Putin has ‘imperial ambitions’ involving Ukraine, historian says

As the war between Ukraine and Russia continues into its second week, clues to the conflict can be found in history, according to a Ukrainian historian.

Oksana Dudko is the Petro Jacyk Postdoctoral Fellow in Ukrainian Studies at St. Thomas More College in Saskatoon. She’s an expert on the history of violence, with a special focus on the history of Ukraine, the Soviet Union and Ukraine-Russia relations.

When she began her studies, she said she did not know where they — or world events — would lead.

“I could never (have) imagined that now I’d be witnessing the major war in Europe,” she said.

Dudko came to Canada only in the last number of years to study, first at the University of Toronto before coming to Saskatoon. She has spent the rest of her life in Ukraine, where she still has family, friends and colleagues.

She said she is very worried for their safety.

“This is a terrible situation and a major tragedy,” Dudko said. “I’m really devastated because we haven’t expected such a powerful, powerful invasion as occurred.”

She has been able to connect with those she loves still in her home country for the time being, “but you never know what will happen (in the) next minute,” she said.

Her loved ones are not trying to flee the country and have been sheltering in basements and underground subway stations to stay safe while Ukraine has remained under relentless attack from Russia, she said.

There are different reasons for the war, Dudko said, adding the initial phase of the war between Russia and Ukraine likely began with the illegal annexation of Crimea by Russia in 2015. Later that year, Russia began a proxy war in Donbas, proclaiming to separate the republics of Luhansk and Donetsk in eastern Ukraine.

Dudko said that is what has led to the recent full-fledged Russian invasion of Ukraine.

But history far less recent than that has also influenced and shaped the fighting. Dudko pointed to Russian President Vladimir Putin’s constant portrayal of Ukraine as a part of Russia.

“I think that Putin’s imperial ideal that Ukraine must submit to Russia plays a crucial role in Putin’s aggressive politics towards Ukraine,” Dudko said.

As a historian, she believes Putin has been instrumentalizing history in the current conflict.

In summer 2021, for example, Dudko referenced an article published by Putin with a provocative title on the historical unity of Russians and Ukrainians, stating Ukraine is simply part of Russia.

Dudko said the article went as far back as the middle ages, discussing east-Slavic politics and claiming that Ukrainians, Russians and Belarusians are all descendants of ancient Rus, which was one of the largest states in Europe at one time.

Putin’s argument in the article stated that because east-Slavic tribes who later became Ukrainians, Russians and Belarusians were once part of one state, they should remain combined and united today.

The medieval state, Dudko explained, is important to Russia for political reasons, and, unfortunately for Russia, the centre of those happenings was in Kyiv. Therefore, in Putin’s opinion, Kyiv must be part of Russia.

Ukraine also holds historical importance because of its connections to Orthodox Christianity. The religion plays a significant role in Putin’s perception of Great Russia, which includes Ukraine and Belarus.

Orthodox Christianity was ushered into Crimea in the 10th century, Dudko said, and then spread throughout the country. Putin sees Orthodox Christianity as a pillar that connects Moscow, Crimea and Kyiv, with Russia serving as a defender of the entire Orthodox Christian civilization.

“Without Crimea and Kyiv, the idea of Russia as the centre of Orthodox Christianity does not work,” Dudko said.

Putin also calls Moscow the “third Rome,” in imperial and religious beliefs, with the first Rome being the true Rome, centre of the Roman Empire. The second was Constantinople, the centre of the power for the Byzantine Empire.

It’s part of a common pattern displayed by Russia’s president of taking historical examples to “use and abuse,” according to Dudko.

“Orthodox Christianity only serves as an idea to justify Putin’s real imperial ambitions,” she said.

Dudko asserts those goals and Putin’s denial of Ukrainian sovereignty “makes this war very very hard to stop because Putin threatens Ukraine’s very existence as a state and he manipulates history to serve his Imperial ambitions.”

It also means, in Dudko’s opinions, that the approach the West has been taking to try and limit Russia won’t stop Putin.

China and Taiwan to follow suit?

While it’s hard to predict at this time, Dudko said Putin’s invasion of Ukraine may play a role in shaping China’s politics moving forward with regards to Taiwan.

There have not been signs yet that show China is preparing to invade at this time, she noted. However, Dudko said it is important to observe how China reacts to the war happening in Ukraine and how a relationship develops between China and Russia.

Dudko hypothesized that China likely is appreciative of Russia’s approach towards Ukraine, which endorses war and violence and resists western influence.

Recently, Chinese leaders have become more blatant presenting Taiwan and China as one country, like Putin has portrayed Ukraine to be part of Russia.

“It won’t be a surprise if China follows the development of the situation in Ukraine to calibrate its further plans regarding Taiwan,” she said.

Dudko acknowledges China has “intense” trade relations with Ukraine. China has also not officially recognized Russia’s annexation of Crimea. She also notes Russia continues to violate international law and moral principles “by brutally killing Ukrainian civilians,” which China has not condemned.

It leads the historian to believe that China could be considering using force to conquer Taiwan, and might be learning from Russia in how to wage a war of attrition.

With Russia having used Ukraine as a testing grounds for proxy war, propaganda, information wars and cyberattacks without any particularly powerful condemnation from global powers, Dudko said it will be “important to follow China’s next moves as war in Ukraine progresses.”

Saskatoon college offers focus on Ukraine

St. Thomas More College is part of the University of Saskatchewan and is located on its campus in Saskatoon. The college offers a Ukrainian program and has the Prairie Centre for the Study of Ukrainian Heritage.

Dudko says the college offers several fellowships and, prior to both COVID-19 and the recent outbreak of war, students were able to travel to Ukraine each year during a special spring program that allowed students to study abroad at the local university there while enjoying historical sites, museums and Ukrainian life.

“This is a brilliant program and I hope it can be renewed after COVID and the war when there will be peace in Ukraine again,” Dudko said.

Dudko said it is a pivotal time in history to be teaching about her country.

“I’m privileged to be at St. Thomas More College right now because I can teach courses about the history of Ukraine and I think this is crucially important at this moment and I see many students are interested in Ukrainian courses,” she said.

“Honestly, it’s tough because I have never expected such a situation but, that said, I think that it’s an excellent example of experiential learning.”

Dudko said she will be inviting people from Ukraine to speak in her classes about their thoughts and experiences. She hopes this time will be an opportunity for students to develop a deeper understanding about the histories of Ukraine, Russia, the Soviet Union, the greater region and Europe at large.

 What’s the main takeaway?

“The most important thing is that there is a full-fledged war that is currently unfolding in Ukraine,” Dudko said.

Russia has attacked Ukraine from three sides — east, south and north — and she doesn’t think the conflict is near ending.

“I think that the war is going to escalate further because Russia is going to occupy Ukraine,” Dudko said.

She believes Putin’s ultimate goal is to annihilate Ukraine as a sovereign and democratic state.

But Ukraine won’t take the attacks lying down, as the country and its leader have already demonstrated.

“I think Ukrainians are resisting and will resist,” Dudko said. “Putin’s imperial ambitions are fuelling this war and Ukraine is fighting for its future.”