Russia’s history myths unmasked
Source
V. Putin: „On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians“ (12 July 2021)
Objective
Legitimation of Russia’s sphere of influence
Long-term: Invasion of Ukraine
Source: V. Putin: “Crimea Speech” (18 Mar. 2014) & “On the Historical Unity of Russians and Ukrainians” (12 July 2021)
Objective: Justification of Russia’s expansionist ambitions
TO ARTICLESource: V. Putin: “Crimea Speech” (18 Mar. 2014), Address before the Federal Assembly (4 Dec. 2014)
Objective: Justification of occupation and annexation of Crimea
TO ARTICLERussia was using historical narratives to justify subjugation and aggression in its “near abroad” even before it annexed Crimea in 2014. History has also been conscripted as an aid-de-camp in Putin’s war of aggression against Ukraine and confrontation with the West, with stories that keep finding audiences, both in- and outside of Russia, that are ready, even eager to believe.
In the dekoder special Russia’s History Myths Unmasked, renowned authors decode these narratives of Russian (state) history with their intricate underpinnings, some extending back to the Middle Ages.
The special is a joint project with the German section of the Deutsch-Russische Geschichtskommission (Joint Commission for Research into the Recent History of German-Russian Relations) and BKGE Oldenburg (Federal Institute for History and Culture of the Germans in Eastern Europe, Oldenburg).
AI note: dekoder used Google Gemini to create this illustration.
