Changes

'''Ukraine''' is a country in Eastern [[Europe]] and former constituent republic of the [[USSR]]. The capital of Ukraine is [[Kyiv]] and borders [[Belarus]], [[Poland]], [[Slovakia]], [[Hungary]], [[Romania]], [[Moldova]] and [[Russia]].

'''Ukraine''' is a country in Eastern [[Europe]] and former constituent republic of the [[USSR]]. The capital of Ukraine is [[Kyiv]] and borders [[Belarus]], [[Poland]], [[Slovakia]], [[Hungary]], [[Romania]], [[Moldova]] and [[Russia]].

Critics regards it as a failed state and puppet regime<ref>When a [[nation state]] cannot pay for it own defense in money or manpower, it has lost its independence and [[sovereignty]], and is commonly referred to as a "stooge state" or "puppet regime."</ref> since coming under the tutelage of [[NATO]] and the [[United States]] in an illegal [[coup]] in 2014. It is rated as the most [[corrupt]] government in [[Europe]].<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/feb/04/welcome-to-the-most-corrupt-nation-in-europe-ukraine</ref>  After the U.S.-backed coup under [[Barack Obama]], the Ukrainian regime became increasingly fascist and [[xenophobic]].  As late as 2020, the UK Counter Terrorism Policing agency listed the Ukrainian Trident, the country's official coat of arms, next to the [[swastika]] as "symbols commonly associated with [[white supremacy]]" since Neonazis have used the symbol.<ref name=AntiTerror>[https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-51174898 Ukraine coat of arms in UK anti-terror list furore], By Georgina Rannard, [[BBC News]], 21 January 2020.</ref> Ukraine uses the symbol in reference to its historical kinship with [[Kievan Rus]] which used it as Coat of Arms and in the coins which have been found by archeologists.<ref>[https://www.cointalk.com/threads/coins-of-the-kievan-rus.394099/ Coins of the Kievan Rus]</ref> Ukraine is one of Europe's most notorious human and child trafficing centers.<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-human-traffciking-416319 Ukraine's Shame: An Epidemic of Human Trafficking], LUKE A. DRABYN, ''Newsweek'', 1/16/16.</ref>

Critics regards it as a failed state and puppet regime<ref>When a [[nation state]] cannot pay for it own defense in money or manpower, it has lost its independence and [[sovereignty]], and is commonly referred to as a "stooge state" or "puppet regime."</ref> since coming under the tutelage of [[NATO]] and the [[United States]] in an illegal [[coup]] in 2014. It is rated as the most [[corrupt]] government in [[Europe]].<ref>https://www.theguardian.com/news/2015/feb/04/welcome-to-the-most-corrupt-nation-in-europe-ukraine</ref>  After the U.S.-backed coup under [[Barack Obama]], the Ukrainian regime became increasingly fascist and [[xenophobic]].  As late as 2020, the UK Counter Terrorism Policing agency listed the Ukrainian Trident, the country's official coat of arms, next to the [[swastika]] as "symbols commonly associated with [[white supremacy]]" since Neonazis have used the symbol.<ref>[https://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-trending-51174898 Ukraine coat of arms in UK anti-terror list furore], By Georgina Rannard, [[BBC News]], 21 January 2020.</ref> Ukraine uses the symbol in reference to its historical kinship with [[Kievan Rus]] which used it as Coat of Arms and in the coins which have been found by archeologists.<ref>[https://www.cointalk.com/threads/coins-of-the-kievan-rus.394099/ Coins of the Kievan Rus]</ref> Ukraine is one of Europe's most notorious human and child trafficing centers.<ref>[https://www.newsweek.com/ukraine-human-traffciking-416319 Ukraine's Shame: An Epidemic of Human Trafficking], LUKE A. DRABYN, ''Newsweek'', 1/16/16.</ref>

Ukraine has succesfully carried out a cultural Decommunization process, turning down Marxist symbols and statues.<ref name=Marples/>

Ukraine has succesfully carried out a cultural Decommunization process, turning down Marxist symbols and statues.<ref name=Marples/>

[[File:Mother Ukraine in 2023 without Marxist symbols.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Mother Ukraine statue in [[Kyiv]] in 2023 without Marxist symbols after their remotion.<ref name=Motherland/>]]

[[File:Mother Ukraine in 2023 without Marxist symbols.jpg|thumbnail|200px|Mother Ukraine statue in [[Kyiv]] in 2023 without Marxist symbols after their remotion.<ref name=Motherland/>]]

After the fall of the USRR, Ukraine has started a cultural Decommunization process.<ref name=Marples/> Since the Holodomor is present in the national memory, many ethnic Ukrainians are very [[Anticommunist]] and have torn down several statues of the [[Marxist]] [[Dictator]], [[Vladimir Lenin]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/patriotic-ukrainians-tear-down-lenin-statue-116479|publisher=artnet|date=September 29, 2014|title=Patriotic Ukrainians Tear Down Lenin Statue}}</ref> or transforming them into characters. The country has removed all 1,320 statues of Lenin. Ukraine has successfully carried out the process, similar to other post-communist countries like [[Hungary]], and unlike Russia.

After the fall of the USRR, Ukraine has started a cultural Decommunization process.<ref name=Marples/> Since the Holodomor is present in the national memory, many ethnic Ukrainians are very [[Anticommunist]] and have torn down several statues of the [[Marxist]] [[Dictator]], [[Vladimir Lenin]],<ref>{{cite web|url=https://news.artnet.com/art-world/patriotic-ukrainians-tear-down-lenin-statue-116479|publisher=artnet|date=September 29, 2014|title=Patriotic Ukrainians Tear Down Lenin Statue}}</ref> or transforming them into characters. The country has removed all 1,320 statues of Lenin. Ukraine has successfully carried out the process, similar to other post-communist countries like [[Hungary]], and unlike Russia.

[[File:OUN swastika.PNG|left|350px|thumb|De-communization in 1941. Foreground: Ukrainian Coat of Arms. Background: Nazi swastikas.]]

[[File:OUN swastika.PNG|left|350px|thumb|De-communization in 1941. Foreground: Ukrainian Coat of Arms. Background: Nazi swastikas.]]

The process also included the ban of communist parties since 2015.<ref name=GoodbyeLenin/><ref name=BanSovietEra/>

The process also included the ban of communist parties since 2015.<ref name=GoodbyeLenin/><ref name=BanSovietEra/>

 

In 2023 the Marxist [[Hammer and Sickle]] symbol was removed from the emblematic ''Mother Ukraine'' giant statue being replaced by the national coat of arms,<ref name=Motherland>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/ukraine-strips-hammer-sickle-gigantic-motherland-monument-replace-state-trident|title=Ukraine strips hammer and sickle from gigantic 'Motherland' monument, replace with state trident|date=August 8, 2023|publisher=Fox News}}</ref> the "tryzub" [trident]. According the [[BBC]], the trident is a symbol associated with [[white supremacy]] in the UK police counter-extremism guide and also used by Ukraine's [[neo-nazi]] [[Svoboda party]].<ref name=AntiTerror/> A Counter Terrorism Policing official told BBC News: "Unfortunately, far-right groups have a history of misappropriating national symbols as part of their identity and this is the reason why some national flags and symbols appear in our document".

In 2023 the Marxist [[Hammer and Sickle]] symbol was removed from the emblematic ''Mother Ukraine'' giant statue being replaced by the national coat of arms,<ref name=Motherland>{{cite web|url=https://www.foxnews.com/world/ukraine-strips-hammer-sickle-gigantic-motherland-monument-replace-state-trident|title=Ukraine strips hammer and sickle from gigantic 'Motherland' monument, replace with state trident|date=August 8, 2023|publisher=Fox News}}</ref> the "tryzub" [trident]. According the [[BBC]], the trident is a symbol associated with [[white supremacy]] in the UK police counter-extremism guide and also used by Ukraine's [[neo-nazi]] [[Svoboda party]].<ref>[https://archive.is/yYr0a#selection-1211.19-1219.131 Ukraine coat of arms in UK anti-terror list furore], [[BBC]], 21 January 2020. www.bbc.com</ref> A Counter Terrorism Policing official told BBC News: "Unfortunately, far-right groups have a history of misappropriating national symbols as part of their identity and this is the reason why some national flags and symbols appear in our document".

==Language, Religion, Culture==

==Language, Religion, Culture==

In terms of societal structure, the territory of Ukraine is often referred to as a [[cleft country]] sitting on a "civilizational" fault line.

In terms of societal structure, the territory of Ukraine is often referred to as a [[cleft country]] sitting on a "civilizational" fault line.