During the 3 years which followed this declaration of independence. the industrious Ukrainian people made tremendous progress toward developing a stable and democratic government. despite constant pressure at the hands of the Bolsheviks. Unfortunately. however. by 1922. the Bolsheviks took control. and the Ukrainians entered a dark period of oppression and persecution. During the barbaric years of Stalins rule. the Ukrainians witnessed mass starvations. evacuations. and deportations. as the Soviets attempted to destroy the national identity of the Ukrainian people. However. the Soviets were not able to crush their spirit and their great desire to achieve independence and selfdetermination. Today a wave of freedom is sweeping over all of the republics which have long been under the domination of Soviet rule.
Keywords matched
deportations