Posted on January 22, 2019
It's been 100 years to the day since the Act Zluky united the Ukrainian People's Republic and the West Ukrainian People's Republic.
Well, united on paper, at least...
After the January 22, 1919, signing of the agreement, both governments still kept separate armies. Both governments still kept separate administrations. Both governments still remained...separate governments!
Almost two years later, most of the Ukrainian People's Republic became a part of the Soviet Union, and most of the West Ukrainian People's Republic became part of Poland.
In 1939, the two Ukraines were finally united - but as part of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic within the USSR. So - together at last, but not independent.
Fast forward to January 21, 1990. There were rumbles within the Soviet Union, a softening of its stance toward the rest of the world, a straining toward independence from the various SSRs. The Baltic Way had occurred half a year before, with a human chain linking together three Baltic states; Ukrainians were inspired to create a human chain of their own. More than 300,000 Ukrainians helped to make the chain that stretched from the capital of Kiev to the western former capital of Lviv. And people raised the blue and yellow national flag.
This huge public demonstration helped move the Soviet Union toward its breakup in 1991, and Ukraine became independent (and remained united!). In 1999 the President of Ukraine decreed January 22 the Day of Reunion of Ukraine.
Celebrate Ukraine's unity with some beautiful landscapes:
Also on this date:
Birthdays of new kinds of celebrities
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