300 years ago, on October 22, 1721, the Muscovite Tsardom officially became the “Russian Empire.” This event, though seemingly a simple name change, was in fact a pivotal moment in history, marking the beginning of a large-scale falsification and appropriation of historical heritage.
Why is this so important?
- The renaming is not just a change of name. It was a deliberate attempt by the Muscovite state to usurp the heritage of Kievan Rus’, a historical state that existed from the 9th to the 13th centuries. Kievan Rus’ covered the territories of modern Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus, and it is from this state, according to historical facts, that the Ukrainian people originated.
- Moscow has no historical right to the heritage of Rus’. The Muscovite principality was only one of many principalities that emerged after the collapse of Kievan Rus’. It had no legal grounds to claim the role of the heir of Rus’.
- Peter I, who initiated the renaming, was obsessed with the idea of Russia’s greatness. He wanted to create an image of Russia as a powerful empire with an ancient history, and the falsification of history became one of the tools for achieving this goal.
Consequences of falsification:
- Distortion of historical truth. Russian propaganda has for centuries imposed on the world a false notion that the Muscovite state is the direct heir of Kievan Rus’. This has led to a distortion of historical consciousness not only in Russia but also in other countries.
- Denial of Ukrainian identity. The Russian Empire and its successor, the Soviet Union, constantly denied the existence of the Ukrainian people as a separate ethnic group. The falsification of history was used to justify this policy.
- Russia’s imperial ambitions. The myth of “great Russia,” which traces its history back to Kievan Rus’, is used by Russia to justify its imperial ambitions and aggressive foreign policy.
Not only Ukrainians, but the whole world should know and remember about the falsification of history. This is not just a matter of Ukrainian national identity, but also of global historical truth. The falsification of history by Russia is a threat to the entire world, as it undermines the very foundations of international order and security.
