NEWS BBC | World | Europe | Country profiles | Timeline: Ukraine Timeline: Ukraine A chronology of key events 1917 - Central Rada (Council) set up in Kiev following collapse of Russian Empire. 1918 - Ukraine declares independence: Ukrainian People's Republic set up. Soviet years 1921 - Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic established. KIEV Ukraine's capital has a long and turbulent history Population: 2.6 million Founded in 6th-7th century AD Capital of first East Slavic state by 9th century 1941-43: Occupied by German forces 1932 - Approximately 7 million peasants perish in man-made famine during Stalin's collectivisation campaign. 1937 - Mass executions and deportations as Stalin launches purge against intellectuals. 1941 - Ukraine suffers terrible wartime devastation as Nazis occupy the country until 1944. More than 5 million Ukrainians die fighting Nazi Germany. Most of Ukraine's 1.5 million Jews wiped out by the Nazis. 1944 - Stalin deports 200,000 Crimean Tatars to Siberia and Central Asia following accusations of collaboration with Nazi Germany. 1945 - Allied victory in World War II leads to Soviet annexation of western Ukrainian lands. 1954 - Armed resistance to Soviet rule ends with defeat of Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). 1960s - Increase in covert opposition to Soviet rule, leading to repression of dissidents in 1972. 1986 - A reactor at the Chernobyl nuclear power station explodes, sending a radioactive plume across Europe. Desperate efforts are made to contain the damaged reactor within a huge concrete cover. Many armed forces personnel die of radiation sickness. 1988 - Prominent writers and intellectuals set up Ukrainian People's Movement for Restructuring (Rukh). 1990 - Student protests and hunger strikes bring down government of Vitaliy Masol. Independence 1991 - Ukraine declares independence following attempted coup in Moscow: 90% vote for independence in nationwide referendum in December. CHERNOBYL Effects of world's worst nuclear disaster are still being felt early to mid 1990s - About 250,000 Crimean Tatars and their descendants return to Crimea following collapse of Soviet Union. 1994 - Presidential elections: Leonid Kuchma succeeds Leonid Kravchuk. 1996 - New, democratic constitution adopted. New currency, the hryvna, is introduced. 1997 - Friendship treaty signed with Russia. Ukraine and Russia also reach agreement on the Black Sea fleet. 1999 - Death penalty abolished. President Kuchma re-elected. 2000 - Chernobyl nuclear power plant is shut down, 14 years after the accident. Well over ten thousand people have died as a direct result of the explosion, the health of millions more has been affected. GEORGIY GONGADZE Journalist and strong critic of the authorities, murdered in 2000
2001 February - The European Union calls for an inquiry into the murder of an investigative journalist Georgiy Gongadze. Opposition demonstrations allege that President Kuchma was involved and call for his impeachment. President Kuchma denies the allegations. 2001 April - Viktor Yushchenko government dismissed following no-confidence vote in parliament. Yushchenko was respected in the West for fighting corruption, pushing ahead with economic reforms and working to attract investment but unpopular with numerous powerful Ukrainian businessmen. 2001 June - Pope John Paul II makes first visit to Ukraine amid protests by Orthodox Christians in and Ukraine Russia against the visit. 2001 October - Ukrainian military accidentally shoot down Russian air liner over the Black Sea, killing all 78 on board. Defence Minister Olexander Kuzmuk resigns. 2001 October - Ukraine's last Soviet-era nuclear missile silo destroyed. 2002 March - General election results in hung parliament. Parties opposed to President Kuchma allege widespread electoral fraud. 2002 May - Leadership announces decision to launch formal bid to join Nato. 2002 July - More than 80 killed and 100 injured when military aircraft crashes into spectators at air show in western Ukraine. Disaster leads to sacking of air force chief Viktor Strelnykov. 2002 September - Opposition stages mass protests demanding resignation of President Kuchma whom they accuse of corruption and misrule. Relations with the West are strained after US officials authenticate recordings in which they say Kuchma is heard to approve the sale of early-warning radar systems to Iraq. On the same tapes, recorded over two years previously, Kuchma is also allegedly heard ordering an official to "deal with" journalist Georgiy Gongadze. 2002 November - President Kuchma sacks Prime Minister Kinakh. Viktor Yanukovich, governor of Donetsk region, appointed to replace him. He promises to fight poverty and work for integration into Europe. 2003 March - Tens of thousands of people join Kiev demonstrations demanding that Kuchma resign. 2003 June - Defence Minister Shkidchenko resigns after the leadership criticises armed forces reform. Kuchma appoints Security Council chief Yevhen Marchuk to replace him. 2003 August - First detachment of Ukrainian troops leaves for Iraq. Kiev promises to send 1,600 soldiers to help restore order. 2003 October - Border dispute erupts with Moscow after Russia embarks on building causeway across the Kerch Strait between Russian coast and Ukrainian island of Tuzla off Crimean shores. The strait also separates the Black Sea from the Azov Sea. 2003 December - Constitutional court rules that Pre...