History of the Ukraine

This article presents a summary of the history of the Ukraine. The Ukraine is a Pays of Europe of the East, 2nd larger of Europe. It has an outlet on the Black Sea in the south, and of the borders with the Russia in the east, the Bielorussia in north and the Poland, the Slovakia, the Romania, the Hungary and the Moldavie in the west.

Prehistory and antiquity

The first groupings known to populate what is the Ukraine today were the Indo-European ones of Iranian language septendrionale: the Scythian Cimmériens, and the Sarmates, which were joined and influenced by the Greek by the Crimea. A hellenized Scythian kingdom, Bosphoranie, was formed at the 3rd century before our era around the Sea of Azov; its brilliant capital was Panticapée (Kertch). In Ier century of our era, this one becomes a state-customer of the Romains, become the " thereafter; Byzantins". From the 3rd century of our era the Goths and other wandering people followed one another during II. Among these people, the Antes are of an private interest for the Ukrainians, because it is thought that the Handles are a civilization protoslave. Many objects Trypiliens go up at that time.

Whereas various Turkish-speaking or Finno-ugric people follow one another of is in west along the Black Sea (Huns, Avars, Bulgares, Khazars, Magyars, Péchénègues, Coumans and Tatars Mongolian), the Slavic Tribus peacefully occupy the Western, central Ukraine and septendrionale as from the 6th century: they played a big role in the foundation of Kiev.

The State de Kyiv

At the 9th century, Kyiv was taken with the Khazars by the Varègue (Eastern Viking) Oleh Wise the. Located on lucrative commercial roads, Kyiv quickly became the center of a powerful Slavic State, called " Rus" or Ruthénie (the name d'" Ukraine" , which means " go frontalière" in ruthene, is due to the expansion of Moscovie, well later). At the 11th century, the Ruthénie was geographically the vastest State of Europe. Into 988, under the reign of Volodymyr Large the, a Christian missionary, Cyrille, converts the aristocracy kyivienne (especially Varègue) and the majority of the population.

Under the reign of Yaroslav Wise the, the prestige of the State kyivien reaches its apogee: it extends from the Baltique to the Black Sea and from the confluence of the Oka with the the Volga until the Carpates septendrionales. Yaroslav was a large builder, it is him which made build celebrates it Cathédrale Sviata- Sofiya (Holy-Sophie in Kyiv, and a large legislator. The right, education, architecture and art kiévien will know an impressive revival under its reign.

The succession with the throne of Kyiv is not hereditary in hot line: the capacity goes to the oldest member of the princely family. The territory is divided into various hierarchical prerogatives which, according to their power, goes to a more or less old member of the dynasty. The death of one of them involves the passage of the other princes to the higher prerogative. This system generates many conflicts and, in the long term, the decline of the State. Kyiv was ransacked by the prince of Vladimir (1169). External covetousnesses are done stronger. Kyiv is plundered by the Coumans then by Tatars Mongolian in 1240. Consequently, the principalities ruthenes had to recognize the sovereignty of the Mongols. The Mongolian authority was very cruel, in particular out of penal matter, and the people often fled towards other countries like the Poland, the Hungary or the Moldavie.

Galicie-Volhynie

The principality of Galicie succeeded the State of the Ruthénie on the territory of the Western Ukraine of today. It most powerful of was pricipautés ruthenes, including the Volhynie soon (or Vladimirie) and making Moldavie its vassal. During this period (13th-14th century), each principality ruthene followed its own policy; those of the North-East (Tchernihiv, Pereiaslav) approached the Russian principalities such Novgorod or Moscow, while those of the center (Kiev and Turov) sought Lithuanian alliance. In 1253 that the pope granted to prince Daniel de Galicie (Danylo Halytskyï) the royal crown which it held until its death in 1264. But the kingdom of Galicie-Volhynie became finally him also vassal Mongolian Empire, while continuing to seek the support of other Europeans (Polish, Lituaniens).

Lituano-Polish domination

During the 14th century, the Poles and the Lithuanians fought the Mongols and finally warps the septentrional Ukraine passed under the authority of the Poland and the Lithuania. They annex Kiev in 1362. Tatars are maintained on the littoral of the Black Sea and in the Crimea; however, of 1382 to 1484, the Grand-Duchy of Lithuania reached the Black Sea on the side of Otchakiv (towards current Odessa).

Lithuania took the control of the Volhynie in the North-West of the Ukraine (including the areas around Kiev). As for Poland, it took the control of the Galicie. Following the union between Poland and Lithuania, concluded in 1385, an intense policy of repopulation takes place: of the Poles, Moldavians, German S, Arménie NS and the Juifs immigrated in the country. Many cities and villages were founded. The nobility of Western Ukraine “was often polonisée”. The Polish legislation is introduced in Western Ukraine in 1434. If Poland follows a relatively tolerant policy with respect to orthodoxy, Catholicism progresses in the territories under its domination.

The Polish influence penetrates more slowly in the territories concerned with the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. Orthodoxy keeps its prevalence there. However, the power struggles within the State polono-Lithuanian turn to the advantage of the Poles. The Union of Lublin (January 1569) devotes the triumph of Poland. Lithuania loses most of its Ukrainian possessions (Podlachie, Volhynie, Podolie, area of Bratslav and Kiev). The nobility of these areas polonise and converts with Catholicism. The orthodoxe high-clergy is tried by the bringing together with Rome. The métropolite of Kiev and part of the high-clergy, in reaction against the reforming interventions of the patriarch of Constantinople, joins in Rome at the time of the council of Brešč (Brest-Litovsk) in 1590.

It is during this lituano-Polish domination, as from the 15th century, that the Cosaques were formed, of the peasants orthodoxe ruthenes which refused the constraint and the assimilation with the Poles Catholique S. the kingdom of Poland tolerates them and uses them against Tatars, then, as from the 16th century, against the Othoman Turks, become suzerains of Tatars of the Crimea.

The State cossack, embryo of the Ukrainian nation

At the 16th century, several Cosaques risings took place against the Polish nobility of which most famous was carried out by Hetman cossack Severyn Nalyvaïko in 1594. The hetman Petro Sahaïdatchnyi contributed to the creation of an arts center in Kiev and sought to unify the army cossack with the nobility and the clergy ruthenes. In 1648, the hetman Bohdan Khmelnytskyi is raised in its turn against Poland. The May 16th, combined with the Tatares of the Crimea and the Russians of Moscow, it beats the Poles with Jovti Vody and the May 26th with Korsoun. It was the beginning of the war of liberation which shook the foundations and the stability of the lituano-Polish union. This rising finally led to the birth of an autonomous Cosaque territory called " Ukraine" (" marche") in the basin of Dniepr, between Poland and Russia. The Ukraine of Left bank was integrated into Russia as Hetmanat cossack following the Traité of Pereïaslav in 1654 and the Russo-Polish war which was followed from there. The Cossacks fought Poland, later Russia for their independence. With the turning of the 18th century, Hetmanat was among the countries best taught reading and writing of all Europe. There were schools in the majority of the villages, the Ukrainian Cossacks were known to be people educated very well. The hetmans Bohdan Khmelnytskyï, Petro Sahaïdatchnyï and Ivan Mazeppa could speak several languages.

Divisions, Russian and Austrian domination

We are now in 1708, the hetman Ivan Mazeppa makes recognize independence by Charles XII of Sweden but as of 1709, the tsar Pierre I {{er}} beats Ivan Mazeppa and the Swedes with Poltava. The Cossacks become vassal of Russia, which uses them in its expansion against the Ottoman Empire and Poland. As for the south of the Ukraine, it was under the control of the Othoman Empire .

In 1772, at the time of the 1st division of Poland, Galicie (Ukraine of the west) became Austrian. In 1793, at the time of the 2nd division, Catherine the Large one, empress of Russia, removes the autonomy of the Cossacks, and extends the Russian Empire to the Black Sea. The three quarters of the current Ukraine are consequently Russian. Bucovine and Bessarabia is still Moldavian, while the county of Marmatie, current Ruthénie transcarpatic is still Hungarian.

The Ukrainian intellectuals and writers (in particular Tarass Chevtchenko) took as a starting point the nationalist spirit which stirred up the other people of Europe subjected to various Empires, and decided to revive the Ukrainian language, and the cultural traditions ruthenes in order to constitute a State-Nation. The Russians in particular were virulent against any attempt to raise the language Ukrainian, going until prohibiting its use and its study. The fate of the Ukrainians was more positive under the Austrians or the Moldavians. In 1892, Kiev account nearly a half-million inhabitants, but it is a Russianized city, whereas with Lviv (Lemberg) and Tchernivtsi (Cernauti) of the Ukrainian religious organizations thrive.

The Ukraine remained divided between the Empires Austrian and Russian until the Revolution of February 1917.

Independent Ukraine (1917-1920)

Whereas the First World War and the Russian Révolution destroyed the Empires Russian and Austrian, the Ukrainians declared their independence. They created as of the March 17th 1917 the Verkhovna Rada (Split central of Ukraine) whose Mykhaïlo Hrouchevskyï became president the March 27th and 1918 will remain to it until April. In October 1917 the general Pavlo Skoropadski was named hetman, while the Révolution of October reversed the Russian Provisional government. The November 20th, Split it central proclaims the Ukrainian national République (UNR), recognized by France and Great Britain in January 1918, and declares its independence the January 22nd 1918. However, the offensive of the Bolsheviks constrained the government to leave Kiev in February 1918.

In March 1918, by the armistice of Brest-Litovsk, Lénine delivers the Ukraine to the German occupants, who allow the return of the government Kiev. But one period of terrible disorders follows: German irregular forces, relaxed Russian troops, anarchists of Nestor Makhno, various Ukrainian factions (pro-allied, pro-allemandes or pro-Bolsheviks) clash, plundering cities and villages. The April 29th, Mikhaïlo Hrouchevskyï is re-elected president, but a preserving coup d'etat proclaims Pavlo Skoropadskyï hetman State of Ukraine. It is again a period of Hetmanat, which will be short since it will last until November 1918, date on which an insurrection of the Directoire beats new the hetman the November 18th close to Motovylivka. Volodymyr Vynnytchenko then Simon Petlioura will be then the presidents of the Directory of the national Republic Ukrainian until October 1920. Moreover during year 1919 that the Ukraine was shaken by multiples Pogrom S against the Juif S.

At the same time and following the fall of the Empire Austro-Hungarian, a national République of Western Ukraine (ZUNR) is proclaimed on November 9th with Lviv but the government had to be established with Ternopil after the occupation of Lviv by the Polish forces. The January 22nd 1919, UNR and ZUNR are linked, but at the same time, the Germans withdraw themselves, and at their place arrive of the white Russian troops (directed by the general Dénikine and supported by Franco-British the Alliées armies), the Red Army of the Bolsheviks, the Ukrainian army of Simon Petlioura and the " Makhnovchtchina " anarchist. It is again a generalized confrontation.

Towards the end of 1919 and first half of 1920, the Bolsheviks end up overriding the other belligerents, and the ex-Russian part of the Ukraine, with Kiev for capital, is integrated into the the USSR created in 1922, while the ex-Austrian part, with Lviv for principal city, is integrated into Poland in 1921. The small transcarpatic Ukraine , formerly Hungarian woman and briefly independent in November 1918, voted its fastening with the Czechoslovakia and as for the Bucovine, its Ukrainian minority voted its fastening with the Romania: these two areas avoided the sovietization thus. It should be noted that the ZUNR continued to exist in exile until in 1923.

The Soviet period

December 30th, 1922, the USSR was born from the treaty which joined together RSFSR, the Bielorussia, the Ukraine and the Transcaucasia. In the conflict which opposed the Communists of the center (Moscow) and the Communist parties national, it is the center which carried it and imposed a federation.

When Stalin started his industrial revolution as from 1927, the Ukraine became one of the essential sources of its financing. The years of industrialization were remembered by the construction of the largest hydro-electric power station of Europe on the Dniepr (the DnieproGuES), which contributed to the electrification of the Republic, as well as an important development of the large field and metallurgical, the Donbass.

After a short period of ukrainisation at the end of the Twenties, resulting in the return to the source language in the publications, the reopening of the schools and the universities with an Ukrainian teaching in and the promotion of the national executives, Stalin did not spare his efforts to repress the least sign of an Ukrainian national alarm clock, interpreted like a rejection of the capacity Stalinien and a threat with the integrity of the Soviet Union.

The martyrdom of the Ukrainians started in 1922 with a first Famine following the Russian Civil war then sadly celebrates famine of 1933 (that the Ukrainians call Holodomor ) caused by forced collectivizations and who made up to eight million deaths. It was the last great famine of Europe. The Stalinist mode then prevailed with innumerable deportations and assassinations, especially of Ukrainian intellectuals. These executions and deportations are orchestrated by its mode lasting the purgings of 1937-1938: a few million Ukrainians is carried out or sent towards of the Soviet camps of work. Moreover, the Kremlin which preached the atheism of state attacks with the religious symbols, of which churches and cathedrals while destroying more than 250 buildings.

After the invasion of the Poland in 1939 by the German and Soviet troops, the Polish areas with strong Ukrainian minority were annexed by the Soviet Union and were incorporated in the Western Ukraine. When the Nazi Germany and the the USSR cut up the Romania in June 1940, of new areas were incorporated in the socialist Soviet republic of Ukraine: the northern part of the Bucovine, where they were majority, and the Boudjak, where they were the most minority (but where they devînrent majority when Ukrainians of Kouban vînrent to replace the German of repatriated Bessarabia of force in the Third Reich).

The Ukraine increases its territory thus, but the Stalinist mode was such, that when the Nazi Germany invades the USSR in 1941 (see: Operation Barbarossa), much of Ukrainians, especially those of the west formerly Polish or Rumanian citizens, accommodated the Wehrmacht as a liberator. A certain number of Ukrainians collaborated with German, in particular under the S.T.O and the Organization Todt; others began in the police force, UVV, the Hiwi S, even the 14 division of Waffen S, known as Galizien .

Several thousands of Ukrainians joined, them, the Ukrainian insurrectionary Armée (UPA), resistance network of Stepan Bandera. In addition, several million Ukrainians fought the Nazis within the Red Army. In the battle of surrounding of Kiev, more than 660.000 Soviet soldiers were captured: the majority died in captivity.

The June 22nd 1941, the organization of the Ukrainian nationalists of Will bandage proclaimed the independence of the Ukraine with Lviv. After fighthaving actively fought the Germans, as of 1942, the Ukrainian insurrectionary Armée (UPA) with Will bandage will continue its resistance against Soviet, until his complete destruction in 1954.

In 1943, the Red Army releases the Ukraine. The survivors of the German Stalags, the Ukrainians who had served the Germans, and also the members of the UPA, were claimed by the Soviet Union in 1945, for the majority repatriated of force by the Allies, and interned with the treacherous Gulag like : they perished there (details in the Gulag Archipelago ISBN 2-02-004357-2). At the end of the war, the losses Ukrainian rise to 8 million people including 1,377 million Soviet soldiers of Ukrainian nationality (15,9% of the total losses of the Red Army). In 1945, to underline its role in the defeat of the Nazis, UNO makes of the Ukraine, at the same time as of the USSR and Bielorussia, one of the founding members of this organization. The USSR will thus lay out to with it 3 votes instead of one.

In 1945, Stalin removes in Czechoslovakia Ruthénie transcarpatic formerly Hungarian (until 1918) and attaches it to the socialist Soviet republic of Ukraine. Lastly, in 1954, its successor Nikita Khrouchtchev, to mark the 300e birthday of the Treated of Pereïaslav, transferred the the Crimea to the R.S.S. from Ukraine, from which the territorial unit is thus completed.

Starting from 1955, with the relative period of liberalization started under Nikita Khrouchtchev, the Ukrainian Communists started to continue national targets. And it is during the liberalization brought by the Perestroïka of Mikhaïl Gorbatchev that these objectives could be concretized. The Popular movement of Ukraine “Roukh”, the first independent political party Ukrainian, was thus founded in 1989.

In 1986, in the town of Pripiat, close to Tchernobyl, a explosion took place in a Nuclear plant which became the most important nuclear catastrophe of the century after Kyshtym (Ourtal, 1954), and which contaminated not only the Ukraine, the Belorusse and Russia, but also of other countries of the Europe.

It is only into 1989 that the liberalization of the Soviet mode and the release of the political prisoners made it possible to the Ukrainians to be organized to defend their rights. In 1989, the Ukrainian National movement, Roukh, were created. At the time of the elections of March 1990, the Ukrainian parties of the democratic block then obtained approximately 25% of the seats at the Parliament. Under the influence of the democratic deputies, the Parliament adopted, on July 16th, 1990, the Declaration on the political sovereignty of the Ukraine. It was the first step towards the complete independence of the Ukraine. This one was proclaimed on August 24th, 1991 and was confirmed by the referendum of December 1st, 1991: 90,5% voters voted for independence. The following week, the USSR ceased existing following the dissolution decided during the meeting with Minsk of the leaders Russian, Ukrainian and Belorusse.

Independent Ukraine (since 1991)

The December 12th, Leonid Kravtchouk is elected president of the Republic. Conflicts of interest then oppose the Ukraine to Russia in particular on the statute of the the Crimea and on the control of the fleet of the Black Sea.

In 1994, Leonid Koutchma, former Prime Minister, is elected with the presidency of the Republic and will be re-elected in 1999.

Starting from this second mandate, Koutchma will be disputed more and more for corruption affairs, removals of journalists and other electoral pressures and towards the press.

Its mandate should have been completed in November 2004 with the presidential election - but the Orange revolution and the cancellation of the second turn, prolonged this one until January 23rd, 2005.

The January 23rd 2005, Viktor Iouchtchenko lends oath before the Parliament, becoming thus officially the third president of the Ukraine post-Soviet. As of the January 24th, Ioulia Timochenko is named Prime Minister by interim.

The January 4th, the Ukrainian government finds an arrangement with Russia on the price of the Natural gas. Henceforth, the Ukraine will pay approximately twice more expensive its gas (95 Dollar S the 1.000 m ³, against 50 before). This agreement strongly irritates the Parliament, a coalition is formed to vote a motion of censure against the government. The January 10th, motion is voted by 250 votes for and 50 against, out of the 450 members of the member of Parliament, the necessary majority is of 226 votes. The government will remain in place until the nomination of a new Prime Minister. Thing which could arrive only after the legislative elections, envisaged the March 26th.

After long months of negociations and negotiations to form a majority at the Parliament and a government, Viktor Iouchtchenko decides to appoint Viktor Ianoukovitch Prime Minister the August 3rd 2006 (several hours after the constitutional deadline to indicate one of them), validated by the Parliament the 4.

After months of conflicts between Iouchtchenko and Ianoukovitch and many deputies busy of the opposition to the majority coalition (in an unconstitutional way, according to the president), Iouchtchenko issues the dissolution of the Parliament the April 2nd 2007. Split supreme qualified this decision of anticonstitutional. The partial legislative elections were fixed at September 30th.

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