INTERNATIONAL PROBLEMS ON THE PAGES OF «NASH LEMKO» («OUR LEMKO»): THE UKRAINIAN-RUSSIAN CONFRONTATION

Abstract

The purpose of the article is to find out the peculiarities of the interpretation of the past and current state of Ukrainian-Russian relations by the authors of «Our Lemkо». The research methodology is based on the combination of principles (historicism and objectivity) and methods (philosophical, general scientific and special-historical) of scientific research, which are usual for works on the historical science. The scientific novelty of the article consists in an attempt to comprehensively reconstruct of the problems of Ukrainian-Russian relations, presented on the pages of the flagship Ruthenian periodical of the interwar period, the magazine «Nash Lemko». Conclusions. Summarizing the reconstruction of Ukrainian-Russian relations presented on the pages of «Nash Lemko», we will point out its conceptual thoughtfulness and content saturation. In the first case, the editors were concerned with the consistent affirmation of Sobornist thinking among their readers. Through this prism, Moscovia became the eternal enemy of Ukrainians, which destroyed its unity by all possible means with the aim of further physical subjugation and spiritual extermination. This worldview model was carefully substantiated by the magazine's publicists with numerous examples from the Middle Ages to modern times. They consistently proved to the reader the civilizational difference between European Ukrainians in terms of their values and the barbaric world of Russian despotism. Affirming the optimism of life among the Rusyns, who were impoverished by the troubles, the authors of «Our Lemkо» emphasized the historical invincibility of Ukrainians in this unequal and cruel struggle, based on the ethical principle of the teleological superiority of good over evil. Finally, let us point out the success of the national policy of the publishers of the Ruthenian periodical, because despite the powerful leveling influences and the lack of their own statehood, the Lemkоs mostly remained with the Ukrainian national choice.