and a "Soviet mentality" (intended as an insult).

So his reasoning was "why should Russia take risks for such people".

That is the newest trend Russian press started to introduce step by step. Putin needs an excuse why he will not help "brothers" after so many encouragings and stimulations of "Russian spring".

Iwouldn't have any idea at all, but there are a lot of Soviet and communist flags showing on TV with the protestors. This type of outlook seems to be popular in Eastern Ukraine. The piece I read explained that this was because of the Donbass being a prestige project in the USSR with people moving there from all over.

They appeal to oldest men and women with the nostalgie about USSR. For some reason believe that Russia is something like old good USSR and the most active of them can make many noise as they don't need to work already.

No Western paper will say who put the Union building in Odessa on fire.

And who did? As far as I understand the fire started almost simultaneously in many places of the building. And the defenders intensively used Molotov's cocktails. We have no investigation results for now.