How old is Ukraine? This issue has been the subject of much discussion by scholars and historians. They all call different numbers, counting the Ukrainian statehood from various historical events.
The territory of modern Ukraine: from ancient times to the first rudiments of statehood
How old is Ukraine independent? To try to answer this difficult question, you need to delve into the history of this country.
The first homo sapiens began to settle on the lands of modern Ukraine 30-40 thousand years ago. These were Cro-Magnons. The remains of one of their centers were discovered by archaeologists in the unique historical reserve "Stone Grave" in the Zaporizhzhya region.
In the Eneolithic era (IV-III millennium BC), tripoli became the central culture in the territory of modern Ukraine (as well as Moldova and part of Romania). The bearers of this culture have achieved considerable success in technology, culture and agriculture, built the first proto-cities, and developed their own iconic system.
In the VII-III century BC on the lands of the southern part of Ukraine there was a state formation of the Scythians. Around the same time, Greek colonial cities were emerging in the Crimea and the Northern Black Sea region.
At the end of the ninth century AD, the most powerful (at that time) state formation in all of Europe began to form - Kievan Rus.
How old is Ukraine? Let's try to answer this question further.
How old is Ukraine: different approaches - different versions
There are several versions in assessing the age of Ukrainian statehood. Some researchers have been counting since the formation of the Old Russian power with its center in Kiev. By the way, it was during the existence of Kievan Rus in the Ipatiev Chronicle (1187) that the name of this country first appeared. True, in the original text it sounds like "Ukraine."
Other historians propose starting the countdown of Ukrainian statehood in 1649, when the Getman power of Bohdan Khmelnytsky was founded after the liberation of the territories from the Poles. By the way, in the Pereyaslav Treaty of 1654, Russia entered into an agreement with Ukraine.
Many historians believe that Ukraine can be considered the year of the "birth" of the state in 1918, when the UNR (Ukrainian People's Republic) was officially proclaimed in Kiev. True, it lasted only three years.
How many years of independence of Ukraine?
2014 is the year in which independent Ukraine turned 23 years old. And if we talk about the official age of this state, then this figure needs to be called.
On August 24, 1991, the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine was adopted. It was after the adoption of this historic document by the Verkhovna Rada on the map of Europe that a new sovereign state officially arose. Today, August 24 in Ukraine is celebrated as Independence Day of the country.
According to Ukrainian law, Ukraine is the successor of the Ukrainian SSR.
In December 1991, a referendum was held in a young country in which about 90% of Ukrainians voted for the independence of Ukraine. By the way, all the leading Ukrainian politicians of that time did not expect to get such a result. Even Vyacheslav Chernovol (leader of Rukh) before this referendum said the following: “We would get at least 50% + 1 vote!”
Finally...
So, how old is Ukraine in reality?
Some start the countdown of Ukrainian statehood from the time of Kievan Rus or even the era of Tripoli culture. Others believe that Ukraine as a state arose in 1649. However, if we talk about the age of the independent state of Ukraine in its modern borders, then this country turned (in 2014) only 23 years old.