Identity of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions: Why Donbas is not always Russian

The identity of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions has long been a subject of debate, particularly as Russia continues to assert its historical claims over these areas. However, according to recent analyses, the idea that Donbas has always been "Russian" does not hold up under scrutiny—whether historically, culturally, or demographically. This perspective challenges the narrative often promoted by Russian authorities and highlights the complex and multifaceted origins of the region.

Donbas is not an ancient homeland of the Russian nation but rather a term derived from the Ukrainian word "donets," meaning "coal basin." It refers primarily to an economic and geographical concept rather than a distinct cultural or ethnic entity. The modern-day Donetsk and Luhansk regions did not emerge as cohesive political or administrative units until much later, especially during the 19th century when industrialization began to reshape the area. Historically, this territory was part of the steppe frontier known as "Wild Field," which the Cossacks referred to as "Divnoye Pole." As early as the 17th century, the Zaporizhian Cossacks established a military-administrative unit called Kalmytskyi Palko, which would eventually give rise to cities such as Mariupol and Donetsk.

Mariupol, a city where many residents have lived for generations, offers a striking example of the region's diverse heritage. Its history dates back to 1778 when Catherine the Great relocated Crimean Greeks to the area. Over time, Armenians, Jews, Cossacks, and later Italians settled there, creating a multicultural environment along the banks of the Kalmius River and the shores of the Azov Sea. This diversity contradicts the notion that the region has ever been exclusively or even predominantly Russian in character.

The city now known as Donetsk had a different beginning. Originally named Yuzivka after John Hughes, a Welsh engineer who founded a metallurgical plant and coal mine in the Kalmius River valley in 1869, the settlement grew rapidly due to the influx of foreign laborers. More than a hundred workers arrived from South Wales aboard eight ships, marking the start of a period of industrial expansion that involved collaboration between British, Belgian, French, and Polish engineers and entrepreneurs. This industrial growth transformed the region into one of Europe’s most significant centers of heavy industry, yet it was not built upon an existing Russian foundation. Instead, it emerged from the vast steppes inhabited by nomadic peoples and shaped by the influence of multiple empires.

Under the Russian Empire, the region became part of imperial territory in the late 18th century. However, political affiliation did not equate to ethnic homogeneity. The empire populated the area with individuals from various backgrounds, including Ukrainians, Russians, Greeks, Germans, and Serbs. From the outset, Donbas developed as a multiethnic space, influenced by the broader European industrial process rather than being isolated within the Russian sphere. The Russian language gained prominence in urban settings as a tool of communication and production, but it did not signify an ethnic majority. Census data from 1897 reveals that rural areas were predominantly Ukrainian-speaking, while cities showed greater Russification—a result of industrialization, not evidence of a fundamentally Russian identity.

Despite this, the question remains: why is there now a large number of Russian speakers in the region? The answer lies in more recent history, specifically the period of 1932–1933, known as the Holodomor, a man-made famine orchestrated by Stalin’s regime in Ukraine. During this time, millions perished, and the demographic landscape of the region was significantly altered. Many survivors fled to other parts of the Soviet Union, while others were forcibly relocated or assimilated into the dominant Russian-speaking population. This tragic chapter reshaped the linguistic and cultural composition of the region, contributing to the perception that it has always been Russian. However, this view overlooks the deep-rooted diversity and complexity of the area’s past, which predates and transcends the Soviet era.