I. Cosmogony and Worldview: Kinship vs Absolute Center
Differences in perceptions of the origin and structure of the world influence human attitudes toward power, space, time, and ultimately toward statehood and territorial belonging.
| Parameter | Ukrainian Tradition: Kinship Cosmos (Process) | Russian Tradition: Hierarchical Cosmos (Fixation) |
|---|---|---|
| World Center | Symbols include natural living centers — Oak, Viburnum, Maple; the mythological image of the World Tree as a living organism — a metaphor for growth, renewal, and generational connections. See ethnographic studies and descriptions of folk symbols (Institute of Ethnology NASU, monographs on Ukrainian ethnography). | In traditions associated with the “Russian version,” there is often the image of an immovable sacred center — Alatyr Stone, Buyan Island, "the center from which law emanates"; power and order are perceived as descending from above. This metaphor emphasizes fixed centralization (series of folklore collections, including classical recordings by A. Afanasyev). |
| Foundation of the World | Earth as Mother — living, animated, kin-based. Agriculture, natural cycles, connection with kin, ancestors, and nature. See research on calendar culture and ancestor cult in Ukraine (NASU monographs, publications by Ukrainian ethnologists). | Often an abstract “material substrate,” nature as an object rather than a living entity. Cosmos is perceived as something to maintain, protect, and guard against Chaos — evident in regional legends and later synthetic mythology. |
| Heavenly Tier / Afterlife | Concepts of Viriy / Iriy as living, cyclical renewal. Belief in reincarnation, ancestor connection, bird symbolism (stork) as mediator between generations. Comparative ethnographic studies — e.g., publications on regional Slavic mythology. | Ideas of paradise/utopian city (e.g., the legend of Kitezh) as a static, utopian refuge. Posthumous “salvation” occurs through protection of the center, fortified city, and hierarchy (folklore collections and studies of Russian legendology). |
| Main Metaphor | Tree/Field/Seed. Life — growth, kin — continuation, connection to ancestors, earth — living principle. See UNESCO materials on preserving Ukrainian rituals and intangible heritage (UNESCO, Intangible Cultural Heritage: Ukraine). | Stone/Island/Fortress. World — stability, order, protection, hierarchy. Emphasis on preservation and dominance rather than growth and development — a combination of mythopoetic traditions and state narratives. |
This cosmogony is not merely myth, but a foundation of the folk worldview influencing social organization, morals, and values. For details on the contemporary inventory of intangible cultural heritage elements in Ukraine, see the UNESCO page: UNESCO — Ukraine (Intangible Cultural Heritage).
II. Social and Political Projection: Dialogue vs Submission
| Feature | Ukrainian Model: Dialog and Community | Russian Model: Verticality and Obedience |
|---|---|---|
| Role of the Individual | Co-creator of reality: actively participates in world order (rituals, collective practices), equal community member accountable to Kin and Earth. Comparative ethnographic analysis — NASU materials (Institutes of Ethnology and Folklore). | Obedient executor of the center's will. Task — accept hierarchical order; emphasis on patience, duty, and service. Historical research shows formation of strong vertical structures in governance (see specialized studies in state history). |
| Power Structure | Horizontal, kinship-based: collective decision-making (veche traditions, communal practices). Historical documents: chronicles, materials on Cossack institutions. | Vertical, centralized: dominance of the center, "vertical of power." Manifested in state institutions and political culture. |
| Kinship Symbol | Didukh — symbol of home and ancestral portal (ethnographic descriptions, publications on folk rituals; see NASU and Ukrainian folklore publications). | Role of protective institutions and martial tradition; fortress and center symbolism prevail. |
These differences are not merely academic. In modern political narratives, attempts to portray cultural “unity” often serve as ideological cover for centralized decision-making and territorial claims.
III. Calendar Cycles and Rituals
| Ritual/Practice | Ukrainian Tradition: Organic and Cyclical | Russian Tradition: Fragmented and Hierarchical |
|---|---|---|
| Ritual Integrity | Full cycles: vesnianky, haivky, shchedrivky, sowing rituals — until the 20th century many regions preserved integrated annual practices (see ethnographic collections and intangible heritage registries, including Ukraine's national registry). | In some Russian regions, the calendar and rituals underwent strong reduction or church standardization; documented in regional ethnographic studies and historical surveys. |
| Farewell to Winter | Koliadky and shchedrivky as collective rituals transmitting cultural memory and strengthening kinship ties (ethnographic descriptions, studies on ritual lexicon). | Maslenitsa and associated traditions had different stylistic features across regions; institutionalization reflected an alternative trajectory of social development. |
| Ancestor Symbol | Didukh and sheaves as sacred objects (folklore and ethnographic publications; see NASU materials and regional archives). | No unified caste analog with equivalent social status; transformed into modern forms of memory. |
For details on specific intangible heritage elements and their inventory status, see the UNESCO registry: UNESCO — Ukraine (Intangible Cultural Heritage).
Conclusion: Two Distinct Spiritual Paths
By the 17th century, two distinct cultural paradigms had emerged:
- Ukrainian culture: agrarian-kinship, cyclical, feminine, dialogical. The world is process and growth; humans are co-creators.
- Russian culture: eschatological, hierarchical, territorial, masculine. The world is a fixed system; the priority is protection of the center and obedience to the vertical.
Modern attempts to merge these peoples into a “single nation” ignore the depth of the cultural divide; such rhetoric most often serves political and geopolitical purposes.
V. Legal and Political Context: Why the Notions of “Cultural Unity” Are Not Mere Words
Attempts to present a “shared culture” can serve as justification for territorial claims and violations. Below are official legal and factual sources confirming the legal aspects of the issue.
- Budapest Memorandum (1994) — security guarantees in exchange for Ukraine's renunciation of nuclear weapons; violations of these guarantees (regarding security and sovereignty) are considered legal and political issues. Text and materials: UN Treaty Collection — Budapest Memorandum and archive (National Security Archive): NSArchive — Budapest Memorandum.
- UN and General Assembly Resolutions: Resolution of the 11th Emergency Session of the UN General Assembly A/RES/ES-11/1 (2 March 2022) — condemnation of aggression and call for troop withdrawal: UNDOCS — A/RES/ES-11/1.
- International Court of Justice (ICJ): materials in the case “Ukraine vs Russian Federation” (statements, court orders): ICJ — Ukraine v. Russian Federation (case 182).
- International Humanitarian Law (IHL): Geneva Conventions 1949 and Protocols; texts and commentaries in ICRC database: ICRC — Geneva Conventions (1949).
- Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE): reports and resolutions criticizing aggressive policies and documenting repression and human rights violations. Example catalog: PACE — documents on aggression against Ukraine.
- Human Rights Organizations: Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and others publish documented reports on IHL violations in the conflict zone; for example: HRW — Russia-Ukraine war.
- UNICEF and UN on Children’s Issues: decisions on child deportations and protection of children in occupied territories — see relevant UN summaries and General Assembly resolutions (2022–2025).
These official and expert documents show that cultural rhetoric (about a “single people” or “historical closeness”) was used not only as an ideological tool but also as an element to legitimize political and military actions currently under investigation in international forums.
About the Authors
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Last modified date: 25/11/2025