Ukraine will take steps to research, publicize, and protect the histories of Ukrainians living in parts of modern-day Russia that have been historically inhabited by Ukrainians, according to a decree signed by President Volodymyr Zelensky on Jan. 22.
It’s way easier when you have a look at Muscovy, which is the core of the so-called Russian empire. Also, how Muscovy made a huge rebranding effort to be called Russia, at the expense of Kiev.
The Russian imperialist narrative needs Kiev to be part of it precisely because that’s the origin of the very identity it stole. Without it there’s no grand history, no Orthodox legitimacy, just the history of being a Mongolian vassal.