#30PostSovietYears: Ukraine’s Independence

Thirty years ago, on 1 December 1991, more than 90% of Ukrainian
voters voted for the country’s independence, with turnout exceeding
80%. The referendum served as a democratic legitimation after
Ukraine had declared its independence on 24 August 1991. The
declaration of independence and its public approval were a
watershed moment for Ukraine and Soviet history in the decisive
year of 1991. Afterward it had become clear that the further
existence of the USSR, without its second largest republic, had
become unrealistic. To this day, the Ukrainian independence leaves
a contested legacy. The memories of 1991 are intertwined with
contested questions of national identity, sovereignty and
territorial integrity. For this episode, Serhii Plokhii and
Gwendolyn Sasse join our host Félix Krawatzek to discuss Ukrainian
independence, its aftermath and what it means for Ukraine to this
day. (Music: “Complete” by Modul is licensed under a CC BY-NC-ND
3.0-License.)