“RUSSIAN WORLD” PROPAGANDA AS A THREAT TO NATIONAL SECURITY OF UKRAINE

The article studies the concept “Russian World” in terms of national security of Ukraine. Based on publications of Ukrainian and Russian experts the author shows that the“Russian World” is aimed to justify Russia’s geopolitical ambitions and in particular its dominance in post-soviet countries. According to this project Russia is a unique country-civilization that, due to its historical, cultural and intellectual potential, goes far beyond the state borders. The Russian geopolitical concept is very dangerous for Ukraine because due to historical manipulations the national identity, sovereignty and integrity of the country are artificially devaluated and completely erased. In Russian propaganda Ukraine is labelled as the artificially created country that cannot be the successor of Kievan Rus, doesn’t have its own statehood traditions, culture, language and other attributes of the true nation. Russia tries to appropriate Ukraine’s historical and cultural heritage because without it the RM is ideological construct based on myths that is unable to contribute to strengthening and extending Russia's influence on the international arena.