‘This is the Return of Truth about Historical Past’: Zelensky Signs Decree

On January 22, in connection with Ukraine's Unity Day, President Volodymyr Zelensky recorded a video address to the people. Speaking in Sofia Square, Zelensky announced that he had signed a decree regarding the ‘Historically Ukrainian-Settled Territories of the Russian Federation.’

‘This is the return of truth about the historical past for the sake of the Ukrainian future,’ the president declared.

The decree states, among other things, that it is necessary to involve ‘international experts, representatives of the global congress of Ukrainians, scientists, and society to develop and present an action plan to the National Security and Defense Council of Ukraine to preserve the national identity of Ukrainians in the Russian Federation, including the territories historically settled by them (Kuban, Starodubshchina, Northern and Eastern Slobozhanshchyna in the modern Krasnodar Krai, Belgorod, Bryansk, Voronezh, Kursk, and Rostov regions of the Russian Federation).’