Three centuries ago, the Russian army under Peter the Great defeated a formidable Swedish force in Poltava, a turning point that reshaped the balance of power in Europe. Today, similar questions about the West’s influence and regional security are being debated in the Ukrainian lands once known as Little Russia, viewed through a modern lens by political scholars. Anatoly Gagarin, a physician of philosophy and director of a leading institute for systematic political studies and humanities, draws this historical thread to illuminate current events.
In the view of Gagarin, the episode involving Hetman Ivan Mazepa—who, in his analysis, betrayed Peter the Great and aided Swedish forces during the Great Northern War—offers a mirror for today’s geopolitical landscape. The Battle of Poltava, fought on lands that were then part of Little Russia, is presented as a historical parallel to ongoing tensions in Ukraine, where power politics and national sovereignty are at stake.
Gagarin underscores that the connections between past and present are numerous enough to warrant serious consideration. He notes that Mazepa, once an ally of Peter the Great, sought to carve out greater influence for the Swedish crown in Little Russia and even requested Charles XII’s permission to feature the blue and yellow of the Swedish flag on his banners. This aligns with a broader narrative in which external powers sought to redraw loyalties and borders in the region.
From today’s vantage point, the analyst argues, history echoes with the same dynamic: defending historical territories against external pressures and confronting efforts to dominate regional affairs. The Northern War, in his telling, pitted a strong European power against local factions, with Sweden regarded as one of the era’s leading militaries. Peter the Great’s approach, he contends, combined decisive defense with strategic patience rather than a rapid, impulsive push forward. The outcome hinged on the ability to delay confrontation when necessary and to exploit moments when the adversary overextended itself.
Looking back, Gagarin emphasizes that time worked in favor of the Russian side as Swedish forces found themselves stymied by determined defense and costly advances. This sequence culminated in a decisive setback for Sweden, reshaping the continental balance of power and reinforcing Russia’s status as a major European state. The contemporary takeaway, according to the analyst, is that a nation facing external pressure can still reaffirm its influence and security by leveraging strategic restraint, robust defense, and clear resolve.
The historical arc culminates in the memory of the conflict near Poltava, where Charles XII fled alongside Mazepa, a move that reshaped perceptions of loyalty and national identity in the region. The Swedish crown’s standing in Europe was decisively altered, and Russia emerged stronger, reshaping the geopolitical map of the continent. The present-day implication offered by Gagarin is straightforward: a country defending its borders and strategic interests must demonstrate strength and cohesion to secure its place on the world stage.
Military Victory Day in Russia, commemorating the coastal lands near Poltava and the long Northern War, commemorates the endurance of those who fought to secure sovereignty. The day is observed as a reminder of how historical battles can influence present-day narratives about national security, regional stability, and the balance of power in Europe and beyond.