According to Dan McMinn, the pro-Yanukovich easterners are growing rather apathetic now.

Don’t be fooled, this is great news. Before the election these people were calling Yushchenko a fascist and vowing to revolt. John over at www.postmodernclog.com has made a point to talk about how Yanukoyvch’s “opposition” has subsided into inactivity. Neeka of Neeka’s backlog has this article on the gripes of Easterners.

This is great, because Yushchenko doesn’t need their heartfelt support (though it would help) his government just needs them to refrain from actively preventing their reforms. Back when Yushchenko was PM and Tymoshenko was Vice Minister of Fuel and Energy, Tymoshenko pushed through enough reform to give miners and energy workers a whole lot of back wages. Their approval ratings skyrocketed. (Yushchenko’s to the highest in Ukraine at the time – a little over 30%) Just returning to past form will win enough easterners back to really stick the reforms to the oligarchs.