The eastern regions of Ukraine, where much of the country’s export-oriented industry lies, traditionally draw in the lion’s share of Kiev’s foreign currency earnings.

It is also from the so-called Donbass region that many of Ukraine’s billionaires originate, and where the global recession has hit hardest. Orders at steel mills, coal mines, chemicals plants and other factories scattered throughout the region have fallen by 40 per cent or more since the global financial crisis spread across the globe.