DECONSTRUCTION OF RUSSIAN IMPERIAL MYTHS ABOUT THE HISTORY OF UKRAINE IN THE RESEARCH OF LEONID ZALIZNYAK


DOI: https://doi.org/10.17721/2520-2626/2026.38.14

Maksym OVCHARUK

Abstract


Abstract. This article analyzes the contribution of the prominent Ukrainian archaeologist and ethnologist Leonid Zalizniak to the refutation and exposure of Russian falsifications and myths regarding the history of Ukraine. It is demonstrated that combating historical myth-making constitutes a primary focus of his scholarly work. The findings reveal that investigating the origins of Russian historical myths and falsifications of Ukrainian history, alongside their subsequent exposure and refutation, represents a significant area of the scholar's academic interest. The article highlights L. Zalizniak's leading role in refuting the concept of the Old Rus' nationality. It is emphasized that this concept is a reincarnation of the three-century-old Russian imperial myth concerning the "triune Russian nation." The researcher’s role in debunking the myth of the state of Rus' as the initial stage of Russian statehood, as well as the myth of the "linguistic unity" of Rus', is explicitly noted. Furthermore, the study shows that in his research, L. Zalizniak exposes and refutes the myth regarding the origins of the Russian mentality in Rus'. The scholar's role in disproving Russian imperial ideologemes, myths, and fabrications regarding the alleged "non-Ukrainian nature" of Ukraine's eastern and southern territories is characterized. It is substantiated that L. Zalizniak employs archaeological and ethnological data to systematically deconstruct Russian imperial myths, which have served as the ideological foundation for the Russian Federation's aggression against Ukraine. It is emphasized that L. Zalizniak's works assert the sovereignty of the Ukrainian historical process, serving as a crucial factor in countering the hostile propaganda of the Russian Federation. The article demonstrates that L. Zalizniak's Early Medieval concept of Ukrainian ethnogenesis functions as a vital mechanism in the struggle against Russian historical falsifications and myths concerning the history of Ukraine. It is concluded that the exposure and debunking of Russian historical myths, coupled with the study and dissemination of objective national history, constitute a prerequisite for the formation of a modern Ukrainian nation and the consolidation of Ukrainian national identity amidst the ongoing information war.

Keywords


Ukraine, Russian-Ukrainian war, falsifications and myths of Ukrainian history, Leonid Zaliznyak, Ukrainogenesis, history, archeology

References


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