![](https://i.imgur.com/CLvY2jA.png")
04-05-2024, 09:31 PM
Maybe Ukraine should claim some of Russia’s land, instead. One hundred years ago, a Ukrainian flag flew over Vladivostok and other parts of the “Russian” Far East.
Careful how Putin wield sword, Mr. Putin has two edges turn large and surprisingly far-flung parts of Russia have a long and rich Ukrainian history. Wouldn’t it be a shame if someone started waving past, feeling aggrieved about current deficit of Ukraine-ness in those areas?
(Please note this is not a serious plea for Ukrainian irredentism. The world would benefit from less historic bitterness and fewer territorial claims – not more. Realizing that everyone has a supposedly more glorious past to look back upon might help rebalance one’s own sense of historical grievance, territorial and otherwise).
For centuries, Ukrainians has migrated into Russia, leaving their mark there individually — as high-ranking clergy, leading scientists artists, and successful traders — and collectively, as settlers of Russia’s most thinly-populated lands. Ukrainians were not the only settlers. Obviously Russians themselves moved into these areas, but the authorities also invited other ethnic religious minorities, including groups later known as the Volga Germans & the Hutterites — who, as a matter of fact, settled in Ukraine itself (see Strange Maps #1118).
Attracted by the promise of free land, Ukrainians first migrated to areas close to Ukraine proper, such as Kuban, an area bordering the Black Sea, between Crimea and the Caucasus. Gradually, Ukrainian settlers moved further east, eventually all the way to the Pacific, where the Russian Empire bordered China and Japan. Russia’s 1897 census counted 22.4 million Ukrainian speakers inside the Russian Empire, of 1.2 million lived outside what was considered Ukraine. Of these over a million lived in the European part of the Empire, with more than 200,000 in the Asian part.
Over time, many Ukrainians assimilated into the Russian majority. However, in many areas, especially where they had founded their own villages, Ukrainians formed majorities and managed to maintain their own language and traditions.
Four areas stand out, Raspberry Ukraine (a.k.a. Malinovy Klyn, or “Raspberry Wedge”) aforementioned zone in Kuban was settled from end 18th through to 19th centuries by Ukrainian cossacks and peasants. A short-lived Kuban People’s Republic (1918-20) sought to federate with Ukraine independent in the wake Russian Revolution of 1917. As late 1930 census, 62% local population identified as Ukrainian. The area has now largely been Russified.
Kuban Cossacks taking part in the Victory Parade at Moscow’s Red Square, June 24, 1945. Cossacks continue form a significant local community in Kuban. From 2nd half of 17th century onward, Ukrainians settlements named after yellow steppes reaches Volga river. Ukrainian settlement, especially pronounced around Astrakhan, Volgograd, Saratov, and Samara. some areas still have a marked Ukrainian character, settlement by Ukrainians as mostly is too dispersed intermingled with other settlers to form a significant independent political force after 1917, as they managed in other “wedges.”
Grey Ukraine or “Grey Wedge”) This is an area around western Siberian city of Omsk, currently divided between southern Siberia and northern Kazakhstan area settled by Ukrainians. By 1860s, 1 million arrived b4 1914. Right after October Revolution of 1917, attempts were made to establish a Ukrainian autonomous region is form.
Green Ukraine or “Green Wedge) most improbable, it certainly most distant of the “color Ukraines” — Green Ukraine, located in furthest southeast Russian Empire, jammed in between China & Pacific Ocean & centered part of Amur River, some estimates, region counted 70% Ukrainians start 20th century.
Large-scale map of Green Ukraine, in Far East of the former Russian Empire. (Credit: M. Andrusyak: “Ukrainian State competition in the Far East (1917-1920),” published in Lvov in 1931. Public domain.) In June 1917, First All-Ukrainian Congress of the Far East, held near Vladivostok, demanded Russia’s new interim govt education in Ukrainian and autonomy for Ukrainians. The meeting also established a Rada, Ukrainian for “council”.
A 2nd Congress in Khabarovsk Jan 1918, proclaimed Green Ukraine part of Ukrainian despite minor inconvenience motherland was a continent away, a 3rd Congress April same year, delegates approved creation of a Ukrainian state with access to Pacific.
Ukrainian Republic of Far East was officially proclaimed April 6, 1920. “Green Ukraine” did not survive long. Oct 1922, communist invaded territory. The last holdouts were defeated in June 1923.
Number of Ukrainians population regions of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic 1926 census. Darkest areas have at least 50% Ukrainians, circled regions are the approximate location of various “wedges,” west to east: Raspberry, Yellow, Grey, and Green. (Credit: Oleg Zima, CC BY-SA 3.0 / Ruland Kolen)
Almost a century on the demise of Ukraine-on-the-Pacific seems improbable that any of aforementioned color wedges comes back to create a tit-for-tat secessionist headache for Mr Putin. B'cos of cultural& linguistic proximity to Russians, Ukrainians tend to assimilate into Russian society after a generation or two at most.
Nevertheless, Ukrainians remain one of the largest ethnic groups inside Russia: 1.9 million, or 1.4% of the total population of Russia, according to the 2010 census. Due recent migration, caused by war in Ukraine, current number is likely much higher. A recent poll indicates half of all Ukrainians have relatives living in Russia.
Ghost nations of Russia’s civil war
You think collapse of Soviet Union was chaotic? You should have seen the start.
Careful how Putin wield sword, Mr. Putin has two edges turn large and surprisingly far-flung parts of Russia have a long and rich Ukrainian history. Wouldn’t it be a shame if someone started waving past, feeling aggrieved about current deficit of Ukraine-ness in those areas?
(Please note this is not a serious plea for Ukrainian irredentism. The world would benefit from less historic bitterness and fewer territorial claims – not more. Realizing that everyone has a supposedly more glorious past to look back upon might help rebalance one’s own sense of historical grievance, territorial and otherwise).
For centuries, Ukrainians has migrated into Russia, leaving their mark there individually — as high-ranking clergy, leading scientists artists, and successful traders — and collectively, as settlers of Russia’s most thinly-populated lands. Ukrainians were not the only settlers. Obviously Russians themselves moved into these areas, but the authorities also invited other ethnic religious minorities, including groups later known as the Volga Germans & the Hutterites — who, as a matter of fact, settled in Ukraine itself (see Strange Maps #1118).
Attracted by the promise of free land, Ukrainians first migrated to areas close to Ukraine proper, such as Kuban, an area bordering the Black Sea, between Crimea and the Caucasus. Gradually, Ukrainian settlers moved further east, eventually all the way to the Pacific, where the Russian Empire bordered China and Japan. Russia’s 1897 census counted 22.4 million Ukrainian speakers inside the Russian Empire, of 1.2 million lived outside what was considered Ukraine. Of these over a million lived in the European part of the Empire, with more than 200,000 in the Asian part.
Over time, many Ukrainians assimilated into the Russian majority. However, in many areas, especially where they had founded their own villages, Ukrainians formed majorities and managed to maintain their own language and traditions.
Four areas stand out, Raspberry Ukraine (a.k.a. Malinovy Klyn, or “Raspberry Wedge”) aforementioned zone in Kuban was settled from end 18th through to 19th centuries by Ukrainian cossacks and peasants. A short-lived Kuban People’s Republic (1918-20) sought to federate with Ukraine independent in the wake Russian Revolution of 1917. As late 1930 census, 62% local population identified as Ukrainian. The area has now largely been Russified.
Kuban Cossacks taking part in the Victory Parade at Moscow’s Red Square, June 24, 1945. Cossacks continue form a significant local community in Kuban. From 2nd half of 17th century onward, Ukrainians settlements named after yellow steppes reaches Volga river. Ukrainian settlement, especially pronounced around Astrakhan, Volgograd, Saratov, and Samara. some areas still have a marked Ukrainian character, settlement by Ukrainians as mostly is too dispersed intermingled with other settlers to form a significant independent political force after 1917, as they managed in other “wedges.”
Grey Ukraine or “Grey Wedge”) This is an area around western Siberian city of Omsk, currently divided between southern Siberia and northern Kazakhstan area settled by Ukrainians. By 1860s, 1 million arrived b4 1914. Right after October Revolution of 1917, attempts were made to establish a Ukrainian autonomous region is form.
Green Ukraine or “Green Wedge) most improbable, it certainly most distant of the “color Ukraines” — Green Ukraine, located in furthest southeast Russian Empire, jammed in between China & Pacific Ocean & centered part of Amur River, some estimates, region counted 70% Ukrainians start 20th century.
Large-scale map of Green Ukraine, in Far East of the former Russian Empire. (Credit: M. Andrusyak: “Ukrainian State competition in the Far East (1917-1920),” published in Lvov in 1931. Public domain.) In June 1917, First All-Ukrainian Congress of the Far East, held near Vladivostok, demanded Russia’s new interim govt education in Ukrainian and autonomy for Ukrainians. The meeting also established a Rada, Ukrainian for “council”.
A 2nd Congress in Khabarovsk Jan 1918, proclaimed Green Ukraine part of Ukrainian despite minor inconvenience motherland was a continent away, a 3rd Congress April same year, delegates approved creation of a Ukrainian state with access to Pacific.
Ukrainian Republic of Far East was officially proclaimed April 6, 1920. “Green Ukraine” did not survive long. Oct 1922, communist invaded territory. The last holdouts were defeated in June 1923.
Number of Ukrainians population regions of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic 1926 census. Darkest areas have at least 50% Ukrainians, circled regions are the approximate location of various “wedges,” west to east: Raspberry, Yellow, Grey, and Green. (Credit: Oleg Zima, CC BY-SA 3.0 / Ruland Kolen)
Almost a century on the demise of Ukraine-on-the-Pacific seems improbable that any of aforementioned color wedges comes back to create a tit-for-tat secessionist headache for Mr Putin. B'cos of cultural& linguistic proximity to Russians, Ukrainians tend to assimilate into Russian society after a generation or two at most.
Nevertheless, Ukrainians remain one of the largest ethnic groups inside Russia: 1.9 million, or 1.4% of the total population of Russia, according to the 2010 census. Due recent migration, caused by war in Ukraine, current number is likely much higher. A recent poll indicates half of all Ukrainians have relatives living in Russia.
Ghost nations of Russia’s civil war
You think collapse of Soviet Union was chaotic? You should have seen the start.
