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George Woloshyn's avatar

You may be interested in knowing, Diane, that right across the Sea of Azov and to the East of Crimea (across the Kerch strait) is an area known as Kuban. It was an area dominated by the "Kuban Cossacks" -an offshoot of the most powerful Ukrainian "Zaporozhian"Cossack state, -and settled for at least the last 300 years primarily by Ukrainians. According to Czarist census and continuing into the first half of the 20th century, Ukrainians were the majority population (55%) while Russians were the second largest group.

In 1905 a temporary Kuban Military government was formed. The pro-Russian and pro-Ukrainian factions struggled to obtain supremacy. The pro-Ukrainian faction supported autonomy and Union with Ukraine. "Ukrainian cultural life flowered. Ukrainian-language schools opened and 6 newspapers began to publish in Ukrainian. In May 1918 a delegation headed by the head of the Kuban Rada M. Riabovol visited Kiev. Diplomatic ties were announced between the Kuban People's Republic and the Ukrainian People's Republic". (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukrainians_in_Kuban)

Stalin's Holodomor and forced Russification hit Kuban especially hard and it is now difficult to determine the underlying sentiments of the population, but there are an increasing number of events that suggest that the repressed Ukrainian historical memory and linkage is still strong.

Perhaps the potential decolonization of Russia may take root very close to the Ukrainian homeland.

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L. G. Anderson's avatar

I am concerned for Japan. BUT, as RU disintegrates in power there will be movement. I hope it's not violent - bullying - which is what RU is characteristically known for. The demise of RU is 1st - then the realignment will hopefully be peaceful and coordinated - wishful thinking though. (Too much wealth for niceties among them.)

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