As part of the “Q&A” format, Alan from India asked: which part of Ukraine’s history do people abroad need to understand better in order to make sense of this war with Russia?
This question is answered by Ihor Stambol, Candidate of Historical Sciences, writer, and expert of UCMC projects, who explains that to understand this war, it is crucial to recognize Moscow’s long-standing effort to appropriate the history of Kyivan Rus and deny Ukraine’s distinct identity. According to him, this policy has been accompanied by continuous attempts to destroy Ukrainian culture, language, and statehood — both historically and today. One of the most tragic examples is the Holodomor, which is recognized by the civilized world as a genocide of the Ukrainian people.