Voropay M. The ethnic culture of the Ukrainians who live in northeastern Slobozhanshchyna (second half of 20th - beginning of 21st centuries)

The thesis researches the ethnic culture of the Ukrainians who live outside their ethnic territory - in Russia's Kursk, Belgorod and Voronezh regions. The study is based on a wide range of sources and an analysis of scientific literature. It focuses on ethno-demographic processes, the status of the Ukrainian language and the problem of Ukrainian self-determination during the 20th and at the beginning of the 21st century. It also describes patterns and methods of the settlement of Kursk, Belgorod and Voronezh regions, which enables to better understand what has caused the current situation of the Ukrainian ethnic culture there. It is found to how much extent the Ukrainian traditional calendar, wedding, childbirth and christening rituals have been preserved under the conditions of living on the border of two countries where the two cultures meet as well as why folk rites have undergone transformation and why ritual activities dedicated to calendar or family rites have changed or lost motivation.