The History that Contributed to the Modern Russia-Ukraine War

Throughout the last year, you’ve likely read about the Russian-Ukraine war on news outlets. You’ve seen the heartbreaking images of terrified Ukrainian citizens losing everything, alongside upset Russian citizens who never endorsed this conflict. Russia and Ukraine have had a long-standing relationship that dates back many years.

The relationship between Russia and Ukraine can be traced back to the formation of Kievan Rus. Kievan Rus was a state made of what is now Russia and Ukraine. This early state laid the foundation of their shared religion and language. Kievan Rus was a state that formed around the late 800s or early 900s, according to, “Russia. A Historical Introduction from Kievan Rus’ to the Present, by Christopher J. Ward and John. M. Thompson, Ward and Thompson state that Kievan Rus was briefly centered on the city of Novgorod, now northern Russia, and then for hundreds of years was located in the city of Kiev on the Dnieper River in what is now Ukraine. The state of Kievan Rus adopted Christianity as its official religion, a faith still practiced in both Russia and Ukraine today. According to “The History of Ukraine,” by Paul Kubieck, the language spoken in the Kingdom of Rus is still recognized in parts of modern-day Ukraine. The language is also recognized in some parts of Russia. The Kievan Rus state influenced Russia and Ukraine to share similar religion and language, fostering a close relationship between the two nations.

The Mongol invasion of the Kievan Rus state had a profound impact on the relationship between Russia and Ukraine. The Mongol invasion led to their separation. According to, “The Crisis of the Medieval Society: The Mongol Invasion of Eastern and Central Europe,” by Marta Font, occurred between 1240 and 1242 and brought crisis and dramatic changes to European territories including Russia and Ukraine. According to Fonte, the Mongols conquered Kiev on December 6 1240 after a long siege of the city. The invasion of the Mongols led citizens of Kiev to flee to protect themselves. According to, “Russia. A Historical Introduction from Kievan Rus to the Present, by Christopher J. Ward and John. M. Thompson, “Many of the citizens fled from the open exposed plains of southern Russia to the thick, protecting forests of the north. According to Ward and Thompson citizens also sought protection from the Mongols by placing themselves under the protection of a local buyer, monastery, or prince. This practice led to a development of a social system characterized by privileges for the upper class and obligations for the lower class. However the Senior prince in Kiev had trouble commanding tribute and the allegiances from all towns and tribes and the Kievan Rus system began to break up. This break up led to the separation of principalities and the emergence of city states, including Russia and Ukraine. After the Mongol invasion both Russia and Ukraine started to become their own separate nations, each with their own unique identities.

After the Mongol invasion and Ukraine found themselves under the control of the Russian Empire. According to the, “History of Ukraine,” by Paul Kubicek during the mid seventeenth century most Ukrainian lands fell under Russian control. According to Kubieck, since Ukrainians had a very similar culture and language to Russians, Russian tars viewed Ukrainians as “Little Russians.” However even though Ukraines were not viewed as fully Russian, Kubieck states that the political authorities discouraged the rise of a distinct Ukraine identity. Years after the Mongol invasion Ukraines were still referred to as the “Little Russians.” According to, “Ukraine and Russia: Legacies of the Imperial Past and Competing Memories,” by Andreas Keppler, during the 19th century the term, “Little Russian” was the normal designation of the Ukraines and was used in a derogatory way. Keppler said that, Russians viewed the Ukraines, “Little Russians,” as a group that consisted of, “peasants, speaking a strange Russian dialect and not being able to develop a high culture or statehood.” Russians had a low opinion of Ukrainians despite being integrated with them for years. According to Keppler, even though Russia had a negative view of Ukraine, the Ukraine culture and language had become very similar to Russia’s. Keppler said, “Their aristocracy had been largely Russified already during the 18th century, their written language and high culture had been absorbed by Russian culture.” Ukraine’s identity had greatly intertwined with Russia. Despite referring to Ukraine as “Little Russians,” Russia worked hard to prevent Ukraine from developing their own identity. Keppler stated that in the 19th century, “A small group of Ukrainian intelligentsia started developing a Ukrainian national ideology and tsarist Russia reacted with repressions and prohibited schools and publishing in Ukrainian language.” Russia didn’t want Ukraine to form an identity that completely separated them. According to Keppler, Russia viewed Ukraine independence as a security threat. He said, “A defection of the Ukrainians was regarded as a danger for the Russian nation, which was imagined as “All Russian,” East slavic nation, consisting of Great Russians, Little Russians, and White Russians.” Even though Russia viewed Ukraines as lower members of their society they still considered them a reliable asset when it came to their security. In the 17th and 19th centuries, Russia and Ukraine had a complex relationship. While they shared a similar culture and language, Russia viewed Ukraine in a derogatory manner and hindered their pursuit of ind

independence.

Ukraine first found themselves independent after the Russian revolution and during the civil war. However, according to Keppler the new soviet state ruled Ukraine again in 1921. Keppler said, “The Red Army and the new Soviet state succeed in reestablishing its rule over the majority of the former peripheral regions, among them Ukraine.” From 1914 and all through the 1920s the Ukraines were under the rule of a Russian dominated empire. According to Keppler, during this rule all attempts of political movements and emancipation by Ukraine, were stopped. However, even though they were under Russian control and rule Ukraine was able to develop their own language and culture.

Ukraine finally reached independence in 1991 after the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, Ukraine’s fight to freedom from Russian rule was far from over. Russia has continued to attack Ukraine and gain control over their territories again. In 2014, Russia invaded the Crimea Peninsula, a part of Ukraine and took control over the territory. Russia’s takeover of Crimea was an aggressive act to establish control over Ukraine. According to, “Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation,” by Jan Matzek, “The annexation of Crimea was a hybrid warfare,” Russia took over Crimea with the intention of establishing dominance. Russia’s hunger to control Ukraine has continued. Russia invaded Ukraine again on February 24, 2022. According to, “Russia, Ukraine, and the Future World Order,” by Ingrid Wuerth and Monica Hakimi, Russian President Vladimir Putin ordered the attack because he believes that Ukraine is part of Russia and should have never been given their own identity. Wuerth and Hakimi said that Putin, “Wrote an essay highlighting Russia’s shared history with Ukraine and blaming the west for instituting in Ukraine, a “forced change of identity.” He believes that Ukraine should be a part of Russia and that an independent Ukraine is a threat to Russia. It is clear that Russia believes that Ukraine should be theirs due to their shared history and similar culture. The conflict comes down to Russia’s desire to rule Ukraine but Ukraine's determination to remain a free nation.

Sources:

Russia, Ukraine, and the Future World Order,” by Ingrid Wuerth and Monica Hakimi.

Ukraine and Russia: Legacies of the Imperial Past and Competing Memories,” by Andreas Keppler

History of Ukraine,” Paul Kubicek

“Russia. A Historical Introduction from Kievan Rus’ to the Present, “ by Christopher J. Ward and John. M. Thompson

The Crisis of the Medieval Society: The Mongol Invasion of Eastern and Central Europe,” by Marta Font