Publication

This commentary examines the political and economic situation in Ukraine's Kharkiv oblast, the country's second-most pro-Russian oblast, situated along the Russian border. In particular, the author discusses 1) the linguistic, economic and political divisions that exist among Kharkiv's population; 2) who the key political players in the region are, and the influence they wield; 3) the destabilizing effect which the activities of subversive groups, controlled by Russia, are having on the region; and 4) the problems facing the region's industrial economy.