2026

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PHJ № 2 (50) 2026 — A. V. Ashikhmin. THE ADMINISTRATIVE-TERRITORIAL STRUCTURE OF PRE-REFORM RUSSIA: THE EVOLUTION OF HISTORIOGRAPHICAL CONCEPTS

Administrative and territorial changes have been a subject of considerable interest in historical literature for over 150 years. Indeed, they constituted an integral part of state reforms during the 18th and the first half of the 19th centuries. Concurrenting with the evolution of historical conceptions concerning these transformations (notably the reforms initiated by Peter the Great and Catherine the Great), methodological frameworks employed for the study of the territorial configuration of the empire have undergone significant refinement. During the historical transformation of these issues, several significant models can be identified. They include the transition from historical and statistical methods in the late 18th and early 19th centuries to positivist studies in the Imperial period, followed by a period of neglect of the topic in Soviet historiography. This was followed by a revival of interest and the return to historical and geographical studies. The recent post-Soviet interest in this area has resulted in the emergence of both new positivist works of high quality and works that challenge recent historiographic approaches, such as “new imperial history”, modernization theory and regionalism. The historical understanding of the role of administrative-territorial divisions in state reform in the Russian Empire represents a promising area for research, supported not only by recent publications but also by the presence of specialised institutions both in the capital and in major cities across the country.

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PHJ № 2 (50) 2026 — B. A. Nikishin. THE TRANSFORMATION OF THE PHILOSOPHY OF POWER IN THE POLITICAL WORLDVIEW OF PAUL I: RESEARCH SOURCES AND CONTEMPORARY RUSSIAN HISTORIOGRAPHY (1994–2024)

The paper deals with the evolution of Pavel Petrovich’s political views on the state structure of Russia in contemporary historiography (1994–2024). This examination is based on a thorough study of key sources and the identification of factors that significantly influenced the formation of Paul I’s philosophy of power. The general atmosphere of the Enlightenment era, Pavel Petrovich’s close communication with his tutors, the role of book collections in the Grand Duke’s libraries, complex relations with the Empress and her favourites, and the heir’s exclusion from participation in state administration are noted. An analysis of Grand Duke Pavel Petrovich’s notes has the potential to facilitate a more comprehensive understanding of the transformation of political thought in Russia during the transition from the 18th to the 19th centuries. By the conclusion of Catherine II’s reign, the discrepancy between Enlightenment ideals and the rapidly evolving historical landscape had become increasingly evident. It is evident that Pavel’s perspectives underwent a transformation, evolving from the constitutional principles espoused by N. I. Panin — D. I. Fonvizin system of governance is characterised by its extreme centralisation and regulation, which are indicative of a militarypolice system of governance.

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PHJ № 2 (50) 2026 — I. I. Barinov. “I BEG YOU TO DO SOMETHING TO AVERT THE TROUBLES…”. LETTERS FROM EDGAR AMMENDE TO HIS BROTHER EWALD AMMENDE (1921)

The publication unveils hitherto unpublished correspondence between the Estonian public figure Ewald Ammende (1892–1936) and his brother, the merchant Edgar Ammende (1894–1978), who was imprisoned by the Cheka in Moscow. The published documents provide illuminating insights into the diplomatic tensions that characterised the initial establishment of Soviet-Estonian relations during the period 1920–1921. Moreover, they offer a comprehensive perspective on the intricacies of the revolutionary era that characterised the early years of Soviet rule in Russia.

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PHJ № 2 (50) 2026 — L. V. Klimovich. HISTORIAN NIKOLAI IVANOVICH ULYANOV — LIFE AS AN “ADVENTURE NOVEL”. BOOK REVIEW: BAZANOV P. N. PROTECTION OF THE UNITY OF RUSSIA: THE LIFE AND WORK OF HISTORIAN NIKOLAI ULYANOV. ST. PETERSBURG: ROSTOCK PUBL., 2025. 688 P.

The reviewed book is a documentary investigation of the biography of Nikolai Ivanovich Ulyanov, a prominent representative of the Russian emigration of the second wave, a historian, cultural critic, and public figure. Drawing upon a plethora of unpublished sources, the eminent specialist in the history of the Russian diaspora, P. N. Bazanov, chronicles the life of his subject, who was born in the Russian Empire, was apprehended and incarcerated in the USSR, twice escaped from German captivity, was abducted by the Nazis to work in Germany, was designated a “displaced person”, and subsequently became a prominent researcher on the history of Russia, issues of state integrity, and problems of Ukrainian separatism. The review concludes that the book has indisputable advantages, namely reliability, maximum objectivity, consistency, correctness of presentation and conclusions drawn from a wide range of sources and research literature.

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PHJ № 2 (50) 2026 — P. V. Krylov. REVIEW OF A MONOGRAPH WITH PUBLICATION OF SOURCES: TOKAREVA E. S. THE VATICAN IN THE FOCUS OF SOVIET POLICY AND PROPAGANDA. 1921–1941. MOSCOW, VES’ MIR PUBL., 2023. 784 P.

The present review examines the book by E. S. Tokareva, which is dedicated to the relations between the Holy See and Soviet Russia in 1921–1941, with the publication of relevant documents. The book elucidates the modus operandi of the Republic of Soviets’ non-public diplomacy towards the Roman Catholic Church in the context of overcoming the diplomatic blockade of the USSR by the leading world powers.

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PHJ № 3 (51) – Table of Contents

Table of Contents pdf-версия В блокадном Ленинграде: 1941-1944 E. Yu. Basargina A Book Donated by the Royal Society of London to the USSR Academy of Sciences in Memory of Isaac Newton’ Tetcentenary Е. Ю. Басаргина Книжный дар Лондонского Королевского общества Академии наук СССР в память о 300-летнем юбилее И. Ньютона ……………………………………………………………………………………………9 E. G. Zastrozhnova “Finland Station — Ladoga Lake — Motorcade”: To the History of the Evacuationof the Scientific Staff and Animals of the Pavlov Institute of Physiology in 1941 Е. Г. Застрожнова «Финляндский вокзал — Ладожское озеро — автоколонны»:к истории эвакуации научного состава и животных Института физиологииим. И. П….

PHJ № 3 (51) – E. Yu. Basargina. A BOOK DONATED BY THE ROYAL SOCIETY OF LONDON TO THE USSR ACADEMY OF SCIENCES IN MEMORY OF ISAAC NEWTON’ TERCENTENARY

Based on archival documents, the article reconstructs the events of I. Newton’s 300th anniversary, which occurred on the Second World War. In the USSR, the anniversary of the English genius became a significant event in both scientific and political life. The Soviet government used the scientific celebration for propaganda purposes, as a political message to the Allies to urge them to rid humanity of German fascism as soon as possible through the victory of the arms of the allied and united countries. In gratitude for the widespread commemoration of the great English scientist in the USSR, the Royal Society of London presented the USSR Academy of Sciences with a copy of the first edition of I. Newton’s book “Philosophiae naturalis principia mathematica” (1687), which is currently kept in the St. Petersburg branch of the RAS Archives. The book has a donation inscription and signatures of members of the Council of the Royal Society of London, which the author identified. The imprint on the title page of the book indicates that it is a rarity even among first edition copies. The rarity of the copy, its design, and the autographs of 21 fellows of the Royal Society as well make this copy a unique monument to the history of science. It is emphasized that the gift was not just a gesture of politeness, but the result of complex political and cultural interaction between the two allied countries.