October that changed everything: 35 years ago, the first Maidan took place in the capital of Ukraine

From October 2 to 17, 1990, students held a peaceful protest on October Revolution Square in Kyiv. The totalitarian Soviet empire was coming to an end and had long since ceased to be an effective entity. However, attempts to revive it continued: a new union treaty was to be signed. Ukraine, which had just adopted the Declaration of State Sovereignty in July 1990, was also supposed to be among the signatories. To prevent this, the most active part of society, student youth, decided on an unprecedented move: an open mass protest.

The Protestants made five tough demands:

– to dismiss the head of the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR, Vitalii Masol, who represented the old nomenclature;

– to terminate the powers of the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR ahead of schedule and call new elections;

– prevent the signing of a new union treaty;

– return soldiers serving outside Ukraine to Ukraine and guarantee that young men would continue to be drafted to serve within the republic;

– pass a law nationalising the property of the Communist Party of the Ukrainian SSR and the Leninist Communist Youth League of Ukraine.

The most desperate protesters went on a hunger strike. According to the registration logs, there were approximately 400 of them.

The intelligentsia and the residents of Kyiv supported the youth. The old system, which attempted to appear democratic, did not understand how to counter the mass protests effectively. But it could not ignore it either. And, in the end, it gave in. Four of the five demands were met (except for early elections to the Verkhovna Rada). And that was a victory. It was then that Ukrainian students proved that strength lies in unity, that together you can overcome anything, even the system.

Soon, Ukraine regained its independence, and October Revolution Square became Independence Square. The events of October 1990 came to be known as the Revolution on Granite. The empire fell, stumbling in particular on the granite of Kyiv’s Maidan.

The Revolution on Granite is proof that even the boldest dreams can come true. Today, it is an example that inspires and gives us faith. May we all find strength and perseverance in our future struggles!