A History of Ukraine and How it has Inspired Me

Learning about the history of Ukraine has truly inspired me, there are so many real lessons that I have taken away not only as an American but also as a Lithuanian as our histories are indelibly intertwined. I wanted to share a few perspectives about how the history of Ukraine as a country is not just full of tragedies, but also successes!

Ukraine Geography and Flag

First of all Ukraine is a HUGE country, it is over 233,062 square miles (603,628 km2) in size which is big but still only 1/6th the size of the United States, yet almost 10 times the size of Lithuania. It’s the 2nd largest country in Europe. Ukraine has a population of about 42.5 million people, 77.8% of whom are ethnic Ukrainians according to Wikipedia. That is an amazing statistic considering its long and bloody history.

The Ukrainian flag is one of my favourites, it has a very clean design that is eye-catching and ‘pretty’ to look at. It features a blue top with a yellow bottom which are said to symbolize the sky (blue) and fields of grain (yellow), an allusion one of Ukraine’s nicknames: “the breadbasket of Europe.” I made up my own nickname tailing off of that which is: U-Grain. A bit too cheeky? A bit too off-the-cuff? Well, who knows it might catch on.

Speaking of monikers, Ukraine used to be referred to as “the Ukraine” in times past. Nowadays, it’s simply “Ukraine.” The country features 27 administrative regions, including 24 oblasts, 1 illegally occupied Crimea, and 2 independent cities. Ukraine’s Independence Day falls on August 24th!

The Russian Invasion of Ukraine

The current situation of the Russian incursion in to Ukraine is simply intolerable. There is no valid premise for this invasion that any reasonable mind can conjure: it is beyond grotesque and abhorrent! When taken in the perspective of the history of Ukraine and all of the other countries that have tried to occupy that same territory over the last few thousand years, it has become a matter of ‘enough is enough!’

Not only are ethnic Ukrainians suffering, but also the many empathetic Russians living in Ukraine. The eastern swathe of Ukraine around Donetsk and Kharkiv contain the largest numbers of ethnic Russians living in Ukraine, many of whom are actually in support of Ukraine as a peaceful country; which is also to say that they oppose Putin’s invasion of Ukraine.

To the world’s dismay, many of them are being drawn out of their homes and publicly beaten in the streets by other Russians who believe they should not speak out against Putin. The most detestable and loathsome part of all of this is that it is the common people who are suffering at the behest of these madmen sitting behind their delusional desks.

The average Ukrainian national is paying for these atrocities with their lives. Being forced to flee or fight, stories are streaming out of Ukraine of both horror and hope. I want to send them thoughts and words of hope in the belief that this will help to heal this situation. We stand with Ukraine!

So, how has Ukraine inspired me? Well, it all started with learning about Lithuania believe it or not.

A Pillagers History of Ukraine

As I’ve gotten to understand Lithuania’s history in the context of European origins and politics it also necessarily drove me to understand the countries and regions surrounding the Baltic Nations to the east and south. As the eastern portion of Europe (including Ukraine) had been settled by modern humans as far back as 100,000 years ago, the Ukrainian expanse was specifically settled by early Slavic peoples “sometime between the seventh and third millennia BC” (Plokhy 2017: 14) – that’s stretching as far back as 7,000 years ago.

Although the Baltic tribes and Slavic tribes are differing somewhat in terms of their origins, the region between the Baltic Sea and the Black Sea has tied them together as far as being a corridor of horror for every invading historical force from the ancient Sarmatians to the modern demagogues of the Post-Soviet breakup. The history of both Lithuania and Ukraine is also further intertwined in that the Polish-Lithuanian commonwealth held much of current Ukraine as it expanded and contracted over its 350 year existence. For me, the terms invasion and trade are very much interchangeable historically and politically.

While Lithuania’s history eventually diverted off on its own tangent, the history of Ukraine continued on the trend of fending off wave after wave of foreign invaders and resource-hungry empire-builders. The reason for this is that the lands that modern-day Ukraine sits on are both ancient and fertile. More importantly, they also sit at the crossroads of Europe, Asia, and the Mediterranean. As such, the fertile steppes of the Ukraine, from the Don to the Dniester, have been voraciously coveted by all of the great names in the historical hall of fame of pillaging. It’s a veritable who’s who A-list of famous invaders à la Night at the Museum or Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure that includes:

• The Vikings (Rus’)
• Greeks
• Ottomans
• Persians
• Tatars
• Mongols
• Germans
• Sarmatians
• Alans
• Goths
• Huns
• Poles
• Russians/Soviets
• and a few more to boot!

It’s both staggering and tragic as the people who have suffered the most are the ethnic Ukrainians, the regular people, who over millennia have simply loved their land and were trying to build a peaceful existence for their families. For example, in one of the worst human atrocities ever conceived and engineered called the Holodomor: “close to 4 million people perished in Ukraine as a result of the famine, more than decimating the country – every eighth person succumbed to hunger between 1932 and 1934” (Plokhy 2017: 253).

“The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine” by Serhii Plokhy [Book Review]

Well, this article isn’t about focusing on the negative – there’s plenty of news out there for that – it’s about focusing on the positive.

Ukraine the Beautiful Palette

Understanding Ukraine’s history has inspired me because after all that has been said and done, the Ukrainian people have gained their independence as a nation (August 24th, 1991) and have forged a road ahead that has been ultimately successful.

I freely disclaim that I am not an expert on Ukraine and I’m sure many political scientists might immediately and fervently disagree with statements I’ve made; however, when it comes to nation-building and national identity, often times it’s about SIMPLICITY! Take the small victories and let that give you strength going forward.

It’s the same with Lithuania, since its independence in 1918 (then again in 1990) there has been a constant barrage of struggles in fomenting how to forge a nation out of the embers of war. The Baltic Countries have suffered a litany of setbacks yet have managed to build powerful and intelligent countries whose stories have become inspirations to all. I believe Ukraine is firmly set on that path now.

I see Ukraine as a beautiful palette that has yet to be truly appreciated by the world. It has been the focus of so much negative coverage and attention, it’s time for peace to prevail and for the people within its borders to rest and recover. It’s time for its arts and language to once again flourish, it’s time for the people to celebrate the small things day-to-day because the latent, creative potential to accomplish immensely positive things lies just at the door for Ukraine. Happy Independence Day Ukraine (August 24th)!

SOURCES CITED:

• Plokhy, Serhii. 2017. “The Gates of Europe: A History of Ukraine.” New York: Basic Books.
• https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ukraine