As to be said, the contemporary conflicts are shaped by our past. Historical factors and cultural factors played an important role in explaining the contemporary conflicts, between Ukraine and Russia. It is also believed that no diplomatic preference could be applied to weak nations, thus, power play between the USA, EU and the Russia would also responsible for the bloodshed along the border of two Slavic countries.
History of Ukraine
In the 11th century, there was only one Slavic country, the Kyivan Rus'. The name "Ukraine", meaning "in-land" or "native-land", usually interpreted as "border-land"[1]
While the Slav was not yet divided into three separate nations, Ukrainee, Belorussia and Russia, local regional subdivisions of Rus' appeared between"Belarus'" (White Ruthenia), "Chorna Rus'" (Black Ruthenia) and "Cherven' Rus'" (Red Ruthenia). [1]Language difference existed between these three groups and it could be contributing to the separation centuries after.
History of the East, West Ukraine division
Fig1:The territory of Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth[2]
In 1569, Ukraine fell under Polish administration, becoming part of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland. [1]Polish started to colonize most of the area in the Western part of Ukraine, with many new cities and villages were founded.[1]
Schools taught by Polish peasants were established and more Polish inhabitants were mixed with the locals, during this time, most of Ukrainian nobles became Polonised and converted their allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church.[1] Consequently, the Western Ukraine found themselves becoming more and more westernized, while distant away from the Slavic Russia in cultural aspects while getting themselves closer to the European tradition.
However, for the most part of Eastern Ukraine, the inhabitants there preserved most of the Slavic tradition and remained loyal to the Eastern Orthodox Church.[1] They had closer bonded with Russia. Social tension arose from the difference in cultural influence and identities between West and Eastern Ukraine. The western part sort of created a Ukraian identity, which was different from the Russian identity adopt in the East.
Suppression of the Tsar Empire
After reconquested Ukrainee, Russia, fearing separatism in Ukraine region, imposed strict limits on attempts to elevate the Ukrainian language, even banning its use and study. [1]The Panslavism policy adopt by the Tsar led to an exodus of a number of Ukrainian intellectuals in Western Ukraine and they started to draft the ideological belief of Ukraineophilia, supported by Austri-Hungary in geopolitical consideration.[1]
With the start of World War I, Austria-Hungary conquered most part of Ukraine and held those Slavic nationalist in a concentration camp at Talerhof where many died.[1]
Nationalism in Ukraine: separation from Russia
History of Ukraine
In the 11th century, there was only one Slavic country, the Kyivan Rus'. The name "Ukraine", meaning "in-land" or "native-land", usually interpreted as "border-land"[1]
While the Slav was not yet divided into three separate nations, Ukrainee, Belorussia and Russia, local regional subdivisions of Rus' appeared between"Belarus'" (White Ruthenia), "Chorna Rus'" (Black Ruthenia) and "Cherven' Rus'" (Red Ruthenia). [1]Language difference existed between these three groups and it could be contributing to the separation centuries after.
History of the East, West Ukraine division
Fig1:The territory of Poland-Lithuanian Commonwealth[2]
In 1569, Ukraine fell under Polish administration, becoming part of the Crown of the Kingdom of Poland. [1]Polish started to colonize most of the area in the Western part of Ukraine, with many new cities and villages were founded.[1]
Schools taught by Polish peasants were established and more Polish inhabitants were mixed with the locals, during this time, most of Ukrainian nobles became Polonised and converted their allegiance to the Roman Catholic Church.[1] Consequently, the Western Ukraine found themselves becoming more and more westernized, while distant away from the Slavic Russia in cultural aspects while getting themselves closer to the European tradition.
However, for the most part of Eastern Ukraine, the inhabitants there preserved most of the Slavic tradition and remained loyal to the Eastern Orthodox Church.[1] They had closer bonded with Russia. Social tension arose from the difference in cultural influence and identities between West and Eastern Ukraine. The western part sort of created a Ukraian identity, which was different from the Russian identity adopt in the East.
Suppression of the Tsar Empire
After reconquested Ukrainee, Russia, fearing separatism in Ukraine region, imposed strict limits on attempts to elevate the Ukrainian language, even banning its use and study. [1]The Panslavism policy adopt by the Tsar led to an exodus of a number of Ukrainian intellectuals in Western Ukraine and they started to draft the ideological belief of Ukraineophilia, supported by Austri-Hungary in geopolitical consideration.[1]
With the start of World War I, Austria-Hungary conquered most part of Ukraine and held those Slavic nationalist in a concentration camp at Talerhof where many died.[1]
Nationalism in Ukraine: separation from Russia
Fig2: Claimed and actual territory of Ukraine in 1922-1957[3]
In the 18th century, with the suppression from Russia, together under the influence of Polish and Austrian occupation in the two partitions of Poland, Ukraine nationalism started to emerge within the peasants, in which Historian called Ukraine National Revival. [4]
Inspired by nationalist spirit in the 19th century, Ukraine intellectuals called for Ukrainee nationalism, and encouraged Ukrainian to revive their language and culture, but it faced the strict and harsh suppression from Russian authorities.[1][4]
After the October Revolution and the failure in WWI, Ukraine first became independent with the Ukrainian War of Independence of 1917 to 1921.[1] Leon Trotsky, a well known Bolshevist leader, openly supported the independence of Ukraine and the separation of Ukraine from Russia.[5]
Nonetheless, the Socialist Government found was quickly incorporated into the Soviet Union. Substantial part of Western Ukraine, including Galicia, South Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, and Carpathian Ruthenia was occupied by Poland until The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and the Second World War. [1]
History of hatred between Ukrainee and Russia
In the 18th century, with the suppression from Russia, together under the influence of Polish and Austrian occupation in the two partitions of Poland, Ukraine nationalism started to emerge within the peasants, in which Historian called Ukraine National Revival. [4]
Inspired by nationalist spirit in the 19th century, Ukraine intellectuals called for Ukrainee nationalism, and encouraged Ukrainian to revive their language and culture, but it faced the strict and harsh suppression from Russian authorities.[1][4]
After the October Revolution and the failure in WWI, Ukraine first became independent with the Ukrainian War of Independence of 1917 to 1921.[1] Leon Trotsky, a well known Bolshevist leader, openly supported the independence of Ukraine and the separation of Ukraine from Russia.[5]
Nonetheless, the Socialist Government found was quickly incorporated into the Soviet Union. Substantial part of Western Ukraine, including Galicia, South Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, and Carpathian Ruthenia was occupied by Poland until The Molotov–Ribbentrop Pact and the Second World War. [1]
History of hatred between Ukrainee and Russia
Fig3: Historical photo of the Holodomor in Ukraine[6]
The root of hatred of most Ukraine must go to the Holodomor, which killed one in five of the Ukraine population. For most of the western critics, the Holodomor, was regarded as a man-made catastrophe or even ethnic cleansing, to deal with the urge of independence in Ukraine. During the Holodomor,[7] "Soviet authorities set requisition quotas for Ukraine at an impossibly high level. Brigades of special agents were dispatched to Ukraine to assist in procurement, and homes were routinely searched and foodstuffs confiscated... The rural population was left with insufficient food to feed itself."[7]
Niall Ferguson, had a deeper assessment of the Soviet suppression of Ukraine nationalism, using collectivization as mean:
" A backlash against the relative autonomy of the Ukraine had begun as early as the spring of 1930. 'Keep in mind", Stalin had warned darkly in 1932,'that in the Ukrainian Communist Party... there are not a few... rotten elements, conscious and subconscious Petlyurties (Ukranian nationalists)'... It was in fact one of the stated aims of collectivization to achieve the 'destruction of Ukrainian nationalism's social base - the individual landholdings'. Collectivization was pushed further and faster there than anywhere in Russia... Ukrainian folksingers were rounded up and shot... the Ukraine was in fact being run as a Russian colony... Although Russian accounted for only 9% of the population, 95% of the government officials were Russian or Russified."[8]
The root of hatred of most Ukraine must go to the Holodomor, which killed one in five of the Ukraine population. For most of the western critics, the Holodomor, was regarded as a man-made catastrophe or even ethnic cleansing, to deal with the urge of independence in Ukraine. During the Holodomor,[7] "Soviet authorities set requisition quotas for Ukraine at an impossibly high level. Brigades of special agents were dispatched to Ukraine to assist in procurement, and homes were routinely searched and foodstuffs confiscated... The rural population was left with insufficient food to feed itself."[7]
Niall Ferguson, had a deeper assessment of the Soviet suppression of Ukraine nationalism, using collectivization as mean:
" A backlash against the relative autonomy of the Ukraine had begun as early as the spring of 1930. 'Keep in mind", Stalin had warned darkly in 1932,'that in the Ukrainian Communist Party... there are not a few... rotten elements, conscious and subconscious Petlyurties (Ukranian nationalists)'... It was in fact one of the stated aims of collectivization to achieve the 'destruction of Ukrainian nationalism's social base - the individual landholdings'. Collectivization was pushed further and faster there than anywhere in Russia... Ukrainian folksingers were rounded up and shot... the Ukraine was in fact being run as a Russian colony... Although Russian accounted for only 9% of the population, 95% of the government officials were Russian or Russified."[8]
Fig4: Nazis anti-Bolshevist propaganda displayed in the German-occupied Ukraine displayed the murder of more than 9,000 Ukrainian in Vinnitsa by Stalin’s secret police in 1937–38. German forces uncovered the massacre in May 1943.[9]
The deep root hatred among the Ukrainian was bounced back when Soviet Union was invaded by Nazi Germany in 1941. "Ukrainian peasants saw the black crosses on the invaders' panzers as the insignia of a holy crusade against the Antichrist of Moscow."[10] The anger or dissent of Ukrainian, mixed with racism against ethnic minorities, like Gypsy, Polish and Jews, caused a significant number of Ukrainian collaborates with Nazis.[10]
Fig5: Poster called for the Ukrainian support of the Nazis regime in the Eastern Theatre. [11]
After World War II some amendments to the Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR were accepted to give Ukraine a higher degree of autonomy.[1] The Crimean Oblast was even transferred to the Ukrainian SSR in 1954 to satisfy the Ukrainian. However, that didn't stop Ukrainian from seeking independence in the collapse of the Soviet Union. In contrast, the incident of Chernobyl Power Plant which happened in Ukraine, brought prolong impact and pollution to the Ukrainian soil, which even worsened the relationship between the people in Ukraine and the central authority of USSR.[1] On January 21, 1990, over 300,000 Ukrainians organized a human chain for Ukrainian independence between Kyiv and Lviv.[1] On December 1, over 90% of Ukrainian citizens voted for independence, with majorities in every region, including 56% in Crimea.[1]
How does historical reasons related to present conflict
After the Ukraine independence, marked by historical hatred among the nationalist groups of Ukrainian and Russian, and also the distrust between Eastern and Western Ukraine, every presidential election involved heated debate on whether Ukraine should align herself with the West or Russia. There are several ways in which historical reasons contributed to the present[1] conflicts in the Ukraine soil.
The deep root hatred among the Ukrainian was bounced back when Soviet Union was invaded by Nazi Germany in 1941. "Ukrainian peasants saw the black crosses on the invaders' panzers as the insignia of a holy crusade against the Antichrist of Moscow."[10] The anger or dissent of Ukrainian, mixed with racism against ethnic minorities, like Gypsy, Polish and Jews, caused a significant number of Ukrainian collaborates with Nazis.[10]
Fig5: Poster called for the Ukrainian support of the Nazis regime in the Eastern Theatre. [11]
After World War II some amendments to the Constitution of the Ukrainian SSR were accepted to give Ukraine a higher degree of autonomy.[1] The Crimean Oblast was even transferred to the Ukrainian SSR in 1954 to satisfy the Ukrainian. However, that didn't stop Ukrainian from seeking independence in the collapse of the Soviet Union. In contrast, the incident of Chernobyl Power Plant which happened in Ukraine, brought prolong impact and pollution to the Ukrainian soil, which even worsened the relationship between the people in Ukraine and the central authority of USSR.[1] On January 21, 1990, over 300,000 Ukrainians organized a human chain for Ukrainian independence between Kyiv and Lviv.[1] On December 1, over 90% of Ukrainian citizens voted for independence, with majorities in every region, including 56% in Crimea.[1]
How does historical reasons related to present conflict
After the Ukraine independence, marked by historical hatred among the nationalist groups of Ukrainian and Russian, and also the distrust between Eastern and Western Ukraine, every presidential election involved heated debate on whether Ukraine should align herself with the West or Russia. There are several ways in which historical reasons contributed to the present[1] conflicts in the Ukraine soil.
Fig6: Map of Ukrainian vs Russian native language[12]
Firstly, the historical occupations and annexation of territory made Ukraine, especially the Western part culturally different from that of the Eastern parts. Despite the Soviet and Tsarist attempt in unifying Ukraine culture and language, Catholic tradition remained influential in Western Ukraine. The inflow of the diaspora from Russia, Poland and other countries as a result of colonization of different empires in Ukraine also created language and cultural barrier which worsens the East-West encounter in the country.
"The core of this year pro-European protest movement has come from western Ukraine, a region where Ukrainian nationalism is rife and people consider themselves already part of Europe. Unlike eastern Ukraine, the western area was not brought under Soviet control until the second world war, and distrust of Russia remains strong.
The western part of Ukraine has always had a European mentality," says Sadovyy, the mayor of Lviv. "Over the past few hundred years we have been part of six different empires, while the eastern part of the country has only been part of one. Our city was given the Magdeburg Rights [German civil law] 657 years ago; this is the kind of experience that eastern Ukraine just doesn't have."[13]
As most of the Western Ukraine spoke similar languages with those in Poland and Central Europe, they would certainly favor a pro-European policy.[1] However, in Eastern Ukraine, the trade was heavily relied on exportation of industrial products to Russia. Filled with the highest population of ethnic Russian, that could also explain why Eastern Ukraine opposed the new revolutionary government after the fall of Yanukovich, when they repeal a Yanukovich-era law granting legal rights to Russian.
Fig7:Far right football fans showing the banner of the Waffen-SS Glizien division, a Ukraine volunteer division fought under the Nazis Swastika in WWII.[14]
The second importance of historical factors is that the historical root have contributed to the rise of extreme nationalist groups in Ukraine. Anti-Russian feeling was common in the Western Ukraine and the right wing racist group, filled with historical hatred dominated the demonstration in Kiev, and hence, the structure of the new government after the fall of Yanukovich. As the Guardian reported in the Lviv, Western Ukraine:
" At a popular restaurant in Lviv, the biggest city in the west, a heavily armed man dressed in anti-communist resistance fatigues greets arriving diners with the words "Glory to Ukraine!" and demands to know whether there are any Moskali, a derogatory term for Russians, among the group. If Moskali are detected, a mock execution is carried out on the spot, gunshots ringing out as other diners tuck into their borscht and sausages.
The restaurant may be gimmicky, but the anti-Russian sentiment is real. In addition to the aspirational EU flags decking everything from the town hall to a statue of Neptune, there are also handwritten posters dotted around town proclaiming, possibly somewhat prematurely: "Russia Goodbye!"
Souvenir shops sell mugs and fridge magnets with the slogan "Thank you God that I was not born a Moskal."[15]
Firstly, the historical occupations and annexation of territory made Ukraine, especially the Western part culturally different from that of the Eastern parts. Despite the Soviet and Tsarist attempt in unifying Ukraine culture and language, Catholic tradition remained influential in Western Ukraine. The inflow of the diaspora from Russia, Poland and other countries as a result of colonization of different empires in Ukraine also created language and cultural barrier which worsens the East-West encounter in the country.
"The core of this year pro-European protest movement has come from western Ukraine, a region where Ukrainian nationalism is rife and people consider themselves already part of Europe. Unlike eastern Ukraine, the western area was not brought under Soviet control until the second world war, and distrust of Russia remains strong.
The western part of Ukraine has always had a European mentality," says Sadovyy, the mayor of Lviv. "Over the past few hundred years we have been part of six different empires, while the eastern part of the country has only been part of one. Our city was given the Magdeburg Rights [German civil law] 657 years ago; this is the kind of experience that eastern Ukraine just doesn't have."[13]
As most of the Western Ukraine spoke similar languages with those in Poland and Central Europe, they would certainly favor a pro-European policy.[1] However, in Eastern Ukraine, the trade was heavily relied on exportation of industrial products to Russia. Filled with the highest population of ethnic Russian, that could also explain why Eastern Ukraine opposed the new revolutionary government after the fall of Yanukovich, when they repeal a Yanukovich-era law granting legal rights to Russian.
Fig7:Far right football fans showing the banner of the Waffen-SS Glizien division, a Ukraine volunteer division fought under the Nazis Swastika in WWII.[14]
The second importance of historical factors is that the historical root have contributed to the rise of extreme nationalist groups in Ukraine. Anti-Russian feeling was common in the Western Ukraine and the right wing racist group, filled with historical hatred dominated the demonstration in Kiev, and hence, the structure of the new government after the fall of Yanukovich. As the Guardian reported in the Lviv, Western Ukraine:
" At a popular restaurant in Lviv, the biggest city in the west, a heavily armed man dressed in anti-communist resistance fatigues greets arriving diners with the words "Glory to Ukraine!" and demands to know whether there are any Moskali, a derogatory term for Russians, among the group. If Moskali are detected, a mock execution is carried out on the spot, gunshots ringing out as other diners tuck into their borscht and sausages.
The restaurant may be gimmicky, but the anti-Russian sentiment is real. In addition to the aspirational EU flags decking everything from the town hall to a statue of Neptune, there are also handwritten posters dotted around town proclaiming, possibly somewhat prematurely: "Russia Goodbye!"
Souvenir shops sell mugs and fridge magnets with the slogan "Thank you God that I was not born a Moskal."[15]
Fig8: Svoboda party anthem, copied from Nazis 2nd SS Panzer division[16]
Svoboda Party, one of the ultra-nationalist parties, participated actively in the Kiev'demonstration and entered into the newly formed cabinet. The Huff Post had a clear insight in the neo-Nazist found in the government:
"The Svoboda party has tapped into Nazi symbolism, including the "wolf's angel" rune, and was considered by the University of Tel Aviv, as an extremist, right-wing, nationalist organization which emphasizes its identification with the ideology of German National Socialism.
For starters, Andriy Parubiy, the new secretary of Ukraine's security council, was a co-founder of the Neo-Nazi Social-National Party of Ukraine (SNPU), otherwise known as Svoboda. And his deputy, Dmytro Yarosh, is the leader of a party called the Right Sector which, according to historian Timothy Stanley, "flies the old flag of the Ukrainian Nazi collaborators at its rallies.
The highest-ranking right-wing extremist is Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Sych, also a member of Svoboda, who believes that women should "lead the kind of lifestyle to avoid the risk of rape, including refraining from drinking alcohol and being in controversial company."[17]
All of these could reflect the historical root of hatred, memories fighting alongside the Nazis against the Russian, flow in the blood of many West Ukrainian. The shift of the political spectrum to the right after the success of overthrowing Yanukovich made the new government, left no choice but to follow a stronger and stricter stance against the pro-Russian uprising in the East, as there are more right wings in parliament, and hence the government must under their influence in policy making. The nationalist also would repel peaceful attempts of the new government with separatists. The refusal of dialogue between Kiev and the pro-Russian militia was an example.
Fig9:Distribution of ethnic Russian living in Ukraine[18]
Thirdly, history of Russian settlements and colonization of Ukraine left the problem of large number of ethnic Russian living in Ukraine. To make things worse, there are many nationalists, in Ukraine and Russia, calling for the annexation of Eastern Ukraine into Russia. Instead of aiming to unite all Slavic people like the Pan-Slavism does, the Russian nationalism aims at rebuilding the territory and sphere of influence in the Soviet ages.
As Putin had said in Russian Parliament: "Above all, we should acknowledge that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a major geopolitical disaster of the century. As for the Russian nation, it became a genuine drama. Tens of millions of our co-citizens and compatriots found themselves outside Russian territory."[19] Eastern Ukraine and Crimea had no doubt a high population of Russian inhabitants. The long historical tide had made many Russian diaspora groups there, seeking for independence, or more precisely, returning to the Mother Russia.
Svoboda Party, one of the ultra-nationalist parties, participated actively in the Kiev'demonstration and entered into the newly formed cabinet. The Huff Post had a clear insight in the neo-Nazist found in the government:
"The Svoboda party has tapped into Nazi symbolism, including the "wolf's angel" rune, and was considered by the University of Tel Aviv, as an extremist, right-wing, nationalist organization which emphasizes its identification with the ideology of German National Socialism.
For starters, Andriy Parubiy, the new secretary of Ukraine's security council, was a co-founder of the Neo-Nazi Social-National Party of Ukraine (SNPU), otherwise known as Svoboda. And his deputy, Dmytro Yarosh, is the leader of a party called the Right Sector which, according to historian Timothy Stanley, "flies the old flag of the Ukrainian Nazi collaborators at its rallies.
The highest-ranking right-wing extremist is Deputy Prime Minister Oleksandr Sych, also a member of Svoboda, who believes that women should "lead the kind of lifestyle to avoid the risk of rape, including refraining from drinking alcohol and being in controversial company."[17]
All of these could reflect the historical root of hatred, memories fighting alongside the Nazis against the Russian, flow in the blood of many West Ukrainian. The shift of the political spectrum to the right after the success of overthrowing Yanukovich made the new government, left no choice but to follow a stronger and stricter stance against the pro-Russian uprising in the East, as there are more right wings in parliament, and hence the government must under their influence in policy making. The nationalist also would repel peaceful attempts of the new government with separatists. The refusal of dialogue between Kiev and the pro-Russian militia was an example.
Fig9:Distribution of ethnic Russian living in Ukraine[18]
Thirdly, history of Russian settlements and colonization of Ukraine left the problem of large number of ethnic Russian living in Ukraine. To make things worse, there are many nationalists, in Ukraine and Russia, calling for the annexation of Eastern Ukraine into Russia. Instead of aiming to unite all Slavic people like the Pan-Slavism does, the Russian nationalism aims at rebuilding the territory and sphere of influence in the Soviet ages.
As Putin had said in Russian Parliament: "Above all, we should acknowledge that the collapse of the Soviet Union was a major geopolitical disaster of the century. As for the Russian nation, it became a genuine drama. Tens of millions of our co-citizens and compatriots found themselves outside Russian territory."[19] Eastern Ukraine and Crimea had no doubt a high population of Russian inhabitants. The long historical tide had made many Russian diaspora groups there, seeking for independence, or more precisely, returning to the Mother Russia.
Fig10: Claimed territory of the Federal Republic of Novorossiya[20]
For many of the pro-Russian separatists fighting in Ukraine, they still cling to the historical belief of that Ukraine and Russia should be one country. They shared a Little Russian identity and aligned themselves as one of the constituent parts of the triune Russian nationality.[21] Novorossiya, a historical concept used by Tsarist colonization of Russia, was used by one of the self-proclaimed independence states in South East Ukraine, was one of the strong example in supporting historical root of the conflict.[22] Even for other separating states, like Donetsk and Lugansk, emblems resembling the Russian national flag were used. A strong historical tide between the Eastern Ukraine with Russia was observed.
Fig11:Flag of the Donetsk People Republic[23]
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[1] Magocsi, Paul Robert. A History of Ukraine.(Toronto: University of Toronto Press,1996 ) p. 27
[2] http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Rzeczpospolita2nar.png
[3] http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Ukraine-growth.png
[4] Orest Subtelny, Ukraine: A History. (Canada: University of Toronto Press, 2000) p 117-145
[5] L.D. Trotsky, The Independence of the Ukraine and Sectarian Muddleheads in New York 1977, pp.44-54.
[6] http://www.charonboat.com/2007/11/charonboat_dot_com_ukraine_famine_1.jpg
[7]"Ukraine". Encyclopædia Britannica, 28 October, 2014. Accessed on 18 November, 2014. http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/612921/Ukraine/30078/Soviet-Ukraine
[8] Niall Ferguson, "The War of the World: History's age of hatred" (England: Penguin Books, 2006), p 216-217
[9] Lindsay Bosch. "State of Deception: The power of Nazi propaganda." Museum Force. 1 February, 2014. Accessed on 18 November, 2014. http://plinth.co/article/ushmm/
[10] .Ibid p 435
[11]https://31.media.tumblr.com/8d33a958bb6774d57f78f088b7b05682/tumblr_nao51rSamD1r3eyedo1_500.jpg
[12] http://www.polgeonow.com/2014/03/ukraine-divisions-election-language.png
[13] The Guardian, "Ukraine Protests analysis two nations",visited at 17 November
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/15/ukraine-protests-analysis-two-nations
[14]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/SS-Galizien-Banner.jpg/1920px-SS-Galizien-Banner.jpg
[15] The Guardian report, see n 2 above
[16] http://diaryofdaedalus.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/svoboda-party-nazi4.jpg
[17] The Huffinton Post, " Neo-Nazists Questions in Ukraine",visited at 17 November
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-hughes/the-neo-nazi-question-in_b_4938747.html
[18] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russians_in_Ukraine#mediaviewer/File:Russians_Ukraine_2001.PNG
[19]Putin, Vladmir, Annual address to Russian Federal Assembly in 2005, visited at 17 November
available at:http://archive.kremlin.ru/eng/speeches/2005/04/25/2031_type70029type82912_87086.shtml
[20] https://secure.static.tumblr.com/63db017bae83ec0d58faa285591c9e9e/lsrxi2o/vlMnbbxt6/tumblr_static_tumblr_static_5twdihdrxzswosk8owogg008k_1280.jpg
[21] Wolczuk, Kataryna, The Moulding of Ukraine: The Constitutional Politics of State Formation, (Central European University Press, 2001 ) p. 1
[22] Christian Caryl, "Novorossiya is back from the dead", FP.. April 17, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/04/17/novorossiya_is_back_from_the_dead_putin_russia_ukraine
[23] http://www.foreignpolicy.com/files/imagecache/860x/images/donetskpeoplesrep1.jpg
For many of the pro-Russian separatists fighting in Ukraine, they still cling to the historical belief of that Ukraine and Russia should be one country. They shared a Little Russian identity and aligned themselves as one of the constituent parts of the triune Russian nationality.[21] Novorossiya, a historical concept used by Tsarist colonization of Russia, was used by one of the self-proclaimed independence states in South East Ukraine, was one of the strong example in supporting historical root of the conflict.[22] Even for other separating states, like Donetsk and Lugansk, emblems resembling the Russian national flag were used. A strong historical tide between the Eastern Ukraine with Russia was observed.
Fig11:Flag of the Donetsk People Republic[23]
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[1] Magocsi, Paul Robert. A History of Ukraine.(Toronto: University of Toronto Press,1996 ) p. 27
[2] http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/f/f0/Rzeczpospolita2nar.png
[3] http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/0/07/Ukraine-growth.png
[4] Orest Subtelny, Ukraine: A History. (Canada: University of Toronto Press, 2000) p 117-145
[5] L.D. Trotsky, The Independence of the Ukraine and Sectarian Muddleheads in New York 1977, pp.44-54.
[6] http://www.charonboat.com/2007/11/charonboat_dot_com_ukraine_famine_1.jpg
[7]"Ukraine". Encyclopædia Britannica, 28 October, 2014. Accessed on 18 November, 2014. http://global.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/612921/Ukraine/30078/Soviet-Ukraine
[8] Niall Ferguson, "The War of the World: History's age of hatred" (England: Penguin Books, 2006), p 216-217
[9] Lindsay Bosch. "State of Deception: The power of Nazi propaganda." Museum Force. 1 February, 2014. Accessed on 18 November, 2014. http://plinth.co/article/ushmm/
[10] .Ibid p 435
[11]https://31.media.tumblr.com/8d33a958bb6774d57f78f088b7b05682/tumblr_nao51rSamD1r3eyedo1_500.jpg
[12] http://www.polgeonow.com/2014/03/ukraine-divisions-election-language.png
[13] The Guardian, "Ukraine Protests analysis two nations",visited at 17 November
http://www.theguardian.com/world/2013/dec/15/ukraine-protests-analysis-two-nations
[14]http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c2/SS-Galizien-Banner.jpg/1920px-SS-Galizien-Banner.jpg
[15] The Guardian report, see n 2 above
[16] http://diaryofdaedalus.files.wordpress.com/2014/01/svoboda-party-nazi4.jpg
[17] The Huffinton Post, " Neo-Nazists Questions in Ukraine",visited at 17 November
http://www.huffingtonpost.com/michael-hughes/the-neo-nazi-question-in_b_4938747.html
[18] http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Russians_in_Ukraine#mediaviewer/File:Russians_Ukraine_2001.PNG
[19]Putin, Vladmir, Annual address to Russian Federal Assembly in 2005, visited at 17 November
available at:http://archive.kremlin.ru/eng/speeches/2005/04/25/2031_type70029type82912_87086.shtml
[20] https://secure.static.tumblr.com/63db017bae83ec0d58faa285591c9e9e/lsrxi2o/vlMnbbxt6/tumblr_static_tumblr_static_5twdihdrxzswosk8owogg008k_1280.jpg
[21] Wolczuk, Kataryna, The Moulding of Ukraine: The Constitutional Politics of State Formation, (Central European University Press, 2001 ) p. 1
[22] Christian Caryl, "Novorossiya is back from the dead", FP.. April 17, 2014. Accessed on November 11, 2014.
http://www.foreignpolicy.com/articles/2014/04/17/novorossiya_is_back_from_the_dead_putin_russia_ukraine
[23] http://www.foreignpolicy.com/files/imagecache/860x/images/donetskpeoplesrep1.jpg