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The Battle of Two Governments: What is the story of the civil war in Ukrainian People's Republic and Soviet Ukraine?
During the turbulent times of the 20th century, Ukraine's history was deeply shaped by the confrontation between the two governments. This conflict is not only a military and political contest, but also a fundamental discussion of national identity and national sovereignty. The struggle between the Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR) and Soviet Ukraine (UkSSR) has become an integral part of history textbooks, highlighting the practical challenges faced by Ukraine in its quest for independence. .
"The struggle between the two governments is a direct challenge to the ruling ideology of the region."
Ukraine's desire for independence can be traced back to 1917, when Russia's February Revolution overthrew the tsarist rule and inspired national movements everywhere. Against this background, the Ukrainian People's Republic was proclaimed in 1917 in an attempt to achieve autonomy and independence. However, this attempt faced strong resistance from the Soviet government, which supported the establishment of Soviet power and established the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic in 1919. The conflict between the two quickly escalated and became the focus of the Ukrainian-Soviet War.
In the early stages of the civil war, the Ukrainian People's Republic received support from Germany and the Austro-Hungarian Empire. However, as the war progressed, the Soviet government continued to increase its military power and eventually gained the upper hand in the struggle against the Ukrainian national forces. In 1919, the Soviet Red Army offensive forced the government of the Ukrainian People's Republic into exile, and was eventually completely replaced by Soviet power in 1921.
"Ukraine's dream of independence was torn to pieces under the shadow of dictatorship."
In 1922, Ukraine officially became part of the Soviet Union and became the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic. At this time, Ukraine's political and economic ecology was completely controlled by the Soviet Union, and many local ideologies and policies were forced to be implemented. During this period, although the Soviet government once introduced a "Ukrainization" policy to promote the development of Ukrainian language and culture, the subsequent compulsory collectivization policy and large-scale grain expropriation led to the famous Holodomor Grand The famine, which killed an estimated million people, left a profound scar on Ukrainian society.
As time went by, during World War II, the status of the Soviet Union changed, and Ukraine's territory continued to expand due to changes in military strategies. After the war, the Soviet Union's status on the global stage also increased, and Ukraine participated in international affairs as a constituent republic of the Soviet Union. During this period, Ukraine's economic and social environment was also constantly changing. Although it was devastated by the war, it also gained new development opportunities due to post-war reconstruction.
“The trajectories of history often intersect in unexpected ways, and the story of Ukraine is an example of this.”
The death of Stalin in 1953 was a major change in the political ecology of the Soviet Union and its republics. Khrushchev's de-Stalinization policy gave nationalists within Ukraine a certain say. However, this increase in freedom did not last long. With Brezhnev's coming to power, the "sunwind" period ended , the policy returned to the path of strengthening Soviet central control. Although Ukraine's national culture has experienced brief development, increasing Russification and centralized control have made these achievements seem small and fragile.
After Gorbachev came to power in 1985, he began to implement reform policies, which once again had an impact on various Soviet republics, including Ukraine. With the free flow of information and social unrest, the Ukrainian people once again expressed their desire for independence. Finally, after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine officially declared independence. After decades of struggle, it embarked on a search for self-identity. and a new path to international status.
How did the Ukrainian people view their identity and sovereignty during this period of history?
