60
Paul Tereshkovich
when being a part of Russia Ukraine will join Volhynia and Podolia? That it will get to the
Black
and Azov seas, thus, having provided itself with a future economic base?”
So, “owing to Khmelnitsky, one of the main miracles of world history was the emer-
gence in the 17
th
century … of a new country which managed then to maintain its viability
for centuries. … Processes launched by Khmelnitsky led to the achievement of the goal
contrary to everything. The most amazing thing is that through the hands
of Ukraine tor-
turers God gave Ukraine back its parts which seemed to be lost for centuries.”
Constructing “new Bogdan” is not accidental. This is how one shall deal with some
inevitable evil, namely, Russia. Apologia of the hetman is, in fact, the essence of apologia
of policy of Leonid Danilovich.
Here is one more example: Anton Golovaty who managed to get Cossack autonomy
in Kuban from Ekaterina. “Complete independence, like that during the times of Bogdan,
was impossible. Without setting unreachable goals he achieved the maximum of what
was achievable. He could have gone to conquer Petersburg and would have died a hero.
But he acted differently. He is one of the embodiments of a Ukrainian. His obstinacy is
absolutely consistently combined with flexibility, cunningness with mind, sense of duty
with pragmatism, realism with purposefulness, a diplomatic talent with healthy cynicism
(which can be called the knowledge of human nature), and a natural sense of humor with
virtuosity.”
Mazepa’s apologia is not less remarkable. Sometimes L. Kuchma emphasizes, that he
was one of the richest people in Europe. But what is wrong with that? “Wealth did not
prevent Mazepa from being a big patriot of Ukraine.” The reason of Mazepa’s treachery “is
not money, levity or career (he was about 70).” “Pain and fear for Ukraine’s destiny moved
him. The purpose was Ukraine’s independence.”
It is quite characteristic, that other heroes of Ukraine look very bleak against this
background. Banal praise of T. Shevchenko (“the prophet who managed “to decode” the
Divine plan about Ukraine, the Divine message about it”), Kotlyarevsky, Skovoroda. The
same is said about Ukrainians – civilizers of Russia, but with a deeper implication. “Mosk-
ovia was transformed into Russia not by Peter’s Germans but by Elizabeth’s Ukrainians” …
there is a grain of truth in this. Ukrainians take part in the formation of Petersburg clas-
sicism. “Little Russia spirit” penetrates everything. “Without the Ukrainian participation,”
concludes L. Kuchma, “Russia would not have become what it has become, it would have
been a different country, … culture would have been different, … even the Russian language
would have formed differently.” In general, this is our Ukrainian Russia and empire. It is
remarkable, that among Ukrainian educators, such as L. Zizanija, P. Berynda, M. Smotritsky
there is also S. Polotsky, entered into this pleiad as “a graduate of Kiev-Mogilyany Acad-
emy”(!)
“Enemies”
are, first of all, Russians, torturers as Leonid Danilovich calls them. A series
of binary oppositions shows their “otherness” to Ukrainians who “were sick of self-confi-
61
European Identity as the Horizon of Belarusian Imagination
dence of “Moskali”
*
and a slick business manner. There even appeared the verb “moskalit’,
i.e. to cheat”. “Among Russians much more often than among Ukrainians I met people
who considered their job to be a burden and consequently did it poorly.” Russians do not
treat law with a lot of respect. Ukrainians have more respect for order and legal authority;
it is seen even in the Ukrainian village where the priest and the teacher (people placed by
authority) were always respected more than in the Russian village.”
On the whole, Russians are worse than Ukrainians. “Wood quickly turns gray… and a
Russian log house very soon stops looking cheerful... Even a prosperous Russian village
looks poor. A Russian wooden village with its appearance does not inspire its inhabitants,
does not set them to any economic inspiration, to ingenuity in life. Ukrainian colleagues
lose their heart much less often as aesthetics does not allow it.”
Even the name “Ukraine” is better, L. Kuchma states, supporting his idea with the
words of S. Sheluhin: “The national name of Ukraine says so much to a soul, conscience
and heart much, while the name Rus’ does not arouse high and intimate feelings and
attachment towards it as it was given by the rulers as a symbol of triumph over the con-
quered.”
In general, Russia is a Eurasian country, and in a certain sense it is more Asian than
European.
Even Russians in the Denikin army were hostile to Ukraine, did not recognize its
culture … wished it destruction and disorder.” Last few years “such people … are again in
assortment.” Leonid Danilovich also provides proofs: “nationally thinking Russian people
are obliged for the sake of the future Russian people not to recognize under any circum-
stances the rights to exist of the state of “Ukraine”, “the Ukrainian people” and “the Ukrai-
nian language”. History knows neither the first, nor the second, nor the third - they are not
present.” Here is one more citation: Russia absolutely does not need a strong Ukrainian
president, strong Ukraine.” However, “they are all marginals” claims L. Kuchma. Russian
nationalist passions inflame mainly in Ukraine. However, there are no other kinds of Rus-
sians mentioned in his book.
In general, enemies are everywhere. “Turkey … for the past few years has been acting
as the patroness and protector of interests of the Crimean Tatars and even the Ortho-
dox Gagauz people …, this cannot but excites us.” “In public circles … (Poland) there are
forces which dream of that day when Ukrainian cities … will become Polish. They do not
dream of it silently.” We haven’t settled scores with Poles yet, they are even worse than
Russians. “No matter how difficult it was to be under the oppression of Moscow authori-
ties, he (Mazepa) knew that the yoke of the Polish landlords would have been harder for
him.” But it was mentioned in passing. “The topic of remaking … the borders periodically
emerges
also in Hungary, exciting people all in vain.”
What to do? Firstly, “it is necessary to manage thriftily everything that we have col-
lected (sic!) both from Russia and from the West.” It is interesting, that Leonid Danilovich
* (Russian – pejorative in the speech of Ukrainians)