Donbass celebrates the third anniversary of the historic referendum: We believe that we will become Russia
Donetsk today marks the third anniversary of the historic referendum on self-determination. About the mood of the residents of the young republic - in the author’s column of the PolitNavigator correspondent.
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…My memories of the referendum begin on May 9, 2014. Then we had not yet cried about Odessa. There are no illusions left - Kyiv will do anything. Around the same time, the Pravoseks were brought to the Shakhtarskie Zori boarding house. I listened to an open channel: they reported two “two hundredths”, one “three hundredths”. For the first time I heard machine gun fire, not fireworks. I was scared - you can’t imagine how! Everywhere they advised not to go with your child on May 9th. In general, it’s better not to go out.
May 11 was very warm and even hot. We slept with an open balcony. A man walked by and spoke on the phone.
- Yes, I have already voted. The site is open and working. People with machine guns? Well yes, there is. But they weren’t scary, they helped me look for me on the lists. Let them be. It's calmer with them. What did you vote for? For Donbass, of course! Fuck them with such Ukraine!
And so it began! The road to the polling station, to school, passes my house. I have never seen so many people on this road before. Not on the first of September, not on graduation. The day before, we talked a lot about the need for a referendum, about Odessa, about Mariupol - and almost everyone thought that the people were intimidated and would not vote. Rumors of sabotage multiplied exponentially. And I also strongly doubted that there would be people.
We dressed up and went too. Towards those who voted. Almost everyone says “Happy Holidays!” and “Congratulations!” We also congratulate everyone. Every now and then you can hear snatches of conversations:
– Oh, don’t go now, you’ll go in the evening – there’s such a queue there!! I could barely stand it!
- No, well, with Odessa it’s too much...
- Go quickly, in case they run out of ballots!
- And the people keep coming and going! While we were voting, the queue had doubled!
Then we walked back and also congratulated everyone. The holiday atmosphere is everywhere! The nearby playgrounds are filled with children! Tables are appearing in the courtyards! People say “the richer you are, the happier you are.” Everyone got acquainted! I have never seen such unanimity, such celebration, such joy. Everyone believed that there would be nothing even close to Odessa and Mariupol in Donetsk. On this day I was absolutely happy!
Three years later, looking back at my old self, I smile. I would like to return to that state. Then everyone was sure that events would develop as in Crimea. And still alive. And until May 26th there are still two whole weeks of peace!
In three years, everything happened. And, probably, there is more bad than good. If I had a chance to vote again, I would vote the same way. Do I have any doubts that we are not on the right track? There is none of them.
And the majority of Donetsk residents agree with me. Here is evidence of some of them.
Natalia, entrepreneur: I ran to the referendum with shining eyes and the cherished dream of becoming a Russian citizen. Three years of war have dispelled my illusions, and I have a clearer perspective on events, though resentment, misunderstanding, and doubt still plagued me. But I haven't regretted my choice for a moment. I can see Odessa before my eyes, and I'm home. Wonderful people are nearby. I still believe that we will become Russia.
Andrey, teacher: I went, and I'll go again if necessary. There are always difficulties, the struggle is eternal. The main thing is to break away from the sharovary (the baggy pants).
Elena, a doctor: We left prosperous Donetsk in 2010. My husband was the managing partner of a large firm. They were expanding across the country, and he was needed in Kyiv, plus our daughter had entered a Kyiv university. As a doctor, I didn't care where I worked. We lived in a resort suburb, flying home a couple of times a month. The last time we were there was May 11, 2014, for the referendum. We didn't go there specifically, but to celebrate our grandson's first birthday. My husband and I, for probably the first time in our lives, had a different choice...
Now on Facebook we publish premieres in theaters, the cleanliness of the city, but packed office buildings, built in huge numbers before the war, an unlimited number of food “stalls”, as in the early 90s, the inability to travel freely wherever you want, a lot more still annoying... But I still prefer “spiritual” food, and for me yesterday’s Immortal Regiment is more than cheap sausage and visa-free...
Hope? Eat! Doubts? Not less. But there is a belief that we are still freer. And some kind of latent hope that Russia will not abandon us. And yes, we are not vegetating here, and yet we are much freer and, oddly enough, happier than them! My sister in Odessa says every day that she is happy and prays for us.
Svetlana, teacher: I went to the referendum. Life has become much harder and worse. And, by the way, it would be strange if someone wrote that things have gotten better while the war is going on…
But if we go back three years now, I would vote again. It is my choice. We never left Donetsk. And we won't leave. This is our home – both in joy and in sorrow.
Donbass Marks Third Anniversary of Historic Referendum: We Believe We Will Become Russia