Ukraine-Russia and the Tussle for Survival

For Ukrainians Euromaidan ushered in the drive to autonomy from oppression. The ousted Ukrainian president, Viktor Yanukovych, not only typified this oppression, but he was perceived to be conniving with Russia. Since the events of late 2013 and early 2014, Ukraine has been involved in a tussle against the Russian backed rebels.

I have mentioned Russia on several occasions -- why? Indeed, Russia is the giant bordering Ukraine, but why does it have interests in that region? I will explore this idea in the essay.

The relations between Ukraine and Russia have their foundations in the legendary kingdom of Kievan Rus’ (882-1240 CE). Ukraine, Russia, and Belarus have all claimed cultural and historical descent from Kievan Rus’.[1]

The recent political upheaval, however, could be traced to the 17th and 18th centuries. Ukraine was primarily governed by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (1569-1795 CE), which was significant. This was the time of an uprising that has its effects till today.

The Khmel’nyts’kyi Uprising, as it is called, has a hand in the politics of today. But what led to the conditions of such a conflict? This conflict was mainly between the Cossacks and the Polish state. The Cossacks, meaning free man from Turkish,[2] were people of the steppe regions. They were often excluded from society. However, within the Commonwealth their use in military matters was extensive. They were promised certain privileges from the Polish King, which were not met because of the power of the szlachta (nobility).

This led to a severely tense situation between the state and the Cossacks. Still, it did not disrupt the balance. Until, the future rebel and Cossack Hetman, or leader, Bohdan Khmel’nyts’kyi’s arrival was the excuse for war.

Initially, the Cossacks had the upper hand over the Poles. However, after several smashing successes on the field of battle, the Cossacks were exhausted and lost their advantage. The Cossacks did not have trustworthy allies either. Their years of rivalry with the Ottomans, in their south, and the Crimean Tatars, in their east, made trust and an alliance unlikely. The Crimean Tatars did support them in battle, but remained untrustworthy due to their capricious alliance.

Muscovy, later the Russian Empire, remained the only light. The Muscovites were Orthodox Christians, just like most Ukrainians and Cossacks. This acted as a refuge for Ukrainians fleeing the Catholic lands of Poland-Lithuania. Khmel’nyts’kyi understood the situation. He tried to establish an alliance with Muscovy several times. However, each time the agreement was rejected. Until, in 1648, the Treaty of Pereyaslav was signed. This unified the two states. Nevertheless, the Cossack state maintained a large degree of autonomy and privileges.[3] Several close associates of Khmel’nyts’kyi, however, were unhappy with this agreement;they felt the Cossack state lost its freedom with Muscovy’s presence in Ukraine.

This was the start of Russian interest in Ukraine. The event further escalated after the Hetman Ivan Mazepa in 1709 ‘defected’ to the Swedish armies of Charles XII. Mazepa enjoyed a close relation with Tsar Peter I (‘Great’). However, seeing that Russia’s interests did not converge with those of the Cossacks, Mazepa felt it would have been a greater opportunity for prestige and independent Ukraine. The resentment towards Pereysalav carried on. It manifested itself in this ‘defection.’

The Cossack state was destroyed and a ‘puppet’ Hetman was placed on the throne to govern Ukraine under the Tsardom. Ukrainian culture was slowly becoming russified: Language, literature, music, and several cultural symbols of Ukrainian were replaced and discouraged for Russian.

Ukraine did not get its independence until 1991 from Russia. However, there were several attempts to retain and attain a Ukrainian identity. From the late 18th century to the early 20th century, there was an emphasis on building an independent project for Ukraine. Russification created this need for a separate identity. Russian scholars claimed Ukrainian and Russian languages were one of the same -- that is Ukrainian was a ‘dialect.’ There were different ideas on whom and what was a ‘Slav.’ Even Bohdan Khmel’nyts’kyi was considered more of a Russian hero -- for unifying the two states -- than a Ukrainian one.

In the 18th and early 19th century, Ukraine went through a ‘gathering’ phase -- that is a search for Ukrainian identity. These scholars of Ukraine wanted to counter the Russian ‘encroachment.’ People such as Mykhailo Maksymovych were the first to compose Ukrainian music as a way of preserving the identity. Similarly, Ivan Kotliarevs’kyi is considered the father of Ukrainian literature. These people are examples of how Ukrainian identity was safeguarded and even expanded.

Later 19th century Ukrainian scholars tried to build on this idea. Mykhailo Hrushevsky, Mykola Kostomarov, Mykhailo Drahomanov, or Ivan Franko -- to name just a few such scholars-- contributed to the independent project. Their ideas of an independent and united Ukraine, with its own identity, were crucial. They countered the different interpretations of the Russian scholars. Nikolay Karamzin’s monumental 12-volume work on the History of the Russian State was subject much criticism from Ukrainian scholars. They felt it was biased, and considered Ukraine as Russian. To counter this, and further enhance Ukrainian autonomy, Hrushevsky composed his own 10-volume work on History of Ukraine-Rus.’

As one can see, the problems between the Ukrainian and Russian state travels back to almost four hundred years. In the Soviet Union, Ukraine encountered several more perceived injustices. The Holodomor, which translates as ‘death by hunger’[4] is one such case where famine struck Ukraine. It has been said that this was murder by the central authorities in Moscow than a natural case.

All these ideas place another light to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. This tussle has its roots in the past.

[1] The Origins of the Slavic Nations: Premodern Identities in Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus Serhii Plokhy

[2] http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CC%5CO%5CCossacks.htm

[3] http://www.britannica.com/event/Pereyaslav-Agreement

[4] http://www.economist.com/blogs/easternapproaches/2012/11/ukraines-tragic-history

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