Odessa in the tsarist period: Russians, Moldovans and other minorities, including Ukrainians

2023-09-04 15:49:18

T he ongoing war in Ukraine has many reasons but is based as its main manifest cause on a territorial dispute, in which some regions are claimed by both Russia and Ukraine. This dispute is further complicated by Russia’s security concerns, as the Ukrainian government has expressed its intention to join NATO (and has written it in the Constitution). Ukraine’s Western turn was accompanied by a contested violent regime change, which did not gain the support of a significant part of the population (who did not feel represented by the self-proclaimed junta ruling the country).

Furthermore, in some cases, the Kiev leadership’s request for complete emancipation from the Russian sphere is not supported by its legitimacy and historical coherence.

For example, if we examine the composition of the inhabitants of Odessa at the beginning of 1900 it was a very ethnically diverse city, with a cosmopolitan population made up of people of different origins (by the way, in 1797 10% of the population was Italian ), with an Ottoman past and founded in 1794 by the Russians.

In 1897, the Russian Empire conducted a census that provided some information on the ethnic composition of the population. According to that census, the city of Odessa had a population of approximately 403,000 people, and ethnic Ukrainians constituted a significant minority, but not the majority. Most of the population was made up of Russians, followed by Ukrainians, Jews, Moldovans, Greeks, Bulgarians, Germans and other ethnicities.

Here is an overview of the ethnic composition of the inhabitants of Odessa during that period:

1 – Jews: The Jewish community of Odessa was very large and influential. The city was known for its significant Jewish population and their influence in local culture, economy, and politics.
2 – Russians: Russian inhabitants made up a significant part of Odessa’s population. Both ethnic Russians and Russian migrants from different regions of the Russian Empire were present.
3 – Ukrainians: The Ukrainian population was also represented in the city, although in a minority compared to the Jews and Russians.
4 – Moldovans: Due to the geographical proximity to Moldova, there was a significant presence of Moldovans in Odessa.
5 – Greeks: The Greek community of Odessa had deep historical roots in the city and contributed to its cultural and economic life.
6 – Bulgarians: The Bulgarian community was also present in Odessa.
7 – Armenians: Armenians had a stable presence in the city and participated in the economy and cultural life of Odessa.
8 – Turks: Due to the trade connections between Odessa and the Ottoman Empire, there were also Turks residing in the city.
9 – Germans: German immigrants were present in small numbers and contributed to industry and commerce.
10 – Other ethnic minorities: There were also other ethnic minorities present in Odessa, such as Poles, Hungarians, Romanians and other smaller communities.

This ethnic diversity has helped make Odessa a city rich in multicultural culture and traditions. During the Tsarist period, the city was known for its ethnic and religious tolerance, although ethnic conflicts would later emerge during the 20th century. Later, Odessa, after tumultuous historical events, became part of Ukraine, but only in 1991.

I wonder why the Ukrainian political leadership has not imagined Ukraine as a federal and neutral republic, and has not recognized broad autonomy to the regions now at war and annexed by Russia.

Evidently there is interference at a geopolitical level that prevails over the national interests of this country.