DISINTEGRATIVE ROLE OF RUSSIA ON POST-SOVIET SPACE ON THE EXAMPLE OF UKRAINE

Abstract

Ukraine is the largest country in Eastern Europe. Relations with Ukraine are important for Russia. Russia is trying to define its interests towards Ukraine and Eastern European countries. «Near abroad» is from the beginning the zone of its interests. In order to reintegrate and reconstruct dominant position in this part of the world, Russia undertakes political, economic, socio-cultural and military activities. Ukraine is an excellent example of the use of the Russians, because Russia has the ability to influence the internal situation by the presence of the Russians in the political, economic and cultural life. An example of the use of the Russian minority as a tool to control post-soviet space is a crisis in the Ukraine 2013– 2014. Its effect has become the inclusion of the Crimean peninsula into the Russian Federation. Russia interfered in the internal affairs of Ukraine, using the argument of protection of Russian minority in the territory of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The questions arise. Is this a new form of control of the post-soviet space? Does this a precedent become a tool to recall order countries which are trying to get out of the Russian zone of influence? In practice Russian neo-imperialist game means striving to keep the Russian space and maintain a sense of national identity of Russians, what will allow Russia to influence the political processes taking place in the countries of the Russian minority, both through it and in defense of its rights. Key words: Ukraine; Russian Federation; the Russian minority; post-soviet space.