Ukrainian Report Identifies Eight Russian Regions Capable of Rapid Independence — A new study by Ukrainian scholars concludes that at least eight of the ten examined regions and republics (including Tatarstan, Bashkortostan, Buryatia, and Sakha-Yakutia) have the economic, humanitarian, and political capacity to become independent states once Moscow’s central control collapses.

Moscow’s Arguments Against Independence Are Self-Serving — The report challenges the Kremlin’s narrative that many regions are economically or politically unprepared for independence, arguing that their “insolvency” is artificially created by disproportionate resource extraction (“rents”) by the center, and citing UN Resolution 1514 that such arguments cannot justify delaying self-determination.

Diverse Outcomes Expected, But Independence Is Feasible — While some regions may transition to democracy and others to different systems (including possible dictatorships), the scholars emphasize that the money and fear Moscow uses to hold the federation together are running out, making independence a realistic prospect for many non-Russian and some ethnic........

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