POL SCIENCE PSDA

PART 2

Ukraine's Breadbasket Status and the Devastating

Holodomor:
• In 1922, Ukraine and Russia were two of the founding members of
the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, and were the signatories
of the treaty that terminated the union in December 1991.
• The end of the Russian Empire also ended the ban on the
Ukrainian language. This was followed by a period of
Korenizatsiya that promoted the cultures of the different Soviet
Republics.
• Ukraine, with its vast, fertile plains, became known as the
"breadbasket of the Soviet Union." It provided a significant amount
of grain and food, making it an invaluable part of the USSR.
However, this very fact made the events of the Holodomor even
more shocking.
• The Holodomor: This state-sponsored famine, orchestrated by
Stalin's government in the 1930s, is considered an act of genocide
against Ukrainians. Crops were seized and sold abroad to fund
Stalin's plans, while livestock, including pets, were taken away.
Soviet soldiers ensured that any remaining food was kept from the
population, resulting in the deliberate starvation and deaths of
millions of Ukrainians – estimates range up to four million.
• However, on 13 January 2010, the Kyiv Appellate Court found
Stalin, Kaganovich, Molotov, and the Ukrainian Soviet leaders
Kosior and Chubar, amongst other functionaries, posthumously
guilty of genocide against Ukrainians during the Holodomor
famine.

World War II and its Devastating Impact on Ukraine:

• During World War II, Germany invaded Ukraine on June 22nd,
1941, completing their takeover by November. Four million
Ukrainians were evacuated eastward.
• Nazi Deception: The Nazis initially encouraged collaboration by
appearing to support an independent Ukrainian state. However,
they reneged on this promise once in control.
 • Loss of Life and Jewish Persecution: Between 1941 and 1944,
around 1.5 million Jews living in Ukraine were killed by Nazi
forces.
• The Tide Turns: Following the Soviet victory at the Battle of
Stalingrad in early 1943, the counter-offensive moved across
Ukraine. Kyiv was retaken in November of that year. The fight for
western Ukraine was brutal and bloody until Nazi Germany was
finally driven out by the end of October 1944.
• Devastating Losses: Ukraine lost a staggering number of lives
during World War II, with estimates ranging between five and
seven million.

BOP
The balance of power theory in international relations suggests that
states may secure their survival by preventing any one state from
gaining enough military power to dominate all others. If one state
becomes much stronger, the theory predicts it will take advantage of its
weaker neighbors, thereby driving them to unite in a defensive coalition.
Some realists maintain that a balance-of-power system is more stable
than one with a dominant state, as aggression is unprofitable when there
is equilibrium of power between rival coalitions.

During the period of 1921 to 1991, the question of balance of power

between Russia and the USA in the context of Ukraine wasn't really
relevant. It wasn't until Ukraine gained independence in 1991 that it
became a separate entity with the potential to influence the power
dynamic between Russia and the USA.Here's why:

• The USSR as a Dominant Force: From 1922, Ukraine became a

republic within the USSR, a powerful single entity dominated by
Russia. The USSR acted as a single player on the world stage,
competing with the USA during the Cold War.
• Limited Ukrainian Agency: Ukraine lacked any real independent
foreign policy or military. Decisions regarding international
relations and military actions fell under the purview of the Soviet
government in Moscow.

However, Ukraine did play an indirect role in the US-Soviet

rivalry:
 • Strategic Buffer: Ukraine's geographical position bordering
several Eastern Bloc countries made it a vital buffer zone for the
Soviet Union against potential US-backed threats.
• Nuclear Arsenal: After World War II, Ukraine inherited a
significant portion of the Soviet nuclear arsenal. This bolstered
Soviet military power and deterrence capabilities in their
competition with the USA.
• Founding Member of the UN: This limited international
recognition allowed the Ukrainian SSR to become a founding
member of the United Nations alongside the Soviet Union and
Byelorussian SSR. This was likely part of a deal with the United
States to balance power within the UN General Assembly, which
the USSR felt favored the Western Bloc.

Shifting Dynamics:

• Ukrainian Nationalism: While suppressed, Ukrainian national

identity simmered beneath the surface. This could have potentially
weakened Soviet unity in the long run, but during this period, it
didn't significantly impact the balance of power.

Turning Point:

• Dissolution of the USSR: The collapse of the Soviet Union in

1991 completely changed the equation. Ukraine emerged as an
independent state, creating a new dynamic in Eastern Europe and
presenting a new player for the USA to potentially engage with.

Post-War Struggles and the Chernobyl Disaster:

• A famine in 1946-47 claimed around a million more lives, and pre-
war food production levels wouldn't be restored until the 1960s.
• Transfer of Crimea: In 1954, the USSR transferred control of
Crimea to Soviet Ukraine. This decision, perhaps made when the
USSR seemed strong, would create problems in the future after
the Soviet Union's collapse.
• Chernobyl Disaster: The Chernobyl nuclear disaster occurred in
Ukraine on April 26th, 1986. During a test procedure on reactor
number four, a power decrease destabilized the reactor, leading to
a meltdown and explosion that destroyed the building.
 • A Lasting Legacy: Chernobyl remains one of the only two nuclear
disasters rated at the highest level, alongside the 2011 Fukushima
disaster. The explosion caused ongoing health issues and
established a vast exclusion zone. This event is considered a
significant contribution to the collapse of the USSR, shaking faith
in the Soviet government. As Mikhail Gorbachev, the last Soviet
leader, stated, it became a turning point towards greater freedom
of expression, ultimately leading to the end of the Soviet system as
it was known.

The Fall of the Soviet Union and Ukrainian Independence:

• In 1991, the Soviet Union dissolved. Ukraine played a key role in this process,
signing the document that officially disbanded the USSR.
• Referendum and Election: A national vote (referendum) overwhelmingly
supported Ukrainian independence, with over 84% voter turnout and 92.3%
voting "yes."
• First President: Leonid Kravchuk became Ukraine's first president following
elections where all candidates advocated for independence.

Nuclear Disarmament:
• Ukraine inherited a significant nuclear arsenal after the Soviet collapse. While
it had the capability to launch these weapons, control software resided in
Russia.
• Nuclear Deal: To gain international recognition as an independent state,
Ukraine agreed to dismantle most of its nuclear weapons and transfer them to
Russia.
• Budapest Memorandum: In 1994, Western nations and Russia signed the
Budapest Memorandum, guaranteeing Ukraine's security in exchange for its
complete nuclear disarmament.

Timeline of (1921 - 1991)

1921:

Ukraine becomes a founding member of the Union of Soviet Socialist

Republics (USSR) alongside Russia.

1920s-1930s:

• Early 1920s: The Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic (SSR) is

established within the USSR.
• 1920s: A period of cultural revival known as Ukrainization takes
place, promoting Ukrainian language and culture within the USSR.
 • Early 1930s: Collectivization: Soviet forced consolidation of farms
in Ukraine leads to widespread famine and hardship.
• 1932-1933: Holodomor: A devastating famine in Soviet Ukraine
kills millions, with many Ukrainians believing it was a deliberate act
of genocide by the Soviet regime.

1940s:

• 1939: Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union sign the Molotov-
Ribbentrop Pact, dividing Eastern Europe. Western Ukraine is
annexed by the USSR.
• 1941-1944: World War II: Ukraine becomes a major battleground
between Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union. Millions of
Ukrainians die in the conflict.

1950s-1980s:

• Post-WWII: Ukraine begins rebuilding from the devastation of war.

• 1954: Crimea is transferred from the Russian SFSR to the
Ukrainian SSR by the Soviet government.
• 1960s-1980s: A resurgence of Ukrainian nationalism, albeit limited
due to Soviet repression.

1980s:

• 1985: Mikhail Gorbachev becomes leader of the Soviet Union and

institutes reforms of glasnost (openness) and perestroika
(restructuring).
• Late 1980s: These reforms embolden Ukrainian nationalists who
demand greater autonomy within the USSR.

1991:

• August 24, 1991: Ukraine declares independence from the USSR

in a referendum with overwhelming public support.
• December 26, 1991: The Soviet Union officially dissolves. Ukraine
becomes a fully independent nation.

CONCLUSION

Ukraine's history is a complex tapestry woven with periods of a little

prosperity and much of devastation. Once called the breadbasket of the
Europe was challenged with many upcoming famines. Devastations of
WWII and Chernobyl disaster fumed the local people . Ultimately when
they got independence in 1991 they were pushed in a constant fear due
to nuclear disarmament. Despite the challenges, Ukraine has
persevered. This historical background provides context for
understanding the complexities of modern-day Ukraine.