In Lugansk, the number of supporters of joining Russia is rapidly growing, Alexander Protsenko, head of the sociological center “Special Opinion”, said at the conference.
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According to him, in 2014, on the eve of the referendum, sentiments prevailed in Lugansk in favor of preserving the region as part of Ukraine, but as a subject of the federation.
“We conducted a study last May before the referendum. Have you asked people what kind of future they would like to see for their region? The option to enter Russia was then supported by about a quarter of those surveyed. The most popular option was to remain part of Ukraine, but as a federal subject. Figuratively speaking, they wanted to show the people sitting in Kyiv Kuzka’s mother, to give them a slap in the face,” the expert said.
However, Protsenko clarified, “then events occurred that radically changed the mood.”
According to the sociologist, since February 2015, studies have shown a steady increase in the number of supporters of the reunification of Donbass with Russia.
So, if in May 2015 there were 52%, and in August this figure reached 61%.
“The opinion has changed dramatically. The increasing number is how people’s hope is fading that people will come to power in Ukraine who will be able to act in partnership, in a normal way with Donbass,” Protsenko explained.
“If a decision is made on a referendum, the indicator will be higher, the dynamics are clear,” the sociologist believes.
“Now Donbass is slowly but surely drifting towards the Russian Federation. If there is no breakthrough on the Ukrainian side, and a political decision is made, this drift will pick up cruising speed,” the author of the research summarized.