I sense some people are puzzled. 1st Independence? What? Yes, in 1918 when the Muscovy empire collapsed because of the bolshovik (communist) revolution. Unfortunately Ukrainian independence was hamstrung by russians in Kyiv and other major cities. They even sent an Army that got beat near Chernihiv
300 Ukrainian Military Officer Cadets and Kozak Calvary defeated 3000 communists heading towards Kyiv. Unfortunately, this wasn't enough. Stalin the butcher took over the Soviet empire after Lenin died. He pushed collective farms idea and stole food from the Ukrainians and Kazaks (Ukrainians).
Over 14 million Ukrainians were murdered by starvation (Holodomor) In a decree stalin made a law stating that if a Ukrainian man, woman or child held more than 7 sheafs of Wheat, they were to be shot
Be sure to watch @andreachalupa.bsky.social's Mr Jones. This movie, bunker dwarf putin doesn't want anyone to see. So it was projected on many russian embassies around the world when this escalation started. Fuck putin. But I'll bee getting to the escalation later.
WW2 gets quite messy. As Ukrainians fought on both sides on the eastern front. The 14th SS Grenadier Division. They tried to get the best weapons to fight against the russians. Many other Ukrainians fought for the Soviets as Snipers, who did lots of damage against the higher ranks of the Germans.
For decades Ukrainians endured hardships under the Soviets. April 26, 1986 typical russian arrogance, ignorance, and incompetence came to light when disaster struck the Chernobil nuclear power plant, causing a partial meltdown and explosion.
All in the liquidation teams to try and clean up the area were exposed to lethal levels of radiation. A "sarcophagus" was built around the affected reactor to help contain the radiation. Later another structure was built and wheeled into place over the sarcophagus.
1989 The Berlin wall fell 1990 Ukrainians from Kyiv to Ternopil, to L'viv formed a human chain calling for the Independence of Ukraine. I remember talking with my Бабуся [Grandma] she was crying tears of joy when she heard about it.
Unfortunately, my Grandma passed away in Mar 1991, 5 months before Ukraine gained Independence again. When I was a child in the 1970's she sewed together a Ukrainian flag for me.
1994 Budapest agreement Ukraine wants to get rid of their nuclear weapons, as a result of the environmental damage caused by Chernobil. Signatories: USA, UK, Ukraine, and russia 1997 Friendship agreement: Russia affirms Ukrainian Sovereignty and borders
As much as I don't want to talk about him, time to talk about the dwarf in the room. This mid level mediocre KGB staffer goes from his posting in east Germany to become the king of corruption. 1991, when the KGB coup on Russian President Mikhail Gorbachev fails. The KGB is disbanded.
Thanks for the history lesson. The last part brought tears to my eyes.