Can be translated to domains in general...
If you ask Russians what was the greater crime and treason in their history: (1) killing at least 5 million Ukrainian farmers under communism in the 30s, or (2) selling Alaska in 1867 to the USA, don't be surprised by the majority of answers. For the Russians the selling of Alaska was a real crime because selling the land was selling their souls. The indiscriminate killings in Ukraine haven't been seen so tragically because the land remained within the state borders. And when you have land, Russians believe, you can always populate it.
When you sell it, it is forever - as if you make territorial concessions to another country.
Source:
http://www.ired.com/news/mkt/ru-land.htm