This Week in Ukraine - The Declaration of Independence

This Week's Historical Theme: The Ukraine

 

26 January 1918

 

A significant event throughout the history of the Ukraine that occurred in January was their declaration of independence. The majority of the country had been incorporated into the Russian empire after the second partition of Poland in 1793, while the remaining section remained part of the Austro-Hungarian empire and was a key battleground of World War I's Eastern Front. Following the overthrow of the Tsar in February 1917, Ukraine set up a provisional government and proclaimed itself a republic within the structure of a federated Russia. After Lenin and his Bolsheviks rose to power in November, Ukraine declared its complete independence.

 

However, Ukraine's Rada government, that had formed after the secession, had difficulty imposing its rule onto the people in the face of Bolshevik opposition and counter-revolutionary activity. As Ukraine was seen as an ideal to Germany and Austria, they brought in troops to preserve order, forcing Russian troops that were occupying the country to leave under the terms of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. The defeat of the Central Powers in November 1918 forced Germany and Austria to finally withdraw from Ukraine. Despite this, the Ukraine government later allied themselves with Poland, and in 1922, Ukraine became one of the original constituent republics of the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics and would not regain its independence until the Soviet Union's collapse in 1991.

 

Want to find out more about the independence of Ukraine? Click here for more information, or here for more about their independence day.