Paul Goble, originally on Window on Eurasia

Staunton, May 15 – Just as Transdniestria has sometimes been described as the Soviet Union frozen in time, so too, the writers of the Rufabula.com portal say, “the so-called ‘Donetsk Republic’ concentrates in itself all the abominations which remain from the post-Soviet and post-imperial heritage” and which many had thought had passed from the scene forever.

Indeed, this region is so unattractive that its features may well have led Vladimir Putin to conclude that Russia would be better off without it while at the same time have convinced Ukrainians that Donetsk at least in its current form is a kind of “ballast” they would be better off without.