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In 988, Prince Volodymyr the Great decided to unite his state and strengthen it. He converted to Christianity in Byzantium and baptized the people of Kyivans in the Dnieper. Thus, Christianity began to spread in Kievan Rus. It became the basis of culture, education, and writing, and also strengthened ties with Europe. This was one of the most important events in the history of Ukraine.
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In 1037, Prince Yaroslav the Wise built St. Sophia Cathedral in Kyiv, a majestic temple that became the center of the spiritual and cultural life of Rus'.
The cathedral was decorated with mosaics and frescoes, and the image of Oranta was preserved. Books were copied here, children studied, and a library operated. St. Sophia Cathedral symbolized the power and development of the state and is still one of the main shrines of Ukraine. -
In 1240, the troops of the Mongol Khan Batu attacked Kyiv. The city defended itself bravely, but after a long siege, the Mongols breached the walls. Kyiv was almost completely destroyed, many of its inhabitants were killed or captured. The fall of Kyiv was a heavy blow to all of Russia and marked the beginning of the long Mongol rule over the Ukrainian lands.
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In 1648–1657, under the leadership of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, the Ukrainian Cossacks began a struggle against Polish rule. They sought to protect their rights, faith, and lands. The Cossacks won several major victories and created their own state, the Hetmanate. This war was an important step in the formation of the Ukrainian nation and the pursuit of independence.
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In 1709, a decisive battle took place near Poltava between the Swedish army of Charles XII, supported by Hetman Ivan Mazepa, and the army of the Russian Tsar Peter I. Mazepa sought to free Ukraine from Russian control. However, the Russian army won the battle. The defeat destroyed Mazepa's plans for independence and strengthened Russian influence on Ukrainian lands.
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The Chernobyl nuclear power plant accident occurred on April 26, 1986, during a night experiment at Unit 4. At 1:23 a.m., two explosions occurred, completely destroying the reactor and causing a significant release of radiation. Firefighters arrived very quickly and began extinguishing the flames, unaware of the lethal level of radiation. The evacuation of Pripyat residents began the next day. -
Ukraine became independent on September 24, 1991. After the collapse of the USSR, the Ukrainian parliament praised the Act of Proclamation of Independence. The people supported the decision at the All-Ukrainian referendum on January 1, 1991. Thus, Ukraine became an independent power, which determines its own way and laws.