Yes, so many observers, even pro-Russian ones, keep referring to Ukrainians in the sense that they are some kind of separate ethnicity. A minority are: Polish, Hungarian, or some other non-Russian mix, but most Ukrainians are just Russians. No difference.
I tried to explain to an native SF born man, of African American descent, he couldn't understand. I guess you have to have been born in Russia like I am to get that Ukraine is part of Russia like in the same way my belly button is part of my stomach....
How do I know that ? No one ever told me , nor had I ever been there, I rarely put my finger in my belly button....
My Ukrainian friends all disagree. Just saying. Not that I have that many, but that’s what they say. In fact some of them hate Russians because they equate the Bolsheviks with Russians. The Bolsheviks were 85% of the same ilk as Zelinsky. These are the same one controlling Trump with the three B’s (Blackmail, Bribery and Bullying). There nothing like telling someone you are going to snatch and torture a loved one to control behaviors. The U.S. is occupied and owned by the ones they send billions and billions of American citizens tax dollars.
I lived in Bendery (Bender)--the city which lies about 20 km west of Tiraspol--in the summer of 2024. I loved it there, made some good friends and had a chance to practice my Russian. I have been watching everything that has been happening since, especially as it relates to the conflict and what will happen if Odessa Oblast becomes part of Russia. There have been at least two referenda in which the citizens of "Transnistria" (see below) have voted to join Russia but Russia has not encouraged it--at least yet. By the way, Transnistria is what it is called by outsiders, but from what I understand, the people who live there really don't like that name--apparently there are various reasons. Pridnestrovie is the common name they use, and it is also known as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (note the "a), or "PMR." In Russian, "ПМР," или "Приднестровская Молдавская Республика." Officially, all three languages are recognized--Russian, Ukrainian, and Romanian, but where I was I only ever heard Russian. Thanks Charles for this article!
The connectivity becomes obvious when Odessa is taken all the way north to Hungary - it all speaks to a breakup of Ukraine into natural ethnic parts - with Russia leading - Hungary / Romania / Poland - will have land and people additions in the final outcome then peace will reign for a long time
The management in Kiev cannot continue to run such a large territory as kleptocrats
And thank you for saying that Ukraine is Russia....
Yes, so many observers, even pro-Russian ones, keep referring to Ukrainians in the sense that they are some kind of separate ethnicity. A minority are: Polish, Hungarian, or some other non-Russian mix, but most Ukrainians are just Russians. No difference.
I tried to explain to an native SF born man, of African American descent, he couldn't understand. I guess you have to have been born in Russia like I am to get that Ukraine is part of Russia like in the same way my belly button is part of my stomach....
How do I know that ? No one ever told me , nor had I ever been there, I rarely put my finger in my belly button....
My Ukrainian friends all disagree. Just saying. Not that I have that many, but that’s what they say. In fact some of them hate Russians because they equate the Bolsheviks with Russians. The Bolsheviks were 85% of the same ilk as Zelinsky. These are the same one controlling Trump with the three B’s (Blackmail, Bribery and Bullying). There nothing like telling someone you are going to snatch and torture a loved one to control behaviors. The U.S. is occupied and owned by the ones they send billions and billions of American citizens tax dollars.
I lived in Bendery (Bender)--the city which lies about 20 km west of Tiraspol--in the summer of 2024. I loved it there, made some good friends and had a chance to practice my Russian. I have been watching everything that has been happening since, especially as it relates to the conflict and what will happen if Odessa Oblast becomes part of Russia. There have been at least two referenda in which the citizens of "Transnistria" (see below) have voted to join Russia but Russia has not encouraged it--at least yet. By the way, Transnistria is what it is called by outsiders, but from what I understand, the people who live there really don't like that name--apparently there are various reasons. Pridnestrovie is the common name they use, and it is also known as the Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (note the "a), or "PMR." In Russian, "ПМР," или "Приднестровская Молдавская Республика." Officially, all three languages are recognized--Russian, Ukrainian, and Romanian, but where I was I only ever heard Russian. Thanks Charles for this article!
Well done !
The connectivity becomes obvious when Odessa is taken all the way north to Hungary - it all speaks to a breakup of Ukraine into natural ethnic parts - with Russia leading - Hungary / Romania / Poland - will have land and people additions in the final outcome then peace will reign for a long time
The management in Kiev cannot continue to run such a large territory as kleptocrats
Thank you, I knew of the stolen elections but wasn't familiar witht the country itself.
It's one of those places no one knows anything about. I found it fascinating to learn about it.
Thank you very much for summing up what is going on there so fantastically!
Excellent piece!
Charles,
When you state that Moldavian was not taught in schools, are you saying there were only Russian-speaking schools in Moldova?
It’ll only be a flashpoint if your ignore the Transnistrian peoples right to self determination.
It’s well past time that Transnistria is recognized as a sovereign state.
(Or perhaps future region of Russia.)
Why on earth would Russia “take Odessa”?
Is the Azov brigade slaughtering Russian speaking civilians there too?