Red Famine

02How did Ukraine form its unique identity and learn to resist foreign rule?

The story of Ukraine's identity and its fight against foreign control is a rich and complex one, deeply woven into the country's history. This tale is beautifully told in Anne Applebaum's book, but let's try to simplify it a bit. Let's start with the Cossacks, a group of semi-nomadic warriors who popped up in the 15th century. These guys weren't just fighters; they were also the creators of a self-governing entity that was a bit like an early version of Ukraine. They made their own rules, set their own boundaries, and nurtured a unique identity. Despite their successful rebellions against Russian and Polish rule, the Cossacks were eventually squashed by the Russian empire, who saw them as a threat to their own territory. Jumping ahead to the 19th century, a time when political awareness was spreading like wildfire across Europe. This wave of nationalism also washed over Ukraine, which was then split between Russian and Polish rule. Ukrainian thinkers and cultural leaders led a resurgence of national pride, which was immediately met with resistance from the powers that be. The Russian and Polish authorities arrested these thinkers, suppressed the Ukrainian language, and imposed their own languages in Ukrainian cities. Ukrainian was pushed down to the status of a rural dialect, spoken only by villagers and seen as inferior to Russian. The Russian Tsars, in particular, saw an independent Ukraine as a direct threat to their empire. They put in place a series of laws aimed at wiping out Ukrainian identity. Ukrainian political and cultural groups were banned, and the use of the Ukrainian language in theaters and print was made illegal. To get a job or move up in society, you had to speak Russian. This policy of Russification stigmatized Ukrainian identity and made it potentially dangerous. However, things were a bit different in the parts of Ukraine under Austro-Hungarian rule. The Ukrainian national movement there faced less resistance and was able to thrive. The end of World War I and the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian and Russian empires gave Ukrainians a golden chance to make their dream of an independent Ukraine a reality. Even though western Ukraine was reoccupied by Poland, the national movement kept gaining strength, especially in Kyiv, the political heart of Ukraine. Interestingly, the Greek historian Herodotus was one of the first to write about Ukraine's unique geographical features. He talked about its fertile 'black earth,' which produced plentiful crops. Thanks to Ukraine's mild climate and rich soil, they could have two bountiful harvests a year. This agricultural wealth made Ukraine a coveted prize for neighboring imperial states, further stoking their desire to control and exploit it.

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