Historian: «Human Chain» of 1990 demonstrated that, despite the USSR's bans, we had a memory of the Ukrainian revolution

On January 21, 1990, Ukrainians created a «human chain» stretching from Kyiv to Lviv, a symbolic gesture that has become a cornerstone of the Day of Unity of Ukraine. What was the significance of this action at that time?

Ivan Stychynskyi, a historian, ethnologist, PhD in History, and a member of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, provided insights on Hromadske Radio.

«This tradition underscores that, despite the prohibitions imposed by the Soviet Union, there persisted a memory of the Ukrainian Revolution within our society. During that period, amidst the democratic movement, similar events unfolded not only in Ukraine but also in other Soviet republics. In Ukraine, as they sought historical continuity, they decided to organize this chain of unity to demonstrate that the country stood united in its aspirations: to peacefully break away from the Soviet Union and establish an independent democratic state», — explained Stychynskyi.

While similar actions were organized in some other republics, the Ukrainian tradition is distinctive and endures to this day.

«Various Ukrainian independence associations existing at the time orchestrated this chain, and there were many such associations. Similar events with slightly different emphases also took place in the Baltic States. In our country, this tradition has firmly taken root and continues to be observed», — affirmed the historian.