Russia and Ukraine in “Mazepa’s Shadow”: Caught Between Disintegration and Integration
Journal: Journal of Eurasian Studies
Year: 2025

This study examines the transformation of the cultural and political mythology surrounding Ivan Mazepa, a historical figure whose legacy is interpreted in fundamentally different ways by Ukraine and Russia. In Russian imperial narratives, Mazepa is characterized as a symbol of treachery, while in Ukrainian nationalist discourse, he embodies ideals of freedom and sovereignty. His persona also achieved international prominence in 18 th - and 19 th -century Europe, notably through Romantic literatu