Kuban, Starodubshchyna, Slobozhanshchyna: Zelenskyy names territories in Russia ”historically inhabited” by Ukrainians

Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Stock photo: Office of the president of Ukraine

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has instructed the government to develop a plan for preserving the national identity of Ukrainians in Russia who live in the “historically inhabited lands” in what are now the Krasnodar Krai, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov oblasts of the Russian Federation.

Source: Decree of the President of Ukraine “On the Russian territories historically inhabited by Ukrainians” (No. 17/2024 dated 22 January 2024).

Quote: “The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine is to develop, with the involvement of international experts, representatives of the Ukrainian World Congress, scholars, and the public, and submit for consideration by the National Security and Defence Council of Ukraine a plan for preserving the national identity of Ukrainians in the Russian Federation, including in lands historically inhabited by them (in Kuban, Starodubshchyna, Northern and Eastern Slobozhanshchyna within the boundaries of the present-day Krasnodar Krai, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov oblasts of the Russian Federation).”

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Details: This plan is to include, in particular:

• addressing the issue of collecting and studying facts and evidence of crimes committed against Ukrainians residing (or previously residing) in the territories of Russia, historically inhabited by ethnic Ukrainians, regarding policies of forced Russification, political repression, and deportations against Ukrainians, restoration and preservation of historical memory, including the establishment of a centre on these matters; 
• intensifying efforts to counter disinformation and propaganda by the Russian Federation concerning the history and the current situation of Ukrainians in Russia and all the nations enslaved by it, involving domestic and foreign scholars, experts, and representatives of the Ukrainian diaspora in the preparation and implementation of events aimed at debunking Russian myths about Ukraine; 
• developing cooperation between Ukrainians and nations oppressed by Russia; 
• ensuring, in collaboration with the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, the preparation and dissemination of materials in Ukraine and globally on the more than thousand-year history of Ukrainian statehood, historical ties to lands populated by ethnic Ukrainians, and Ukrainian national state entities in different historical periods; 
• incorporating the true history of ethnic Ukrainians in lands historically inhabited by them within the Russian Federation into educational curricula and textbooks for educational institutions.

The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine must consider the provisions of this decree when developing a comprehensive strategy for Ukraine’s interaction with the global Ukrainian community. 

Zelenskyy is justifying his decree by stating that “Russia has systematically been engaged in and continues to engage in actions aimed at the destruction of national identity, oppression of Ukrainians, violation of their rights and freedoms, including in the lands historically inhabited by them of Kuban, Starodubshchyna, Northern and Eastern Slobozhanshchyna within the boundaries of the present-day Krasnodar Krai, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov oblasts of the Russian Federation.” 

He emphasises the necessity for Russia to adhere to its international obligations by ensuring the rights of Ukrainians residing on its territories, including those historically inhabited by ethnic Ukrainians. This includes the right to receive education in the Ukrainian language and its free use, as well as civil, social, cultural, and religious rights, access to Ukrainian-language media, and the right to peaceful assembly.

Background:

• President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said in his greetings on Ukraine’s Unity Day in 2024 that he had signed a decree On the Territories of the Russian Federation Historically Inhabited by Ukrainians.
• The Russian government, led by Vladimir Putin, explains the war against Ukraine as a “defence” of Russian-speaking people on “original Russian lands” and claims that it is supposedly fighting NATO on Ukrainian territory.
• Dmitry Medvedev, former Russian President and current Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, recently stated:”The existence of an independent state on historically Russian territories will now be a constant pretext for the resumption of combat actions.”

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