Ukrainian Nationalism vs. Russian Imperialism: Life Against Ideology

It did not emerge as a political project or a strategic response to external challenges. Instead, it is a living, organic force, much like Jewish nationalism, with natural origins, identity, and culture. Russians often label this culture as "rural" or "backward," failing to understand that any genuine national culture is rooted in the countryside, in the land itself. Ukrainian nationalism harbors no imperial ambitions and does not seek global domination.

Unlike imperial ideologies, Ukrainian nationalism is free from the toxic notions of chauvinism, xenophobia, or messianism. Today, it serves as a protective shield that has helped Ukraine withstand Russia’s full-scale invasion. It is the reaction of a people who have endured centuries of colonial subjugation, external threats, and cultural erasure and who refuse to return to the status of slaves. This determination has halted the advance of our greatest adversary.

What is a Nation?

A nation is like a surname passed down from our ancestors, without which our very existence would be impossible. It forms naturally and organically through the course of life. Ukrainians did not choose to become a nation; it is in our blood, inherited along with ancient culture, traditions, and the land where we were born and raised.

In contrast, Russian national identity is artificially instilled in schools, military barracks, or ideological institutions. For Russians, their nation (or rather, anti-nation) is an ideological weapon. It is received much like a rifle in the army or a direct order from command. Historically, the imperial Russian identity has been built on violence, coercion, and the subjugation of other peoples. It is an artificial construct, imposed ideologically to maintain control and expand influence.

When a Russian receives their national identity, it is not linked to natural ties with their native land or culture. In truth, every Russian by blood is Udmurt, Chechen, Tatar, Bashkir, or even Ukrainian. The identity of being "Russian" is akin to taking an oath of loyalty to a dead empire, an obligation to die for its expansion—unlike the natural, living nationalism of Ukrainians.

The Essence of Ukrainian Nationalism

Unlike imperial Russian nationalism, Ukrainian nationalism arises from the same foundations as family: love for one's kin, home, and land. It requires no ideological justification because it exists as a given. Just as blood flows through our veins, national identity flows through our culture, language, traditions, and memory.

This is where the fundamental difference lies:

• An imperial nation is a project rooted in power, ideology, oppression, and the destruction of other nations.
• A natural nation is a living community based on kinship, historical memory, and organic development.

Thus, when Russian imperialists encounter Ukrainians, whose strength comes from the living source of their land, they face a profound internal conflict. Many begin to realize that their imperial identity is dead and artificial, prompting a search for liberation from this suffocating condition.

The Power of Ukrainian Culture

It is no coincidence that after engaging with Ukrainian culture, many Russians break away from imperial symbols and the toxic, cannibalistic ideology of their homeland. They are drawn to the living source of strength that has preserved its identity and authenticity. Today, Ukrainian culture serves as a source of inspiration for those seeking to free themselves from the burden of imperialism.

Ukrainians do not build a nation—they are a nation. Russians, on the other hand, receive their national identity as a pledge of loyalty to the empire, a pledge that forces them to renounce their natural identity, family, and blood ties.

This is the fundamental difference between us and them. The organic and natural stands in opposition to the dead and artificial, which cannot survive without the life force of others.