my point being that I am under the impression that Galicia was originally Ukranian
Since ancient times the territory of Galicia was populated by Eastern Slavonic tribes. In the 10th century it became a part of Rus' - the state of the Eastern Slavons. In 1349 Galicia was captured by Poland and then became a Polish province. It was called Województwo Ruskie
(Ruthenian/Russian Voivodeship). In 1772 Galicia was captured by Austria. In 1918 Austro-Hungaria collapsed and Ukrainians in Galicia declared independence as the People's Republic of Western Ukraine. At the same time Poland declared independence too, and then immediately
went to war with PRWU. In a few months PRWU was defeated and conquered. In 1939 after Germany had started war with Poland the USSR regained its territory, conquered by Poland in 1919-20 (Western Byelorussia and Volhynia). USSR had also taken Galicia then. That was a
reuniting of Ukrainian people.
In the Middle Ages Russians, Ukrainians and Byelorussians spoke the same language (Old Russian).
In the 14th century, when Galicia was captured by Poland, people spoke Old Russian too there. At that time the word "ukraine" (ukrAina) meant borderland but there was no nation called Ukrainians. People in Galicia, Volhynia, Byelorussia (White Russia) and Russia called themselves Russians.
Later modern Russian, Ukrainian and Byelorussian languages have been formed.
People in modern Galicia speak Ukrainian.
So Galicia originally was the land of modern Galician Ukrainians' ancestors. In the early 20th century Galician Ukrainians treated well to Russia.
At that time (and even until the mid 20th century) Ukrainians in Galicia didn't call themselves "Ukrainians" but "Rusins".
There were many intellectuals who wanted Galicia to join to Russia (another part of them didn't want that). Thousands of pro-Russian Galicians were killed by Austrians in death camps Terezin
(Theresienstadt) and Thalerhof (this one was established specially for Rusins) during WW1, 60000 in total over all Galicia.
A key role in that genocide was played by anti-Russian Galician Rusins (as informers and even murderers). After that anti-Russian ideology won out in Galicia.
Millions of Ukrainians fought together with Russians for the Red Army against Nazis, but Galicians were Nazi collaborationists and USSR's enemies. Waffen SS killed millions of people during WW2 and are perpetrators, no matter what nationality they were - Germans or Ukrainians. Galicians served in SS and German death camps, they also helped to massacre the Jews in Galicia. That Hannia is one of modern Ukrainian neo-fascists.
