Independent Ukraine

“Independent Ukraine” is the foundational work of Mykola Mikhnovsky — a lawyer, political thinker, and one of the first modern voices to clearly articulate the necessity of full Ukrainian statehood. Written in 1900 and presented to the Revolutionary Ukrainian Party, it became the first political program to openly call for complete independence at a time when Ukraine remained under the Russian Empire.
For Ukrainians of the early 20th century, this text functioned as a national manifesto. It offered a clear and uncompromising vision of a free, united Ukrainian state and helped shape the ideological foundations of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917. Over the decades, Mikhnovsky’s ideas continued to resonate across generations, inspiring those who fought for Ukraine’s freedom in different historical periods – a cause ultimately crowned by the restoration of an independent Ukrainian state on 24 August 1991.
The enduring power of this work lies in its message: that Ukraine is an ancient European nation, shaped by a centuries-old struggle for freedom, dignity, and statehood – a struggle that continues to this day.