Russia and Ukraine Are Trapped in Medieval Myths

There are plenty of economic and security explanations for the war in Ukraine. And they’re useful, but they’re not enough. The cultural, historical, and religious underpinnings of the conflict between Moscow and Kyiv go back to fundamental questions of what Russia even is, what it means to be Russian, and who gets to own the myths of the past.

On July 12, 2021, the Kremlin’s official website published an article by Russian President Vladimir Putin called “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians.” It’s a key guide to the historical stories that shape Putin and many Russians’ attitudes—ideas that were echoed in the Russian leader’s angry speech shortly before he declared war.

Firstly, Putin and many Russians believe that Russians and Ukrainians are the same people, “brother nations,” with one group called Velikorossy (“Great Russians”) and the other, the Ukrainians, Malorossy (“Little Russians”). They think the same about Belarus; that’s where the name of the country comes from—they’re Belorusy, or “White Russians.”, “tsar of all the Russias.”