The global goal of the project is to create a portrait of regional elites in Donetsk and Lugansk regions. The study includes 60 in-depth interviews with carriers of expert opinion on the Donbass – these are journalists, opinion leaders, representatives of business and local government. The survey geographically represents four territories – government controlled territories of the Donetsk and Lugansk regions, as well as the self-proclaimed republics of DPR and the LPR.

The research is divided into three parts. The first is devoted to the events of 2010-2014: how the regional elites looked at that time, which distinguished them from other regional elites, how they reacted to the 2014 crisis. The second part, is the map of the current elites, who influences in different areas of the region’s life now. The third part deals with the role of elites in the future life of the region, especially in the context of possible reintegration.

The presentation of the study is scheduled for the end of june 2019.