How Sharply Divided is Ukraine, Really? Honest Maps of Language and Elections

There's no question that Ukraine's current crisis arose from major political divisions in the country, and it's true that language is an issue. But some online news websites have sensationalized and exaggerated these divisions through misleading maps. PolGeoNow offers a pair of maps that better communicate the blurriness of the supposed lines between western and eastern Ukraine. 

(For a map of current events from January up to this week, including protester control, government occupations, and the Russian invasion, purchase our premium map of the Ukraine crisis or become a member.)

A more honest map of Ukraine's 2010 presidential election. By Evan Centanni.

Premium members click here to view this article in the ad-free members area. Not a member yet? Subscribe now!

Article by Evan Centanni 

Misleading Ukraine Maps
In January, the Washington Post's Max Fisher wrote a popular map-illustrated blog post about the political and linguistic divisions fueling Ukraine's crisis, then at the height of its pro-Europe protest phase. Later, CNN followed the Post's lead and published a similar set of maps. However, the maps in both articles are designed in a way that makes the divisions look much sharper and more black-and-white than they really are. There's not, as Fisher preposterously claims, "an actual, physical line" splitting Ukraine in half. Instead, there's a gradual shading of mixed populations whose ethnic identities and voting history don't always correlate to the country's current political divisions.

Ukraine Map: Occupations, Autonomy, & Invasion (Premium)

Download PDF buy (Subscribe via Paypal)

PolGeoNow begins our Ukraine coverage with this overview of the political situation from January to the present, both before and after the overthrow of President Viktor Yanukovich's government. Details shown include protester occupations, declarations of autonomy, and Russian invasion. This map and article are exclusive premium content, available only to members and for individual purchase. Buy now (US$5.99).

Premium article includes:

• Exclusive map of the political situation in Ukraine's 2014 crisis
• Shows protester occupations, regional capitals overrun, autonomy declarations, and locations of Russian military siege
• Report on the course of events, explaining each detail shown on the map
• In-line links to sources of information

Members click here to proceed to article and map

Not a member yet? Subscribe Now!

South Sudan War Map: Current Rebel Control (Update #4) (Premium)

Download PDF buy (Subscribe via Paypal)

This is Part 1 of a double map report on territorial control in South Sudan's ongoing rebellion, available exclusively to premium subscribers or for individual purchase. This map shows current territorial control for late February 2014, including several changes since the time of the ceasefire. Buy now (US$3.99).

To see the map of control at the time of the ceasefire on January 23, see Part 1.

Premium article includes:

• Exclusive map of current rebel control up to February 21, 2014
• Multiple changes to territorial control since previous update
• Several more new locations added to the map
• Report chronicling changes to territorial control since the ceasefire, including links to sources

Members click here to proceed to article and map

Not a member yet? Subscribe Now!

South Sudan War Map: Control at Time of January Ceasefire (Update #3) (Premium)

Download PDF buy (Subscribe via Paypal)

This is Part 1 of a double map report on territorial control in South Sudan's ongoing rebellion, available exclusively to premium subscribers or for individual purchase. This map shows territorial control as of January 23, when the warring parties signed their ceasefire agreement (including major changes from previous update). Buy now (US$3.99).

To see the map of current control as of late February, go to Part 2.

Premium article includes:

• Exclusive map of rebel control at the time the ceasefire was signed on January 23, 2014
• Multiple changes to territorial control since previous update
• Several new locations added to the map
• Report chronicling changes to territorial control and describing the situation at the time of the ceasefire, including links to sources

Members click here to proceed to article and map

Not a member yet? Subscribe Now!

Olympics Map Update: Which Countries Are Attending Sochi 2014?

Sochi 2014: Nations attending the Winter Olympics for the first time in bright green; suspended nations reinstated during the games in blue; all other nations attending Sochi 2014 in dark green; ineligible countries/territories in gray. By Evan Centanni, from public domain base map.

Premium members click here to view this article in the ad-free members area. Not a member yet? Subscribe now!

By Evan Centanni

India's Olympics Membership Reinstated
This is a quick update to the map of countries attending the Sochi 2014 Winter Olympics, which originally appeared in Sochi 2014: Which Countries Are (and Aren't) in the Olympics? That article explained that India was not officially included in this year's games due its suspension from the International Olympic Committee (IOC) over a voting issue.

However, on Tuesday India's IOC membership was reinstated, effective immediately. This means that the three Indian athletes at the games, who were allowed to participate independently under the Olympic flag during the opening ceremony and first few days of the event, may now officially represent India again. This is the first time in history that a country has been un-suspended from the the Olympics during the actual games.