Thread by @Mariia_Zolkina

This THREAD is for those, who doesn’t know precisely, how myth about “separatism” in #Donbas appeared in 2014. It was invasion of #Russia and occupation with only difference from now – RU troops were without insignia. Here are some numbers on public opinion. #StopRussiaNOW 1/

March 2014. #Russia has already captured administrative buildings in #Luhansk and Donetsk and organized “protests” around them. They already had weapons and first killing of UA activists happened. Meanwhile Ukrainians continued to go out and protest. 2/

In 03/2014 @dem_initiatives made national public opinion poll about possible “separatism”. 89% in Donbas considered UA to be homeland. Both “independence” of #Donbas or its accession to another country were not popular at all. No widespread separatism! dif.org.ua/article/chi-vl… 3/

Particularly: How many #Donbas residents supported in 2014 secession from #Ukraine and having “independent state” –17%. How many supported Donbas joining “another state” –24%. Absolute majority wanted neither separation, nor independence from UA. 4/

#Russia succeeded in creating “image” for foreign audience about separatist “majority” in #Donbas. They captured administ. buildings, they were armed. They kidnapped and tortured pro-UA activists. In May, 2014 it became fully dangerous to protest against armed groups.5/

In 11/2014 we conducted opinion polls in liberated from RU cities – Slovyansk and Kramatorsk. 72% of locals said, that #Donbas had to be part of #Ukraine. So called “L/DPR” were supported by 7%(!) of locals, who lived under occupation for several months.6/ dif.org.ua/en/article/obs…

2015: when asked about self-identification, majority of respondents in Donetsk and Luhansk obl (UA-controlled part), named “citizen of UA” identity (53% and 63%, respectively). Local and regional self-identities altogether lost to nationwide. Polls by @dem_initiatives 7/

Feeling first and foremost citizens of UA was further strengthened in #Donbas. After partial occupation of Donbas in 2014 #Russia has reached the opposite result in UA-controlled part of the region: no Russia, no concessions, only united #Ukraine 8/

Almost no one in the East (#Donbas, Dnipro, Zaporizhzhya and Kharkiv) supported political future for “L/DPR” as independent states (6%) or parts of #Russia (2,5%) in 2021. Since 2014 this secession scenarios had no support on nationwide level as well.9/

Before #RussiaInvadedUkraine, in early Febr. 2022 Russian-speaking Ukrainians considered RU to be the main source of military threat and war for #Ukraine. Like Ukrainian-speaking population did. There are no “two Ukraine’s”, divided by language. This is RU fake 10/

Here are public moods, fixed just 2 weeks before #RussiaInvadedUkraine. Proofs for previous tweet dif.org.ua/article/ni-agr… 11/

Now UA is more, than ever, united in its attitude to Russia as aggressor. And NO territorial losses are acceptable for Ukrainians. 82% are against this option in exchange for “peace”. In currently occupied areas (68%) are against such @NYT scheme kiis.com.ua/?lang=ukr&cat=… 12/

Thus, when #Putin crossed out #MinskAccords by recognition of “L/DPR” independence, when he started invasion of UA, even this artificial frontline in #Donbas disappeared! There is no two different parts of Donbas, like there is no two different Ukraine’s #StopRussiaNOW