Moscow’s actions in Georgia have increased anti-Russian sentiment in Ukraine, as more Ukrainians now want the Russian Black Sea Fleet out of their nation’s Crimean Peninsula, a poll conducted Aug 14-19 suggests.
The poll, conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, found that 29 percent of Ukrainians want Russia’s Black Sea Fleet to leave its base in Sevastopol when the lease agreement expires in 2017, while 17 percent want the fleet out immediately. The total for both is 7 percent more than a poll conducted by the institute two months ago. Some 27 percent of Ukrainians polled want the Russian fleet to remain in Ukraine, while another 27 percent was undecided.
When the USSR collapsed, both countries wrestled over the Sevastopolbased fleet. Ultimately, Kyiv conceded most of it, but has in recent years pushed Moscow to initiate removal preparations. The conflict with Georgia left Ukraine particularly uncomfortable as Russian vessels based on its soil were used against another prowestern ally. The poll also showed that 50 percent of Ukrainians saw a military threat to their country, in connection with the fleet being based on home soil.
Yevhen Khmilko, director of the institute that conducted the poll, said Russia’s moves in Georgia were the “main reason” for the increase in support for removal of the fleet.
The biggest changes in public opinion were fixed in Ukraine’s Russianleaning eastern regions, Khmilko said adding that 22 percent more (from 11 to 33 percent) of eastern Ukrainians want the fleet out compared to prior polls. The number of eastern Ukrainians that want Russia’s fleet to stay decreased by 17 percent, from 62 to 45 percent.
In the also Russianspeaking southern parts of Ukraine, a slight 2 percent more want the fleet out immediately, 9.5 percent compared to 11.5 percent. The number of southern Ukrainians who want the fleet out in 2017 increased slightly from 20.5 percent to 23 percent. Still, a large share of southern and eastern Ukrainians want the fleet to stay in Crimea, while most citizens in the west want it out.
