According to the document, the self-proclaimed republics retained their independence.
Historically, Novorossiya was the name given to the territories of the Northern Black Sea region, which were annexed to the Russian Empire as a result of the Russian-Turkish wars in the second half of the 18th century. After the revolution, the lands of Novorossiya were divided between the formed Ukrainian SSR and the Russian SFSR.
At the congress in Donetsk, the “United National Front” was created, which was supposed to operate in the territory of south-east Ukraine and unite supporters of federalization.
“The Declaration assumes that the DPR and LPR, as independent states, create a union on the basis of this joint declaration. The Constitution of the Union of People's Republics is planned to be adopted three months after the adoption of the constitutions of the Donetsk People's Republic and the Lugansk People's Republic. The Union of People's Republics is ready to consider proposals to join international unions, associations, and associations.”
The interests of Novorossiya in the union were to be represented by the political movement “Novorossiya”. It was announced that the purpose of the union was cooperation in economic, military and other spheres.
“We do not recognize the president and parliament of Ukraine. The Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics are independent states. This is my position. Therefore, we will recognize the government and the elected president only from the position if they are ready to recognize the independence of the Donbass republics. And second, they must immediately withdraw troops outside our people’s republics and stop any hostilities.”
Head of the People's Militia of Donbass Pavel Gubarev on his Facebook page
Oleg Tsarev was elected speaker of the parliament of the Union of People's Republics. The union had its own constitution, in the text of which the CPR was proclaimed “a democratic, confederal, rule-of-law state where the rights of citizens are recognized and protected.”
Russia about Novorossiya
The territory of southeastern Ukraine was named Novorossiya during Vladimir Putin's direct line. “Another thing is the center, east, southeast of Ukraine. I also spoke about this just now, about Novorossiya, which, of course, is rooted in the Russian state, and these are people with a slightly different mentality,” the president said, commenting on the situation in Ukraine.
The term “Novorossiya” in relation to the territories of the DPR and LPR was heard in the report of the Russian Foreign Ministry dated September 25, 2014 on the meeting of Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov with US Secretary of State John Kerry that took place the day before. “The situation in Ukraine was discussed in the context of efforts being made to ensure a sustainable truce in the southeast and establishing direct dialogue between the authorities in Kyiv and the leadership of Novorossiya in the context of their implementation of the Minsk agreements based on the peace initiatives of Russian President V.V. Putin,” the document says.
At the end of 2014, the Levada Center conducted a survey “What is Novorossiya?” 46% of Russians answered that this is a historically formed region in the south of Russia, 25% - that this is a historical term that means nothing today, 8% consider Novorossiya “a myth invented now in Moscow,” and another 21% of respondents found it difficult to answer.
On May 31, the official flag of Novorossiya was approved - a scarlet rectangular panel with an azure St. Andrew's Cross with a silver border - a modified flag of the Russian fleet. On June 1, it was hung in front of the Donetsk regional administration building.
Photo: Nikolay Muravyov / TASS
The Novorossiya project was supposed to cover nine regions of Ukraine: Kharkov, Dnepropetrovsk, Donetsk, Lugansk, Zaporozhye, Kherson, Nikolaev, Odessa. According to the head of Gubarev, the separation of the regions was planned to be carried out through referendums. Despite its territorial claims, in fact, the leadership of Novorossiya from the moment of its proclamation controlled only part of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions.
On May 18, 2015, in an interview with the Vechernyaya Makeevka newspaper, DPR Foreign Minister Alexander Kofman announced the completion of the Novorossiya project. He explained this by the reluctance of some regions to unite.
“As for the Novorossiya project... due to the fact that the popular explosion occurred earlier than we planned, since we were unable to keep the population at the rallies, our supporters in other regions also rose up earlier than expected - in Odessa, Kharkov. As a result, more than 40 of our guys died in Odessa, many activists were arrested in Kharkov, and the republics that were supposed to be created in these regions were beheaded. Therefore, the Novorossiya project is closed for some time - until a new political elite arises in all these regions, capable of leading the movement. Well, we don’t have the right to impose our opinion on Kharkov, Zaporozhye, Odessa.”
Speaker of the Novorossiya Parliament Oleg Tsarev clarified that the project was frozen due to the fact that the creation of Novorossiya violates the Minsk agreements signed by the leadership of the DPR and LPR with Ukraine. He also added that the project could be resumed “if Kyiv violates the declared truce, if there is an escalation of hostilities.”
Project "Little Russia"
On July 18, 2017, the head of the DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko, spoke about the creation of Little Russia with its capital in Donetsk.
“We are all here to talk about the future. We propose a plan to reintegrate the country through law and constitution. We must build a new country in which the concepts of conscience and honor are not forgotten. We offer the residents of Ukraine a peaceful way out of the difficult current situation, without war. This is our last proposal not only to Ukrainians, but also to all countries that supported the civil war in Donbass. I am convinced that we will do everything possible and impossible.”
Territory
According to Zakharchenko, Little Russia will include 19 regions of the former Ukraine (excluding Crimea). The territory of the declared new state may be about 577 thousand square meters. km.
Now the area of individual districts of Donetsk and Lugansk regions with a special order of self-government is more than 15 thousand square meters. km - about a third of the total area of Donetsk and Lugansk regions. In addition to Donetsk and Lugansk, the list of settlements under the control of separatists in the Donbass includes 22 cities of regional significance. In February 2017, the head of the DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko, signed a decree establishing the status of a state border for the line of contact between the DPR and Ukraine. The line of contact is defined as a conditional demarcation between the territory where settlements are located under the control of the state authorities of Ukraine and the territory under the control of state bodies of the unrecognized DPR.
Flag
Zakharchenko named the flag of the proclaimed state as the flag of Bohdan Khmelnitsky.
Build
Little Russia was proclaimed a federal state with broad regional autonomy. The central government is responsible for issues of the federal budget, the army, intelligence services, customs, the Central Bank, the tax police, the environmental situation, as well as basic standards of education and medicine. Zakharchenko noted that in order to adopt a new constitution, it is proposed to introduce a state of emergency throughout the entire territory of the proclaimed state for a period of up to three years.
Principles and Goals
When preparing the constitution, it is proposed to rely on the principle of military neutrality, traditional values, “which are based on the Orthodox picture of the world,” with equal rights for traditional religions.
It is also proposed to use as a principle the refusal to raise the retirement age, the freezing and possible reduction of housing and communal services tariffs. If the European Union agrees, it is proposed to maintain the visa-free regime introduced in 2017.
Economy
Little Russia, as conceived by the drafters of the constitutional act, should become an economic “bridge” between “East and West, North and South”, resume participation in the CIS, set a course for joining the Union State of Russia and Belarus, and also cooperate with the EAEU. It is planned to create state concerns in key industries.
The Little Russian province was created as part of the Russian Empire in 1764 after the liquidation of the Hetmanate. In 1765-1773, the administrative center of the province was the city of Glukhov, then the center was briefly moved to Kozelets, and in 1775 - to Kyiv. However, already in the fall of 1781, the Little Russian province was divided into Novgorod-Seversky, Chernigov and Kiev governorships.
In 1796, the Little Russian province was recreated, and this time it included not only the territory of the three governorships, but also the environs of Poltava and Kremenchug. At the same time, Kyiv was removed from the province, and Chernigov took its place as the provincial center.
In 1802, the Little Russian Governorate was divided into Chernigov and Poltava Governorates, which were part of the Little Russian Government General, to which the Kharkov Governorate was later annexed. The residence of the Governor-General until 1837 was Poltava, and from 1837 until the abolition of the Governor-General in 1856 - Kharkov.
After 1856, the name “Little Russia” until 1917 was semi-officially used to collectively designate the Volyn, Kyiv, Podolsk, Kharkov, Poltava and Chernigov provinces.
Despite the fact that the message on the Donetsk Republic News portal stated that the decision to create Little Russia was made jointly by the authorities of the DPR and LPR, the LPR denied its participation in the project. Chairman of the People's Council of the LPR Vladimir Degtyarenko that the authorities of the self-proclaimed republic did not participate in the signing of the document. In addition, he added that he did not consider the creation of Little Russia expedient.
President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko, commenting on Zakharchenko’s initiative, said that Little Russia faces the same fate as the project to create Novorossiya. A recording of his speech appeared on his Twitter page, in which he talks about Russia’s desire to split Ukraine in half with the help of the Novorossiya project.
“This project is completely closed. The new Ukrainian army stopped Russian aggression. When I was elected president, the entire Donbass was occupied by Russia. We liberated two-thirds of the territory of Donbass, including Severodonetsk, Lisichansk, Kramatorsk, Slavyansk, Mariupol and many other cities. We destroyed Russia’s dream of Novorossiya,” Poroshenko said.
Two sources close to the presidential administration told RBC that Zakharchenko proposed the creation of Little Russia without the consent of the Kremlin.
Resonant statements of Alexander Zakharchenko
About the storming of Kyiv
The head of the self-proclaimed DPR, Alexander Zakharchenko, said in October 2016 on the Rossiya 1 channel that the militias were ready to storm Kyiv. Commenting on these statements, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov admitted that “Russia has influence on representatives of Donbass, but this influence is not unlimited.”
On the military seizure of Ukrainian-controlled areas of Donbass
In February 2017, Zakharchenko expressed his opinion about the readiness of the militia to liberate the Ukrainian-controlled areas of Donbass by military means, if this cannot be done through political means. Dmitry Peskov then criticized the words of the head of the DPR, saying that this contradicts the Minsk agreements.
About the referendum on joining Russia
In March 2017, the head of the self-proclaimed Lugansk People's Republic (LPR), Igor Plotnitsky, said that he was in favor of holding a referendum in Donbass on joining Russia. Alexander Zakharchenko also said that he does not rule out holding a plebiscite on joining Russia and the DPR, but believes that “everything has its time.” There was no reaction from the Kremlin, but shortly before Plotnitsky’s statement, Dmitry Peskov said that the Kremlin was not considering the scenario of integrating the self-proclaimed DPR and LPR into Russia.
On the trade blockade of Ukraine and reorientation towards Russia
In the same March, head Zakharchenko imposed a trade blockade on Kyiv. “We are cutting off all ties with Ukraine, with which we are at war,” said the head of the DPR. — Yes, they sold coal to get money and pay wages here. But due to the fact that we have learned to live under a blockade, we are declaring a blockade on Ukraine.” He explained that products produced in the DPR will be supplied to Russia. In February 2017, the leaders of the LPR and DPR also made statements about stopping coal supplies to Ukraine - then when asked whether it was possible to redirect the products of Donbass enterprises to Russia, Kremlin representative Dmitry Peskov replied: “I cannot say this now.”
In chapter
In the throes and blood of armed confrontation in the southeast of Ukraine, the process of forming a new state entity is underway. On May 13, after holding referendums on the sovereignty of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, their leadership addressed other Ukrainian regions with a proposal to “restore statehood on the basis of democracy and federalism within the framework of the creation of the Federal Republic of Novorossiya.” So far, this call has been responded to in three regions - Kharkov, Odessa and Nikolaev. Preparations for plebiscites similar to those that took place in Donbass have already begun there. Next in line are Zaporozhye, Kherson and Dnepropetrovsk regions. The Pridnestrovian Moldavian Republic (PMR) may also join Novorossiya - if Moscow leaves unanswered the requests of hundreds of thousands of residents of the unrecognized state for reunification with Russia. But today there is no doubt that our country recognizes Novorossiya as a full-fledged state.
Novorossiya has neither clear boundaries, nor consolidated leadership, nor even a single budget. This is all true. But the new state formation still has something important. Firstly, a well-equipped and well-motivated army. It consists of the Donbass People's Militia formed in Donetsk, which, according to the co-chairman of the Presidium of the Donetsk People's Republic, Miroslav Rudenko, has 27 thousand bayonets, as well as the Lugansk People's Army of the South-East, which, according to the people's governor of the Luhansk region Valery Bolotov, supposedly there are 30 thousand volunteers on their payroll. A significant part of them know about the war first-hand, being veterans of the army and special services. Considering that official Kyiv has so far managed to put under arms just over 10 thousand soldiers and officers of the regular army and the same number of National Guardsmen - volunteers recruited in the western regions among adherents of local nationalist organizations, then the balance of power is impressive. And secondly, Donbass provides about half (according to other sources, more than a third) of all revenues to the Ukrainian budget - this means that Novorossiya has a strong material base. Mining of coking coal, production of zinc, mercury, rolled copper and brass, nitrogen and phosphate fertilizers, soda, organic synthesis chemical products, diesel locomotives and railway cars - all this is today's Donbass. Just imagine how viable a new state formation could turn out to be. They have already presented it in Kyiv - that’s why they sent troops to Donetsk and Lugansk.
The not yet formed Novorossiya already has a leader that suits everyone
President Vladimir Putin was the first to recall the name Novorossiya in connection with the current Ukrainian events, speaking on the “direct line” on April 17. “New Russia - Kharkov, Lugansk, Donetsk, Kherson, Nikolaev, Odessa - was not part of Ukraine in tsarist times. These are all territories transferred in the 20s by the Soviet government.” And less than a month later, the leader of the “South-East” movement and presidential candidate of Ukraine Oleg Tsarev announced the creation of the Federal Republic of Novorossiya consisting of eight regions of Ukraine. “The border of the new state practically coincides with the Novorossiysk province, which existed in tsarist times,” Tsarev explained, noting that the formation of the new state entity will be completed “no later than this fall.”
It is extremely important that it was Tsarev who announced the creation of Novorossiya - not just a current politician, yesterday’s candidate for the presidency of Ukraine and a member of the Rada, but also an informal successor to President Viktor Yanukovych, and not, say, one of the so-called people’s governors. The fact of Tsarev’s direct participation in the creation of Novorossiya not only adds legitimacy to the ongoing process. Tsarev becomes a link between the local elites, who are well acquainted with him and are inclined to trust him, and the new leadership of Donbass, which a large part of the elite considers “self-proclaimed” and not trustworthy. Take the richest man in Ukraine, Rinat Akhmetov, whose personal fortune is estimated at about $22 billion. Possessing remarkable political instincts, Akhmetov is well aware that the paths of Kyiv and Donbass have diverged forever. It was this understanding that became the reason that for several months now, according to some information, the oligarch may have been financing supporters of federalism, without advertising what is happening to Kiev. Nevertheless, Akhmetov does not yet trust the people’s government and fears that it will be able to “dispossess” him if it wishes. But Akhmetov has Tsarev, whom he has known for a long time and whom he personally approved a year ago as Viktor Yanukovych’s successor. At the same time, Tsarev actually coordinates the work of people’s governments and, thus, we believe, has the opportunity to influence the adoption of decisions that Akhmetov needs. Now it’s clear why the “third shifts” at the Akhmetov mines, who instead of working go out to patrol the cities and towns of Donbass, have no problem “covering” their work sheets, and even with considerable bonuses, as if they were working hard with jackhammers, and not vomiting peace fellow citizens with machine guns in their hands? As for the information that Akhmetov allegedly finances the purchase of weapons for Novorossiya volunteers, it is difficult to say whether this is true or not.
On this topic
The ex-president of Georgia and former governor of the Odessa region, Mikheil Saakashvili, stated that he is ready to return to Ukraine after a corresponding call from Vladimir Zelensky.
Akhmetov, of course, takes risks. But Tsarev probably risks the most. In Kyiv, voices are heard every now and then calling for his status as a people's deputy, which guarantees personal integrity, to be deprived. In two months, a dozen attempts were made on the leader of the “South-East”. But it is no coincidence that after Tsarev announced the creation of Novorossiya, he exclaimed: “The Rubicon has been passed!”
It is more profitable for Kyiv to recognize Novorossiya than to surrender to its vanguards
Last week, the coordination council of the “South-East” movement adopted a resolution on the protection of sovereignty and the organization of public administration in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions. It, in particular, proposes to address “other regions of Ukraine with a proposal to restore statehood within the framework of the creation of the Federal Republic of Novorossiya.” In the meantime, while other subjects are being determined, according to the ineradicable Ukrainian habit of carefully weighing whose side the force will be on, the Donbass militias, through the mouth of deputy commander Sergei Zdrilyuk, warn Kyiv: sabotage groups are already ready, and the army of Novorossiya is starting an offensive war. Almost 60 thousand fighters from the southeast against 20 thousand “Kievites”. True, the militias have neither tanks nor aircraft, but they have a lot of more compact modern weapons that can easily destroy both helicopters and heavy armored vehicles. Not long ago, Bloomberg economists presented a calculation according to which Russia would lose $115 billion if it started a war with Ukraine. So why should Moscow lose such fabulous money if it is quite possible to get by with the forces that have already formed in the south-east of Ukraine? Here is a possible answer to the question of why Russia is refraining from direct military intervention.
They are already panicking in Kyiv: they understand that they will not be able to adequately respond to the challenge of the army of New Russia. So think about what’s better: recognize Novorossiya and protect yourself from the risk of invasion from Donbass, or continue the punitive operation with the risk that the militia will end it in the Ukrainian capital. “If three months ago it was possible for the southeast to “throw a bone” - for example, by recognizing Russian as the second state language - and a month ago it was possible to come to an agreement with it, today the problem is much more complicated,” the famous economist and political scientist Mikhail Khazin is convinced. – The self-organization of the residents of Donbass has gone so far that if their army goes to the north - to Kharkov, to the west and south - to Dnepropetrovsk and Zaporozhye, then Kyiv will not find it enough. Moreover, since these will be local residents, support from the people may be very strong. The story of Minin and Pozharsky will repeat itself. So what should the junta do? And, in fact, there is nothing to do. The army is not ready to fight, the volunteers from the National Guard are not averse to shooting, but they do it like an amateur and, thus, are doomed to be killed by the professionals from the People's Militia. So what, turn to NATO for help? “NATO will think a hundred times before interfering in a civil war,” says Mikhail Khazin. “This is a serious and very dangerous matter, and the alliance avoids excessive dangers.” So confrontation with the army of Novorossiya is extremely undesirable for Kyiv. It is cheaper to recognize a new state, even a hostile one.
One can only guess about the future borders of Novorossiya
But even if the Kyiv impostors recognize Novorossiya, this does not at all guarantee that more and more pieces will not fall off of Ukraine, trying to join the new state. The fact is that now in Kyiv approximately the same thing is happening that happened in Moscow 22 years ago - “shock therapy”. The exchange rate of the national currency is falling, wages are decreasing, and the risk of being unemployed, on the contrary, is growing. The remnants of the Ukrainian economy are facing an imminent collapse – even the most optimistic economists agree on this opinion. By winter, Ukraine may find itself on the brink of an economic and humanitarian catastrophe, and the peasants of the central part of the country are facing a new famine. And even those regions that today are inclined to support Kyiv rather than Donbass may reconsider their priorities - hunger is not an issue. So it will hardly surprise anyone if Kirovograd, Chernigov and Sumy are included in Novorossiya.
As for the south, there are still more questions with it than answers. Why create the Crimean Federal District if so far it only includes Crimea? Obviously, the Russian leadership knows something about this that it is customary to keep silent about publicly - say, so as not to upset our country’s Western partners too much. The fact is that recently Russian legislation allows parts of foreign states to join our country without their consent. And in this regard, it is possible to assume that part of Novorossiya will subsequently be included in the Russian Federation. “Crimea has already returned,” LDPR leader Vladimir Zhirinovsky recently said. – Eight more regions should return. We decide in what form this will be done, whether they will return to us directly, as subjects of the Federation, or in another form. Someone may become a subject of Novorossiya and return as a partner in the Customs Union. But so far only the chain Crimea - Transnistria can be traced. And without the Odessa and Kherson regions the chain will not work.”
Where is Pridnestrovie headed: either to Russia or to Novorossiya
Indeed, in Transnistria today there is a serious intensification of pro-Russian sentiments. The other day, nearly 190 thousand residents of the unrecognized republic signed a request to join Russia - while the head of the Union of Russian Communities of the PMR, Viorika Kokhtareva, who coordinated the collection of signatures, said that “only part of the population managed to sign, since the action did not last long enough.” It is worth recalling that in September 2006 a referendum was held in Transnistria, in which 97% of residents were in favor of reunification with Russia. A curious story emerged with the collected signatures: Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin undertook to deliver them to Moscow. He flew through Chisinau. And there, at the airport, local police seized 30 thousand signatures from Rogozin.
Why did Moscow need the signatures of the residents of Transnistria right now? Rumor has it that one of these days the issue of the possible annexation of the unrecognized republic to Russia will be decided. But if for some reason this issue is not resolved positively or is postponed, the PMR may end up as part of Novorossiya. Maybe temporarily. But it is Pridnestrovie that is destined to influence what Novorossiya will ultimately be like. On this score, experts put forward a variety of versions - this is what, for example, says political scientist Pavel Zarifullin, head of the Lev Gumilyov Center: “The return of Transnistria to Russia is a natural, rational and useful decision, supported by the desire of the majority of citizens of this republic. But if we talk about the annexation of Transnistria, then automatically we should talk about sending troops to Odessa, Kherson and Nikolaev. We are not talking about this right now. To talk about the return of Transnistria to Russia means to once again blow up the Western world. But when the wave of aggression passes after the annexation of Crimea, perhaps Putin will begin to annex the southeast. After the annexation of Crimea to Russia, nothing is impossible. The issue of the annexation of Transnistria is a matter of tomorrow, which may be very close. But for this we need to return the southeast of Ukraine so that the picture develops organically.” In general, it is too early to talk about which regions of Ukraine will become part of the Crimean Federal District of Russia, and which will become part of Novorossiya. But the following is clear: the process of the collapse of Ukraine can no longer be stopped, as well as the process of the birth of a new state on its bones.
The self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk People's Republics signed an agreement to unite into the Union of People's Republics - Novorossiya, reports the Ukrainian publication correspondent.net.
The congress of delegates from the south-eastern regions of Ukraine was held on Saturday, May 24, behind closed doors at the Shakhtar Plaza hotel in Donetsk.
The unification document was signed by the Prime Minister of the Donetsk People's Republic Alexander Borodai and the head of the Lugansk People's Republic Alexey Karyakin.
The new state will be called Novorossiya. It will be open to the entry of other "people's republics". The Union will be governed by a special council, which will include three representatives of each people's republic - Donetsk and Lugansk. According to the statement of the people's governor of the Donetsk region Pavel Gubarev, six more regions of Ukraine are planned to join the new state "Novorossiya": Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporozhye, Odessa, Nikolaev, Kharkov and Kherson.
The separation of these regions will take place in the same way as in the Donetsk and Lugansk regions - by holding referendums, Gubarev said.
On the sidelines of the congress, there was an opinion that the Kharkov region is more ready than other regions for such a referendum today, reports RIA News .
Earlier at the congress, a decision was made to create a socio-political association "People's Front", which, according to the organizers' plans, would unite supporters of federalization from all regions of Ukraine.
Comment by Anatoly El-Murid:
(Collapse)
Kyiv media and social networks are actively discussing information about the “breakthrough” of trucks driving across the border into the territory of the DPR with Russian volunteers. Maidan propaganda, in fright, calls them either Chechens or Ossetians. Someone remembered the “Abkhaz agency” ANNA-News, after which, by general vote, those who arrived are now considered Abkhazians. Logic is inaccessible to me personally - but let the Abkhazians be:
Upset Shchenevmerliks accuse the leadership of the Ukrainian Air Force of treason, which was afraid to give the command to destroy the convoy from the air: 
One way or another, the presidential elections in Ukraine in the East are clearly becoming less and less important. At the same time, today Putin more than transparently hinted that he views the future president of Ukraine as a “transitional figure”:
It is clear that such a temporary status does not make it possible to take such a president seriously; any actions by Russia will be forced to take into account the limited capacity of such a leader.
The situation is gradually beginning to take shape, although Putin’s hint about the inevitable aggravation of the political struggle in Kyiv can only indicate that Moscow does not completely rule out further chaos in Ukraine.
