The article contains a synthesis of analyses and research into national consciousness conducted in the years 2010–2012 among local multiethnic communities in Zaporozhye, which is an area near the Ukrainian-Russian border. In Ukraine, as in the majority of post-Soviet states, there are many people who have considerable difficulty in defining their national consciousness: they are undecided as to their national allegiance and are culturally attached to two or more nations or elements of their culture. It is difficult at this time to foresee whether in the end they will declare themselves for one national consciousness to the exclusion of others, or if a new community will emerge. The present processes of forming the national consciousness of contemporary Ukrainians reflect the influence of historical events and the current policies of the state.