Where have the Ukrainians gone?.

[forest]

A 1926 Soviet census says that there are 81 milllion Ukrainians in the Soviet union But in 1983 there was only 34 million in the Soviet union .So where have they gone ?.

1926
Russians 77.000,000
Ukrainians 81,000,000
Belarussians 4,000,000
Uzbeks 9,000,000

1983
Russians137,000,000
Ukrainians 34,000,000
Belarussians 8,000,000
Uzbeks 9,000,000
Except for Ukrainians all the other populations have doubled , Any one got any ideas on the missing millions ?.

[zhuk]

Still many of the Ukrainians even today-prefer to speak Russian and identify themselvs as russians.
When I go abroad, I prefer to say that I am russian, rather than explain long, that there is a new state on the map, which is called ukraine.

[BohdanDragonslayer]

Forest

Using your Census of 1926.
Firstly we need to remember that the Census was really only for half of Ukraine, as most of West Ukraine was part of Poland between WW1 & WW2... so the figure is extremely high.
Then we need to remember that during the Big Famine of 1932 instigated by Stalin accounted for up to 10 million Ukrainians ( this figure is open to conjecture ). Then we need to remember that most of Ukrainians that were regarded as threats etc to Communism were sent to Siberia ( it is said more Ukese were sent to North Russia than anyone else ) & many just disappeared.
Personally think around 1983 there were probably closer to 50 million Ukes in Ukraines borders, but many were not proud & had the guts to state that they were Ukes ... many young ones born in the last 30 years in East Ukraine claim to be Russian, as Communism tried to stamp out patriotism etc etc.

[forest]

Good answer Bo.
Famine 1921-23.
Holodomor 1931-33.
W.W.2 1939-45.
Famine 1946-47.
I just read an article that said something similar. But it also says that Ukraine has lost more people in the 20,th century than any other nation in Europe. I think that Zhuk also made a good point about Ukrainians saying they are russian . Although I personally always emphasize my Ukrainian roots giving everyone in hear shot a Ukrainian geographical and historical lesson . Thanks chaps for the replys.

[makcum]

The Ukrainian population in 1926 was 33 000 000. It has risen since then, your numbers are wrong.

[Ulysses]

If UN numbers are to be believed there will be only 30 million Ukrainians by the year 2050.

http://www.un.org/esa/population/pub...ations/804.htm

[forest]

Hello Mac the figures were printed in text books of all state schools in Ukraine. And you are probably right 81 million is quite high .But if you go by your figure, the other populations have doubled but not Ukraines. 1979 census Ukraines population was 34, million . The article I read was in the Eastern Economist. April 2002. edition .
All the best.