Soviet Ukraine

Definition

Soviet Ukraine refers to the period from 1922 to 1991 when Ukraine was a republic of the Soviet Union. It experienced significant political, economic, and social changes under communist rule.

Analogy

Think of Soviet Ukraine as a player on a sports team (the Soviet Union) who doesn't really want to be there. The coach (Moscow) makes all the decisions, and even though the player has its own skills and desires, it must follow the coach's game plan.

Related terms

Collectivization: This is an economic policy where private farms are consolidated into state-owned enterprises. In Soviet Ukraine, this led to famine due to forced grain requisitions.

Holodomor: A man-made famine in Soviet Ukraine from 1932-1933 that killed millions of Ukrainians. It was part of Stalin's policy of collectivization.

Ukrainian SSR: The official name for Ukraine while it was part of the USSR (Soviet Socialist Republic).