Moscow has expressed displeasure with a recent decree issued by Volodymyr Zelensky. In this decree, signed on Monday, January 22, the Ukrainian president lists the regions of Russia "historically" inhabited by Ukrainians, according to him. It also provides for an "action plan to preserve the national identity of Ukrainians living in the Russian Federation," including in these regions.
This decree, "On the Territories of the Russian Federation Historically Inhabited by Ukrainians," cites the regions of Krasnodar, Rostov, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh and Kursk, all neighboring Ukraine. It does not claim any Russian territory. It does, however, accuse Moscow of having committed and continuing to commit in these regions actions that "systematically destroyed national identity, oppressed Ukrainians and violated their rights and freedoms." Ukraine plans to research, publicize and protect their history, as well as identify and investigate crimes committed against Ukrainians living or having lived there, according to the decree, which denounces the forced Russification, political repression and deportation of Ukrainians.
Millions of ethnic Ukrainians live on Russian territory, the result of Tsarist and Soviet domination, shifting borders and Stalinist-era deportations. Since the beginning of the Russian invasion of Ukraine, Moscow has been accused of forcibly Russifying the territories it occupies; rewriting history; deporting thousands of people, including children; and oppressing inhabitants who refuse to accept Russian nationality.
The presidential decree also calls for countering "disinformation and propaganda of the Russian Federation regarding the history and present of Ukrainians in Russia" and developing relations between Ukrainians and other peoples "enslaved" by Russia. The "true history of ethnic Ukrainians in the lands historically inhabited by them within the Russian Federation" is to be included in school textbooks.
The Russian authorities were angered by the decree. The former president and current vice president of the Russian Security Council, Dmitry Medvedev, said there was "nothing to comment on" because "Ukrainians are Russians and Little Russia is part of Russia. It’s time for the leading 'Ukrainian' to resign, as he will soon annex Canada." Roman Starovoyt, governor of the Kursk region, said, "Zelensky's actions today prove once again that our president is right to launch a special military operation. Ukraine is a puppet of the forces that want to destroy Russia and confiscate its historic lands."
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