Member-only story
The history of Russia and Ukraine is as contentious as it is interconnected. The two nations have maintained cultural, religious, and political connections for centuries; however, their relationship has been characterised by periods of unity and division. It is imperative to trace the intricate history of the current conflict, from the formation of Kyivan Rus to Ukraine’s struggles for sovereignty in the shadow of Russian dominance, in order to comprehend the origins of the current conflict.
Kyivan Rus and Shared Origins: The Foundation
In the 9th century, Kyivan Rus emerged as a potent Slavic state that was centred around the present-day city of Kyiv. It is regarded as the cultural and political forerunner of contemporary Russia and Ukraine. Under Prince Vladimir (Volodymyr in Ukrainian), the adoption of Christianity in 988 unified the people of Kyivan Rus under a shared religion, thereby establishing the foundation for Eastern Slavic identity.
Nevertheless, the Mongol invasion of the 13th century disrupted this initial unity, resulting in the region’s fragmentation. The Mongols exerted their influence over the northern principalities, which included Moscow, while the western regions of Ukraine aligned with European powers such as Poland and Lithuania. As Ukraine became a nexus of Eastern and Western influences, this divergence would plant the seeds of…
