MILITARY UNITS AND SYMBOLISM: UTILIZATION OF IMAGERY FROM MEDIEVAL RUS IN THE RUSSIAN-UKRAINIAN WAR

Abstract

The concept of Rus holds significant relevance in the context of the ongoing Russian-Ukrainian war, particularly when examining the military memory of Ukrainians. This paper aims to analyze the significance of Rus in Ukrainian military memory, as reflected in the names of modern military units. The current names of individual Ukrainian brigades are intricately linked to important figures from medieval Rus and Lithuania. Despite the majority of units being named after figures from the Cossack era or individuals associated with the Liberation struggles of 1917–1921, the inclusion of references to the princely period serves to evoke military pride. Russia’s narrative revolves around the Soviet concept of the Great Patriotic War, emphasizing figures from medieval times without delving deeply into their ties to Rus. The conclusions highlight a distinctive precedent in terms of divergent memory politics, showcasing the Ukrainian perspective’s active exploration of Rus’ past as pivotal in Ukrainian statehood.

Keywords

• medieval times
• rus
• russian-ukrainian war
• historical memory
• propaganda
• military units