Medinsky's Delusions and More — an ICTV Commentary (23 May 2025)
An ICTV studio discussion between host Hryhorii Herman and historian Vitaliy Dribnytsia about Vladimir Medinsky’s statements during negotiations in Istanbul. They examine the myth of Russian military invincibility, the coalition victory in World War II, the Great Northern War and the political use of history. The material new to the site is a list of documented Russian defeats and the Northern War’s burden on the Hetmanate as additional context for Mazepa’s turn to Sweden.
Key moments
- 01:06 Who Vladimir Medinsky is and how he shapes Russian historical policy
- 03:33 Medinsky as co-author of Russia's new history textbooks
- 06:39 The myth that Russia has never lost a war and a list of defeats
- 09:22 Victory in World War II as the work of the anti-Hitler coalition
- 11:13 The Great Northern War: causes, course and Russia's access to the Baltic
- 17:55 The war's burden on the Hetmanate as one reason behind Mazepa's decision
- 28:43 How falsified history helps cement authoritarian rule
- 34:52 Why Ukraine must promote its historical perspective abroad