Abstract

While Ukraine and Russia have similar historical beginnings, the country's west has far deeper relations with its European neighbors, notably Poland, and nationalist fervor is greatest there. In the metropolis and the industrialized east, a considerable minority of the population speaks Russian as their native tongue. Among postcommunist European states, Ukraine's system is without a doubt one of the worst. Throughout the postcommunist transition era, it was characterized by organizational and budgetary inefficiencies, inadequacy to the population's health demands, and a lack of broader reform attempts. Ukraine's citizens have been subjected to a series of cruel regimes. Stalin's deliberate campaign of starvation murdered three and a half million Ukrainians during the Holodomor, or Great Famine, of 1932–33. Hitler invaded Ukraine in June 1941, and during the German occupation, three and a half million Ukrainians were slaughtered. There can be no true prospect for human health or thriving without peace. For today's Ukrainians, the invasion is more than a tragedy. It will also have a significant impact on future generations' well-being.

Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call