Russians Leaving Ukraine

Filed in archive Europe on July 22, 2009

The Kyiv Post reported recently on a voluntary program to allow Ukrainian citizens to move to Russia and petition for Russian citizenship.

Ukraine has a population of about 46 million. About 17% of the population are ethnic Russians. In the eastern part of the country, three of the Ukraine's 24 administrative division (Crimea, Donetsk, and Luhansk) are more than two-thirds ethnic Russian. After the break up of the Soviet Union there was tension between Russian and Ukraine over this region - tension that included a discussion of Russia annexing Crimea (which also has strategic military significance).

About 1,800 ethnic Russians have immigranted under this program. It continues through 2012. Most of the immigrants move to the Moscow area, or to Kalingrad.


© Argenberg