Brief History of Ukraine

This guide was written prior to Russia's 2022 invasion of Ukraine and is therefore not reflective of the current situation. Any plans to relocate to or visit Ukraine should be put on hold until the situation is stabilised, and all embassy safety directives should be followed.

A brief history of Ukraine

Early history

• 4500 BCE: The Cucuteni-Trypillian culture emerges in present-day Ukraine. Noteworthy for their early urban settlements, these people were advanced farmers and artisans, crafting intricate pottery and textiles.
• 882 CE: Ukraine becomes part of the Kievan Rus, a federation of Slavic tribes. This state unifies Eastern Europe, facilitating trade and cultural exchanges with the Byzantine Empire and Northern Europe.
• 988: Grand Prince Vladimir the Great of Kyiv converts to Christianity, adopting Eastern Orthodoxy. This move aligns Ukraine with Byzantine traditions and fortifies its political and cultural ties.
• 1240: The Mongol Empire invades, shattering the Kyivan Rus. This invasion leads to the region's fragmentation and a significant cultural and economic setback.
• 1657–1687: Ukraine experiences a cultural and political revival known as the Cossack Hetmanate. This autonomous state fosters a resurgence in Ukrainian culture, governance and military prowess.

Russian Empire

• 1793: Ukraine becomes part of the Russian Empire, and efforts are made to assimilate Ukrainians into the empire. Policies such as banning Ukrainian language publications and restricting education in Ukrainian aim to erode Ukrainian national identity. Russian leaders justified these policies as necessary for national unity and stability.

Revolution to WWII

• 1917: Following the February Revolution in Russia, the Ukrainian Central Rada is formed. This body declares autonomy in June and full independence as the Ukrainian People's Republic in January 1918, laying the groundwork for national self-determination.
• 1922: Ukraine is invaded by Soviet Russia and becomes part of the Soviet Union as the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. This marks the start of Soviet control. Soviet policies promoted some cultural expression but also imposed Russification, suppressing Ukrainian identity.
• 1932–1933: Ukraine suffers greatly during the Holodomor – a man-made famine caused by Stalin's forced collectivisation and grain requisition policies, leading to the death of millions of Ukrainians, ensuing peasant dissidence and Stalin's harsh crackdown on civil disobedience in the region. This event remains a source of trauma and resentment in Ukraine towards Russia.
• 1941–1944: During World War II, Ukraine is occupied by Nazi Germany. Ukrainians fight on both sides of the conflict, with a majority fighting in the Red Army, and the war results in mass destruction and significant loss of life, including the lives of 1.5 million Ukrainian Jews in the Holocaust.
• 1945: The end of World War II brings territorial expansion for Ukraine following the Soviet annexation of eastern Poland, previously agreed upon in the Hitler-Stalin Pact of 1939.

Post-Stalin to Independence

• 1954: Soviet leader Nikita Khrushchev transfers Crimea from the Russian SFSR to the Ukrainian SSR, strengthening Ukraine's territory within the Soviet Union. This move is later contested and becomes a focal point in Ukraine-Russia relations.
• 1986: The Chornobyl disaster occurs in Ukraine when a nuclear reactor explodes, causing widespread environmental damage and human suffering, with long-lasting health and ecological impacts.
• 1991: Ukraine declares independence from the Soviet Union following a referendum where 92 percent vote for independence. The country faces significant challenges transitioning to democracy, grappling with corruption, economic stagnation and political instability.

Independence

• 2000–2003: Ukraine seeks closer ties with the European Union and NATO, motivated by aspirations for democratic values, economic development, and geopolitical security. These moves face resistance from Russia, which views them as a threat to its regional influence.
• 2004: The Orange Revolution unfolds as mass protests challenge a disputed presidential election, resulting in a re-run and the election of Viktor Yushchenko. This revolution shifts Ukraine's orientation towards the West and strains relations with Russia.
• 2010: Viktor Yanukovych is elected President on a platform of uniting Ukraine's regions and strengthening relations with Russia while maintaining Ukraine's run for accession to the EU.
• 2013: Protests known as the Euromaidan movement erupt in Kyiv when Yanukovych halts plans to sign an Association Agreement with the European Union, opting instead for closer ties with Russia. Public discontent with corruption, a desire for European integration, and cultural identity issues drive the protests.

Russo-Ukrainian War

• 2014: Ukraine faces a major political crisis with the Euromaidan protests, leading to the ousting of President Yanukovych. In response, Russia seizes Crimea and backs an insurgency in eastern Ukraine, purportedly to safeguard Russian-speaking populations.
• 2014: Following Yanukovych's ouster, Russia organises a referendum on Crimea's unification with Russia. The results show an overwhelming majority in favour, but the vote is condemned as illegal by the Ukrainian government and most countries, particularly Western ones.
• 2014–2022: The conflict in eastern Ukraine intensifies as pro-Russian separatists, with support from Russia, seize parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The Minsk agreements, aimed at ceasing hostilities, are signed but fail to bring lasting peace.
• Thousands of civilians are displaced by the ongoing conflict, despite numerous ceasefire attempts. Ukraine adopts constitutional amendments cementing its aspirations to join the European Union and NATO. Russia's construction of the Kerch Strait Bridge connecting mainland Russia to Crimea is completed, further solidifying its control over the region.
• 2022: Russian forces launch a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, targeting major cities and attempting to overthrow President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's government, claiming the invasion is necessary to 'denazify' Ukraine and protect Russian-speaking citizens. Ukrainian forces mount a strong resistance, resulting in a prolonged and intense conflict.
• The United Nations, the European Union and numerous countries impose sanctions on Russia for its actions in Ukraine, providing extensive military and humanitarian aid to Ukraine. Sanctions target Russian officials, businesses and sectors of the Russian economy, aiming to pressure Russia to cease its aggression.
• 2024: As of early 2024, the conflict continues with no decisive end in sight. Over 400,000 Russian and Ukrainian military personnel have been killed or injured. Civilian casualties have exceeded 50,000, and more than 18 million people have been displaced or have fled the country. The humanitarian crisis remains severe, with widespread damage to infrastructure and ongoing needs for food, shelter and medical aid.