Frag Out! Magazine
Issue link: https://fragout.uberflip.com/i/1528235
movements in this part of Ukraine were completely marginal. Politics in eastern Ukraine was monopolized by the powerful Party of Regions in the early 21st century, which represented the interests of local mafia-oligarchic clans. Most notably, this party was funded by Ukraine's richest and most influential oligarch, Rinat Akhmetov, who used it to achieve full political control over all of Donbas and later the entire east of Ukraine. We often incorrectly label the Party of Regions as a pro- Russian political force, but in reality, this party always sought power and influence throughout Ukraine. Its goal was to control Kyiv and protect the interests of oligarchic clans nationwide. In foreign policy, the party's only concern was enriching itself and protecting the interests of the largest oligarchic groups supporting it. If the Party of Regions saw an opportunity to increase oligarchic profits through cooperation with the West, it would effectively pretend to integrate with the EU (as in 2010-2013). If a turn towards Russia was more profitable, the party had no problem making that shift either. At the same time, the Party of Regions was closely linked to Donbas criminal groups, which had seized control of the region's industrial remnants in the 1990s. These groups later integrated and transformed into what became known as the Donbas mafia. Its leader was, without a doubt, the oligarch Akhmetov, and to some extent, President Yanukovych, who, toward the end of his rule, attempted to push Akhmetov off the throne and take control of all oligarchic clans in the country. In Donbas, the mafia played on local sentiments by positioning itself as the "defender of Donbas heavy industry" and, by extension, the average factory or mine worker. During the Party of Regions' heyday, workers and students in Donetsk would often receive gifts on important holidays or even bonus payments with a note saying, "From Rinat Akhmetov to the people of Donbas." Simple but effective methods of building popularity were used. Meanwhile, the Donetsk mafia ensured that Russia's real influence in the region was kept in check. Although the Party of Regions played the role of protector of the Russian language and the identity of Donbas people in Ukrainian politics, openly pro-Russian groups advocating separatism or integration with Russia were treated as hostile by the mafia and deliberately marginalized. They were not allowed into the mainstream media controlled by the Party of Regions, and their public activities were limited. Separatist groups and „Cossack" associations with extreme pro-Russian leanings existed in Donbas before 2013, as did parties calling for secession, but these organizations relied on external support from Russia and were composed of very small groups of people with radical views. For example, the Donetsk Republic NGO had existed in Donetsk since 2005. No one knew of its existence at the time, and it had at most a few dozen members until it was activated by the Russians in 2014. The Kharkiv militia group Oplot, which brought together former security personnel from Russia and Ukraine with extreme pro-Russian views, was officially a small social organization before 2014, tasked with restoring and maintaining Red Army burial sites dating back to the so-called Great Patriotic War. The significance of these organizations, which later formed the so-called People's Republics and their army, in Ukrainian life before 2014 was close to zero. Not only at the national level but even regionally. The political forces we now call pro-Russian actively suppressed them in those years to prevent Russia from gaining control over the eastern regions. Stage II. Chaos Turning into Revolution The events of 2014 turned the political life of eastern Ukraine upside down. The key turning point was, of course, the 2013-2014 Maidan, as the revolution and change - as a result of revolution and shift of power happening in Kyiv, the traditional power balance in Ukrainian politics was disrupted. This meant the Party of Regions' position as a key player, or even a monopolist controlling the political landscape of Luhansk and Donbas was no longer the case. As a result of these events, www.fragoutmag.com