It's somewhat clear that modern day Ukrainians and Russians are firstly descended from the original Slavic migration and occupation of the Eastern European plain in early Middle Ages. Most likely from the region of modern day Belarus, eastern Poland and northern Ukraine, Slavs have expanded basically in all directions, encountering new populations. While Belarusians are more or less mixed with the Baltics, Slavic migrators in the north of Russia have mingled with Uralic peoples, as suggested by genetic research.
But what about the modern day populations from south of Russia and Ukraine? How did these groups originated?
The regions they inhabit today were populated by the Iranic Scythians through antiquity. Then the Goths came and formed the Chernyakhov Culture. Then, for almost one thousand years, various nomads from Central Asia occupied these lands (Huns, Khazars, Pechenegs. Mongols and Tatars, and many others). Was there any significant Slavic population among these nomads or did Slavs came in their lands after the fall of their steppe empires? And do Ukrainians and Southern Russians have in turn any major Iranic and/or Germanic origins, as it was suggested?
Here are some historical maps of some of the most important political entities in the region:
Original Slavic tribes and their neighbours:
Kievean Rus':
The Golden Horde (1240-1502):
It's clear that most of Ukraine and South Russia were extensively occupied by Altaic peoples. The Russian tsars did not take control of most of these territories only until some 500 years ago.
But what about the modern day populations from south of Russia and Ukraine? How did these groups originated?
The regions they inhabit today were populated by the Iranic Scythians through antiquity. Then the Goths came and formed the Chernyakhov Culture. Then, for almost one thousand years, various nomads from Central Asia occupied these lands (Huns, Khazars, Pechenegs. Mongols and Tatars, and many others). Was there any significant Slavic population among these nomads or did Slavs came in their lands after the fall of their steppe empires? And do Ukrainians and Southern Russians have in turn any major Iranic and/or Germanic origins, as it was suggested?
Here are some historical maps of some of the most important political entities in the region:
Original Slavic tribes and their neighbours:
Kievean Rus':
The Golden Horde (1240-1502):
It's clear that most of Ukraine and South Russia were extensively occupied by Altaic peoples. The Russian tsars did not take control of most of these territories only until some 500 years ago.