About Ukraine

History

Kiev Russ

Ukraine leads its history from the VII-VIII centuries when ancient Slavic tribes started their first state formations on its territory. More than 1100 years ago one the most powerful medieval European monarchy- Kiev Russ was created at the expanses of modern Ukraine. Kiev Russ was a cradle of three modern Slavic peoples - Ukrainian, Russian and Byelorussian. In XII-XIII centuries this state collapsed and during next four hundred years Ukrainian lands for many times fell into a dependence of various conquerors - Mongols, Lithuanians, Poles.

Zaporozhian Sich

After a long period of fighting for its independence Ukrainian state appeared on a European political map as Zaporozhian Sich. Then after a short period of independence that was a result of a victory in national-liberation war of Bohdan Khmelnitsky (1648-1654) follow centuries of colonial existence of Ukraine divided mostly between Russian Empire Poland and Austria (since 1772).

Revolution

Revolution broke up monarchy and Russian Empire in 1917 and on January 22 1918 Ukrainian People's Republic was proclaimed. During 1917-1921 Ukrainian territories were an arena of hardened fighting between Ukrainian troops, Polish, German Armies and Red Army of Soviet Russia. As a result Western Ukrainian lands were gobbled by Poland, Hungary, Czechoslovakia and Romania, Soviet Power was proclaimed on the rest of Ukrainian territory. In 1922 Soviet Ukraine became a part of the Soviet Union. The 30-th years of XX century were the most tragic in Ukrainian history. Stalin regime in Moscow kept a consecutive policy of creation of agricultural crisis that is a starvation, destruction of social ground of Ukrainian national consciousness. During the period of Stalin repression accompanied by prohibition of Ukrainian Orthodox Church and physical extermination of national intelligentsia and 8 million of Ukrainian people. Being a part of USSR Ukraine kept some formal rights and indications of an independent state: own territory, organs of government, budget, heraldry, flag, anthem, Constitution. In 1945 Ukraine was one of members-founders of the United Nations. During the period 1944-1990 Ukraine became a member of 16 international organizations, took part in 156 international treaties and about 60 permanent and temporary international organs.

Declaration of State Sovereignty

On August 24, 1991 in accordance to the Declaration of State Sovereignty (06.16.1990) the Supreme Council of Ukraine proclaimed an Act of Independence. Its territory was proclaimed indivisible and inviolable. Since then Ukraine took its rightful place among the independent countries of the world.