Ukrainians

Ukrainians ({{lang-ua|????????}}, Ukrayintsi) are an East Slavic ethnic group native to Ukraine.

History

Ukraine had a very turbulent history, a fact explained by its geographical position. Ukrainians used to be part of the Old Russian stock up to the 14th century. However, long history of separation and foreign influences have perceptibly reshaped their ethnolinguistic identity splitting them from the rest of Russians.

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The history of independent statehood in Ukraine is started with the Cossacks. The Cossacks of Zaporizhia since the late 15th century controlled the lower bends of the river Dnieper, between Russia, Poland and the Tatars of the Crimea, with the fortified capital, Zaporizhian Sich. They were formally recognized as a state, the Zaporozhian Host, by treaty with Poland in 1649.

Related Topics:
Cossacks - Zaporizhia - Zaporizhian Sich - Zaporozhian Host

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Modern Ukrainian national identity developed in opposition to foreign rule in the 19th century. In Imperial Russia the use of the Ukrainian language was discouraged at different times in history (see Russification); however, as most people were illiterate, persecutions had little effect. The policy of persecution towards Ukrainians was even more pronounced in Poland (see Polonization) and Austria-Hungary. During the Soviet era, the Ukrainian language was at times supressed at others tolerated or even encouraged.

Related Topics:
Imperial Russia - Russification - Poland - Polonization - Austria-Hungary - Soviet era

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Ukraine originally formed part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth , later of the Russian, Ottoman and Austo-Hungarian empires, Poland and the Soviet Union, finally gaining its independence on August 24 1991.

Related Topics:
Grand Duchy of Lithuania - Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth - Russian - Ottoman - Austo-Hungarian - Poland - Soviet Union - August 24 - 1991

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