History of Ukraine in Timeline
Ukraine is a large country in Eastern Europe, second only to Russia in size. It shares borders with Russia, Belarus, Poland, Slovakia, Hungary, Romania, and Moldova, and also has coastlines along the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov. Kyiv is its capital and largest city, and Ukrainian is the official language.
1906: Migration Following Railway Opening
In the ten years after the opening of the Trans-Siberian Railway in 1906, an additional 1.6 million Ukrainians emigrated to the east.
1917: Ukrainian People's Republic Formed
In 1917, following the Russian Revolution, the short-lived Ukrainian People's Republic was formed as Ukrainian nationalism developed.
1918: Founding of Ukrinform
In 1918, The National News Agency of Ukraine, Ukrinform, was founded.
1921: End of Fighting on Ukrainian Soil
Fighting on Ukrainian soil, which began with World War I, persisted until late 1921.
1921: Famine in Eastern Provinces
In 1921, famine further hit the eastern provinces of Ukraine.
July 1922: Arrests and Deportations of Ukrainian Intellectuals
In July 1922, arrests and deportations of Ukrainian intellectuals began in Soviet Ukraine and continued throughout the 1920s.
1922: Ukrainian SSR Established
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: Implementation of socialist realism
In 1932, Stalin established socialist realism as state policy in the Soviet Union, as per the decree "On the Reconstruction of Literary and Art Organisations", which heavily restricted creativity.
1935: Abandonment of Autonomy Efforts After Piłsudski's Death
After Józef Piłsudski's death in 1935, efforts to offer local autonomy to Ukrainians were abandoned due to continued unrest.
September 1939: Territorial Division of Poland
Following the Invasion of Poland in September 1939, German and Soviet troops divided the territory of Poland. Eastern Galicia and Volhynia became part of Ukraine.
1939: Annexation by the Soviet Union
In 1939, some western Ukrainians joined the Soviet Union
1940: Territorial Gains Secured
In 1940, further territorial gains were secured when the Ukrainian SSR incorporated districts from Bessarabia, Northern Bukovina, and the Hertsa region.
June 1941: German Invasion of the Soviet Union
On 22 June 1941, German armies invaded the Soviet Union, initiating nearly four years of total war.
1942: Creation of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army
In 1942, the independent Ukrainian Insurgent Army movement arose in Western Ukraine as the armed forces of the underground Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists.
1943: 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 Partisan Resistance
In 1944, half of the Pro-Soviet partisan guerrilla resistance units, which counted up to 500,000 troops, were also Ukrainian.
1945: Soviet Ukraine joins United Nations
In 1945, Soviet Ukraine joined the United Nations as one of the original members.
1945: Ukrainian SSR Founding Member of the UN
In 1945, the Ukrainian SSR became one of the founding members of the United Nations.
1946: Famine
The situation in Ukraine was worsened by a famine in 1946–1947, which was caused by a drought and the wartime destruction of infrastructure.
1947: International Recognition of Territorial Gains
In 1947, the territorial gains of the USSR, including those affecting Ukraine, were internationally recognised by the Paris peace treaties.
1947: Famine
The situation in Ukraine was worsened by a famine in 1946–1947, which was caused by a drought and the wartime destruction of infrastructure.
1950: Surpassing Pre-War Levels
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: Khrushchev Becomes Leader
Following the death of Stalin in 1953, Nikita Khrushchev became the new leader of the USSR, who began the policies of de-stalinisation and the Khrushchev Thaw.
1964: Brezhnev General Secretary
In 1964, Leonid Brezhnev became General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union.
1982: End of Brezhnev's Term
Leonid Brezhnev's term as General Secretary of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union ended in 1982.
April 1986: Chernobyl Disaster
On 26 April 1986, a reactor in the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant exploded, resulting in the Chernobyl disaster.
1986: Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant accident
In 1986, the accident at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant caused radiation contamination in the northeast of Ukraine.
1988: Growth of higher education institutions
By 1988, the number of higher education institutions in Ukraine increased to 146, accommodating over 850,000 students.
July 1990: Declaration of State Sovereignty
On 16 July 1990, the Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine.
August 1991: Proclamation of Independence
On 24 August 1991, outright independence was proclaimed in Ukraine following a failed coup in Moscow.
1991: Ukraine Gained Independence
In 1991, Ukraine gained independence as the Soviet Union dissolved and declared itself neutral.
1991: Transition to market economy
In 1991, Ukraine transitioned to a market economy, which led to a deep economic slowdown. During the recession between 1991 and 1999, Ukraine lost 60% of its GDP.
1991: Reestablishment of Ukrainian Independence
Literary freedom grew alongside the reestablishment of Ukrainian independence in 1991.
1991: Independence and Terminology Shift
Since Ukraine's declaration of independence in 1991, the usage of "the Ukraine" has become politicised and is now rarer, with style guides advising against its use.
1991: Improvements since Independence
The judicial 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: Joined Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe
In 1992, Ukraine joined the Conference on Security and Cooperation in Europe (now OSCE) and the North Atlantic Cooperation Council.
1992: Signed Lisbon Protocol
In 1992, Ukraine signed the Lisbon Protocol agreeing to give up all nuclear weapons to Russia.
1992: Contributions to UN peacekeeping operations
Ukraine has made contributions to UN peacekeeping operations since 1992.
1993: Hyperinflation
In 1993, Ukraine experienced hyperinflation that peaked at 10,000%.
1993: Sergey Bubka's Pole Vault Record
Sergey Bubka held the record in the Pole vault starting in 1993 until 2014.
1994: Partnership with NATO
In 1994, Ukraine established a partnership with NATO following its declaration of neutrality after independence.
1994: Signing of the Budapest memorandum
In 1994, Ukraine signed the Budapest memorandum, agreeing to hand over nuclear weapons in exchange for security guarantees, but Russia later violated this agreement.
June 1996: Constitution of Ukraine adopted
On 28 June 1996, the Constitution of Ukraine was adopted and ratified.
1996: Ukraine free of nuclear weapons
By 1996, Ukraine had become free of nuclear weapons.
1996: New Constitution Adopted
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 fall
In late 1998, the new currency, the hryvnia, fell sharply, partially due to the Russian debt default that year.
December 1999: EU Summit in Helsinki
The EU Summit in December 1999 in Helsinki recognized Ukraine's long-term aspirations but did not discuss association.
1999: Non-permanent member of the UN Security Council
From 1999 to 2001, Ukraine served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
2000: Museum of Pysanka built in Kolomyia
In 2000, the museum of Pysanka was built in the city of Kolomyia, near the foothills of the Carpathian Mountains.
2001: Census results
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: Non-permanent member of the UN Security Council
From 1999 to 2001, Ukraine served as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council.
2002: Legal, financial and constitutional freedom guaranteed
Courts enjoy legal, financial and constitutional freedom guaranteed by Ukrainian law since 2002.
2002: NATO-Ukraine Action Plan
In 2002, the NATO-Ukraine Action Plan was signed, setting deeper cooperation between Ukraine and the alliance.
2003: Deployed in Iraq
From 2003 to 2005, a Ukrainian unit was deployed as part of the multinational force in Iraq under Polish command.
2004: Orange Revolution
In 2004, the Orange Revolution occurred as tens of thousands of people protested election rigging in favor of Yanukovych.
2004: Law enforcement handling of Orange Revolution
Law enforcement agencies, particularly the police, faced criticism for their heavy handling of the 2004 Orange Revolution.
2005: Deployed in Iraq
From 2003 to 2005, a Ukrainian unit was deployed as part of the multinational force in Iraq under Polish command.
2005: Education system changes
Since 2005, an eleven-year school programme has been replaced with a twelve-year one.
2005: Aftermath of Orange Revolution
The Orange Revolution which started in 2004, continued into 2005, ushering electoral and constitutional reforms.
2007: Museum of Pysanka nominated as a monument of modern Ukraine
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 Bucharest summit
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's Olympic Gold Medal
Vasyl Lomachenko won an Olympic gold medal in 2008.
2010: Expert group formed to reform court system
In 2010, President Yanukovych formed an expert group to make recommendations on court organisation reform.
2010: Court proceedings can be held in Russian
Since 2010, court proceedings can be held in Russian by mutual consent of the parties.
2011: Ukraine granted right to organise EuroBasket
In 2011, Ukraine was granted the right to organise EuroBasket 2015.
August 2012: 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 of Elements of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Ukraine
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's Olympic Gold Medal
Vasyl Lomachenko won an Olympic gold medal in 2012.
2013: Ukraine national basketball team finished sixth in EuroBasket
In 2013 the Ukraine national basketball team finished sixth in EuroBasket 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 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 and "little green men".
June 2014: Signing of the EU association agreement
Shortly after Yanukovych fled Ukraine, the country signed the EU association agreement in June 2014.
August 2014: Open invasion in Donbas
On 24 August 2014, Russian forces started an open invasion in Donbas, pushing back Ukrainian troops.
2014: Population decrease
From 1993 to 2014, Ukraine's total population decreased by 6.6 million, or 12.8%, due to various factors including a higher death rate than birth rate and mass emigration.
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.
2014: Euromaidan and Annexation of Crimea
In 2014, mass demonstrations known as the Euromaidan led to a revolution in Ukraine, at the end of which Russia unilaterally occupied and annexed Ukraine's Crimean Peninsula, and pro-Russian unrest culminated in a war in Donbas with Russian-backed separatists and Russia.
2014: Annexation of Crimea by Russia
In 2014, the Russian Federation annexed Sevastopol and the Autonomous Republic of Crimea from Ukraine, which are part of Ukraine's 27 regions.
2014: Joined Operation Atalanta
In 2014, the Ukrainian frigate Hetman Sagaidachniy joined the European Union's counter piracy Operation Atalanta.
2014: Beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War
In 2014, the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian War led to modernisation of the Ukrainian military, including allowing junior officers more initiative and establishing a territorial defense force.
2014: End of Sergey Bubka's Pole Vault Record
Sergey Bubka's record in the Pole vault ended in 2014; he held the record starting in 1993.
2014: Association Agreement signed with European Union
The Association Agreement between Ukraine and the European Union was signed in 2014.
2014: Fall in visitor numbers
Tourism was the mainstay of Crimea's economy before a major fall in visitor numbers following the Russian annexation in 2014.
February 2015: Frontline established in Donbas
In February 2015, a frontline was established in Donbas after Ukrainian troops withdrew from Debaltseve.
2015: Diversifying energy supply
Since 2015, Ukraine's energy policy has prioritized diversifying energy supply.
2015: Ukraine to organise EuroBasket
Ukraine was granted the right to organise EuroBasket 2015, granted in 2011.
January 2016: DCFTA entered into force
In January 2016, the Deep and Comprehensive Free Trade Area (DCFTA) entered into force, integrating Ukraine into the European Single Market.
2016: Protestant population
In 2016, Protestants made up 1.9% of the population.
2017: Education law
Ukraine's 2017 education law bars primary education in public schools in grade five and up in any language but Ukrainian.
September 2018: Vasyl Lomachenko Ranked World's Best Boxer
As of September 2018, Vasyl Lomachenko is ranked as the world's best active boxer, pound for pound, by ESPN.
2018: Rise in Protestant population
In 2018, Protestants rose to 2.2% of the population.
January 2019: Orthodox Church of Ukraine recognized
In January 2019, the Orthodox Church of Ukraine was recognized as independent of Moscow.
February 2019: Constitutional amendment on EU and NATO
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: Christian population
In 2019, 82% of Ukrainians were Christians; out of which 72.7% declared themselves to be Eastern Orthodox, 8.8% Ukrainian Greek Catholics, 2.3% Protestants and 0.9% Latin Church Catholics.
2019: Poverty and Unemployment levels
In 2019, about 1% of Ukrainians lived below the national poverty line, and unemployment in Ukraine was 4.5%. Also, 5–15% of the Ukrainian population were categorized as middle class.
2019: Fossil fuel subsidies
In 2019, fossil fuel subsidies in Ukraine amounted to US$2.2 billion.
2019: Law found unconstitutional
In 2019, the law allowing for official use of regional languages was found unconstitutional.
2020: Lublin Triangle initiative created
In 2020, Lithuania, Poland and Ukraine created the Lublin Triangle initiative.
2020: Government debt
In 2020, Ukraine's government debt was roughly 50% of its nominal GDP.
2020: COVID-19 pandemic
In 2020, the COVID-19 pandemic arrived in Ukraine, with efforts to combat it made much harder by low vaccination rates and, later, by the ongoing invasion.
2020: Ukraine as an agricultural producer
In 2020/21 Ukraine accounted for 12 percent of global trade in maize and barley and for 14 percent of world rapeseed exports. Its trade share is even greater in the sunflower oil sector, with the country accounting for about 50 percent of world exports in 2020/2021.
2021: Religion survey
A 2021 survey conducted by the Kyiv International Institute of Sociology (KIIS) found that 82% of Ukrainians declared themselves to be religious.
2021: Ranking as wheat exporter
During the 2020/21 international wheat marketing season (July–June), Ukraine ranked as the sixth largest wheat exporter, accounting for nine percent of world wheat trade.
2021: Agriculture as biggest economic sector
In 2021, agriculture was the biggest sector of the economy in Ukraine, making it one of the world's largest wheat exporters.
2021: Important economic sectors
In 2021, mineral commodities and light industry were important sectors of Ukraine's economy, with the European Union as the country's main trade partner.
2021: Association Trio Formed
In 2021, the Association Trio was formed by Georgia, Moldova, and Ukraine to enhance cooperation with the EU.
2021: IT industry contribution to GDP
In 2021, the IT industry contributed almost 5 per cent to Ukraine's GDP.
2021: Highest average salary
In 2021, the average salary in Ukraine reached its highest level at almost ₴14,300 (US$525) per month.
February 2022: Damage to Ukrainian Sites
Between February 2022 and March 2023, UNESCO verified the damage to 247 sites in Ukraine.
February 2022: Martial law declared
In February 2022, when Russia invaded, martial law was declared in Ukraine.
February 2022: Russian invasion of Ukraine
In the early hours of 24 February 2022, Russia invaded Ukraine.
February 2022: Full-scale invasion by Russia
On 24 February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine, leading to economic disruption and hindering efforts to combat the COVID-19 pandemic.
June 2022: Candidate Status Granted
In June 2022, Ukraine was granted candidate status to the European Union.
June 2022: Ukraine granted EU candidate status
On 23 June 2022, amid a full-scale war with Russia, Ukraine was granted candidate status to the European Union.
2022: Internet Usage
As of 2022, 75% of the Ukrainian population uses the internet, and social media is widely used by government and people.
2022: Estimated population before invasion
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 Russian Invasion
During the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, Russian forces bombed several libraries, including the Maksymovych Scientific Library, Vernadsky National Library, the National Scientific Medical Library of Ukraine and the Kyiv city youth library.
2022: Russian Invasion of Ukraine
During the first few weeks of the 2022 Russian invasion, the Ukrainian military struggled against heavy shelling and bombing, but light infantry effectively used shoulder-mounted weapons.
2022: Full-Scale Russian Invasion
In 2022, Russia launched a full-scale invasion of Ukraine.
2022: Destruction of energy infrastructure
In 2022, some energy infrastructure was destroyed in the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
2022: IMF expectation of economic shrinkage
In 2022, the IMF expected the Ukrainian economy to shrink by 35% due to Russia's invasion, with potential post-war reconstruction costs estimated at half a trillion dollars.
2022: Continued IT industry during war
In 2022, the IT industry continued both inside and outside the country during the Russian invasion of Ukraine.
2022: Disruption of maritime travel
In 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to the destruction of roads and bridges, and blocked international maritime travel, which was mainly through the Port of Odesa.
2022: Ukrainian refugee crisis
In early 2022, the Russian invasion of Ukraine led to the Ukrainian refugee crisis, with over 4.1 million fleeing the country.
2022: Grain Produce Reduced
Since 2022, grain produce in Ukraine has been reduced due to the Russian invasion, endangering global food security.
January 2023: Odesa's historic centre inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger
Since January 2023, the historic centre of Odesa has been inscribed on the List of World Heritage in Danger.
March 2023: Damage to Ukrainian Sites Verified
Between February 2022 and March 2023, UNESCO verified the damage to 247 sites in Ukraine, including religious sites, artistic buildings, monuments, and libraries.
August 2023: U.S. estimates of 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 rating
In 2023, Ukraine was rated 104th out of 180 in the Corruption Perceptions Index, indicating corruption remains an obstacle to joining the EU.
March 2024: Ukraine's First Oscar
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.
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 Nominal GDP in Europe
As of 2024, Ukraine has the lowest nominal GDP per capita in Europe.
2024: Global Innovation Index Ranking
In 2024, Ukraine was ranked 60th in the Global Innovation Index.
2024: Population estimate
In 2024, the Ukrainian government estimates that the population in the regions controlled by Ukraine was 25 to 27 million.
2024: Expiration of Russian gas transit contract
The contract to transit Russian gas expires at the end of 2024.
