From Olha to Armed Forces, Knyahynya Olha’s Legacy Lives On in Ukraine’s Fight for Sovereignty.
Knyahynya Olha holds the distinction of being the first female leader of Kyivan Rus, which is the ancestor of modern-day Kyiv. Despite widespread presumptions of Kyiv’s weakness in the absence of male authority, Olha emerged as one of the most cunning and strategically adept rulers of the Tenth Century. Her reign brought significant military, economic, and geopolitical advancements to Kyiv. Olha’s leadership was defined by her capacity to safeguard Kyivan Rus against neighboring powers, including the Drevlians, Pechenegs, and Byzantines, through a combination of diplomatic efforts and calculated military action.
Perhaps most representative of her tactical ingenuity was her response to the Drevlian Tribe following their assassination of her husband, Prince Ihor, and their attempt to seize control of Kyiv through a marriage alliance between Olha and their prince. Olha recognized that accepting such a proposal would not be in the best interest of Kyiv, and desired vengeance for her the murder of her husband. However, rather than opting for immediate armed conflict, she orchestrated a campaign of deception and psychological warfare to dismantle Drevlian forces before open conflict ever began. Pretending to cooperate, she accepted the marriage proposal to the Drevlian prince and requested that his most trusted delegates be sent to Kyiv to accompany her to their city. Upon their arrival, Olha invited them to bathe in her bathhouse after their long journey. Once they were confined within the building, she sealed the doors shut and set it aflame, resulting in the complete elimination of the entire delegation.
Subsequently, Olha dispatched a second message to the Drevlians, informing them of her intent to arrive to their city with a small retinue of her men. She requested that they hold a feast upon her arrival to honor her late husband and celebrate her engagement to their prince. Trusting her intentions, they agreed. As Olha predicted, the Drevlian men progressively became more intoxicated throughout the celebration, and upon her signal, her guards executed approximately five thousand members of the opposition.
Her intentions now clear to everyone, Olha returned to Kyiv and officially declared war. With their forces already weakened, the Drevlians could not withstand the Kyivan army and were quickly forced to negotiate peace. When asked for her cease-fire conditions, Olha requested nothing other than three doves from each household. Pleasantly surprised at these seemingly generous terms, the Drevlians complied without suspicion. However, in a final strategic maneuver, Olha instructed her forces to tie sulfur-bound oak branches to the birds, which were then ignited and released. As the doves instinctively returned to their homes, the Drevlian capital was set aflame and quickly reduced to ashes.
Through this campaign, and many others, Olha not only secured Kyiv’s autonomy but also established it as a dominant power in the region. As a result, she came to be revered as the “Shield of Kyiv.” In the context of Ukraine’s contemporary war, this responsibility and honor has been assumed by the Ukrainian Armed Forces- today’s “Shield of Kyiv.”
In the early days of the war in Ukraine, the Ukrainian military was broadly underestimated, much like Olha in her time. Analysts predicted Kyiv’s collapse within three days of the full-scale Russian invasion in 2022. Yet, more than three years later, Ukraine continues to battle to defend its sovereignty. This perseverance is not incidental. It is the product of a national history rooted in existential struggle and continuous resistance to imperial domination. When a nation has spent its entire history fighting not only for its sovereignty but also for its very identity as a people, such a history forges a deep-rooted nationalism and unwavering determination to survive. While Ukraine has demonstrated the strength and resolve necessary to win battles, the sustainability of its war effort depends heavily on international material support. DOKO recognizes that strategic resourcing for the Ukrainian military is a vital mechanism for national survival. Inspired by the legacy of Knyahynya Olha, and through the emulation of her wit, strategy, and leadership, DOKO is committed to supporting Ukrainian Special Operational Forces in safeguarding the hard-won liberties of generations of Ukrainians and securing a sovereign future for those yet to come.