When Putin Claims Russians and Ukrainians Are One People: Historical Perspectives and Misconceptions

Introduction

When Russian President Vladimir Putin asserts that Russians and Ukrainians are one people, it is essential to examine the historical foundations that underpin this claim. This article delves into the historical development of the Russian and Ukrainian peoples and highlights the misconceptions that arise from conflating these ethnic identities. The following analysis aims to dispel harmful narratives and provide a more nuanced understanding of Eastern European history.

Early Origins of Russians and Early Kyiv

The early history of the Russian people is a complex and often misunderstood topic. Russians first appeared in Kyiv in 1169, as documented in the period of a knyaz (prince) named Andrei Bogolyubsky. This knyaz organized a raid into Kyiv from his territory, known as Zalesye.

Zalesye, Za-lesom, meant "Behind the forest," which was a region separated from Rus by the Bryansk forest. The area was referred to as the Volga-Oka interfluve in the medieval era, an area where the Russian ethnic group was first formed. The term "Zalesye" implies that this was a distant and distinct region from the original Rus territories.

Historical Context of the Rus and Ruskaya Zemlya

According to the main chronicle of Rus, the Tale of Bygone Years, written in the 11th to 12th centuries, the territory of Rus (Ruskaya Zemlya) was a small region in the Middle Dnieper, encompassing the cities of Kyiv, Pereyaslav, and Chernihiv. All of this territory is now within present-day Ukraine.

A detailed analysis by Russian historians, such as Nasonov, Robertson, and Rybakov, indicated that the region known as Rus or Ruskaya Zemlya during the 12th to 13th centuries was a small area within the Middle Dnieper region. The term "Rus" was synonymous with "Ruskaya Zemlya" during this period. No part of modern Russia was considered part of Rus in the 10th to 13th centuries, and the peoples of Russia were not called "Russians." Instead, they were referred to as the "Rus" and "Rusyn."

Understanding the Ethnos Rus

The ethnos Rus, which essentially means "the Rus," was a Slavic people who inhabited the same region where the medieval state of Rus later emerged. The primary localization of this ethnos was in central Ukraine. Local Slavic peoples like the Polyane, Drevlyane, Severyane, and Severyane joined the Rus ethnic group during the 10th and 11th centuries, with others like the Ulichi, Tivertsy, and Buzhane also merging into the Volhyniane group.

The ethnonym "Rus" is distinct from the modern term "Russians," which is a late ethnonym referring to a different group of people. The term "Russians" as we understand it today gained prominence well after the Middle Ages. The term "Rusyn" was first documented in an agreement made between Prince Igor of Kyiv and the Greeks (Byzantium) in the 10th century.

Conclusion

While Vladimir Putin's statement suggests a common heritage between Russians and Ukrainians, historical evidence shows that the early history of the Russian people in Eastern Europe is much more complex and context-specific. Understanding the historical development of these ethnic identities is crucial for dispelling myths and fostering a more accurate interpretation of Eastern European history.