Let't say Genghis Khan never unites the Mongols. The Mongol continue being a menace to China and Central Asia, but they never reach the territory of the successor states of Kievan Rus, let alone conquer them. No Mongo empire is ever created, at least non as huge as the one IOTL. ITTL, occassionaly, Turkic speaking peoples raid Kiev and other states, but they are never conquered, at least not for long.
How do these "Russian" states evolve? Do they unite, or do they remain separated? Does one of them conquer the rest?
How does their societies evolve? Will they still see themselves as members of the same culture, distinct from that of their Western, Eastern, Northern and Southern neighbours? Would their religion and common origin contribute to this sense of shared identity? Would Orthodox religion be an unifying force?
How would "Russian" languge evolve?
And what about society? Would serfdom eventualy become aswidespread as it would IOTL? Would they be more in touch with western European states (by comparison to OTL), or would religion act as a barrier for stronger links? Would there be autonomous cities, with civil liberties, as in parts of western Europe?
Would this alt Russia (or alt Russias) still expand southwards and eastwards?
And what about their culture? And their economic wellbeing?
Thoughts?