Odessa region is now one of the most multi-ethnic regions in Ukraine. While other border
areas’ multi-ethnic composition was the result of their historical transition from one state to another, as well as traditional cross-border processes of settlement of ethnic groups, demographic composition of Odessa region was formed also through the colonization of “free” land by representatives of various ethnic groups in the late 18-19 century after the transition of this territory from the Ottoman to Russian Empire. Because of these historical processes, the multi-ethnic composition of the center and some major cities as well as mono-ethnic settlement of the villages, mostly to the south of Odessa emerged.
