Staunton, July 30 –Some Russian nationalists are already looking beyond the defeat of the militants in eastern Ukraine by the Ukrainian military and arguing that “even if the revolt in Novorossiya is suppressed, Ukraine will no longer exist,” an assessment now less about pushing Moscow to intervene than about trying to put the best face […]
Ukraine
Ukraine Liveblog Day 163: Belarus To Host Talks Between Ukraine and Russia
Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. For an overview and analysis of this developing story see our latest podcast. Please help The Interpreter to continue providing this valuable information service by making a donation towards our costs. View Ukraine: April, 2014 in a larger map For links to individual updates click on the timestamps. For […]
Changing The Definition of “The Russian World”
Staunton, July 29 – The Russian government should reduce the attention it is paying to ethnic Russians and Russian speakers in the former Soviet republics – a group he calls “Russian World-II” – and expand its attention to ethnic Russians and those who feel an attachment to Russia elsewhere, a group he calls “Russian World-I,” […]
History of ‘Donetsk Republic’ Goes Back Almost a Decade
Staunton, July 29 – Most commentaries assume that the Moscow-backed secessionist “ Donetsk Republic” arose in response to the Maidan at the end of last year and the beginning of this. Now, Sobkorr.ru reports an online group promoting that idea appeared on Russian VKontakte pages as early as 2008. This prehistory is important for two reasons. On […]
Ukraine Liveblog Day 162: Separatists Make Counter-Attacks Following Losses
Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. For an overview and analysis of this developing story see our latest podcast. Please help The Interpreter to continue providing this valuable information service by making a donation towards our costs. View Ukraine: April, 2014 in a larger map For links to individual updates click on the timestamps. For […]
Russian Actions in Ukraine Have Deeply Divided Belarusians, Moscow Military Analyst Says
Staunton, July 28 – In part because they can get news not just from Moscow but from Ukraine and in part because they have close ties to both Russians and Ukrainians, Belarusians are now deeply split between those who back Russian policy in Ukraine and those who support the Ukrainian government. As important as this […]
Putin Now Insuring Himself Against Nationalists Returning from Ukraine, Ikhlov Says
Staunton, July 28 – Vladimir Putin is ensuring himself ideologically against a nationalist challenge to himself if Russian militants fighting in Ukraine are forced to return to the Russian Federation where their popularity among many Russians, thanks to the Kremlin’s earlier ideological effort, remains extremely high, according to Yevgeny Ikhlov. The Moscow commentator says that […]
Ukraine liveblog Day 161: Ukraine Military Advances – So Does Russian Armor
Yesterday’s liveblog can be found here. For an overview and analysis of this developing story see our latest podcast. Please help The Interpreter to continue providing this valuable information service by making a donation towards our costs. View Ukraine: April, 2014 in a larger map For links to individual updates click on the timestamps. For […]
Trouble in the ‘Donetsk People’s Republic’
UPDATE 15:21GMT Rebel leader says Donetsk republic PM Borodai has left for Russia. Is he reworking the rebel strategy in Moscow or just fleeing? @BBCDanielS — Alec Luhn (@ASLuhn) July 28, 2014 Vladimir Antyufeyev said he is now Donetsk "People's Republic"'s acting Prime Minister and acting Commander in Chief — Daniel Sandford (@BBCDanielS) July 28, […]
‘Stalin Was a Greater Fascist Than Bandera or Mussolini,’ Zubov Says
Staunton, July 25 – The way in which many in Russia and elsewhere view Stepan Bandera and his anti-Soviet movement during World War II is “an example of the big lie of the Soviet system” and its influence in post-Soviet times, according to Andrey Zubov, the MGIMO historian who was dismissed from his post for […]