Posted on 07/19/2022 4:57:23 AM PDT by FarCenter
When Moscow-installed authorities in the southeastern Ukrainian city of Melitopol began distributing Russian passports, mother-of-two Olesya Novitskaya did not hesitate.
"I think we will all live in Russia, and I need a Russian passport," the 31-year-old makeup artist said in central Melitopol, holding her youngest son in her arms.
She spoke to AFP during a closely supervised press tour organised by the Russian defence ministry.
Currently on maternity leave, Novitskaya had come to apply for a Russian passport with her two young sons.
Novitskaya hopes she will be better off under Russian authorities, adding she often did not have enough money to buy diapers.
"Things in Ukraine were tough," said Novitskaya, who was part of a queue of several dozen people applying for Russian papers.
Journalists were not allowed to move freely in the predominantly Russian-speaking city or interview locals without supervision.
In autumn the Moscow-installed authorities are hoping to organise a referendum on joining Russia.
Billboards across the city in the region of Zaporizhzhia are flashing Russian President Vladimir Putin's promise that locals themselves will determine their future.
In a few weeks Novitskaya is expected to pledge allegiance to Moscow. The Russian anthem will be played in a small room decorated with a portrait of Putin. She will receive her Russian citizenship and a copy of the constitution.
(Excerpt) Read more at france24.com ...
From horrors to the abyss!
We watching the results of the Neocon attempt to use Ukraine to ‘weaken Russia’ (their words). Now we’re real-time watching the result of this Neocon attempt, which is the severing and possible complete dissolution of Ukraine.
I saw some interesting polls the other day taken in former Soviet block countries. More than half polled (as much as 3/4’s in Baltic countries) said they preferred the old Soviet economic system to that of the West’s system. Even 50% of Poles were for this.
The reality couldn't be farther from the truth. An enormous number of Ukrainians would want to be part of the Russian system instead. To many, acquiring a Russian passport would be analogous to a Mexican citizen suddenly obtaining a US passport.
To examine this, simply look into the Russian immigration statistics from the last decade. There is a clearly accelerating trend of people from the (non-Russia) former USSR immigrating to Russia. The number of Ukrainians who acquired Russian citizenship via the various available processes is astounding. I think by pure numbers, Russia as an immigration target is number 2 behind the USA.
Didn’t know that regarding immigration into Russia. I do know tons of Jews left there after the Cold War ended, but I do consider that a special case, given the history of Jews in Europe...they saw an opportunity to leave, which doesn’t come often, so they bolted.
As to immigration into Russia, you are correct, corruption is about as low as the first world. Since that wasn’t always the case, especially in the 1990s and under Communism, a suspect that a lot of people here see only that Russia - they give it away regarding abortion, which is down 90% from its world-high numbers, and now is on the low side for Western countries. And, of course, their education system now is better than most of Europe and runs circles around ours. If I were a young family living in that neighborhood and spoke some Russian, I’d move there too.
Ukraine is just a basket case - all we ever heard about the place was Hunter Biden, Burisma, Pelosi’s family making money, and Nazis.
...and now we’re supposed to believe that Ukraine is as pure as the wind-driven snow. Yeah, right.
It is fair to note that there is a minor exodus from Russia now of certain classes of professionals who are finding it hard to earn a living under the current sanctions. It is hoped that this will slow down once the special operation resolves.
I’m surprised Ukrainian artillery hasn’t targeted her house yet.
Disclaimer: Opinions posted on Free Republic are those of the individual posters and do not necessarily represent the opinion of Free Republic or its management. All materials posted herein are protected by copyright law and the exemption for fair use of copyrighted works.