Putin’s Inaccurate Historical Propaganda : The History of the Russian and Ukrainian Relations

The video script addresses the historical narrative used by Vladimir Putin to justify the invasion of Ukraine. It emphasizes the author's background as a historian from Eastern Europe and the need to clarify misconceptions about the region's history. The script references Putin's essay 'On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians,' which argues for a unified Russian and Ukrainian identity. It explains the multiethnic nature of the Kievan Rus’, the early medieval polity that modern Eastern Slavic nations trace their origins to, and counters Putin's claims by highlighting the diversity and distinctions among the tribes within Kievan Rus’. The script also discusses the fall of Kievan Rus’ to the Mongols and the subsequent development of Muscovy (later Russia) and its expansionist policies, which included the appropriation of the term 'Rus’ to denote all Eastern Slavs.

This paragraph delves into the historical development of Russian and Ukrainian identities. It challenges Putin's notion that Russians and Ukrainians are essentially the same people, explaining that the idea of a unified Eastern Slavic identity is a construct of Muscovite Russia. The script outlines the efforts of Muscovy to present itself as the successor to the Kievan Rus’, despite the lack of historical continuity. It also discusses the impact of the Mongols, the Polish-Lithuanian rule, and the rise of Muscovy, which later became Russia. The paragraph further explains how Russia's expansion and the subsequent Russification policies attempted to assimilate Eastern Slavs, including Ukrainians, into a unified Russian identity, despite their distinct cultural and linguistic heritage.

The script narrates the complex history of Ukraine's struggle for independence and the formation of its national identity. It describes the initial Ukrainian resistance to Russian control, the establishment of the Ukrainian People's Republic, and the challenges it faced from various factions, including the Bolsheviks. The paragraph explains how the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was created and eventually joined the USSR, contrary to Putin's claim that Ukraine was created by Bolshevik Russia. It also touches on the suppression of Ukrainian culture and language under Russian rule, the impact of World War I and II on Ukrainian identity, and the role of Western Ukraine as a refuge for Ukrainian intellectuals and culture.

This section of the script explores the impact of World War II and subsequent Soviet rule on Ukraine. It corrects Putin's narrative regarding Ukrainian collaboration with the Nazis, explaining that while some Ukrainians did welcome the Germans initially, this sentiment changed as the Nazis' true intentions became clear. The script details the formation of partisan groups, the atrocities committed by various factions, and the complex dynamics of resistance and collaboration during the war. It also discusses the post-war Soviet crackdowns on Ukraine, the forced resettlements, and the repression of Ukrainian national movements, setting the stage for the country's ongoing struggle for self-determination.

The paragraph discusses the post-World War II era, the Cold War, and the eventual breakup of the USSR, highlighting key developments in Ukraine. It describes the Soviet Union's efforts to suppress Ukrainian nationalism, the industrialization of Ukraine, and the influx of Russian migrant workers. The script also covers the declaration of independence by the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1991 and the overwhelming support for independence in a national referendum. It mentions the Budapest Memorandum, which guaranteed Ukraine's sovereignty and territorial integrity in exchange for giving up its nuclear weapons, and the continued close ties between Ukraine and Russia after independence.

This section focuses on the language policies in Ukraine and their implications for national identity. It explains the shift in language preferences following the 2014 crisis, with Ukrainian becoming more favored over Russian due to increasing nationalistic sentiment and the perceived threat from Russia. The script outlines the controversial language laws passed in Ukraine, which aimed to promote the use of Ukrainian at the expense of Russian, and addresses Putin's claims of 'bullying and genocide' in relation to these laws. It clarifies that while the laws are restrictive, they do not constitute genocide and that Russian remains a recognized minority language in Ukraine with certain rights.

The final paragraph of the script refutes Putin's historical claims and propaganda used to justify the war in Ukraine. It emphasizes that Putin's statements about the unity of Russians and Ukrainians are based on outdated and inaccurate historical narratives. The script calls for support for Ukrainian refugees and provides resources for assistance. It concludes by summarizing the video's aim to dispel misconceptions about the history of Ukrainian-Russian relations and acknowledges the complexity of history while highlighting the inaccuracies in Putin's portrayal of it.