Revolution!

Ukraine's previous revolutions provide insight into their current struggle and inspiration for all freedom-loving people of the world

Freedom Square during the Revolution of Dignity

Since the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991, Ukraine has struggled to find its place in the world and solidify its identity. They first had to contend with the external perceptions and internal tensions of being labelled a semi-autonomous satellite state of Russia. In the span of ten years, they experienced two revolutions: The Orange Revolution in 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity in 2014. Both grew out of a desire to break free of Russia’s sphere of influence, assert their independence, secure their sovereignty, and chart a course of prosperity through greater integration with the West.

Ukraine’s Orange Revolution of 2004 was the first major break towards European integration nearly 15 years after independence. Despite the efforts of the pro-Kremlin candidate Viktor Yanukovych to steal an election and the poisoning of his rival Viktor Yushenko, the Ukrainian population protested in the hundreds of thousands to force a new election w…