Four Years On: The Collapse of the Russia–Ukraine ‘Brotherly Peoples’ Narrative

Four years have passed since Russia launched its full-scale invasion of Ukraine on 24 February. The war has brought immense human suffering and physical destruction — but it has also fundamentally reshaped perceptions on both sides of the border. Among the most consequential shifts has been the erosion of Moscow’s long-promoted narrative that Ukrainians and Russians are “brotherly peoples” or effectively “one nation.”

Today, the reality of sustained military confrontation has prompted many observers to question whether such claims can withstand the lived experience of war.

For years, Russian official messaging framed the military campaign as an effort to “protect” and “liberate,” particularly in Russian-speaking regions of Ukraine. Yet the heaviest fighting, missile strikes and drone attacks have occurred precisely in eastern and southern areas where Russian is widely spoken.

Cities that once reflected Ukraine’s multilingual and multicultural character — where Russian was commonly used in business, media and daily life — have suffered some of the war’s most severe devastation. Civilian infrastructure, including residential areas, hospitals, schools, theatres and energy facilities, has been repeatedly damaged.

Urban centres such as Mariupol, Bakhmut, Soledar, Marinka, Chasiv Yar, Avdiivka and Rubizhne have experienced widespread destruction, becoming symbols of the war’s intensity.

Beyond the battlefield, the conflict has deepened political and social separation between the two countries. Ukraine’s leadership and much of its public have accelerated their strategic shift toward European integration, encouraged in part by strong political and humanitarian support from European partners. Across the European Union, governments and private citizens alike mobilised early to host Ukrainian refugees, reinforcing Kyiv’s westward orientation.

At the same time, Moscow has continued to promote the concept of the “Russian world,” presenting the war as part of a broader civilisational mission. Critics argue that, in practice, the conflict has involved not only territorial contestation but also pressure on Ukrainian national identity in areas under Russian control.

Reports from occupied territories have described restrictions on Ukrainian language use, changes to educational curricula and the replacement of national symbols. Russia has also faced international scrutiny over the transfer of Ukrainian children to its territory. The International Criminal Court has issued an arrest warrant for Russia’s commissioner for children’s rights, Maria Lvova-Belova, over alleged unlawful deportations — allegations Moscow rejects.

Religious and historical narratives have also become points of contention, including disputes over the status of Ukraine’s independent Orthodox Church and competing interpretations of shared history.

Four years into the conflict, the war has moved far beyond competing narratives. It has hardened identities, redrawn geopolitical alignments and deepened mistrust between the two societies.

As Ukraine marks this anniversary, one conclusion is increasingly evident in international discourse: claims of unity between the two nations are now widely overshadowed by the realities of prolonged war. For many Ukrainians and their supporters, genuine partnership between states is defined not by historical rhetoric but by respect for sovereignty, peaceful coexistence and the absence of force.