S8 Ep817: The Origins of the Russian Imperial Project in Ukraine In 1888, a statue of Bohdan Khmelnytsky was raised in Kyiv, symbolizing his dual role as a Ukrainian founding father and a figure who united Ukraine with Russia through a 17th-century allegiance to th

The Origins of the Russian Imperial Project in Ukraine

In 1888, a statue of Bohdan Khmelnytsky was raised in Kyiv, symbolizing his dual role as a Ukrainian founding father and a figure who united Ukraine with Russia through a 17th-century allegiance to the Tsar. While Khmelnytsky sought protection, the Tsars viewed the alliance as a means to dismantle Ukrainian culture and freedoms. By 1783, under Catherine the Great, this evolved into an Imperial Project, where "New Russia" was established through colonization and the forced integration of southern Ukraine and Crimea. This historical tension underpins the modern debate over Ukrainian sovereignty versus Russian dominance. Guest: Professor Eugene Finkel. (1/8)
1840