Ukrainians marked their country’s 35th Independence Day with quiet pride, a stark contrast to the usual fanfare. Public holidays have been suspended since February 2022, when Russia launched its full-scale invasion, the largest European conflict since World War II. Amid the ongoing dangers and domestic discussions about wartime elections, a festive mood is subdued.
Despite the hardships, Ukrainian Independence Day holds profound significance, offering a cause for celebration for those who value freedom. Understanding the current war requires historical context, as it is not an isolated event but the latest in a centuries-long pattern of Russian imperial aggression.
Ukraine's struggle for statehood is one of the longest in world history. As early as 1731, philosopher Voltaire noted Ukraine's "always aspired to liberty." During that same period, Russia was already engaged in subjugating Ukraine, a process that continued for centuries as Russian rulers sought to eliminate Ukraine from the European map. These efforts to extinguish Ukrainian identity intensified throughout the 20th century under Soviet rule.
In the 1930s, Joseph Stalin orchestrated the Holodomor, a man-made famine that deliberately starved millions of Ukrainians. Raphael Lemkin, the originator of the term "genocide," described the Holodomor as a classic example of Soviet genocide. Current Russian leadership under Vladimir Putin has embraced this legacy. Putin, like many Russians, has not accepted the collapse of the Soviet Union or Ukraine's independence, asserting that Ukrainians are essentially Russians and questioning Ukraine's right to exist.
Initially, Putin attempted to undermine Ukraine's post-Soviet statehood through political, cultural, and economic interference. When these efforts failed, Russia resorted to military force. The turning point came in February 2014 with the annexation of Crimea, followed by the incursion into eastern Ukraine's Donbas region, setting the stage for the 2022 full-scale invasion.
Putin has offered justifications on the international stage, citing NATO expansion as a threat and falsely claiming to be at war with Ukrainian "Nazis," a claim undermined by Ukraine's Jewish president. However, when addressing domestic audiences, Putin has been more candid about his imperial ambitions, stating that Russia is reclaiming its "historical lands."
The actions of the Russian army in occupied territories reflect these imperial goals. Ukrainian language, culture, and history are being systematically suppressed and replaced with an imposed Russian identity. In a move reminiscent of Stalinist repression, Russian forces have detained thousands of Ukrainians perceived as threats to Russian rule, a practice the United Nations has classified as a crime against humanity.
Ukrainians recognize Putin's genocidal agenda, fueling their determination to resist. They understand that cessation of defense would lead to the erasure of their nation. Putin has rejected calls for a ceasefire, insisting on addressing what he terms the "root causes" of the war, which are widely understood as a demand for regime change in Kyiv. This maximalist stance complicates international efforts to broker peace.
Russia's invasion poses a broader challenge to the global order. Allowing a nation to be erased in Europe could reverse decades of progress in democratic freedoms and usher in an era of increased international instability. Many expected Ukraine to fall quickly in 2022, but nearly five years later, the country continues to resist and is closer to securing true independence than at any point in its history. This resilience makes Ukrainian Independence Day a momentous occasion for all who value freedom.