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The blue and tan map is very misleading. For one thing, (assuming that it is in the least accurate), it only shows majorities. Then it assumes that everyone goes with their linguistic affinities.
The fact is that Russian and Ukrainian languages are very similar, and there is a long joint history. The Rus dynasty of Kiev is looked upon as the beginning of Russia.
A professor from one of the Siberian universities wrote that there is no reason why Russia and Ukraine should not live in peace on the friendliest of terms. They are in many ways as close as English-speaking Canadians and Americans. The violence is manipulated. The professor promptly lost his position, and will have to find other work.
Nowhere is anyone mentioning the religious differences among the population of Ukraine. Yet Ukrainians ghet along. There is even considerable intermarriage. It is clear that the problems are stirred up from the outside. The motive is also clear: Putin wanted Crimea for its naval access, and now he wants more direct access to Crimea. He also fears any prosperity in Uraine, or anything which might compare well with Russia. He also wants a greater Russia.
Dictators who can make it at home (with low productivity and discontent) ofttimes turn to foreign aggression. Putin likes to look tough. We can speculate, for what personal failings is he compensating? But what we see for sure is than he is cunning, brutal,m and aggressive. He is not a nice guy.

I don’t think Putin will take Ukraine as so many have indicated or he certainly could have done so by now...he simply isn’t interested now as deals are being struck economically with EU/Porsh and other countries surrounding Ukraine...not long before Porsh and Putin will do their dealing as well.

As for Eastern areas where Putin has 300+ standing contracts with the Industry there and otherwise....those will get hashed over...but I understand some of the Industry is and may move out of Ukraine...as said..Putin can do what he does other places. ....and is. Especially in light of EuroAsia now a sealed deal...Putins moved on pretty much.

I don’t think it will go that far. The three western provinces are most likely gone, and with them most of the assets the IMF wants as loans assurances.

I thought originally that the unrest would extend down to Meltipol, but that doesn’t seem to be the case at this point.

I’m more curious about what is going on in and around Dnepropetrovsk. This the area under Kolomoisky and the Right Sector’s control. Not much news of local conditions seems to be getting out, and there have been unconfirmed twitter rumors of brutal repressions against dissenters.

Just today there are reports that some 1,500 locally recruited conscripts have mutinied there, refusing to go west and fight.