What are the cultural similarities and differences between Russia, Ukraine and Belarus?

The cultural similarities between Russia, Ukraine and Belarus come from Slavic history and Orthodox beliefs. The forced urbanization and modernization during the Soviet rule increased many factors.

As for the differences, they come from our cultural differences. Geographical factors played a decisive role.

Russia

Russia is made up of the Orthodox Slavic population living in the tributary of the Volga River. The middle and lower reaches of this big river have long been controlled by Turks. This is also the reason why the Turkic heritage of the Volga River is very prominent in Russia.

The two centuries under the rule of Joki Empire and the subsequent eastward expansion of Kumania Prairie have influenced our concepts of power, family, clothing and interior decoration. Coupled with the charm of the Ottoman Empire and the protection of the sacred Constantinople, we can see the example of Moscow in the pre-imperial era.

Since the time of Peter the Great, our rulers have also made us experience several waves of modernization and westernization. Now everyone knows that the elegant culture of Russia is the product of this culture.

Ukraine

Ukraine is made up of Slavs living in a tributary of the Dnieper River. They span markets in Poland and the northern Black Sea. They were deeply influenced by Poles and Crimean Turks. Therefore, their anarchism and rebellious tendencies. No wonder Queen Catherine II decided to forcibly settle Ukrainian Cossacks on the southernmost border of the empire in the18th century. Caution is the mother of safety.

Ukrainian tribes often transfer loyalty between Ottomans, Lithuanians, Crimeans, Poles and Muscovites. They did not take part in the colonization of the eastern Kumania grassland or Siberia. They are still unfamiliar with the grand and grandiose narrative of Russia's national status. During the period of wallunger, they kept more traditions of informal autonomy.

On the other hand, orthodox beliefs saved them from being assimilated by Poles. Religious differences eventually forced Ukrainians to join the Romanov family camp. However, despite the continuous process of russianization, they still retain the self-awareness of most ethnic groups. In the last decades of Soviet rule, Ukrainian nationalism was considered as dangerous as Zionism.

Republic of Belarus

Belarusians are an Orthodox minority formed under the rule of Poland and Lithuania. Just like Ukrainians, it is the Orthodox faith that keeps them from being assimilated by Poland. Due to the low fertility rate of the land, Belarus has never attracted many Catholic immigrants. The dominance of Poland-Lithuania was guaranteed by a thin layer of nobles. That's why they rarely experience deadly inter-ethnic violence like the Polish-Ukrainian massacre.

Because of their "minority" status, they have almost no history of their own country. As an overpass country, both poles and Russians are quite satisfied with their status and conform to the trend of mainstream culture. After decades of Soviet modernization and massive population loss in World War II, they are being assimilated by modern Russian culture.

The following is a painting by Russian nativist Pavel Ilyin, in which three Eastern Slavic peoples are depicted as three brothers. In the middle and front, there is a Russian in magic clothes and a wizard's scepter, which symbolizes our charming role as a leader of a brotherly country. His exquisite hairstyle and carefully combed beard show a lot of complexity, and the length of the beard makes us think that he is the oldest and smartest one.

On the right is a Ukrainian. His signature style is Khazarian Mohawk hairstyle and drooping beard. His tribal tattoos and savage necklaces express his primitive anarchism and imperialism. He still looks half naked. The artist may have hinted at the poverty that modern Ukraine is experiencing and the mild climate there.

The Belarusian on the left wears horns and bearskin. The artist thinks this guy has lived in the depths of the forest all his life and doesn't know what to do.