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Kievan Rus was a federation of Eastern Slav tribes that existed between the 9th and 13th centuries, spanning from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea. Its capital was Kyiv, making it historically significant for the national identity of modern Russia, Belarus, and Ukraine. -
In the 13th century, the Mongols (Tatars) invaded Kievan Rus, leading to its fragmentation. This invasion marked the separation between Moscow and Kyiv, shaping the future of both regions. -
In the 14th century, the Grand Duchy of Lithuania took control of Kyiv, marking a territorial and political separation between Moscow and Ukraine. This period reinforced their distinct historical paths. -
The Treaty of Pereyaslav puts Ukraine under the Russian Tsarate -
During the reign of Catherine the Great (1762-1796), the Russian Empire expanded into Ukrainian territories, including Donbas and Donetsk, increasing Russian influence in the region. -
Catherine the Great eliminates the Cossack Hetmanate and centralizes Russian control. -
Russian Empire annexes more Ukrainian territories after partition of Poland. -
During the mid-19th century, nationalist movements advocating for Ukrainian identity and independence began to emerge. These movements gained strength as imperial crises unfolded in the 20th century. -
The early 20th century saw the rise of Ukrainian nationalism. Key figures included historian Mykhailo Hrushevsky and nationalist organizations like Sich -
The Romanov dynasty faced a deep crisis due to social, economic, and political changes. Key factors included the influence of the French and American revolutions, the rise of Marxism, the consolidation of the working class, peasant starvation, and the loss in the Russo-Japanese War. -
On January 22, 1905, peaceful protesters led by Father Gapon marched to the Winter Palace in St. Petersburg to present a petition to Tsar Nicholas II. The Imperial Guard opened fire, killing hundreds. This event, known as Bloody Sunday. -
During World War I, Ukraine was caught in a conflict between Russia and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. Ukrainians fought on both sides, leading to internal divisions. After the collapse of Austria-Hungary, Polish and Ukrainian forces clashed over Galicia. -
Russia entered World War I in 1914, suffering heavy casualties and economic collapse. By 1917, mass strikes and protests erupted, demanding an end to war, better living conditions, and political reforms. -
Following their victory, the Bolsheviks established the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) in 1917, marking the beginning of communist rule. -
In October 1917, the Bolsheviks, led by Lenin, overthrew the Provisional Government with the slogan "Peace, Land, and Bread." The revolution culminated in the storming of the Winter Palace and the establishment of Soviet rule. -
In 1918, Ukraine declared independence as the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UPR). However, this republic had no relation to modern Ukraine and was soon divided. -
In 1918, Ukrainian leaders requested to become a federal state within Soviet Russia, but Lenin refused. Eventually, in 1922, Ukraine was fully incorporated into the USSR. -
Ukraine faced multiple invasions: first by Soviet Russia, then by Germany and Jewish communities faced violent pogroms. -
Ukraine is reintegrated into the USSR. -
Economic recovery begins. -
Lenin dies, Stalin takes power. -
Forced industrialization harms Ukrainian peasants. -
Great famine forced by Stalin resulting in the death of millions of Ukrainians. -
Stalin’s purges target Ukrainian intellectuals and culture. -
Germany and the USSR sign the Molotov-Ribbentrop Pact -
Hitler invades the USSR, triggering Ukrainian nationalist uprisings. -
The Soviet Army recaptures Ukraine and takes Berlin, securing victory in WWII. -
After WWII, the USSR consolidated control over Ukraine. The nationalist movement was suppressed, and Ukraine was fully integrated into the Soviet system, marking the beginning of the Cold War. -
After the dissolution of the USSR, Ukraine becomes an independent state. -
Ukraine manages to repel the Russian offensive in the capital and Russia redirects its attacks to the east and south. -
Russia launches a full-scale invasion against Ukraine, attacking Kiev and other cities.