As usual, there is just about as much fraudulent "news" manipulation about Ukraine as there was voter fraud in their recent elections--and that, I think we all agree, was quite a lot. It seems fairly plain that the Eastern Ukraine [miners and heavy industry] have been well served by the Incumbent. Interviews with some voters refer to a guarantee of regular wages payment, and better dealings with industrial workers in general. They are, I think, Russian Orthodox .The west Ukraine is inclined to lean toward greater integration with Europe. Much of the country was, not too far back, part of Poland, and the religion would probably be Roman catholicism. Latest news is that there is a strong move by the Eastern population for the setting up of an autonomous region, affiliated to Russia. Unless this is readily agreed by the West [of Ukraine], it seems to me to be a very dangerous developement in terms of --in the short term at least,---peace and stability.