[Mariner]

It's apparent these clashes will not be limited to the East.

Russia built Odessa, and in fact it was Catherine the Great who named the city. It's population is at least 1/2 ethnic Russian.

I will not pretend to know how the majority in the region aligns politically.

[wonkowasright]

Catherine the Great.... this is apparently Russian for a long time. Why are we meddling in Russia .....

The west has, once again, started civil war and once again is proving completely unable to control and win it. So we resort to whining ....

The unrest started in Kiev with western backed militants upset they lost an election.

[grania]

I will not pretend to know how the majority in the region aligns political

One can suspect how they align now, after protestors were left to burn alive in a building.

[SevenofNine]

OH great we going have scene of silent movie classic Battleship Polikatin pretty soon

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DLEE2UL_N7Q

[wetphoenix]

In fact Odessa was a long term Jewish enclave of Imperial Russia and USSR.

[FreeReign]

Russia built Odessa, and in fact it was Catherine the Great who named the city. It's population is at least 1/2 ethnic Russian.

No. Ethnic Ukrainians make up a majority 62% of the city of Odessa's population. Ethnic Russians are 29%. This according to the last census.

And Odessa Oblast has even a higher percentage of ethnic Ukrainians and lower percentage of ethnic Russians.