Interfax: Russians think Donbass may follow in Transdniestria, Abkhazia footsteps – poll

Map of Ukraine, Including Crimea, and Neighbors, Including Russia

(Interfax – March 4, 2015)

The conflict in southeastern Ukraine may lead to the existence of the self-proclaimed Donetsk and Lugansk people’s republics as independent states, such as Transdniestria, Abkhazia and South Ossetia, 38 percent of 1,600 Russians polled in 134 populated localities in 46 regions on February 20-23, reported sociologists.

The percentage has grown since September of last year (30 percent).

Eighteen percent of respondents believe that the DPR and the LPR may still be part of Ukraine with broad autonomy rights.

Twelve percent argue that the confrontation may drag out for years, just like the Palestinian-Israeli conflict.

Nine percent predict the regions’ accession to Russia and 3 percent think that the Donetsk and Luhansk region will stay within Ukraine and have standard rights of Ukrainian regions.

Twenty percent were undecided.

A majority (60 percent) agreed that Russia and Ukraine were at war, 34 percent claimed the opposite, and 7 percent failed to answer the question.

Sixty percent said Russia should not send troops to Ukraine in the case of the hostilities resuming in the southeast. A quarter of respondents said sending of troops to Ukraine was necessary, and 16 percent were hesitant.

 

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