Novgorod was also independent of Muscovy. Very good.

I recommend this book.

The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine

https://www.amazon.com/Gates-Europe-History-Ukraine-ebook/dp/B01LL8BRXS/ref=sr_1_3?crid=3OLHE8F5MMPS2&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.KXUlLHLs_Gqyiwsw5TrPF-9h9THBaL0aGkAvcrQGleaUFxusrKqSOuOaBgw3_xNF0ChoB7uaXWT-rNlfet4IvdV3j4RVX1i34Gr_B1rNTyPH3fTU9vwXZC1PqVDdI4957pqydkE2mzpA04yVZuVvmWtDhEXevyWXMOHUIO4xVJ0uGLzZoLfMQT5ytCV8SEHkjSTK8ZFEsJNZ7GI85V9yuL0PGLa3XIZ8WY9WWxV-Goj12AwsUClZqQHGUqk7DBoOzY7qUyJUFS1IeupdG2ZiHzKsIR2Dr_94VGueICS6szfemI3tu2yV4-T5BKSRZFMbbc3RJVE07E4YiLUtCt5mZZ_K5yMURuNqfPeUKQBp_OknUBD87m_usujk9k4uC4L7nm0MoMI9__gbuU0cAXg-am3jkhsvJ4BDMVnA4q5nPu_hCgxeo27C417W40KIp_Ac.sGLrhG4xAV-Ca4n2Tmdz5KibL_Rv4j5yxi2Q7bfSf7w&dib_tag=se&keywords=Ukraine+history&qid=1734458981&sprefix=ukraine+history%2Caps%2C170&sr=8-3

It’s really not complicated and it goes to antiquity.

It’s an excellent introduction to the history of Ukraine. Modern day imperial Russia intends to erase Ukrainian history, with a lot of other histories. It’s what old fashioned imperialists do. One way they do this is by claiming that ancient history for themselves. It also goes into the complicated relationship between these two Slavic people…the third is Belarus in case you were wondering.