Cultural Sovereignty and Agency: Ukraine’s 35-Year Journey to Reclaim Its Voice

When Ukraine declared independence in 1991, it secured political sovereignty. Yet, the imperial legacy persisted, as Russia and the Soviet Union aimed to dilute Ukrainian historical memory and merge Ukrainian identity with the overarching imperial narrative. Understanding culture extends beyond historical knowledge; it addresses core questions surrounding identity, cultural origins, and the civilizational space one belongs to.

As war coverage on @Kyivpost_official notes, over the past 35 years, Ukraine has progressively detached its national identity from that of the imperial center, which Ukrainians had long been forced to identify with. Literary scholar Vira Aheieva succinctly explains that "We were a colony that never lost its identity, at least its cultural identity."

After independence, this cultural resistance transformed into a public platform. Museums, memorial sites, expanded Ukrainian publishing, independent media, festivals, and international cultural projects emerged, providing new avenues for Ukrainian expression. However, Russia's cultural influence remained potent. Despite formal separation in 1991, Russia retained significant sway over Ukraine's information and cultural spheres for years.

Cultural scholar Mariam Nayem frames this as neocolonialism - dependency maintained through informal means. Russian television, literature, music, and cinema continued to hold sway, while the media and publishing industries operated under a Russian-language cultural framework. Music exemplified this disparity; in 2013, Ukrainian-language songs constituted only about 5% of radio play, while Russian-language music dominated over 40%.

The Revolution of Dignity and Russia's aggression against Ukraine in 2014 catalyzed a shift. Ukrainian society began viewing culture as integral to national agency, rather than merely symbolic. Legislation introducing quotas for Ukrainian-language music and programming on radio began in 2016, mandating at least 35% of songs played on radio stations to be in Ukrainian, with 60% of broadcasters' spoken content required to be in Ukrainian.

This led to a substantial increase in Ukrainian language visibility across television, radio, and music within a few years, transforming Ukraine into a cultural environment where its language, artists, and narratives were the norm.

Throughout three and a half decades, Ukraine witnessed three major waves of civic mobilization: the Revolution on Granite, the Orange Revolution, and the Revolution of Dignity. Each of these events not only altered the political landscape but also questioned the deeper identity of Ukraine. Culture increasingly reflected and shaped these transformations, with language, literature, music, historical figures, and cultural symbols becoming expressions of a broader civilizational choice.

Ukraine moved away from the Russian imperial sphere toward Europe. The ongoing war has intensified this perception, as Russia's aggression isn't merely territorial; it seeks to define what Ukrainians are, their history, and the existence of a distinct Ukrainian nation.

Ukrainian writer Oksana Zabuzhko argues that when a culture is known, people are protected; when it's unknown, lives are at risk. Russian television, literature, music, and cinema were readily accessible in Ukraine, but Russian cultural dominance persisted. Music showcased this divide; in 2013, Ukrainian-language songs made up just 5% of radio airplay, while Russian-language music accounted for over 40%.

This disparity was more than entertainment; it shaped societal understanding. In 2016, Ukrainian-language music and programming quotas were introduced on radio, ensuring at least 35% of songs played were in Ukrainian, and at least 60% of spoken content was in Ukrainian. This policy shift significantly elevated Ukrainian language visibility on media platforms, helping to create a cultural landscape where Ukrainian language, artists, and narratives were normalized.

As Zabuzhko points out, Ukraine has had to repeatedly explain the significance of its heritage to the world, particularly Saint Sophia Cathedral, which is nearly a century older than Notre-Dame and a masterpiece of Byzantine architecture. The invasion has accelerated Ukraine's cultural self-definition, positioning it not as a culture seeking recognition, but as an integral part of Europe's cultural fabric.

Over 35 years, Ukraine's cultural journey is not merely about opening museums, publishing books, or hosting festivals. It's about how Ukraine redefines its identity, moving from proving its existence to asserting its unique place in the world.