Key Events in Ukrainian History By zach.frett Jan 1, 1914 World War I Ravages Ukraine Jan 1, 1917 Ukraine Gains Independence from Czarist Russia After World War I Jan 1, 1921 Soviet Union Conquers Ukraine Jan 1, 1933 Famine Imposed by Soviet Rule Jan 1, 1941 World War II Results in Many Ukrainian Deaths and Destruction of Cities Jan 1, 1960 Increased Opposition to Soviet Rule, Activist Put in Work Camps Jan 1, 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Explosion Aug 24, 1991 Ukraine Declares Independence From the Soviet Union Jan 1, 1996 Ukraine Establishes a Democratic Constitution Feb 27, 2014 Protests End in Violence, Ukrainian President Flees the Country, Russian Troops Invade the Crimea