Did you know that Moskovians only started calling themselves...
Roman Sheremeta 🇺🇸🇺🇦@rshereme
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Jun 21, 2025
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Did you know that Moskovians only started calling themselves “Russians” (Русские) about 100 years ago?
Before that, they were Velikorosy (великоросы), while “Russkiy” referred to all East Slavs — including Ukrainians (Malorosy) and Belarusians.
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Before that, they were Velikorosy (великоросы), while “Russkiy” referred to all East Slavs — including Ukrainians (Malorosy) and Belarusians.
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You can see this in the 1897 Russian Empire census:
Velikorosy, Malorosy, and Belarusians were shown as three distinct groups in the pictures — but lumped together in one row in the table under “Russkiye.”
Only later did Moskovians claim that word for themselves.
You can see this in the 1897 Russian Empire census:
Velikorosy, Malorosy, and Belarusians were shown as three distinct groups in the pictures — but lumped together in one row in the table under “Russkiye.”
Only later did Moskovians claim that word for themselves.
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Before the 1700s, they simply called themselves Moskovians.
Meanwhile, Ukrainians called themselves Rusyns or Ruthenians. (In the Carpathians, some still do.)
Because the real Rus? It started in Kyiv — when Moscow was still a swamp of frogs and bears.
Before the 1700s, they simply called themselves Moskovians.
Meanwhile, Ukrainians called themselves Rusyns or Ruthenians. (In the Carpathians, some still do.)
Because the real Rus? It started in Kyiv — when Moscow was still a swamp of frogs and bears.
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Even in the 1600s, Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi called himself “Hetman of Rus.”
To this day, in Ukrainian:
•“руський” [ruskyi] = ancient Ukrainian
•“росіянин” [rosiyanyn] = Russian (i.e. Moskovian)
Names matter. History matters.
Even in the 1600s, Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi called himself “Hetman of Rus.”
To this day, in Ukrainian:
•“руський” [ruskyi] = ancient Ukrainian
•“росіянин” [rosiyanyn] = Russian (i.e. Moskovian)
Names matter. History matters.
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Moskovians hijacked the name Rus in the 1700s — and have been rewriting history ever since.
Now they call 10th-century Kyivan princes “Russian” — when Russia didn’t even exist.
Their first political entity? Grand Principality of Vladimir, 1125.
Moskovians hijacked the name Rus in the 1700s — and have been rewriting history ever since.
Now they call 10th-century Kyivan princes “Russian” — when Russia didn’t even exist.
Their first political entity? Grand Principality of Vladimir, 1125.
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For comparison:
Russia claiming it began in Kyiv is like the U.S. saying it began in the 6th century with the Kingdom of Wessex.
Yes, there’s a connection — but no, Alfred the Great wasn’t an American king.
Volodymyr the Great wasn’t Russian either.
For comparison:
Russia claiming it began in Kyiv is like the U.S. saying it began in the 6th century with the Kingdom of Wessex.
Yes, there’s a connection — but no, Alfred the Great wasn’t an American king.
Volodymyr the Great wasn’t Russian either.
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Moskovians are, at best, a spin-off of Kyivan Rus.
Not its core. Not its founder.
And certainly not its rightful heir.
Let’s not let historical theft become accepted truth.
Credit: Volodymyr Kukharenko
Moskovians are, at best, a spin-off of Kyivan Rus.
Not its core. Not its founder.
And certainly not its rightful heir.
Let’s not let historical theft become accepted truth.
Credit: Volodymyr Kukharenko