"Ukraine at the regional level" : Mapping emerging identities in Kharkiv and Slobozhanshchyna

Abstract: This thesis addresses the regional perspective in the second largest city of Ukraine, Kharkiv, and investigates various self-identification strategies with a particular emphasis on the local and regional element. A specific time period was chosen, starting with the Orange Revolution in 2004 and ending with the month before the Russian invasion in 2022, with a target group consisting of Kharkiv politicians at both the state and local levels. The study was conducted by thematic analysis of interviews, speeches and other statements mainly from Ukrainian media sources in Russian during this period. As the result revealed, identification with the region was noticeable and often manifested under certain political circumstances. There was also a noticeable national-civic consciousness, especially among young politicians in the analyzed cohort. But the themes identified in this study strongly indicate attachment to both the region and the state community as the most prominent self-identification strategy. The results lead to the conclusion that it is necessary to conduct further research not only on the regional units of Ukraine, but also their content, which will contribute to a better understanding of the region within the framework of the nation-building process throughout Ukraine.