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Russia Tries to Rewrite Ukraine’s History With Pseudo-Scientific Anthology in Occupied Crimea

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Roman Kohanets
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Russia Tries to Rewrite Ukraine’s History With Pseudo-Scientific Anthology in Occupied Crimea
Volume 9, “Crimea and Novorossiya,” of the multi-volume “Anthology of Historical Cities and Villages of Russia.” (Source: RIA)

Russia is promoting a multi-volume “Anthology of Historical Cities and Villages of Russia” that includes temporarily occupied Ukrainian territory, in what Ukraine says is an effort to recast the past of areas under Russian control, according to Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation on January 26. 

The Center said Russian-installed authorities in temporarily occupied Crimea are distributing the publication, which it described as a pseudo-scientific project designed to legitimize Russia’s claims.

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A Crimean outlet, Voice of Crimea, reported that the anthology is structured as 10 volumes in 13 books and that the volume on “Crimea and Novorossiya”  also covers temporarily occupied parts of southern and eastern Ukraine, with copies slated for institutions including the “Crimean Federal University” and Crimea’s main research library. 

Russian state and industry sources have described the anthology as a project covering more than 6,000 historical towns and villages founded before World War I.

A page from the ninth volume, “Crimea and Novorossiya,” showing the section titled “My Crimea in a Silver Frame.” (Source: RIA)
A page from the ninth volume, “Crimea and Novorossiya,” showing the section titled “My Crimea in a Silver Frame.” (Source: RIA)

Ukraine and international rights monitors have documented broader efforts by Russian occupation authorities to reshape identity in occupied areas through schooling and official narratives, including imposing Russia’s state curriculum and replacing Ukrainian textbooks with materials supplied from Russia.

Human Rights Watch reported in 2024 that residents in occupied areas faced coercion linked to the “Russified”  school system, while an OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights interim report in 2025 said witnesses described being forced to switch to the Russian state curriculum and receiving new textbooks from Russia.

Earlier, it was reported that Russia’s Military-Historical Society presented new school textbooks on the “history of Donbas and Novorossiya” in occupied Donetsk and Luhansk, which Ukraine’s Center for Countering Disinformation says promote a narrative tying the territories to Russia and portraying Ukraine as an enemy.

 

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“Novorossiya” is a Russian imperial term for parts of southern and eastern Ukraine, used to justify territorial claims.

“Russified” means altered to impose Russian language, culture, and institutions, replacing local Ukrainian identity and norms.

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