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Russian Ethnic Groups, a Brief History

In the early 9th century a Scandanavian tribe called the Varangians migrated across the Baltic Sea and landed in Eastern Europe. Over the next 300 years they created a vast trading empire centered around the Slavic city of Kiev (now the capital of Ukraine).

In 1237 the Mongols invaded, and for the next 250 years the city-states of Kiev and Moscow were under Mongolian (Tatar) influence and rule. Although characterized as plundering barbarians, the Mongols also brought art, science, astronomy, and engineering advances to the lands they ruled.

The Mongols were finally overthrown in 1480 by Ivan The Great. Under the rule of his grandson, Ivan The Terrible (the first tsar), Russian influence was expanded to include vast new territories and their indigenous tribes.

Russians are the major ethnic group today at more than 80% of the population, followed by Tatars at almost 4%, Ukrainians 3%, and less than 1% each for Moldavians, Belarussians and Bashkirians.