The meaning of ethnicity and culture in Ukraine

Millenia of migrations and co-existing populations create a golden heritage

Ukrainians are for the most part a tolerant people.  Despite the corruption that was rampant under Yanukovych, there was a greater degree of freedom in Ukraine than there has been in Russia under ex-KGB chief Putin's rule.  Kyiv Post has been reporting in English frankly and other media have had relative freedom to tell it as they see it, with a few exceptions. Tetiana Chornovol, a prominent Ukrainian civic activist and journalist was beaten on Christmas Day and said she believes her attackers were paid to kill her. This was after she took photos of Yanukovych's and other oligarchs palaces being built behind massive walls.  Were they building the walls to keep themselves safe inside or keep prying eyes out? Did they think they could fool all the people forever? What did they do with all that loot?



Ukraine has had a long history of stolen gold - whether in ancient golden hordes or golden fields of grain in Stalin's time. Going back a ways, the nomadic tribes of the early periods had their influence.  The Scyths, of Persian stock, were particularly influential in Ukraine. These were nomadic equestrian tribes that inhabited the Eurasian steppes during the first millenium BC. Ukraine has large burial mounds of Scythian origin.

The Scyths had established quite an empire along the Black Sea coast centered around Crimea and Ukraine. They had a vigorous trade with the Greeks, including slave trade, and were known for their prowess as riders in battles. They dressed their riders and horses in gold and silver mail, hordes of which were discovered buried in Ukraine and Crimea.

They were encroached upon from many directions by the Sarmatians,  the Macedons, the Huns, the Celts, and even the Greeks and Romans who set up Black Sea settlements; Rome and Athens hired the Scyths as mercenaries. Chersonesos today is an ancient Greek city and Unesco heritage site within Sevastopol, Crimea.  They had constant battles with neighboring tribes to secure slaves. It appears that the Scyths were pushed continually westward by other factions in the East, like the Mongolian empire.

Then this rich empire was wiped out by the Goths in the third century BC. Shortly thereafter, they lost their ethnic identity completely, perhaps because of cultural integration, and very little is now known about them. The later influence of the Turks and Tatars provided even more diversification of the population until the Vikings came down as far as Kyiv to establish what is "modern day" Ukraine. Scyth became interchangeable with Rus, the ancient name for Ukraine.

Because of Ukraine's borders being relatively indefensible and shared with multiple nations, the influx of many different peoples over the millenia has resulted in a multicultural, if not multiracial, society. People from many bordering nations, including Poland, Slovakia, The Czech Republic, Romania, Russia, the Baltic nations, Byelorus and Turkey, co-existed as borders shifted with the winds. It was a real Eurasian melting pot rather than the mosaic found in other multicultural societies.

Ukrainians, by simple incursion of many tribes who intermixed, must have a very rich genetic pool. Perhaps this is why so many can and do live in harmony, including people from different cultures, ethnicities and religions. That is why, Mr. Putin, your tactics are just not believable. The tactics you employ reflect your own prejudices not those of the people of Ukraine. That is why everyone believes us and not you.  That is why the Jews in Ukraine felt compelled to right your misinformation campaign in an open letter to you. Did you read it?  Just in case, here's the link. And guess what? The Tatars in Crimea consider themselves more Ukrainian than Russian. Yes, just ask them in a proper referendum.

The only time the people did not co-exist peacefully in Ukraine was when the Bolsheviks attacked and the Russians invaded to form the USSR. That's when everything changed. Now, it has all changed again due to an attack by Russia on Ukrainian soil. This time, Ukraine and the richly textured background of Ukrainians will not go away. In case you haven't noticed, one thing you cannot steal is our golden heritage.