The title illustration and the one below were found in the book ‘Zhivopisnaya Rossiya‘, vol. 5 that was published in 1897. The illustration below show the remains of the castle near Dubno in Volyn principality in the Western Ukraine.
The title image to the article shows the remains of the castle near the city of Poltava which is to the south-east of Kyiv. Both the images show that Kyiv Rus built much stronger fortifications than most people think.
The reason why Kyiv Rus is often portrayed with wooden fortifications is explained by Muscovy-Russian occupation of Ukrainian lands and history. Here is what a British traveller observed in 1790:
“When they [the Muscovites-Russians] settled in the country [Taurica-Crimea], the remains of the city of Chersonesus were so considerable, that all its gates were standing. These they soon demolished; and, proceeding in their favourite employment laying waste, they pulled down, broke, buried, and destroyed whatever they could find which might serve to illustrate its former history; blowing up its ancient foundations; tearing open tombs; overthrowing temples; and then, removing the masses of stone to Aktiar, exposed them for sale, by cubic measure, to serve as materials in building. If the Archipelago [Aegean Islands] should fall under the dominion of Russia, the fine remains of ancient Greece will be no more; Athens will be razed, and not a stone left to mark where the city stood. Turks are men of taste and science, in comparison with Russians…”
Tauric Chersonesus vandalized by Russians in the 18th century >
< Description of Kyiv fortifications of the 17th century
‘Gardariki, Ukraine‘ ebook has more information on the subject.
