Ukraine under the Soviets

This historical study traces Ukraine’s turbulent passage from the collapse of the Russian Empire in 1917 to incorporation into the Soviet system. It examines why the Ukrainian bid for national self-government was misunderstood abroad, how Soviet power took root, and how the creation of the USSR reshaped the political map of Eastern Europe.

Focusing on Ukraine as a testing ground for Soviet methods, the book explores disintegration, infiltration, conquest, exploitation, and Russification. It considers the effects of centralized rule on Ukrainian society, culture, and daily life, while placing these developments in the broader context of the World Wars, the rise of Nazi Germany, and the postwar spread of Soviet influence. For listeners seeking historical perspective on Ukraine’s struggle for identity and independence, this account connects events in Kyiv and Kharkiv with the transformations that followed across Central and Eastern Europe.