Ukraine marks 35 years of independence, an anniversary that carries a different meaning today than it did decades ago. We asked our families what it was like to witness the historic events of 1991.
Thank you so much for sharing your parents' memories of independence. As I am of your grandparents' age, I remember the fall of the USSR well, but was more focused on the fall of the Berlin Wall. I did not know it at the time, but I had cousins living in West Berlin and my paternal great-grandfather was born in that city.
In his writings, Vladimir Putin talks about being in the KGB headquarters in Dresden while it was surrounded by pro-reunification demonstrators in 1989. He said it was the most humiliating moment of his life. I think that says volumes about his views and why he thinks the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest catastrophe of the 20th century. And similarly, why he is hell-bent on trying to rebuild it. Like Captain Ahab going after the white whale, except instead of only risking one ship and its crew, Putin is risking so much more.
I'm no alternate history buff but I can't help wondering. If the USSR had survived into the 21st century, does Ukraine still break away in this scenario? Or was 1991 a one time chance that doesn't come back around?
Impossible to say. But history has many examples of “reformer” leaders within authoritarian states who either quickly become as bad as their predecessors, or are removed and replaced by someone even worse.
I would like to ongoingly donate to Ukraine for the war effort: drone production, etc. Can you please recommend on org that is trustworthy and effective? It's confusing out there...
Hi Joan -- We have a policy not to recommend groups for contributions, simply because we don't have the bandwidth to ensure we're not recommending bad organizations. I would hate to send you down the wrong path here --
💙💛🫂 So lovely to read these personal memories while people are still alive to share them - it makes the Ukrainian fight to survive even more essential when you realise what they have to lose 🫣
🤭 Not exactly sure WHAT Russia will do with 300,000 more troops in practical terms - surround the perimeter of Wildberries & fuel refineries to try to shoot down drones? Drive vehicles over the (sure to be destroyed) Kerch bridge & do what? in the Crimea region as it will be on the ground by then? Advance in the snow through winter trees with no leaves to be picked off by Ukrainian drone operators? Hasn't the "fighting" moved beyond boots on the ground? But then again, it seems Putin has no idea what is REALLY happening in his "special military operation" 🤔
Yes and honestly no idea how this plays out. Their last mobilization in 2022 and as far as I remember 100s of thousands left Russia within weeks. But many came back once enforcement turned out sort of inconsistent. I think 300K is a LOT for Ukraine to deal with on the battlefield. But not enough to wake Russians up back home, so long as they don't come knocking on their doors most seem a-ok with it.. Would you say this number is big enough to spark real pushback?
🤔 I have no idea how joined together information is inside Russia now, so that a refinery being blown up in one place, a Wildberries somewhere else, a ship or two being sunk, an aircraft being destroyed, and a mobilisation plan being implemented, may or may not have a cumulative effect ⁉️ Yes, if 300k well trained well equipped boots on the ground turned up somewhere it would be a challenge for Ukraine, but on the other hand a juicy target 🤷 It just seems that even the hardened experienced Russian ground troops are struggling, and the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones has changed how things are unfolding, hence my scepticism 💙💛
Thank you so much for sharing your parents' memories of independence. As I am of your grandparents' age, I remember the fall of the USSR well, but was more focused on the fall of the Berlin Wall. I did not know it at the time, but I had cousins living in West Berlin and my paternal great-grandfather was born in that city.
Slava Ukraini!
In his writings, Vladimir Putin talks about being in the KGB headquarters in Dresden while it was surrounded by pro-reunification demonstrators in 1989. He said it was the most humiliating moment of his life. I think that says volumes about his views and why he thinks the collapse of the Soviet Union was the greatest catastrophe of the 20th century. And similarly, why he is hell-bent on trying to rebuild it. Like Captain Ahab going after the white whale, except instead of only risking one ship and its crew, Putin is risking so much more.
I'm no alternate history buff but I can't help wondering. If the USSR had survived into the 21st century, does Ukraine still break away in this scenario? Or was 1991 a one time chance that doesn't come back around?
Impossible to say. But history has many examples of “reformer” leaders within authoritarian states who either quickly become as bad as their predecessors, or are removed and replaced by someone even worse.
Congratulations to all Ukrainians on this anniversary. May you have many more, and happier, more peaceful ones than at present.
Thank you Paul
Thank you for the beautiful stories of what it was like in Ukraine on this date in 1991.
Everyone must have been ecstatic. Reminds the world that the past 35 years are worth upholding.
This means a lot to our team, glad these stories landed with you Don.
Good cat
Hi Tim,
I would like to ongoingly donate to Ukraine for the war effort: drone production, etc. Can you please recommend on org that is trustworthy and effective? It's confusing out there...
Many thanks,
Joan from Hilo
Hi Joan -- We have a policy not to recommend groups for contributions, simply because we don't have the bandwidth to ensure we're not recommending bad organizations. I would hate to send you down the wrong path here --
Professor Timothy Snyder is VERY trustworthy & does fundraising for projects, but I'm sure there are others!
I’m embarrassed to celebrate the American Independence Day under the circumstances. Trump poisons most of the fun.
Thanks for this! I do remember hearing the coverage of the attempted coup.
💙💛🫂 So lovely to read these personal memories while people are still alive to share them - it makes the Ukrainian fight to survive even more essential when you realise what they have to lose 🫣
🤭 Not exactly sure WHAT Russia will do with 300,000 more troops in practical terms - surround the perimeter of Wildberries & fuel refineries to try to shoot down drones? Drive vehicles over the (sure to be destroyed) Kerch bridge & do what? in the Crimea region as it will be on the ground by then? Advance in the snow through winter trees with no leaves to be picked off by Ukrainian drone operators? Hasn't the "fighting" moved beyond boots on the ground? But then again, it seems Putin has no idea what is REALLY happening in his "special military operation" 🤔
Happy anniversary 👍💙💛
Yes and honestly no idea how this plays out. Their last mobilization in 2022 and as far as I remember 100s of thousands left Russia within weeks. But many came back once enforcement turned out sort of inconsistent. I think 300K is a LOT for Ukraine to deal with on the battlefield. But not enough to wake Russians up back home, so long as they don't come knocking on their doors most seem a-ok with it.. Would you say this number is big enough to spark real pushback?
🤔 I have no idea how joined together information is inside Russia now, so that a refinery being blown up in one place, a Wildberries somewhere else, a ship or two being sunk, an aircraft being destroyed, and a mobilisation plan being implemented, may or may not have a cumulative effect ⁉️ Yes, if 300k well trained well equipped boots on the ground turned up somewhere it would be a challenge for Ukraine, but on the other hand a juicy target 🤷 It just seems that even the hardened experienced Russian ground troops are struggling, and the effectiveness of Ukrainian drones has changed how things are unfolding, hence my scepticism 💙💛