The article highlights the prerequisites for the formation of the Kyiv-Rus state – Ukraine-Rus, explores the Scandinavian myth and the historical legend about the foundation of Kyiv. It is noted that one of the current tasks of modern Ukrainian historiography is to create a general outline of the history of Ukrainian statehood. A thorough presentation of the millennia-long history of Ukrainian state traditions would be the best response to Russian expansionism on the historical front and a rebuttal of Russian myths claiming that Ukrainians are not a state-building nation and lack their own state traditions. It is stated that Ukrainian statehood, according to historical sources, originates from the Antae tribal union. Particular attention is given to the longest state-building period in Ukraine’s history, which occurred during the medieval era – the time of the Kyiv-Rus state. More than three centuries ago, the Norman theory of the origin of Rus began to be developed, which posited that Rus originated in the northern part of Eastern Europe and attributed its foundation to Scandinavians or Normans. Created by Swedish and German historians for political reasons, this theory became part of the imperial framework of Russian history. The main source of the Norman theory was a passage from the “Tale of Bygone Years” (Povist’ Vremya’nykh Lit, or PVL) under the year 862, which tells the legend of the invitation of the Varangians. Supporters of the Norman version of Rus formation trace its history from this point. They ignore the fact that the introductory part of PVL contains another – Middle Dnieper – version of the formation of Rus, presented in the legend about the founding of Kyiv. A critical analysis of chronicle information and historiographical tradition prompts a review of the key issue of Kyiv-Rus state history – dating the beginnings of its formation, which is based on the accounts of the dated part of PVL. In the second half of the 8th and the first half of the 9th century, an early Ukrainian Kyiv-Rus state emerged with Kyiv as its center, founded on the Polianian tribal union.

Bibliography

Authored books

1. Avenarius А, Die Awaren in Europa (Veda 1974).

2. Dlugosza J, Kanonika krakowskiego Dziejow Polskich ksiag dwanascie. T. 1 (W Drukarni W Kirchmayera 1867).

3. Androshchuk F, Normany i slov’iany u Podesenni (Modeli kulturnoi vzaiemodii doby rannoho serednovichchia) (Kyivskyi un-t im. Tarasa Shevchenka, Tovarystvo arkheolohii ta antropolohii 1999).

4. Baran V, Kyi, Shchek, Khoryv i sestra yikh Lybid ta prakoreni ukrainskoho narodu (Atlant YuEmSI 2007) (in Ukrainian).

5. Kotliar M, Istoriia davnoruskoi derzhavnosti (Kyivskyi slavistychnyi universytet 2002) (in Ukrainian).

6. Shahmatov A, Skazanie o prizvanii varjagov (SPb 1904) (in Russian).

7. Shchodra O, Slov’iany i Rus v rannomu serednovichchi. Peredumovy i pochatky formuvannia imperii rusiv (Lviv. nats. un-t im. Ivana Franka 2021) (in Ukrainian). 8. Skliarenko V, Rus i variahy. Istoryko-etymolohichne doslidzhennia (Dovira 2006) (in Ukrainian).

 9. Tolochko A, Ocherki nachal’noj rusi (Laurus 2015) (in Russian). 10. Tolochko P, Drevnij Kiev (Naukova dumka 1976) (in Russian).

11. Tolochko P, Kyivska Rus (Abrys 1996) (in Ukrainian). 12. Voitovych L, Kniaz Riuryk (Vyd. Oleksandr Pshonkivskyi 2014) (in Ukrainian).

 Edited and translated books

13. Annales Bertiniani, Monumenta Germaniae Historica. T. 1 (G H Pertz ed, Impensis Bibliopolii Avlici Hahniani 1826).

14. Kronika polska, litewska, zmodska i wszystkiej Rusi Macieja Stryjkowskiego. T. 1 (Nak. G L Gluksverga 1846). 15. Braichevskyi M, Vybrani tvory: Ist.-arkheol. studii, publitsystyka (I Hyrych uporiad, L Vynar red, KM Academia 1999) (in Ukrainian).

16. Hrushevskyi M, Istoriia Ukrainy-Rusy: v 11 t., 12 kn. T. 1 (P Sokhan holova redkol, Naukova dumka 1991) (in Ukrainian).

17. Pokhodzhennia Rusi: starodavni skandynavski dzherela (krim islandskykh cah): v 2 t. T. 1 (O Pritsak vidp red, Oberehy 1997) (in Ukrainian).

18. Povist mynulykh lit, Litopys Ruskyi za Ipatskym spyskom (pereklav L Makhnovets, Dnipro 1990) (in Ukrainian).

19. Slovo o zakoni i blahodati kyivskoho mytropolyta Ilariona (per suchasnoiu ukr movoiu M Tkach, peredm M Shudria, BPPB “Hulevychivna” 2003) (in Ukrainian).

Journal articles

20. Shchodra O, ‘Mizh normanizmom ta antynormanizmom: dyskusii pro pokhodzhennia Rusy u svitli pysemnykh dzherel’ [2019] 19–20 Naukovi zoshyty istorychnoho fakultetu Lvivskoho universytetu 126 (in Ukrainian).

21. Shchodra O, ‘Zvidky i kudy proliahav Shliakh iz variah u hreky abo yak heohrafiia sprostovuie istorychni mify’ [2022] 71 Problemy slov’ianoznavstva 21–39 (in Ukrainian).

22. Voitovych L, ‘Holmgard: de pravyly ruski kniazi Sviatoslav Ihorevych, Volodymyr Sviatoslavych ta Yaroslav Volodymyrovych?’ [2015] 3 Ukrainskyi istorychnyi zhurnal 37–55 (in Ukrainian).

Websites

23. Iordanis, De origine aktibusque getarum (The Latin Library) <https://www.thelatinlibrary. com/iordanes1.html> (accessed 27.01.2025).