... in response to UK vs. RW (Oh No, Could Be A Troll!!!), posted by coaster881 on Dec 14, 2001First - you should be aware that the majority of residents in Ukraine would consider themselves Russian. This is largely owing to the effects of the Stalin Purges as well as his dekulakization campaign during the collectivization years.
If you look closely at demographics in Ukraine - as evidenced by the voting records, at least - Russian-centric issues continue to win majority share of the votes, hence the reason that Kuchma retains a power base. He carried the heavily ethnic-Russian sections of eastern and central Ukraine - and badly lost the ethnic-Ukrainian west. I suppose the primary reasons for such a strong Russian representation are:
* The industrial and coal-rich Donbas region was intentionally populated with ethnic Russians when Stalin and later communist leaders decided to exploit the energy belt there.
* Crimea, which is an incredibly-beautiful peninsula in southern Ukraine, is still considered by many Russians to be a Russian vasal. Never mind the fact that Kruschev handed it over to Ukraine in the 60's and by then the native Tatar people had all been relocated to central Asia in favor of ethnic Russian residents.
* To a very large extent, Russia has coveted the agricultural and mineral (coal) wealth of Ukraine and has considered Ukraine to be one of mother Russia's core provinces. In fact, even today you can find Ukraine mentioned on the Russian Embassy website as representing one of the 3 colors of the Russian flag!
* Finally, in case people are unaware - the Russian empire that became the Soviet Union had it's start in Kyiv! The first great Slavic empire was formed before the turn of the first millenium and was considered to be the most glorious of empire states. The nobility of the Kyivan Rus escaped the Mongol invasion to the north into what is now Moscow and extended their empirical tendencies once safe from the invading hordes.
So . . . . all this historical perspective to make the point that many in Ukraine will claim their ethnic Russian heritage before their Ukrainian citizenship. I know my wife, Olya does - and so do almost all my friends and colleagues in Ukraine - exceptions being those residents of western Ukraine near Lviv.
I cannot make direct comparisons to ladies from Russia and Ukraine because my direct experience with Russian women is restricted to several that I've met here in America. My Olya tells me, however, that she considers Russian women and Ukrainian women - and Moldovan women and Belarusian women - and nearly all women of ethnic Russian descent - to be largely similar in terms of culture.
It is worth noting, however, that many Russian women may not feel this same sense of 'sorority' with their Ukrainian 'sisters'. Rumor has it that women from Russia - particularly Moscow - seem to have an air of superiority. I know from first-hand experience that there is some of that in Russian men when discussing Ukrainian men.
Caveat - many of these comments are generalizations, which I acknowledge are universally inaccurate. They are offered as context and impressions (mine) only.
I hope this helps.
- Dan
