Only about a quarter of them are ethnic Russians, however.

Ethnic Russians and the families of military staff were settled in the area.

A large number of ethnic Russians have been killed or driven out already.

In 2010, ethnic Russians made up 27.6% of the population.

In 1989, ethnic Russians made up 7.6% of the population.

Others were either mixed race or married to ethnic Russians.

Nobody knows for sure how many civilians, who include ethnic Russians, still live in the city.

More than 30 percent of the republic's residents are ethnic Russians.

A large number of ethnic Russians also voted for the proposition.

Millions of ethnic Russians found themselves in the newly formed foreign countries.