Forgotten History: Ukrainian Anthem

The symbol that built a nation

Photo by Nataliya Smirnova on Unsplash

The Ukrainian anthem is one of the most recognisable, dramatic and at the same time most controversial national symbols of Ukraine. Written in the 19th century, the song She ne vmerla Ukraina (“Ukraine Has Not Yet Perished”) was officially proclaimed the state anthem by the Ukrainian parliament in 1992.

Since then, the anthem has often been criticized for its lyrics (which is why there are several versions of it). However, after February 24, 2022 and the beginning of full-scale aggression in Ukraine, all voices of critics were silenced. The anthem became a powerful symbol of resistance, uniting the nation. It became an important marker defining the genetic connection of Ukrainians to their homeland and the Ukrainian national idea around the world. In this article, we will examine the history of the creation of the Ukrainian anthem, many aspects of which remain paradoxically little known.

The state anthem of Ukraine. Image: Wikimedia Commons

The long history of Ukrainian national symbols has its own peculiarities, which noticeably distinguish Ukrainians from other Slavic peoples. Ukrainians lost their national elite in the Russian Empire centuries ago, which prevented…