Is eastern Ukraine economically important?
After World War II, the industrial regions of Siberia gained more importance than the Donbas for the Soviet Union as a whole. But for Ukraine, it remained the most significant industrial zone up until 2014. It has suffered considerably though, with many mines — particularly in separatist areas — now derelict or in a very poor state. Even more industrial facilities and infrastructure have been destroyed in the past weeks. Hausman said that the region's economic importance mattered less to Russia than to Ukraine if it wanted to be economically independent. "A crucial war aims for Russia is to make Ukraine permanently dependent on Russia — politically, culturally and economically."