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At the core of any mentality lie archetypes — ancient, authentic values embedded in a nation’s consciousness over centuries. By studying these archetypes, one can understand the fundamental characteristics of a particular people’s mentality.
1. Ukrainian Archetypes
- Land – Mother – Woman
Historically, Ukrainians have always lived on their land; they are not nomads but settled farmers who, since the Trypillia culture, have skillfully cultivated their land, which in turn generously rewards their efforts. The fertile black soil, under conditions favourable for plant growth, yields abundant harvests.
Ukrainians cannot imagine life without their land, gardens, and homesteads. Even without owning them, they create order wherever they go. They ensure everything works well and is convenient and well-maintained. It’s in their blood.
The tidy yards, well-kept gardens, abundant Ukrainian cuisine, and groomed homes of Ukrainians often strike foreigners travelling through Ukraine and comparing Ukrainian villages with theirs.
Favourable natural and geographical conditions have caused people to respect nature, trust it, and recognise its high importance as the initial kindness that fills the human world. Natural paradise encouraged a man to create a paradise around him.
They have no desire to conquer new, foreign lands, for they cherish their own. Yet, if someone tries to take it away, Ukrainians are ready to defend it to the last drop of blood. This is not mere rhetoric or empty slogans, as it was taught for many years by Soviet propaganda. It is the essence of a Ukrainian! For him, his land is as sacred as his mother and his wife.
- Equality – Freedom – Individuality
Some consider Ukrainians to be individualist and selfish, acting independently, concerned only with their own and their family’s welfare, preferring personal interests over collective ones. However, the common interpretation of the saying “my home is on the outskirts” transforms into its opposite when it becomes a maxim: “My home is on the outskirts; I meet the enemy first.”
When it comes to defending their land from an enemy, Ukrainians do so collectively, as seen in the extraordinary revival of the Ukrainian army with the help of volunteers. The phenomenon of ‘Maidan’ – Revolution of Dignity, which gathered millions in the square the day after students were beaten, speaks volumes.
The unprecedented national volunteer movement shows that while Ukrainians are individualists, it’s not in the conventional sense. They are individualists in their choices, decisions, and understanding of freedom and equality.
Why do Ukrainians have little respect for authority and are always dissatisfied and critical of their leaders? Because equality is ingrained in their mentality. Equality between older and younger brothers, brothers and sisters, and everyone, regardless of social status. They are less inclined than some neighbours to be servile and kiss the hand that collars them.
- Heart – Emotions – Feelings
Ukrainians live by the heart, a concept philosophers call “cordocentrism” (from Latin “cordis” — heart) — understanding reality not so much through thought (“head”) but through “heart” — emotions, feelings, intuition. Pioneer of Ukrainian cordocentrism philosopher Hryhorii Skovoroda advocated it as the idea of the primacy of spirit in a holistic individual.
For Ukrainians, focused on emotions and feelings, what matters most is what they feel with their heart, namely, love. Love for a spouse, family, child, and nature. Love for their land, country, and home. Love for one’s calling, to which one’s soul is drawn and heart aspires, comes naturally as a divine vocation.
Also, love for oneself (individualism) is an object of constant exploration and understanding because every person harbours that deeply hidden law of human existence, the source of love. Inside his heart is God and the entire universe, which he must discover within himself during his lifetime. Love does not tolerate walls or fences; it simply does not see them, as it is natural freedom. Like light or breath.
Perhaps this is why Ukraine has always seemed to flee from statehood and imperial oppression, for fences and borders deprive it of the sense of true freedom.
Ukrainian language
The soft climate of the forest-steppe, the vastness of the steppes, and the soothing whisper of forests influenced the identity of the Ukrainian language. It is characterised by the rhythmic, harmonious alternation of vowels and consonants, melodiousness, and euphony, which creates an atmosphere of friendly and peaceful communication.
Emotionality of Ukrainians
A specific feature of the Ukrainian ideological and philosophical mentality is a focus on the inner emotional world of a person. A burning call of the heart dominates over the cold rationality of the head. Ukrainians’ temper is the impermanence of emotions and moods. Due to the emotionality, the relationships in society and family are built on sincerity and are identified by friendliness and kindness.
2. The Soul of Ukraine: A Land, A Spirit, A Destiny
The land! The soil! The land explains everything… The endless steppes, with horizons stretching into the distance, unlimited open spaces, vast meadows, high mountains covered in greenery, golden waves of wheat, the clarity of rivers and endless sunny skies – all these awakened a gentle, sensitive, dreamy, romantic, and free spirit, unbound by borders and the constraints of violence.
Since then, much has changed; the peaceful character of Ukrainians had to be tempered in the struggle against endless enemies, becoming warriors. Much has been negatively acquired over the years of slavery, total dictatorship, and lies. But still, they remained people of the heart, warriors of the heart. And in the heart is Love.
As Ukrainian philosopher Grigory Skovoroda said, the world is like a large clockwork mechanism, all parts of which are interconnected, and each plays its essential, necessary, or related role. We must understand ourselves, discover our role, and perform it well so that the entire mechanism works smoothly when a person (or the entire nation) finds their place in the biological universe – they understand their nature, their essence, their purpose, and experience the greatest happiness – being a part of eternity, the all-encompassing divine plan, the Universe.
This unique amalgamation of values, shaped by centuries of history and the expansive landscapes of Ukraine, crafts a mentality that is both distinct and universally inspiring. It illustrates how a nation’s character is forged through its trials and triumphs, landscapes and legends, embodying a timeless pursuit of authenticity, freedom, and collective well-being.
About the author:
Hello and welcome! My name is Victoria, and I’m a private tour guide in Kyiv. Since 2016, I have been offering private tours on various topics for visitors to the capital of Ukraine. I speak fluent English and love sharing stories. When not guiding, I write about Ukraine on my blog and my travel experiences and insights in Sweden and the Baltics.