Russian Influence on the Ukrainian and Russian Public Through Film and Ukraine’s Response pre-2014 and post-2014

The Ukrainian media sphere has been dominated by Russian films before the events of 2014. Many of these films, that featured Ukrainian characters, have presented the Ukrainian identity in a negative light. With the application of the postcolonial theory, this thesis explores the history of the portrayal of Ukrainian identity by Russia to the Russian and Ukrainian public, and how modern Russian films have included such tropes. It also explains the state of the Ukrainian film industry and Russian entertainment in Ukraine prior to the Revolution of Dignity, and the responses following it. Through the use of the case study method and elements of the thematic analysis method, this thesis has set up a historical context for Russian-Ukrainian cinema relations and how the audiences of the two countries were influenced, identified negative Ukrainian character tropes in Russian films, and explained the shift after 2014 toward an independent Ukrainian film industry. These findings are relevant due to the ongoing conflict and the increased discussion surrounding Ukrainian identity. It explains the Russian perspective of who Ukrainians are and why Ukrainians may disagree with such characterizations. In addition, it opens up room for discussion surrounding not just Ukraine, but other post-Soviet countries as well and how Russia may portray them.