35 Years of Ukraine’s Independence: A Choice That Shaped the Future

On August 24, 2026, Ukraine marks the 35th anniversary of the proclamation of its independence. Three and a half decades ago, the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR adopted a decision that changed the political map of Europe and shaped Ukraine’s modern history. In 1991, the Ukrainian people restored their own statehood, and on December 1 confirmed this choice in a nationwide referendum.

An important prerequisite for independence was the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine, adopted by the Verkhovna Rada on July 16, 1990. It proclaimed the supremacy, independence, and completeness of Ukraine’s authority within its territory, as well as its independence and equality in foreign relations. On August 24, an extraordinary session of the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR was held. The document proclaimed Ukraine an independent democratic state and was based on the Ukrainian people’s right to self-determination and the thousand-year tradition of state-building. Thus, the issue was not the creation of Ukrainian statehood from scratch, but its restoration and continuation of a historical tradition.

The decisive stage came on December 1, 1991. In the nationwide referendum, 90.32% of citizens who took part in the vote confirmed the Act of Declaration of Independence. Independence was supported by voters in all regions of Ukraine, including Crimea, Donetsk and Luhansk regions. On the same day, the parliamentary decision received nationwide democratic support.

International recognition of independent Ukraine began almost immediately. On December 2, 1991, Poland became the first country to officially recognize Ukraine’s independence. Subsequently, Ukraine established diplomatic relations with countries around the world and became a full-fledged participant in international affairs.

Over the course of 35 years, the meaning of independence has expanded significantly. It has become not only a symbol of restored statehood, but also a daily responsibility for democracy, citizens’ rights, economic capacity, culture, language, and the security of the country. The events of the Orange Revolution and the Revolution of Dignity demonstrated Ukrainians’ determination to independently shape their political future. Since 2014, Ukraine has been resisting Russian aggression, and since February 24, 2022, a full-scale invasion. What in 1991 was a political decision of parliament and a choice confirmed by the people is today defended every day by Ukrainian servicemen and women. Independence has a tangible dimension — the ability to live on one’s own land, speak one’s own language, preserve one’s culture, elect one’s government, and independently determine the country’s future.

Thirty-five years is already an entire generation. People born after 1991 are now defending Ukraine, working in public administration, and developing business, science, education, culture, and technology. For them, independence is not a memory of the establishment of a state, but a natural part of life.

At the same time, the full-scale war reminds us that independence cannot be taken for granted. Ukraine is paying a high price for the right to remain free. Thousands of servicemen and women have given their lives for the state, millions of citizens have been forced to leave their homes, and cities and villages have suffered widespread destruction. Yet Ukraine has endured.

The independence proclaimed on August 24, 1991, became a historic choice of the Ukrainian people. Thirty-five years later, this choice remains the foundation of Ukrainian statehood and the principal value that Ukraine continues to defend.

Prepared by Larysa SEMAKA