Ukraine Is Not Yet 'Lost'

[Gotno Gizmo]

I thought the following article by Sacha Tessier-Stall and Kateryna Zarembo, analysts at the International Center for Policy Studies in Kiev was an interesting read.

I.H.T. Op-Ed Contributor - Ukraine Is Not Yet 'Lost' - NYTimes.com

[bm-21Lemko]

He is interested in getting the economy back in the swing of things. I can agree with that. Germany and other European countries recieve gas and oil from Russia doesnt make them a puppet of Russia.

[Gotno Gizmo]

For the average Ukrainian, food costs represent a much larger percentage of expenditure against revenue in comparison to say USA or UK residents. Energy costs are also rising, and it’s not surprising therefore Ukrainians are feeling increasingly beleaguered in their attempt to maintain a modicum of lifestyle. Of course it could rightly be argued that many other nations are similarly being squeezed in the present financial catastrophe that emanated from Wall Street in 2008 and spread throughout the world.

I knew nothing of Ukraine until my first visit of 2009, when I walked past the vast expanse of Lugansk’s derelict industrial sites (former foundries and railway carriage works) it became apparent that industrial decline here was not recent, but echoed the collapse of the former Soviet Union. The trams are dilapidated and appear to be former Soviet stock. The pavements (sidewalks) are prone to unexpected holes or raised manhole cover surrounds that have tripped me up on numerous occasions because my head was not tilted down enough (bifocal spectacles problem).

I learned of the successive failure of government’s since the post Soviet era in order to bring Ukraine into a new and brighter period of democracy and development. I learned about the damp squib of the “Orange Revolution” and witnessed the ongoing internal squabbles between Yushenko and Tymoshenko, along with the televised brawls within the Verkhovna Rada.

So what are the indicators of success in the post soviet Lugansk? Three or more modern shopping malls selling all the goods you would expect to find anywhere else in Europe, albeit the merchandise is usually overpriced in comparison with other countries. A surprising number of shiny fronted banks, considering that it’s not Monte Carlo or Luxembourg. A disproportionate number of top end super luxury cars per kilometre of poorly conditioned roads. Clearly the economy is not as poor as one might anticipate, but I’m at a loss to know what‘s the source of the money that needs so much bank transacting, and creates such conspicuous consumption! Who are this elite minority of rich people; they are clearly not the doctors or top engineers etc?
Can anybody enlighten me?