While these processes began long before the fall of Kiev, its fall expedited these gradual developments into a significant linguistic and ethnic differentiation among the Rus' people into Ukrainians, Belarusians, and Russians.
Kuigi need protsessid algasid kaua enne Kiievi langust, kiirendas selle langus järkjärgulist arengut russide märkimisväärsel keelelisel ja etnilisel diferentseerumisel ukrainlasteks, valgevenelasteks ja venelasteks.