• JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works
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      1 year ago

      They aren’t, but Russia has used their presence as one. What was one of their justifications for invading Ukraine? The Russian speaking population and historic ties in the easternmost regions of Ukraine. They’ve also shipped millions of people into Crimea to shift the demographics and public opinion there.

      • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
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        1 year ago

        The Russian speaking population weren’t just immigrants though, those were people born in Ukraine who spoke Russian as their native language. Kinda different.

        • JohnDClay@sh.itjust.works
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          1 year ago

          Some definitely, but not all. And it’s multigenerational too. The USSR moved people around a lot too for demographic control to minimize separatist tendencies.

          • queermunist she/her@lemmy.ml
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            1 year ago

            Are you claiming that a Russian speaking person born in Ukraine is actually a Russian immigrant if their grandparents are from Russia?