The National Consciousness of Ukraine and Its Evolution During the Soviet Era

Abstract

During the Soviet period, Ukrainian national consciousness underwent a complex evolution. At first, Ukrainians had a stronger sense of identity with their language, culture, and history, and Ukrainian culture received some level of support. However, during the Stalinist period, Ukraine suffered from cultural repression and large-scale man-made famines, which dealt a heavy blow to Ukrainians’ sense of nationhood. This paper discusses Ukrainian national consciousness and its evolution in Soviet-era Ukraine from historical, political, and social perspectives. Over time, Ukrainians began to pay more attention to and study Ukrainian history and culture, ultimately ushering in Ukrainian independence after the collapse of the Soviet Union in the 1990s. During this period of time, Ukrainian national consciousness was further enhanced and consolidated, and Ukrainians became prouder of guarding and passing on their national identity to younger generations. By combing and analyzing the history of Ukrainian national consciousness, the study contributes to a deeper understanding of the historical roots of Ukrainian national consciousness in the context of the ongoing Russo-Ukrainian war.