The Information War Over a Medieval Legacy
A historical dispute is intensifying between Ukraine and Russia over the legacy of Kyivan Rus, a medieval state seen as a cultural and political precursor. The figure of Anna Yaroslavna, an 11th-century princess, has become a focal point in this modern struggle. In 2025, Russia hosted an international conference titled 'France-Russia: 1000 Years of History and Culture' in the name of Anna of Kyiv, an event widely interpreted as an attempt to appropriate historical heritage linked to Ukrainian lands.
Anna Yaroslavna, daughter of Grand Prince Yaroslav the Wise, ruler of Kyivan Rus, is central to this debate. The renowned Ukrainian historian Mykhailo Hrushevsky established the Ukrainian nature of Rus in his 1904 scholarly work, a foundational argument for Ukraine's claim to this history. Also in 2025, with financial backing from Russia's 'Film Foundation,' production began on a melodrama titled 'Queen Anna,' signaling a continued soft-power campaign centered on this historical narrative.
Anna's Historical Significance
An article by Dmytro Vortman, scientific editor of the Encyclopedia of Ukrainian History, appeared on the official website of the Institute of History of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine. While Vortman's piece discusses Anna's importance, its conclusions have sparked criticism and debate among scholars. Some historians present alternative views on the status of Rus and Anna's persona, noting that 'the state, which achieved great power under Yaroslav, was well-known in Europe, making marital alliances with members of the grand princely family highly desirable for any European power of the time.'
Anna is associated not only with political alliances but also with cultural transmission. As noted by Natalia Polonska-Vasylenko,
"Anna Yaroslavna... and other queens of Ukrainian origin brought with them not only valuable dowries from a wealthy country, but also high Christian morals and a culture superior to that of Europe at the time."A key artifact is the connection between Anna and the Reims Gospel, which, according to Petro Kurinnyi, 'was brought as part of her dowry by Anna from her father, Grand Prince Yaroslav of Kyiv.'
In 2025, Ukraine observed Russia's conference in France but took no active countermeasures against this propaganda initiative. Meanwhile, Ukrainian scholarship continues to examine the history of Rus and its influence on European culture. Viktor Moisiienko notes that the Reims Gospel was 'copied in a Kyiv scriptorium during the lifetime of Yaroslav's daughter in Kyiv,' underscoring Ukraine's role in broader European history.
Thus, the information battle over the historical legacy of Kyivan Rus persists, with Anna Yaroslavna remaining at its center. This ongoing contest highlights the deep cultural and political stakes involved in interpreting the medieval past. The struggle for historical identity between Ukraine and Russia has significant implications for national narratives, cultural policy, and international relations, with scholars playing a crucial role in shaping the discourse.