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Independent 30 is a project created for the 30th anniversary of the restoration of Ukraine's independence. It reveals the modern Ukrainian nation through the stories of famous Ukrainians. Through the voices of the 30 Independent project, we tell the story of the contemporary history of Ukraine with the help of objects which have become symbols of the changes and formation of our country.
Stories of independence
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In 1991, Ukraine finally regained its independence and became a sovereign state. The process of building that state was the defining feature of the 90s. Having gained independence, the country had to overcome the legacies of Soviet politics and its inherited socio-economic collapse. We transitioned from a planned to a market economy, lived through an economic crisis in which we had the world's worst inflation in 1993*, and suffered lawlessness and the takeover of the economy by bandits and criminals.

With the restoration of our independence, we began to build equitable relations with other countries and form shared values within our own society. The Crimean Tatars, who had been deported from their native Crimea by the Soviet regime, returned to their homeland, and the peninsula received autonomy within Ukraine.

Society began to rethink its past and choose strategies for its development. Our own Constitution was ratified in 1996. Having implemented a series of democratic and economic reforms, we finally overcame our crisis and chose the path of returning to the European community.

1991 – Declaration of Ukraine's independence and first presidential elections
1992 – Confirmation of the national symbols of Ukraine
1996 – Ratification of the Constitution and introduction of the hryvnia as the national currency
The defining feature of this decade was the formation of civil society and its consciousness against the background of repeated political crises. President Leonid Kuchma lost the trust of the Ukrainian people, who were disturbed by his administration's assault on freedom of speech and the oligarchisation of the country. This developed into numerous protest movements.

The 2004 Presidential Elections were rigged in favour of Viktor Yanukovych, provoking the first Maidan: a large protest campaign which would become known as the Orange Revolution.

The Orange Revolution and its victory fueled a powerful self-reflection among Ukrainians and provided a new impetus for the development of their own independent state. The victory of Viktor Yushchenko, the leader of the protests, in the re-run of the election launched a new wave of development in national policy, as well as cultural and educational reforms. At this stage, Ukrainians, stood up decisively for their democratic choice for the first time since the restoration of independence.

2004 – Ukrainian singer Ruslana brings Ukraine's first victory at the Eurovision Song Contest
2008 – Introduction of mandatory Independent Assessment testing for entry into higher education institutions

2004 – the Orange Revolution

2001 – Ukraine's first participation in the Venice Biennale with the project 'Tent'
The defining feature of this decade was the formation of civil society and its consciousness against the background of repeated political crises. President Leonid Kuchma lost the trust of the Ukrainian people, who were disturbed by his administration's assault on freedom of speech and the oligarchisation of the country. This developed into numerous protest movements.

The 2004 Presidential Elections were rigged in favour of Viktor Yanukovych, provoking the first Maidan: a large protest campaign which would become known as the Orange Revolution.
The Orange Revolution and its victory fueled a powerful self-reflection among Ukrainians and provided a new impetus for the development of their own independent state. The victory of Viktor Yushchenko, the leader of the protests, in the re-run of the election launched a new wave of development in national policy, as well as cultural and educational reforms. At this stage, Ukrainians, stood up decisively for their democratic choice for the first time since the restoration of independence.
2001 – Ukraine's first participation in the Venice Biennale with the project 'Tent'
2004 – the Orange Revolution
2008 – Introduction of mandatory Independent Assessment testing for entry into higher education institutions
2004 – Ukrainian singer Ruslana brings Ukraine's first victory at the Eurovision Song Contest
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The third decade of independence completely changed Ukraine. It was a period where Ukrainians defended their convictions and freedom, first during the Revolution of Dignity, and then later in resistance to the Russian Federation's armed aggression in the Donbas and Crimea.


The Revolution of Dignity was a mass protest movement in which Ukrainians took to the streets for four months between November 2013 to March 2014. It was sparked by then-president Viktor Yanukovych sharply and suddenly changing the political direction of Ukraine from pro-European to pro-Russian, and then cracking down violently when people voiced their opposition. Immediately after the difficult victory of the Revolution, Ukrainians were forced to mobilise again against the military aggression of the Russian Federation and the occupation of Ukrainian territory. For the past seven years, Ukraine has been forced to protect its borders and fight for its territorial integrity.


Despite these conditions, Ukraine's third decade saw its transformation into a mature society, as well as the consolidation of Ukrainians as a political nation. The country has been implementing reforms aimed at decentralisation, decommunisation, fighting corruption, the creation of new political institutions, the development of its military, the modernisation of its law enforcement agencies as well as of its medical and educational systems.

2013-2014 – the Revolution of Dignity
2014 – the temporary occupation of the Crimean Peninsula by the Russian Federation and the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War
2016 – Jamala's victory at the Eurovision song contest with '1944', a song in Crimean Tatar language
2017 – introduction of the visa-free regime between Ukraine and the European Union
2019 – the Orthodox Church of Ukraine receives the tomos of autocephaly
2021 – Ukraine football team beats Sweden and for the first time reaches the quarter-finals of the European Championship
2021 – Ukraine becomes the first country in the world to launch digital passports


миссия проекта Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet consectetur adipiscing
The third decade of independence completely changed Ukraine. It was a period where Ukrainians defended their convictions and freedom, first during the Revolution of Dignity, and then later in resistance to the Russian Federation's armed aggression in the Donbas and Crimea.
The Revolution of Dignity was a mass protest movement in which Ukrainians took to the streets for four months between November 2013 to March 2014. It was sparked by then-president Viktor Yanukovych sharply and suddenly changing the political direction of Ukraine from pro-European to pro-Russian, and then cracking down violently when people voiced their opposition. Immediately after the difficult victory of the Revolution, Ukrainians were forced to mobilise again against the military aggression of the Russian Federation and the occupation of Ukrainian territory. For the past seven years, Ukraine has been forced to protect its borders and fight for its territorial integrity.

Despite these conditions, Ukraine's third decade saw its transformation into a mature society, as well as the consolidation of Ukrainians as a political nation. The country has been implementing reforms aimed at decentralisation, decommunisation, fighting corruption, the creation of new political institutions, the development of its military, the modernisation of its law enforcement agencies as well as of its medical and educational systems.
2017 – introduction of the visa-free regime between Ukraine and the European Union
2019 – the Orthodox Church of Ukraine receives the tomos of autocephaly
2013-2014 – the Revolution of Dignity


2014 – the temporary occupation of the Crimean Peninsula by the Russian Federation and the start of the Russo-Ukrainian War
2021 – Ukraine football team beats Sweden and for the first time reaches the quarter-finals of the European Championship
2021 – Ukraine becomes the first country in the world to launch digital passports
2016 – Jamala's victory at the Eurovision song contest with '1944', a song in Crimean Tatar language
The Independent 30 project reveals the formation and development of the modern Ukrainian nation through the stories of famous Ukrainians. These are people who make Ukraine unique, strong and globally recognisable through their work, civic positions and public authority. Among them are scientists and cultural figures, businesspeople and social activists, journalists and sportspeople, as well as soldiers and medics from different parts of Ukraine.

Every hero and heroine of the project has chosen one object that symbolises independent Ukraine for them, and spoke to us about its symbolic meaning through their own personal and professional path.

They are independent Ukraine
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The shape of Ukrainian society is designed by everyday actions of every citizen. Together, we make our country truly independent.
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