History of Ukraine in Timeline

Ukraine is a large Eastern European nation, second in size only to Russia on the continent. It shares borders with Russia to the east and northeast, Belarus to the north, Poland and Slovakia to the west, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova to the southwest, and the Black Sea and Sea of Azov to the south and southeast. Kyiv is the capital and largest city. The official language is Ukrainian.

1906: Opening of the Trans-Siberian Railway

In the ten years after the opening of the Trans-Siberian Railway in 1906, an additional 1.6 million people emigrated to the east.

1917: Formation of the Ukrainian People's Republic

In 1917, following the Russian Revolution, the short-lived Ukrainian People's Republic was formed.

1918: Foundation of Ukrinform

In 1918, the National News Agency of Ukraine, Ukrinform, was founded in Kyiv.

1921: End of fighting on Ukrainian soil

Fighting on Ukrainian soil persisted until late 1921, marking the end of turmoil that began with World War I.

1921: Famine hits the eastern provinces

In 1921, famine further hit the eastern provinces of Ukraine.

July 1922: Arrests and deportations of Ukrainian intellectuals began

In July 1922, arrests and deportations of Ukrainian intellectuals began in Soviet Ukraine and continued throughout the 1920s.

1922: Establishment of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic

In 1922, the Bolsheviks consolidated control over much of the former Russian Empire and established the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic, which became a constituent republic of the Soviet Union.

1932: Socialist Realism as State Policy

In 1932, Stalin made socialist realism state policy in the Soviet Union by enacting the decree "On the Reconstruction of Literary and Art Organisations", which stifled creativity.

1935: Abandonment of local autonomy

In 1935, after Piłsudski's death, the approach of offering local autonomy was abandoned due to continued unrest among the Ukrainian population.

September 1939: Division of Poland by German and Soviet troops

Following the invasion of Poland in September 1939, German and Soviet troops divided the territory of Poland and Eastern Galicia and Volhynia became part of Ukraine.

1939: Incorporation into the Soviet Union

In 1939, some western Ukrainians joined the Soviet Union.

1940: Further territorial gains

In 1940, the Ukrainian SSR incorporated the northern and southern districts of Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, and the Hertsa region.

June 1941: German armies invade the Soviet Union

On 22 June 1941, German armies invaded the Soviet Union initiating nearly four years of total war.

1942: Formation of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army

In 1942, in Western Ukraine, an independent Ukrainian Insurgent Army movement arose as the armed forces of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists.

1943: UPA massacres of ethnic Poles

From mid-1943 until the end of the war, the UPA carried out massacres of ethnic Poles in the Volhynia and Eastern Galicia regions.

1944: Ukrainian presence in Soviet resistance

By 1944, half of the Pro-Soviet partisan guerrilla resistance units, which counted up to 500,000 troops, were Ukrainian.

1945: Joining the United Nations

In 1945, Soviet Ukraine joined the United Nations as one of the original members.

1945: Founding member of the United Nations

In 1945, the Ukrainian SSR became one of the founding members of the United Nations.

1946: Famine in Ukraine

In 1946, a famine occurred in Ukraine, caused by drought and wartime destruction of infrastructure.

1947: Famine in Ukraine

In 1947, a famine occurred in Ukraine, caused by drought and wartime destruction of infrastructure.

1947: International recognition of territorial gains

In 1947, the territorial gains of the USSR were internationally recognised by the Paris peace treaties.

1950: Republic surpassed pre-war levels of industry and production.

By 1950, the republic had fully surpassed pre-war levels of industry and production.

January 1953: Ukrainians among "special deportees"

As of 1 January 1953, Ukrainians were second only to Russians among adult "special deportees", comprising 20% of the total.

1953: Nikita Khrushchev became the new leader of the USSR

Following the death of Stalin in 1953, Nikita Khrushchev became the new leader of the USSR.

1964: Leonid Brezhnev became General Secretary

In 1964, Leonid Brezhnev became General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

1982: Leonid Brezhnev was the General Secretary

Until 1982, Leonid Brezhnev was General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.

April 1986: Chernobyl disaster

On 26 April 1986, a reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded, resulting in the Chernobyl disaster, the worst nuclear reactor accident in history.

1986: Chernobyl Accident

Radiation contamination in the northeast of Ukraine resulted from the 1986 accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.

1988: Growth of Higher Education

By 1988, the number of higher education institutions in Ukraine increased to 146 with over 850,000 students during the Soviet period.

July 1990: Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine

On 16 July 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine as part of the parade of sovereignties.

August 1991: Proclamation of Independence

On 24 August 1991, Ukraine proclaimed outright independence following a failed coup in Moscow.

1991: Ukraine gains independence

In 1991, Ukraine gained independence as the Soviet Union dissolved, declaring itself neutral.

1991: Transition to Market Economy

In 1991, during its transition to a market economy, Ukraine experienced a deeper economic slowdown compared to other former Soviet Republics.

1991: Reestablishment of Ukrainian Independence

Literary freedom grew in the late 1980s and early 1990s alongside the decline and collapse of the USSR and the reestablishment of Ukrainian independence in 1991.

1991: Declaration of Independence

Since Ukraine's declaration of independence in 1991, the usage of "the Ukraine" has become politicised and is now rarer.

1991: Improvements Since Independence

The court system is considered to have been much improved since Ukraine's independence in 1991.

1992: Start of BBC Ukrainian Broadcasts

BBC Ukrainian started its broadcasts in 1992.

1992: Joining Security and Cooperation in Europe

In 1992, Ukraine joined the then-Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (now the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE)).

1992: Ukraine signs Lisbon Protocol

In 1992, Ukraine signed the Lisbon Protocol, agreeing to relinquish all nuclear weapons to Russia for disposal and to join the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty as a non-nuclear weapon state.

1992: Contributions to UN Peacekeeping

Since 1992, Ukraine has made contributions to UN peacekeeping operations.

1993: Peak Population in Ukraine

Following the dissolution of the Soviet Union, Ukraine's population hit a peak of roughly 52 million in 1993.

1993: Hyperinflation

In 1993, Ukraine suffered from hyperinflation, peaking at 10,000%.

1993: Bubka's Pole Vault Record

Sergey Bubka held the record in the Pole vault from 1993 to 2014.

1994: Signing of the Budapest memorandum

In 1994, Ukraine agreed to hand over nuclear weapons in exchange for guarantees of security and territorial integrity by signing the Budapest memorandum.

1994: Partnership with NATO

Since 1994, Ukraine has had a partnership with NATO.

June 1996: Adoption of the Constitution of Ukraine

The Constitution of Ukraine was adopted and ratified on 28 June 1996.

1996: Ukraine Becomes Free of Nuclear Weapons

By 1996 Ukraine had become free of nuclear weapons, following the 1992 Lisbon Protocol agreement.

1996: Adoption of a new constitution

In 1996, a new constitution was adopted in Ukraine as the country transitioned to a free market liberal democracy.

1998: Partnership and Cooperation Agreement

In 1998, the European Union's Partnership and Cooperation Agreement (PCA) with Ukraine went into force.

1998: Currency Crisis

In late 1998, the hryvnia, Ukraine's new currency, fell sharply partially as a fallout from the Russian debt default that year.

December 1999: EU Summit in Helsinki

The EU Summit in December 1999 in Helsinki recognised Ukraine's long-term aspirations but did not discuss association.

1999: Economic Recession

Between 1991 and 1999, Ukraine lost 60% of its GDP during the economic recession.

1999: UN Security Council Membership

From 1999, Ukraine served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

2000: Museum of Pysanka Built

In 2000, the museum of Pysanka was built in the city of Kolomyia near the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains.

2001: Ethnic Composition of Ukraine

According to the 2001 census, ethnic Ukrainians made up roughly 78% of the population, while Russians were the largest minority, at some 17.3% of the population.

2001: UN Security Council Membership

Until 2001, Ukraine served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.

2002: NATO-Ukraine Action Plan Signed

In 2002, the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan was signed, setting deeper cooperation with the alliance.

2002: Legal Financial and Constitutional Freedom

Since 2002, the courts in Ukraine enjoy legal, financial and constitutional freedom guaranteed by Ukrainian law.

2003: Ukrainian Unit Deployed to Iraq

In 2003, a Ukrainian unit was deployed as part of the multinational force in Iraq under Polish command, contributing to peacekeeping operations.

2004: Criticism of police during the Orange Revolution

During the 2004 Orange Revolution, law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, faced criticism for their heavy handling of the protests.

2004: Orange Revolution

In 2004, tens of thousands of people protested election rigging in favor of Yanukovych during the Orange Revolution, eventually leading to Yushchenko's election as president.

2005: Ukrainian Unit Deployed to Iraq

In 2005, a Ukrainian unit remained deployed as part of the multinational force in Iraq under Polish command, contributing to peacekeeping operations since 2003.

2005: Education System Reform

Since 2005, the eleven-year school program in Ukraine was replaced with a twelve-year one, with primary education taking four years, middle education five years, and upper secondary three years. Students in the 12th grade take Government tests, which are also referred to as school-leaving exams, and are later used for university admissions.

2005: Orange Revolution electoral reforms

The Orange Revolution of 2005 ushered electoral and constitutional reforms in Ukraine.

2006: Ukraine's Debut in FIFA World Cup

The national team of Ukraine made its debut in the 2006 FIFA World Cup, reaching the quarterfinals before losing to eventual champions, Italy.

2007: Museum of Pysanka Nomination

In 2007, the museum of Pysanka won a nomination as the monument of modern Ukraine, part of the Seven Wonders of Ukraine action.

2008: NATO Declares Future Membership for Ukraine

During the 2008 Bucharest summit, NATO declared that Ukraine would eventually become a member of NATO when it meets the criteria for accession.

2008: Vasyl Lomachenko Olympic Gold Medal

Vasyl Lomachenko won a gold medal at the 2008 Olympic Games.

2010: Formation of expert group to recommend court system reform

In 2010, President Yanukovych formed an expert group to make recommendations on how to reform the court system.

2010: Use of Russian in court proceedings

Since 2010 court proceedings can be held in Russian by mutual consent of the parties.

2011: Ukraine Granted Right to Organize EuroBasket 2015

In 2011, Ukraine was granted the right to organize EuroBasket 2015.

August 2012: New Law on Regional Languages

Effective in August 2012, a new law on regional languages entitled any local language spoken by at least a 10 percent minority be declared official within that area.

2012: Formation of the National Inventory

Since 2012, the Ministry of Culture of Ukraine has formed the National Inventory of Elements of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine.

2012: Vasyl Lomachenko Olympic Gold Medal

Vasyl Lomachenko won a gold medal at the 2012 Olympic Games.

2013: Euromaidan Protests

In the winter of 2013, people gathered on the Euromaidan to oppose Yanukovych's refusal to sign the European Union–Ukraine Association Agreement.

2013: Ukraine National Basketball Team at EuroBasket

Two years before hosting, the Ukraine national basketball team finished sixth in EuroBasket 2013 and qualified to FIBA World Cup for the first time in its history.

February 2014: Revolution of Dignity

By the end of the protests on 21 February 2014, President Yanukovych fled from Ukraine and was removed by the parliament in what is termed the Revolution of Dignity.

March 2014: Annexation of Crimea

In late February and early March 2014, Russia annexed Crimea using its Navy in Sevastopol.

June 2014: Signing of EU association agreement

Shortly after Yanukovych fled Ukraine, the country signed the EU association agreement in June 2014.

August 2014: Russian invasion in Donbas

On 24 August 2014, Russian forces started an open invasion in Donbas.

2014: Population Decrease

From 1993 to 2014, Ukraine's total population decreased by 6.6 million, or 12.8%.

2014: Euromaidan Revolution

In 2014, a series of mass demonstrations known as the Euromaidan led to a revolution, Russia annexed Crimea, and unrest culminated in a war in Donbas.

2014: Modernization After Russo-Ukrainian War Begins

In 2014, after the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War, Ukraine began modernization efforts, including allowing junior officers to take more initiative and establishing a territorial defense force of volunteers.

2014: Repeal of Law on Regional Languages

In 2014, following the Revolution of Dignity, the Ukrainian Parliament voted to repeal the law on regional languages, making Ukrainian the sole state language at all levels.

2014: EU Association Agreement Signed

In 2014, the Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union was signed.

2014: Annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation

In 2014, the Russian Federation annexed Sevastopol and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea.

2014: Ukrainian Frigate Joins Operation Atalanta

In 2014, the Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sagaidachniy joined the European Union's counter piracy Operation Atalanta and was part of the EU Naval Force off the coast of Somalia for two months.

2014: Start of Russo-Ukrainian War

In 2014, the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War contributed to a series of sharp recessions in Ukraine.

2014: End of Bubka's Pole Vault Record

Sergey Bubka's Pole vault record, set in 1993, lasted until 2014.

2014: Fall in Crimea visitor numbers following Russian annexation

Tourism was the mainstay of Crimea's economy before a major fall in visitor numbers following the Russian annexation in 2014.

February 2015: Withdrawal from Debaltseve

In February 2015, Ukrainian troops withdrew from Debaltseve, establishing the frontline.

2015: EuroBasket 2015 in Ukraine

In 2015, Ukraine hosted EuroBasket.

2015: Diversifying energy supply

Since 2015 Ukraine's energy policy has prioritised diversifying energy supply.

January 2016: DCFTA Enters Into Force

In January 2016, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) entered into force, integrating Ukraine into the European Single Market and the European Economic Area.

2016: Protestant Population in Ukraine

In 2016, Protestants made up 1.9% of the population in Ukraine.

2017: Ukraine Education Law

In 2017, Ukraine's education law prohibited primary education in public schools in grade five and up in any language other than Ukrainian.

September 2018: Lomachenko Ranked Best Active Boxer

As of September 2018, Vasyl Lomachenko is ranked as the world's best active boxer, pound for pound, by ESPN.

2018: Growth of Protestant Community

In 2018, the Protestant community in Ukraine grew to 2.2% of the population.

January 2019: Independence of Orthodox Church of Ukraine

In January 2019, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was recognised as independent of Moscow.

February 2019: Amendment to Constitution

On 7 February 2019, the Verkhovna Rada voted to amend the constitution to state Ukraine's strategic objectives as joining the European Union and NATO.

2019: Fossil Fuel Subsidies in Ukraine

Fossil fuel subsidies in Ukraine were US$2.2 billion in 2019.

2019: Religious Affiliations in Ukraine

In 2019, 82% of Ukrainians identified as Christians, with 72.7% as Eastern Orthodox, 8.8% as Ukrainian Greek Catholics, 2.3% as Protestants, and 0.9% as Latin Church Catholics. Other Christians comprised 2.3%. Judaism, Islam, and Hinduism were each followed by 0.2% of the population, according to a KIIS study. Roughly 58.3% of the Ukrainian Orthodox population were members of the Orthodox Church of Ukraine, and 25.4% were members of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate).

2019: Poverty and Unemployment Rates

In 2019, about 1% of Ukrainians lived below the national poverty line, and unemployment in Ukraine was 4.5%. In 2019, 5–15% of the Ukrainian population were categorized as middle class.

2019: Law Allowing Official Use of Regional Languages Found Unconstitutional

In 2019, the law allowing for official use of regional languages was found unconstitutional.

2020: Ukraine is a Top Agricultural Producer

In 2020 Ukraine is among the world's top agricultural producers and exporters and is often described as the "bread basket of Europe".

2020: Lublin Triangle Initiative

In 2020, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine created the Lublin Triangle initiative, which aims to create further cooperation between the three historical countries.

2020: Government Debt

In 2020, Ukraine's government debt was roughly 50% of its nominal GDP.

2020: COVID-19 Pandemic

In 2020, the arrival of the COVID-19 pandemic was made harder by low vaccination rates and the ongoing invasion.

2021: KIIS Survey on Religiosity

A 2021 survey by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) revealed that 82% of Ukrainians identified as religious, 7% as atheists, and 11% found the question difficult to answer. The highest level of religiosity was in Western Ukraine (91%), and the lowest in the Donbas (57%) and Eastern Ukraine (56%).

2021: Dependence on Ukraine and Russia for food and fertiliser imports

According to the FAO, the disruptions caused by the Russo-Ukrainian War to Ukraine's grain and oilseed sectors could jeopardize the food security of many countries. For example Eritrea sourced 47 percent of its wheat imports in 2021 from Ukraine.

2021: Ukraine's Role in Global Wheat Export

During the 2020/21 international wheat marketing season, Ukraine ranked as the sixth-largest wheat exporter, accounting for nine percent of world wheat trade.

2021: IT Industry Contribution to GDP

In 2021 the IT industry contributed almost 5 per cent to Ukraine's GDP.

2021: Association Trio Formation and EU Membership Preparation

In 2021, Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine formed the Association Trio, aiming for enhanced cooperation with the EU. Also in 2021, Ukraine was preparing to formally apply for EU membership in 2024, with the goal of joining in the 2030s.

2021: Agriculture as Largest Economic Sector

In 2021, agriculture was the biggest sector of the Ukrainian economy, with Ukraine being a major wheat exporter. Also in 2021, Ukraine's GDP per capita by purchasing power parity was just over $14,000.

2021: Key Economic Sectors in Ukraine

In 2021, mineral commodities and light industry were important sectors in Ukraine. Ukraine produces nearly all types of transportation vehicles and spacecraft. The European Union is the country's main trade partner.

2021: Highest Average Salary in Ukraine

In 2021, the average salary in Ukraine reached its highest level at almost ₴14,300 (US$525) per month.

February 2022: UNESCO Verification of Damage to Sites

Between February 2022 and March 2023, UNESCO verified the damage to 247 sites in Ukraine, including 107 religious sites, 89 buildings of artistic or historical interest, 19 monuments and 12 libraries.

February 2022: Russia invades Ukraine

In the early hours of 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine.

February 2022: Martial Law Declared

Martial law was declared in Ukraine when Russia invaded in February 2022.

February 2022: Full-scale invasion by Russia

Starting from 24 February 2022, Ukraine faced a full-scale invasion by Russia, leading to a series of sharp recessions.

June 2022: Candidate Status Granted to Ukraine

In June 2022, Ukraine was granted candidate status for EU membership after requesting immediate admission due to the Russian invasion.

June 2022: Candidate Status to the European Union

On 23 June 2022, amid a full-scale war with Russia, Ukraine was granted candidate status to the European Union.

2022: Internet Usage in Ukraine

As of 2022, 75% of the population in Ukraine uses the internet, with social media being widely used by the government and people.

2022: Population Statistics

Before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine the country had an estimated population of over 41 million people, and was the eighth-most populous country in Europe.

2022: Bombing of Libraries During Invasion

During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, the Russians bombed the Maksymovych Scientific Library of the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv National University, Vernadsky National Library of Ukraine, the National Scientific Medical Library of Ukraine and the Kyiv city youth library.

2022: Russian Invasion Impact on Military

During the first few weeks of the 2022 Russian invasion the Ukrainian military found it difficult to defend against shelling, missiles and high level bombing; but light infantry used shoulder-mounted weapons effectively to destroy tanks, armored vehicles and low-flying aircraft.

2022: IT Industry Continuation

In 2022 the IT industry continued to operate both inside and outside the country.

2022: Full-scale invasion by Russia

In 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.

2022: Application to join NATO

In 2022, Ukraine applied to join NATO.

2022: Economic Impact of Russian Invasion

In 2022, the IMF expected the Ukrainian economy to shrink considerably by 35% due to Russia's invasion. One estimate suggested that post-war reconstruction costs might reach half a trillion dollars.

2022: Decoupling and Synchronization of Electricity Grids

In early 2022 Ukraine and Moldova decoupled their electricity grids from the Integrated Power System of Russia and Belarus; and the European Network of Transmission System Operators for Electricity synchronized them with continental Europe.

2022: Ukrainian Refugee Crisis

In early 2022, over 4.1 million fled the country in the aftermath of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, causing the Ukrainian refugee crisis.

2022: Destruction of Roads and Bridges due to Russian invasion

Many roads and bridges were destroyed, and international maritime travel was blocked by the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

2022: Destruction of energy infrastructure during Russian invasion

Some energy infrastructure was destroyed in the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.

2022: Russian Invasion Leads to Refugee Crisis

The 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine caused a refugee crisis, leading millions of Ukrainian civilians to seek refuge in neighboring countries such as Poland, Slovakia, and the Czech Republic, and others to settle in Hungary, Moldova, Germany, Austria, Romania, and other European countries.

January 2023: Odesa Inscribed on List of World Heritage in Danger

Since January 2023, the historic center of Odesa has been inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger by UNESCO.

March 2023: UNESCO Verification of Damage to Sites

August 2023: U.S. Officials Estimate Ukrainian Military Casualties

In August 2023, U.S. officials estimated that up to 70,000 Ukrainian soldiers were killed and 100,000 to 120,000 wounded during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.

2023: Corruption Perceptions Index Ranking

In 2023, Ukraine was rated 104th out of 180 in the Corruption Perceptions Index, indicating that corruption remains an obstacle to joining the EU.

2023: Anti-corruption drive

In early 2023, a broad anti-corruption drive began with resignations during a government reshuffle.

March 2024: Oscar for 20 Days in Mariupol

On 10 March 2024, creators of the documentary film "20 Days in Mariupol" were awarded the Oscar in the category "Best Documentary Feature Film", marking the first Oscar in Ukraine's history.

Loading Video...

July 2024: National Inventory of Elements of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine

As of July 2024, the National Inventory of Elements of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine consists of 103 items.

2024: Lowest GDP per capita in Europe

As of 2024, Ukraine has the lowest nominal GDP per capita in Europe.

2024: Ukraine was preparing to formally apply for EU membership

In 2024, Ukraine was preparing to formally apply for EU membership, with the goal of joining in the 2030s. However, with the Russian invasion of Ukraine in 2022, Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy requested that the country be admitted to the EU immediately.