Authors

Discussion

After collapse of the Soviet Union two national identity complexes evolved in Ukraine as a result of Russian subjugation of ethnic Ukrainians through imperial control and linguistic russification, according to Panter (2023). Supporters of the ethnic Ukrainian national identity complex were convinced that independent Ukraine should distance itself from Russia and move in the direction to the West. On the contrary, proponents of the Eastern Slavic national identity complex wished to maintain connections with Russia and liked the countries’ common heritage. As a result, tensions between the proWest and pro-Russia supporters have started in independent Ukraine. The issue has become political and resulted in two Ukrainian nationalist movements: the Euromaidan Uprising and the Revolution of Dignity. It is interesting and worth saying that though the events of 2014-2015 resulted in Ukrainians’ negative perception of Russia, Russian-speaking Eastern Ukrainians continued to speak the Russian language, despite distancing themselves from Russia politically and culturally. The large-scale linguistic shift has happened only after the full-scale invasion started. 

It is important to say that when some viewed independence as the only possible chance to establish a Ukrainian national identity, others hesitated whether to give up their Soviet past. Consequently, the question of national identity has always been the main issue of concern. One of the most politicized issues in the debate on Ukrainian national identity is, of course, language. However, the politicization of language in Ukraine is the result of four centuries of linguistic russification caused by the Tsardom of Muscovyty, the Russian Empire, and the Soviet Union. Some researchers claim that after the first invasion of Russia to independent Ukraine Eastern Slavic national identity complex was substituted by Russophone Ukrainian national identity complex. However, after the full-scale invasion of Russia on February 24, 2022 eastern Ukrainians had to once again reconsider their identity. They had two options: the ethnic Ukrainian national identity complex or a pro-Russia identity. 

Sadly, these two complexes somehow were not taken care of since Ukraine gained independence in 1991. This is the case in contemporary Ukraine, where the absence of a common approach to treating national identity is a result of constant tensions and misunderstandings.