Discussing the significant role of historical narratives in the Russia-Ukraine conflict, particularly emphasizing how Russian President Vladimir Putin employs distorted historical accounts to justify the invasion of Ukraine. It calls on Western academia to focus more on Ukrainian history to counter the Kremlin’s manipulation of the past.

Since Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014, Putin has framed the invasion as historical justice, leveraging this narrative to challenge Ukraine’s statehood. The article advocates for academia to enhance awareness of Ukraine’s national story and separate it from imperial narratives that support Putin’s claims.

A recent conference at Princeton University convened experts to evaluate the state of Ukrainian historical studies, stressing the importance of centering victims of aggression in historical narratives. Harvard professor Serhii Plokhy noted that Putin’s use of historical justification has sparked increased interest in Ukrainian history while highlighting the need for further scholarly work.

The article also underscores the necessity to “decolonize” Ukrainian history, with Natalia Khanenko-Friesen from the Canadian Institute for Ukrainian Studies pointing to initiatives like a doctorate fellowship in indigenous Crimean Tatar studies as valuable contributions. Overall, it posits that Western academia plays a vital role in fostering a more accurate understanding of Ukrainian history and countering Russian disinformation.

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