Differences in Ethno-Linguistic Structure of Population of Subordinated to Ukraine and Occupied Territories of Donetsk and Lugansk Regions

Abstract

Based on statistical analysis the differences in ethno-linguistic structure of the population of occupied territories as separately Donetsk and Lugansk and as Donbass in general are determined. It is determined that the majority of the total population of Donbas was on the occupied territory, although the area of occupied lands as Donetsk and Luhansk was much smaller than the area free from occupation territories of these two regions. It is proved that the absolute majority of the total population of the not controlled by Ukraine territory were Ukrainians. Due to the fact that considerable part of Ukrainians was assimilated by language (Russified), Ukrainian speaking population was in the minority among the all population of the occupied territories of Donbass and free from occupation territories of Donetsk region. In spite of the Russians were a minority among the all population, on these territories by the number Russian-speaking population were dominated. Only amoung the total population of subordinated to Ukraine’s territory of Lugansk region Ukrainian speaking population was an absolute majority, and Russian-speaking population was in the minority. The level of natural language Ukrainianization of Russian ethnic minority was minimal (less than 1%). Geographical representation of ethnic minorities except for Russians on territories outside of the control of the Donbass remained very low; the majority of them were Russified by language. Ukrainian speaking Donbass population consisted almost exclusively of Ukrainian speaking Ukrainians. Among the Russian-speaking population part of Russians unlikely exceeded half, and part of Russian-speaking Ukrainian was 40 %. The longer term of the occupation of the territory of Donbass is, than the harder it will be the next process of reintegration of its population to the Ukrainian society.

Keywords: Ukraine, Donbass, the Occupied and Free from Occupation Territories, the Number and Ethno-Linguistic Structure of Population, Ukrainians, Russians, Ethnic Minorities, Except the Russians, Ukrainian Speaking and Russian Speaking Population.