MYTHS AND NARATIVES OF RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA

Ukraine Crisis Media Center decided to analyze which myths were spread to a particular region, and to prove their failure. The result of this work was the study "Myths and narratives of Russian propaganda that destroy Ukrainian identity in the south and east of Ukraine. Debunking and exposure".
The researchers focused on the Odesa, Mykolaiv, Zaporizhzhya, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv regions and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

1. THAT DESTROY UKRAINIAN IDENTITY IN THE
EAST AND SOUTH OF UKRAINE
MYTHS AND NARATIVES OF
RUSSIAN PROPAGANDA
REFUTATION AND EXPOSURE

2. WHICH MOSCOW (SOVIET) MYTHS ABOUT
"ORIGINALLY RUSSIAN LANDS" STILL PERSIST IN
THE SOUTH AND EAST OF UKRAINE
(the Odesa, Mykolayiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipro,
Kherson, Donetsk, Luhansk, Kharkiv regions and the
Autonomous Republic of Crimea)
To begin with, we have to clarify the definition:
Myth - is a story that explains the origin of certain components of the world
structure or the world in general, through emotional and sensual images.
But Moscow propaganda has turned many falsified historical facts into myths.
So in this case “myth” is rather a generalization of falsified history and outright
historical lies.
It should also be emphasized that a huge number of modern Russian propaganda
statements are newly created myths and are not rooted in the regions, but are
conditionally temporary and used only for propaganda.
Therefore, these myths are not considered here.
The foundation of - the city is generally considered to be the date of the
beginning of the city's chronology - the first written mention of a settlement
in the indicated territory in chronicles.

3. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Russian myths:
“Crimea was originally Russian land”; it has always been
Russian. Khrushchev (illegally in 1954) gifted Crimea to
Ukraine.
Russia has done more for the development of the region
than Ukraine.
Crimea is the “cradle” of Russian Orthodoxy.
Region: the Аutonomous
Republic of CRIMEA
SURVEY RESULTS

4. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region: the Аutonomous Republic of CRIMEA
REFUTING MYTHS
“Crimea is the “cradle” of Russian Orthodoxy”МYTH
Facts against:
The baptism of Rus' was not a one-step process, it lasted for a century.
Rus’ had two baptisms before Volodymyr: Askold's and Olha's. But at the
time of the baptism of Rus-the so-called “Russia” created by Peter the
Great in 1721-would not exist for more than 800 years. Neither would the
so-called Russian Orthodoxy.
Most likely, Prince Volodymyr himself was NOT baptized in Chersonesos,
but did it in Kyiv or Vasyliv. Volodymyr's baptism in Chersonesos is a myth
from the time of Nestorius.
Christianity came to the Muscovites from Kyiv, not from Crimea, and not
in the form in which it flourishes in the Russian Orthodox Church today. In
fact, Orthodoxy as such appeared in 1054, after the final split in
Christianity. The Muscovite church itself went through several more
changes and splits.

5. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region: the Аutonomous Republic of CRIMEA
REFUTING MYTHS
“Crimea has always been Russian, Khrushchev
(illegally) gifted it to Ukraine”
MYTH
Facts against:
During the Soviet era, there was no such thing as “illegal,” especially when
it came to “administrative reforms.” The documents show that the
procedures were observed. And all the Muscovites’ complaints-
encroachments began in 1992.
The USSR Constitution did not provide for the transfer of individual regions
between republics; however, other administrative changes were made in a
similar way, with seven border regions being established: Murmansk
(28.05.1938), Bryansk (5.07.1944), Novgorod (5.07.1944), Pskov
(23.08.1944), South Sakhalin (2.02.1946), Königsberg (6.04.1946), Belgorod
(6.01.1954) and some others. Therefore, not recognizing the transfer of
Crimea to the Ukrainian SSR means denying other administrative changes.
Khrushchev's “gift” was intended to develop the economy of Crimea,
because by subordinating the peninsula to the Council of Ministers of the
UkrSSR, Ukraine became responsible for its development. The peninsula
had a land logistical connection with the UkrSSR, which it did not have
with the Russian SFSR.

6. 4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Pro-Russian myths:
Odesa was founded by Catherine II in 1794, so it is
an “originally Russian city”.
Before Catherine II, there was no architecture in Odesa, and
all the city's beauty was built by Russians.
Before the Russians came to those lands, there was no
infrastructure, and only gangs of robbers lived there.
Region: ODESA
SURVEY RESULTS
Pushkin adored Odesa which is confirmed by the fact that
grateful people of Odesa erected a monument to him.
2
1

7. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region: ODESA
REFUTING MYTHS
“Odesa is an 'originally Russian city' founded
by Catherine II”
Myth
Facts against:
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
At the time of Catherine II, the city was NOT founded, but renamed, as was done
with many Ukrainian cities annexed to the Russian Empire. And it was NOT
Russians who rebuilt Odesa, but European architects.
In 1894, the Russian Empire printed postcards refuting the myth that Catherine II
founded Odesa. The postcards were titled “The Hundredth Anniversary of
Odesa's Accession to Russia.” That is, at that time the city existed and was
annexed, not founded. It means that not even the Russians themselves came up
with the myth of the “foundation” right away.
One of the first references to the area's settlement dates back to 1415, when it
was called the port of Kotsiubiyiv in the Długosz Chronicle
(etinportusuoRegioKaczubyeiow). But at the time of the chronicle, it already
existed, i.e. it was founded even earlier.
During the Ottoman rule, they mentioned the port of Khadzhibey (Turkic
pronunciation of Kotsiubiyiv ), which had trade ties with the Chumaks and
Cossacks.
There were other inhabited fortresses in the region before the Moscow conquest,
including Izmail, Kilia, and Akkerman.

8. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region: ODESA
REFUTING MYTHS
А. Pushkin and his “legacy” in Odesa are of
utmost importance to the citizens
Myth
Facts against:
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
There is NO complete poem by Pushkin dedicated to Odesa. There are
only a few lines from Eugene Onegin in which the poet writes about
“Dusty Odesa”. The “great African poet” Pushkin did not like Odesa
because he was exiled here. Pushkin's friends also mentioned this.
The monument to Pushkin was erected thanks to donations, but it took
several years to raise the required money under pressure from the
authorities and local Black Hundreds. It is extremely cynical to erect a
monument to a man who was exiled in the city, i.e., actually imprisoned,
and to be proud of it.
The cult of “Pushkin's Odesa years” was created by Muscovites
because Russians actually gave nothing to Odesa. All the city's
architecture was created by Europeans. And the local literature was
created by writers of non-Russian origin (Babel, Jabotinsky, Mialik,
etc.).

9. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Pro-Russian myths:
Kherson was founded by Catherine II in 1778, the city
was built by Potemkin. Before him, it was a barren field.
People in Kherson are just Russian-speaking (sometimes called
bilingual).
There are no Ukrainians to talk about in Kherson, because they
were not here (such myths were spread by guides until 2022).
Region: KHERSON
SURVEY RESULTS
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
3
1
Had the USSR lasted a little longer, the Kherson region would
have been fully gasified and another branch of irrigation canals
would have been completed.

10. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Refuting myths:
Kherson was NOT founded, but renamed by Catherine II.
In the 10th century, there was the town of Oleshshia near modern Kherson, which was
a major port with a large population and was part of the well-known trade route from
the Varangians to the Greeks.
From the time of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, Rus and Samogitia, there was a
settlement of Bilkhovychi on this site, which is marked on many 17th-18th century
maps, i.e., BEFORE the so-called official foundation of Kherson.
In the first half of the 18th century, where modern Kherson stands today, there was
the town of Perevizka, part of the Cossack palanka.
The people of Kherson are Russian-speaking, as are all the residents of Ukrainian big
industrial cities, where factory heads and party leaders from the RSFSR were
relocated under the USSR, who demanded that people speak Russian and closed
Ukrainian schools.
Region: KHERSON
SURVEY RESULTS
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
3
1

11. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region: KHERSON
REFUTING MYTHS
“There are no Ukrainians to talk about in Kherson,
because they were not here
Myth
Facts against:
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
Writer and poet Chaika Dniprova (Lyudmyla Vasylevska-Berezina). Many
generations of Ukrainians grew up with her fairy tales: “ Koza-Tereza”, “The
Traveling Drops”, “ Pan Kotskyi”, “ Vesna Krasna”.
Viktor Hoshkevych - conducted a huge amount of research on the ancient
history of Southern Ukraine and the history of the Zaporizhzhia Cossacks. In
1890, he started a museum collection, which later grew into the first real
“Museum of History and Antiquities.”
UPR General Oleksa Almaziv - commander of the Zaporizhzhia Mounted Cavalry
Gun Division of the Separate Zaporizhzhia Division of the Central Rada. Together
with Bolbochan, in 1918 he made a famous campaign to the Crimea, driving the
Bolsheviks out of there.
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
3
1
B. Hrinchenko - while the writer was in the Kherson region, he wrote a number of
fiction works. Kherson poems were later included in his collections “New Songs
and Thoughts of Vasyl Chaichenko” (1887), “Under a Cloudy Sky” (1893), etc. The
poem “South on the Steppe” (1885) is a classic poetic picture of the Tauride
landscape. His prose works also appeared at the same time: stories “House”,
‘Disobedient’, the cycle ‘Trifles’, etc.

12. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region: KHERSON
REFUTING MYTHS
“‘Had the USSR existed a little longer, the Kherson region would
have been fully gasified and the construction of another branch of
irrigation canals would have been completed’
Myth
Facts against:
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
Gasification of Ukraine during the Soviet era depended solely on the plans of the Council of
Ministers of the UkrSSR. Only gas was supplied from Russia via gas pipelines. And the
Russian Federation itself has so far gasified only a third of its settlements.
Over the 70 years of the USSR, not a single new railroad line was built in the Kherson region,
and some pre-revolutionary ones ceased to exist; one of the reasons was that there was no
military expediency.
The irrigation systems built in the USSR are of poor quality compared to European ones and are
admired only out of ignorance.
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
3
1

13. 4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Pro-Russian myths :
Soviet historians argued that “civilization” was brought to the northern
Black Sea and the Azov region by the Russian army in the times of
Potemkin and Catherine II, it is the so-called “Wild Field” territory, and
only after that and thanks to that did the first settlements appear.
Mykolayiv is a completely Russian-speaking city.
Region: MYKOLAYIV
SURVEY RESULTS
4
1

14. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region: MYKOLAYIV
REFUTING MYTHS
“Civilization” was brought to the northern Black Sea and the Azov
region by the Russian army in the times of Potemkin and Catherine II, it
is the so-called “Wild Field” territory, and only after that and thanks to
that did the first settlements appear
MYTH
Facts against:
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
The oldest city on the territory of modern Ukraine is located in Mykolayiv. It is mentioned in written
sources and dates back to the time of Troy. This is the city of “Cimmerian men” or the Wild Garden,
which is mentioned in Homer's Iliad.
When the ancient Greeks founded the city-state of Olbia in what is now Mykolaiiv region, there
would be no civilization in what is now Russia for hundreds of years.
The Black Sea defense line fortresses in the Mykolayiv region were built under Grand Duke Vytautas
of Lithuania in the 15th century, 300 years before Peter I renamed Muscovy into Russia. The area of
today's Mykolayiv region was inhabited by both the Cossacks of the Buh-Hardivska Palanka and the
Crimean Khanate.
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
1
The territory of today's Mykolayiv was used by the Cossacks to build fishing huts and boats long
before the Russian Empire moved beyond the Moscow swamps and wanted to make sea
voyages.

15. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region:MYKOLAYIV
REFUTING MYTHS
“Мykolayiv is a completely Russian-speaking city”
МYTH
Facts against :
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
Even after the period of the fiercest Russification in the USSR, polls in Mykolayiv showed that a
maximum of a third of the residents considered the Russian language "theirs".
М. Arkas, the author of the world-famous "History of Ukraine - Russia", is a native of Mykolayiv.
In 1907, he founded the Ukrainian society "Prosvita" in Mykolayiv that had 150 members and
promoted Ukrainian culture
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
1
1926 1959 1970 1979 1989 2001
Ukrainian 63,8 73,4 69,4 66,7 64,2 69,2
Russian 22,2 24,6 29,1 31,7 33,8 29,3
2001 Ukrainian Russian
Mykolaiv region 69,2 29,3
Mykolaiv city 42,2 56,8

16. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Pro-Russian myths :
Before the Russian Empire began to settle and develop the region, it was
deserted, uninhabited (until the end of the 18th century).
“Russia has built an entire industry for you.”
Region:DNIPRO
SURVEY RESULTS
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
5
1

17. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region:DNIPRO
REFUTING MYTHS
“Before the Russian Empire began to assimilate and develop the
region, it was deserted, uninhabited”
МYTH
Facts against :
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
In the late 18th century, the Russian Empire did not establish anything on the
territory of Ukraine, but renamed the seized lands. Dnipro is no exception.
Cossack settlements had existed on the territory of Dnipropetrovsk region
since the 16th century:
- Kodak Palanka (administrative center - Novyi Kodak, with a colonel and a
city chieftain)
- Cossack winter camps, in particular,a camp of famous Mykyta Korzh on
Soborna Mount (territory of the city of Dnipro)
-famous city of Samar, where later the Muscovites built the
Novobohorodytska Fortress, but there was a Cossack church in it.
Besides, the famous Kodak fortress was built by Frenchman Beauplan on the
order of the king of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth.
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
1
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
5
1

18. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region: DNIPRO
REFUTING MYTHS
“Russia has built an entire industry for you”
МYTH
Facts against :
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
The modern Interpipe corporation is an updated old industry and a new
factory built during the years of Ukraine’s independence.
A large number of enterprises were set up by foreigners:
- Nyzhnyodniprovskyi Tube Rolling Plant - former Shoduar (Belgians);
- Metallurgical Plant named after Comintern - former Shoduar-B
-"Dnipromash", ironworks - built by Belgians
- Dnipropetrovsk Combine Harvester Plant named after Voroshylov – built by
German Esau as a steelworks
- Dnipromlyn grain processing plant - built by German Faust in 1895.
The region was transformed from agricultural to industrial despite the empire,
thanks to Oleksandr Pol, a native of the region, researcher and entrepreneur,
who managed to attract foreign investors. And almost everything that was
built during the times of "industrialization" was built by Americans.
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
1
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
5
1

19. 7
6
8
9
Pro-Russian myths :
"Zaporizhzhia and other cities of the region were founded by Catherine II,
during her time.
Soviet power was the main driver of progress and
industrialization.
REGION:ZAPORIZHZHIA
SURVEY RESULTS
6
4
2
5
3
6
1
6
All industrial giants, including the Dnieper HPP, were built in the
1930s.

20. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
REGION:ZAPORIZHZHIA
REFUTING MYTHS
“Zaporizhzhia and other cities of the region were founded by
Catherine II, during her time”
МYTH
Facts against :
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
Catherine II sought not to build, but to destroy the Zaporizhzhian Sich and
expelled the Cossacks from the "Wild Field" because she was afraid of their
love of freedom.
The territory of the modern Zaporizhzhia region - Velykyi Luh – had been
inhabited since the 16th century, long before the historians Miller, Schlotser and
Bayer brought by Catherine II invented the history of Rus and myths about the
empty lands of the south.
-There was Voznesenka (formerly Neshkrebivka) in the territory of present-
day Zaporizhzhia already in the 16th century. Now it is the central district of
the city;
-Oleksandrivsk (the old name of Zaporizhzhia) arose within the borders of the
Oleksandrivsk furstat, the Oleksandrivsk fortress, which was settled by local
people - who used their own customary law and were proclaimed "founders of
the city".
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
1
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
3
7
6
8
9
1
7
6
8
9
6
4
2
5
3
6
1
6

21. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
REGION:ZAPORIZHZHIA
REFUTING MYTHS
“Soviet power was the main driver of progress and industrialization”МYTH
Facts against :
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
Most city-forming enterprises of the 20th century were built by foreigners or
using foreign technologies. For example, the Dnieper HPP, which had been
designed before 1917 and was built using the U.S. technologies and equipment.
The first big industrial enterprises, starting from the 1870s, were created by
Mennonite immigrants from Germany and the Netherlands. They founded more
than 100 metallurgical, machine-building and agricultural enterprises near the
Dnieper rapids. It was these enterprises that the Bolsheviks later took away
and began to be proud of the industrial power that they allegedly created.
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
1
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
3
7
6
8
9
1
7
6
8
9
6
4
2
5
3
6
1
6

22. 7
8
9
Pro-Russian myths :
"The territory of the Donetsk region was settled and developed
by Russia”.
It was during the Russian Empire and Soviet times that the
greatest industrial development of the region took place.
Region: DONETSK
SURVEY RESULTS
4
2
5
3
6
1
7
Donbas residents are Russians

23. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region: DONETSK
REFUTING MYTHS
“The territory of the Donetsk region was settled and
developed by Russia”
МYTH
Facts against :
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
The town of Tor (modern Slovyansk), despite the presence of a small
Moscow fortification, acquired the characteristics of a full-fledged city
thanks to the Ukrainian colonization of 1676-1677.
В 1684 р. виникає й укріплене поселення Козацька пристань (тут
гарнізон складали козаки Харківського слобідського полку).
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
1
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
3
7
6
8
9
1
7
6
8
9
6
4
2
5
3
6
1
6
7
8
9
4
2
5
3
6
1
7
In the 1740s, a permanent settlement was founded on the territory of modern
Mariupol, which became the administrative center of the Kalmius palanka of
the Zaporizhzhian Sich (colonels Andrii Porokhnia and Petro Velihura were
distinguished among its leaders).
In 1754-1755, Slavo-Serbia was founded (between Bakhmut and the Luhan
River) - half of its population was Ukrainian Cossacks.

24. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region: DONETSK
REFUTING MYTHS
“The greatest industrial development of the region took place
under the Russian Empire and the USSR."
МYTH
Facts against :
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
Cossack descendant Prince Serhii Kochubei was the first to obtain a
concession to build a factory for production of railway rails on his lands; later
he sold the right to the concession to Englishman John Hughes.
The processes of construction and development of industry in Donetsk region
in the 19th century were managed by foreigners and their capital (Hughes,
Rutchenko and Bosse).
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
1
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
3
7
6
8
9
1
7
6
8
9
6
4
2
5
3
6
1
6
7
8
9
4
2
5
3
6
1
7
Ukrainians joined industrialization, in particular the Society of Oleksiy
Alchevskyi and Ivan Ilovaiskyi.

25. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region:DONETSK
REFUTING MYTHS
“Donbas residents — Russians
MYTH
Facts against :
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
Even after the famines and total Russification, most people
considered themselves Ukrainians.
The decrease in the number of Ukrainians and the identification of
"Ukrainian" is the result of targeted genocide and bringing
numerous "workers" from the Russian FSR to the deserted villages
in the 1930s. Very often, Russia brought here entire families of
"workers" from its poorest regions, since because of the genocide,
there was practically no one to work in Donbas.
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
1
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
3
7
6
8
9
1
7
6
8
9
6
4
2
5
3
6
1
6
7
8
9
4
2
5
3
6
1
7
Census in 1897
Name of the
administrative unit
%
Ukrainians
%
Russians
% other
nationality
Mariupol district 46,1 14 Greeks: 19
Berdiansk district 58,8 18,1
Bulgarians:
10,4
Bakhmut district 58,2 31,2.
Germans:
3,8
Izyum district 86,2 12
Germans:
1,5
Taganrog district 61,7 31,7
Germans:
4,6
Region Census in 1939 Census in1959 Census in1989
Donetsk (Stalino)
Ukrainians – 59,4%
Russians – 31,3%
Ukrainians – 55,6%
Russians – 37,6%
Ukrainians – 50,7%
Russians – 43,6%
Luhansk
(Voroshylovgrad)
Ukrainians – 63,3%
Russians – 32,5%
Ukrainians – 57,8%
Russians – 38,7%
Ukrainians – 51,9%
Russians – 44,8%
Zaporizhzhia
Ukrainians – 66,2%.
Russians – 21,2%
Ukrainians – 68,3%
Russians – 25,9%
Ukrainians – 63,1%
Russians – 32,0%

26. 7
8
9
Pro-Russian myths:
Luhansk is a Russian city, because the Don Cossacks played
a key role in the development of the region.
Russian Volodymyr Dal surely ranks first in the city as a scientist.
Region: LUHANSK
SURVEY RESULTS
4
2
5
3
6
1
8

27. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region: LUHANSK
REFUTING MYTHS
Luhansk is a Russian city, because Don Cossacks played a key
role in the development of the region
МYTH
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
1
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
3
7
6
8
9
1
7
6
8
9
6
4
2
5
3
6
1
6
7
8
9
4
2
5
3
6
1
7
7
8
9
4
2
5
3
6
1
8
Facts against :
This territory was originally inhabited mainly by Sloboda and Zaporizhzhian
Cossacks, but being loyal to the Russian authorities and enjoying its support, the
Don Cossacks sometimes occupied settlements previously founded by Ukrainian
settlers, in particular, the fortress on the banks of Siverskyi Donets near the village
of Nyzhnyoteple (Shchastia district).
Don Cossacks actively borrowed technologies brought by Ukrainian settlers from
central Ukraine.
The well-known Bulavin rebellion took place in 1707 with the support of Sloboda
and Zaporizhzhian Cossacks, but was suppressed by the Don Cossacks.
In late 1918, the Don Cossacks conducted a violent mobilization to the White Army
of General Kaledin, but the Ukrainian population of the town of Bilovodsk revolted
and killed the Don emissaries.
Region Census in 1939 Census in 1959 Census in 1989
Luhansk
(Voroshylovgrad)
Ukrainians – 63,3%
Russians – 32,5%
Ukrainians – 57,8%
Russians – 38,7%
Ukrainians – 51,9%
Russians – 44,8%

28. 1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
Region: LUHANSK
REFUTING MYTHS
“Volodymyr Dal ranks first in the city as a scientist”МYTH
Facts against :
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
2
1
Volodymyr Dal’s cultwas formed in the Luhansk region together with the total
Russification policy of the USSR. He was "made" the most outstanding because of
his "dictionary" of the allegedly Russian language. But now it has been proven by
linguists: there was no single Russian language as such by the end of the 19th
century. And in fact, Dal’s dictionary explained specifically Ukrainian words for the
so-called Russian language.
But outstanding Ukrainian researcher Borys Hrinchenko remains one of the most
famous Ukrainian educators of the Luhansk Region.
Among the more famous figures is Oleksiy Alchevskyi, the founder of the Oleksiivske
Mining Society and the Donetsk-Yuriivka Metallurgical Society (the latter owned the
Donetsk-Yuriivka Plant), in Yuriivka, now the city of Alchevsk.
Khrystyna Alchevska - a famous teacher who opened a unique public school in the
village of Oleksiivka.
Serhii Loktyushev contributed to creation of the provincial museum in Luhansk in
1920. A teacher of archeology and local history, he conducted archaeological field
research in the vicinity of Luhansk, along the middle course of the Siverskyi Donets
River, Starobilsk District (1923, 1925). Since 1927, was in charge of the Luhansk
Regional Social Museum and held the positions of head, deputy head and research
associate. Repressed in 1943.
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
1
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
1
4
2
5
3
7
6
8
9
4
2
3
7
6
8
9
1
7
6
8
9
6
4
2
5
3
6
1
6
7
8
9
4
2
5
3
6
1
7
7
8
9
4
2
5
3
6
1
8

29. 7
8
9
Pro-Russian myths:
“Kharkiv is Russian, a Russian-speaking city”.
Kharkiv is the first "legal" capital of present-day Ukraine.
Region: KHARKIV
SURVEY RESULTS
4
2
5
3
6
1
9

30. 7
8
9
Region: KHARKIV
4
2
5
3
6
1
9
REFUTING MYTHS
Мyth about the “first capital” of UkraineМYTH
Facts against:
The myth of the "first capital" is connected with the thesis, which is actively
promoted today by the dictator Putin, that "Ukraine was invented by Lenin."
That is, until 1919, Ukraine did not exist as a separate state. And in 1919, it was
created by the Bolsheviks. Therefore, the "official capital of official Ukraine" is
Kharkiv. In fact, the Bolsheviks "designated" Kharkiv as the "capital" of the part
of Ukraine occupied by them in 1919.
During the Ukrainian revolution of 1917-1921, there were several capitals of
Ukraine. And Kharkiv was the capital of the puppet part of Ukraine occupied by
the Russians.
And Kyiv was the political center of Russia from the 11th to the 13th century and
regained this role from the 17th century.
From 1917 to 1920, Kyiv was the capital of the Ukrainian People's Republic and in
1918 - of the Ukrainian State

31. 7
8
9
Region: KHARKIV
4
2
5
3
6
1
9
REFUTING MYTHS
Kharkiv is Russian, a Russian-speaking city"
МYTH
Facts against:
In the 17th century, Kharkiv was formed by migrants from Right-bank Ukraine
and became the center of the Slobozhanshchyna region. And later – the
administrative center of the region of Ukraine, which included the current
Belgorod Region (RF). Therefore, it is more likely that Kharkiv is not a "Russian
city", but Belgorod is a Ukrainian city.
Despite its dependence on the Kremlin, there was a Cossack regimental system
in Kharkiv had, as in most other large cities of Ukraine in the 17th and 18th
centuries.
The main churches of Kharkiv are the Assumption Cathedral (Ukrainian Baroque)
and the Cathedral of Intercession of the Virgin — typical of Cossack churches in
central Ukraine.
According to the 1897 census data:
Ukrainians — 2,009,411 — 80,6 %
Russians — 440,936 — 17,7 %

32. Glory to Ukraine!