Ukraine: Not a Country? | Into Context | War in Ukraine 03 

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Guys, I think you should make 'Into Context' a permanent part of your offerings. I think your audience is hungry for this contextualizing of currents through history. It is after all, why many of us become historians in the first place, that desire to make sense of why the world is the way it is.

Russia recognized Ukraine's independence in 1991, so Russia admitted that Ukraine has the right to exist.

You can see how ticked off Indy is by the fact he used the word "bullshit" instead of his usual "nonsense".

Good video. The main reason why Ukraine wasn't able to achieve independence after WW1 was the lack of nationhood the country had because it was occupied by so many different forces. Eventually the Bolsheviks appealed to peasant nationalism (after resorting to terror earlier, resulting in countless peasant uprisings) which eventually made the majority of the Ukrainian peasants side with the Reds. That tipped the balance.

I love this new format of "Into Context". Putting historical content to current events is a stroke of genius! I would like to see this continue even after the horror of Ukraine ends. There are so many other areas in the world that a little more insight into the history of the area would be enlightening. Thanks again to your whole team!

Thank you so much for the effort you put into those videos!

8:45 Ukrainian SSR wasn't only Soviet republic in the UN merber status. Byelorussian SSR (modern day Belarus) also was a UN member state since 1945.

Can you do a series explaining how Russia went form the end of the Soviet union to Putin. Because must people forget or omit the period between the fall of the Soviet union and the years of Yeltsin, and just straight go to Putin. Maybe you could add some context like this series. Either way amazing work.

Thank you so much to the TimeGhost crew for making this series. I honestly did not expect you to cover current events because, as Indy said in a previous video, you are historians. When the invasion of Ukraine started, I "jokingly" told myself that I would have to wait several years to see TimeGhost making a series about it. Once again, thank you so much for taking the time to make this series.

Always good to see the false claims of dictators challenged and refuted, well done and thank you all at TimeGhost. Slava Ukraina.

I'm proud to be a patron of both channels on patreon.

Didn't Belarus also have a seat at the UN when they still where part of the soviet union?

Thank you Indy and Spartacus and the team for these episodes from Kyiv, Ukraine. It is supporting and heartwarming to hear the truth about my country spoken out loud and clear. And every bit of warmth is so important in the midst of the war. Please keep doing what you do, for people to never forget AGAIN.

This style of video is probably the best way to keep this channel relevant aside from day by days like with Cuban missile crisis

THANK YOU , Indy and Spartacus ! And thanks for saying “bullshit”!

Instantly offended by the Irish quip Indy, yet laughing within a second. So true. Thanks for the shoutout!

I just love how he said Bullshit, what a true historian lol.

Putin said on one address that Ukraine’s modern borders were set by the USSR, not that it’s ‘not a country’. Nevertheless, it’s borders were recognized more recently by Russia and Ukraine, and I agree that it’s borders cannot be changed capriciously by Russia.

As a Turk, I appreciate the recognition of the sheer suffering that the Crimean Tatars, their plight (along with other muslim minorities in the post-Soviet world) often goes completely unnoticed. Even before the Bolsheviks took power, Muslim ethnic groups like the Circassians were by all accounts nearly completely "cleansed" from their native homeland, in what can be considered one of the earlier instances of genocide in the modern era. A lot Turks and Egyptians can actually trace their heritage back to the Circassian refugees who escaped genocide into the Ottoman Empire. This isn't to say that the Russian state is uniquely genocidal or something, in fact I think they have done a better job at allowing the indigenous peoples of Eurasia a degree of autonomy, self-determination and at the very least the right to exist, whereas the same cannot be said for the Native Americans. It just saddens me that Crimean Tatars, who used to make up the cultural backbone of Crimea, who used to rule Crimea as the last surviving successor state to the Mongol Empire for hundreds of years, are now largely a footnote of history. They actually were making a bit of a comeback post-1991, with their population rising to around 16% of the total Crimean population and the Ukrainian government allowing them to have their own representative body (the Mejlis), but for some absurd reason the Russian government banned the Crimean Tatar Mejlis in 2016 on completely baseless grounds. International courts have asked them to reverse this decision but they refuse to comply unfortunately.

Indy is riled up in this video.

Thanks so much for doing these episodes guys, they are really important to trying to understand the current tragedy, keep up the good work ✌️

Sorry, but I have to make a correction: in 1954 Ukrainian territory didn’t increase in size because there was a land swap between the Ukrainian SSR and the Russian Federation. Yes, Ukraine got the peninsula Crimea, but in return, a continental piece of land of Taganrog area was given to the Russian Federation. The problem with Crimea was that when Crimean Tatars were deported from Crimea, Russians who replaced Crimean Tatars didn’t know what to do, what to grow on the barren land of Crimea. Russians had no idea what to cultivate there. The situation was devastating for the economy and practically starving population of Crimea. When Crimea became a part of the Ukrainian SSR, Ukrainians heavily invested into Crimea by building an irrigation channel, Crimean channel to have a steady water supply from the Dnipro River. Ukrainians also provided electricity and natural gas supply to people of Crimea. That led to the economic revival of the barren land of Crimea.

Thanks a lot for this video! I'd love to hear more from you guys on this now that we are over a year in. I know you're busy with making WWTWO (as I am watching it), but I truly believe this topic is deserving of your time. Great work, as always.

I said it before in a comment to your "Inbetween 2 wars" episode on Ukraine, it may be debateable if Ukraine was a independent country many years ago. Mostly it wasn't, during the Russian Empire era, and also not (even if it sounds differently on paper) during the USSR era. And that also includes Crimea of course. However - it is futile, and a receipe for endless conflict, to try to reverse existing borders and statuses. I mean, to what end should that lead? At one point most of Europe belonged to the Roman Empire - so should Italy now rule Europe? Russia does what it does just because it thinks it can. Same as the USA has done numerous times since WW2, or the Germans before WW2. Nothing mysterious in all of that.

Thanks for having the courage of tackling difficult issues head on and without ever losing your moral compass!

*correction: The annexation of Crimea was 100 non violent. (I believe not 1 shot was fired.) Stop being sensationalist!

Thanks so much for this. We also need to talk about Benedict Anderson’s “imagined communities” and the differentiation between nations and states. Ukraine is a separate state with an identity separate from that of the Russian Federation because they feel it is, and that should be good enough for anyone if their sense of nationhood is questioned. If people think that’s too arbitrary a distinction, well, the same can be said of the difference between Americans and Canadians.

I'm extremely grateful for the voice of sanity during this war.

Great vid. So many times I hear "Every land to go back to its original nation/country/origin" I always say, "How far back do you want to go?". Land has been exchanged so much throughout history. Truly, how far back do you want to go? Of course, most people answer something to the nature of "As far back as long as it benefits me". Go figure. That Casus Beli has always been "bullshit" to me. Well, most Casus Beli is bullshit, but that specific one really does erk me.

Extra points for Ukraine for using article 69 to separate from Russia

Love this format. Being linked to recent events I think helps both contextualize and actually remember more easily historic events when compared to explorations of specific periods in isolation. Do keep up the amazing job.

Damn. I only ever hear you guys swear when you're quoting someone. Thank you for this series. With the extensive research you guys put into your WW2 series, I trust that just as much work is going into researching this series too. I'm grateful that I'm learning more about the history of Ukraine both Politically and Socially.

Hawaii, an independent kingdom recognised around the world had its government overthrown by US Marines in 1893 and was militarily annexed to the US in 1898.

This was such an awesome explainer! Thanks.

Superb as always!

Throughout the invasion of Ukraine, I am reminded of Thucydides' "History of the Peloponnesian War." The Melian dialogues in particular, "The strong take what they want, and the weak yield what they must." I do not agree, personally, but that is what this whole situation reminds me of. Thanks, but ...

Belarus also had a seat at the UN while a part of the USSR

Thank you TimeGhost History!

"Some were protestant, some catholic. If you think that's not a big deal, you should visit Ireland" wise words indeed

Thank you. In a world of disinformation and "bullshit" I'm so glad you have decided to create these episodes. Carefully spelling out and explaining the history of an important ongoing situation is crucial to gaining clearer future understanding and context to these events when they become the *new history* of our world.

Ukrainians were considered ethnically diverse enough in the USSR to be the primary victims of the Holodomor… but with clear differences in govt, language and culture are not distinct enough for Putin to be their own people 😂

Belorussian SSR also was memeber and founder of UN and was ‘independent’ member as one of the USSR’s republics…

Great video lads.

One of the rare moments in this when Indie swears. You can tell he cares a lot about this issue

Bavarian troops did fight on the southern part of the Eastern front in WW1 in support of the Austro-Hungarian army. For instance the Alpenkorps played a prominent role against the Romanians. An uncle of mine was also mortally wounded while serving in the Bavarian army on the Eastern front in 1916.

Holy shit, Indy absolutely killed it in his delivery in this video. Love this series.

Great Clips, thank you for your continuous effort!

Will the Georgian War in 2008 also be a part of this series? Thanks for the content. :)

You said Ukraine was the only Soviet Republic independently represented at the UN but Belarus also had its own UN seat even when it was a part of the Soviet Union

Way to say it like it is, and logically sound, Indy!

Thank you guys. You make an incredible work, no pulling punches and calling things their names.

It is only in this series that I realised the significance of your clock in this series and War against humanity: the time is set, I presume, to the doomsday clock. If so very apt in each case.

To Mr Neidell, Mr Spartacus and all TimeGhost crew, thank you. The effort you make today might not be seen by all, but in the future I'm certain we will all be thankful for what you've given us.

Love the passion in this video. It’s one of your best!

Thank you both another great production

Ballsy but necessary content. Much respect

Nice video! But one moment you got wrong, Belorussia was also presented independently in UN

Awesome informative video. Keep up the good work. Cheers from Turkey

Thanks for your voice on this matter.

The more I watched WW2 in real time, the more I told myself "woah, those guys coudn't kick ass more and be more relevent". Then do this and kick more asses and are even more relevent.

Keep up the GREAT work Gentlemen!!!

Thank you

Thanks for veering slightly into current events. Your assessment is much appreciated.

8:44 - The Byelorussian SSR was also a founding member of the UN.

Great video. I would honestly love to see a series like this continue in the future, covering current events, with this sort of historical perspective, as they unfold.

So Very well done !! Thank You

This is great content. Doesn't surprise me at all coming from you and your team. Thank you.

For me it is still sureal to see that tje Soviet Union existed until the 1990s! I was born 1994 and never heard of its existence after the cold war because in history lessons this topic was completly avoided! Thanks many times for your great work! ❤

Putin doesn't believe in laws, he believes in ethno-nationalism. Notice how he refers to The UK and the US collectively as "The Anglo-Saxons", as if our national identity were dependent on membership in that tribe, and everyone who isn't Anglo-Saxon is a subject minority. (Perhaps he feels the American Revolution was a "disaster" from the Anglo-Saxon point of view, and the existence of the US, Canada and Australia as independent countries is just poor planning on the part of the "Anglo-Saxon" people). Of course, by the logic of ethno-nationalism, Moscow should be Kiev's vassal and not the other way around, but I digress. The Kenyan ambassador to the UN nailed it. The real problem with ethno-nationalism isn't that it's racist (though it is), it's that it's a recipe for perpetual warfare. Which was exactly the state of things before trains and machine-guns upped the ante. The price for going down that road again is another world war 2 every generation, plus (oh yeah) nukes.

Excellent video, as usual.

I just simply love you guys. Tha ks for giving me stuff to look forward to and insight on literally almost everything history and now, modern times as well.

So relevant today. Thanks for the historical analysis and Nuance. You guys rock!! Can you share your source for the polls regarding what crimeans may have voted for had they been given an option in the referendum to remain as part of the Ukraine? That's the first time I had heard about that.

It would be useful if you made a video about the Minsk agreement, and how it plays a role in this conflict.

Well said guys... keep up the great work... Never Forget.

Vladimir Putin out here putting on his best Josef Stalin Impression.

You guys are doing an amazing job. I know that they’re giving you hell by trying to sensor a lot of what you are saying, but you guys are doing an incredible job!

Great explanation of the current situation with historical context in 11 minutes. I have a feeling in a few months when weather conditions are favorable for amphibious operations in the Taiwan Strait, you may have to do another story - Taiwan : Not a Country ? It was only controlled by mainland China by 2 dynasties for around 200 years, otherwise it's got it's own history and indigenous people, it was even ruled by the Dutch East India Company for a while.

'Ukraine is not a country' 'Crimea and the Donbass are regions that belong to Russia'. Why am I hearing 'Czechoslovakia is not a country' and 'The Sudetanland belongs to Germany'? This isn't a coincidence!!!!

Thank you, very informative, this series is on my daily watch list! Keep up the good work

I hate to put a damper on a great video, but the Beylorusian SSR also was a charter member of the U.N. Just sayin'.

3:20 Theres also Casimir Pulaski, a Polish dude who fought in the american revolution and who is even officially celebrated yearly on the first Monday in March (March 7th this yr) in Illinois. He is aka "The Father of American Cavalry" Oh yea and theres a whole presidential proclamation every yr on Oct 11th, his official national memorial day.

Clear and to the point, "just the facts" presented, thank you

Thank you for doing this, Indy and other presenters and members of TimeGhist History. I am from Ukraine and what is happening here is horrifying. Thank you. I've been a long time fan of the Great War project and WW2 as well. And just want to say thank you.

Dayum Indy, tell ‘em like it is! Awesome episode btw

This was a very interesting and timely video, well done!

Thank you for the contextual history.

Yep Sparty I agree it's 2 minutes to midnight.

As a czech person this hits WAY to close to home

Russia is like 10-12 countries hiding in a trenchcoat, and the guy at the top bullying and peeing on the rest. The American example is also very good...

Great video. I always knew this but it's great to get a reminder! Also, Spartacus with a great choice of suit color.

Thank you guys for this . Keep it up

Another one of those "it goes without saying, but it's better when it's being said" things. Thanks

Love this series guys, keep up the excellent work.

Knew you guys would do a stellar job on this.

I love these series, so smartly put together

"Rigged referendum" when will we hear about the Kosovo referendum

It feels kinda weird seeing these historical parallels in the present day

Thanks for sending Indy the microphone!! This video sounded much better.

Thank you!