From Sandarmokh to the Crimean Bridge: October in 100 Years of Ukrainian History

From Sandarmokh and the Holodomor to the Revolution on Granite and the Crimean Bridge—October has often been a significant month in Ukrainian history. Intent continues its series on events of the past 100 years and looks back at the most important events that took place this month.

October 1, 1928 – The Ukrainian Institute of Genetics and Plant Breeding was established in Odesa

The Ukrainian Institute of Genetics and Plant Breeding—which would become a major scientific center for plant breeding and seed production—was established on the grounds of the Odesa Regional Research Station. 

October 1931 – The first Kharkiv tractor was produced

In October 1931, a tractor plant began operations in Kharkiv, producing Ukraine’s first tractors. The Kharkiv Tractor Plant became one of the largest machine-building enterprises in the USSR and a symbol of industrialization. Soviet propaganda made little mention of the fact that the plant’s layout and architectural design were developed by the firm of American industrial architect Albert Kahn from Detroit, and that the head of the plant’s construction department was American engineer Leon Swajian. Prior to this, he had overseen the construction of the massive Ford River Rouge plant in the United States, and in Ukraine he was responsible for implementing American methods of rapid construction. 

October 1932 – Molotov Arrives in Ukraine to Step Up Grain Procurement

In October 1932, a special commission headed by Vyacheslav Molotov was sent to Ukraine. Its work became one of the stages in the grain requisitioning and repressive pressure on peasants on the eve of the Holodomor. V. Molotov, Chairman of the Council of People’s Commissars of the USSR; L. Kaganovich, Secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks); P. Postyshev, Secretary of the Central Committee of the All-Union Communist Party (Bolsheviks); and V. Balitsky are considered the ideologues behind this tragedy. According to estimates by the M. Ptukha Institute of Demography and Social Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, Ukraine’s demographic losses as a result of the Holodomor in 1932–1933 amounted to approximately 4.5 million people.

October 27, 1937 – the start of mass executions of the Ukrainian intelligentsia in Sandarmokh

From October 27 to November 4, 1937, 1,111 prisoners from the Solovetsky Islands were executed in the Sandarmokh area. Among them were Les Kurbas, Mykola Kulish, Mykola Zerov, Valerian Pidmohylny, and many other figures of Ukrainian culture.

October 16, 1941 – the beginning of the Romanian occupation of Odesa

After more than two months of defense, Soviet troops withdrew from Odesa, and the city was occupied by Romanian and German forces. 

October 14, 1944 – The Danube State Steamship Company was established

On October 14, 1944, the Danube State Steamship Company was established, with its headquarters in Izmail. Its mission was to transport troops, equipment, and cargo along the Danube. It later became one of the largest river steamship companies in the region.

October 28, 1944 – The Liberation of Ukraine from the Nazis

On October 28, 1944, Soviet troops reached the outskirts of Chop in Transcarpathia. This date is traditionally considered the day the Nazi occupiers were driven out of Ukraine, although fighting continued thereafter. Nazi troops finally withdrew from the territory of modern-day Ukraine in late November 1944.

October 4, 1957 – Launch of the first artificial Earth satellite, in the creation of which Ukrainian enterprises were involved

On October 4, 1957, the Soviet Union launched the world’s first artificial Earth satellite into orbit. Ukrainian enterprises and institutions were involved in preparing for the launch, including the “Arsenal” plant in Kyiv, the “Kommunar” plant in Kharkiv, and the Yevpatoria Space Center.

October 30, 1958 – A new television center opened in Odesa

Prior to this, television broadcasts in the city were transmitted from the Odesa Institute of Communications. Construction of the new television center began in 1956; it was officially opened on October 30, 1958, and the first program aired from it on November 5.

October 6, 1975 – Kyiv’s “Dynamo” defeated “Bayern” and won the European Super Cup

Kyiv’s “Dynamo” defeated Munich’s “Bayern” 2–0 in the second leg thanks to two goals by Oleg Blokhin. The aggregate score was 3–0. There were about 102,000 spectators at the stadium in Kyiv.

October 28, 1989 – Ukrainian was granted the status of an official language in the Ukrainian SSR

The Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR adopted the Law “On Languages in the Ukrainian SSR,” which granted the Ukrainian language the status of an official language. 

October 2–17, 1990 – The Revolution on Granite

Students began a hunger strike in Kyiv on what was then October Revolution Square. On October 17, the Verkhovna Rada partially agreed to the students’ main demands, including the resignation of Vitaliy Masol. On October 23, the Verkhovna Rada voted to remove the prime minister from office. 

October 5, 1991 – The Law “On the Succession of Ukraine” came into force

The document legally established the legal succession of independent Ukraine from the Ukrainian SSR.

October 11, 1991 – Fire at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant

A fire broke out in the second power unit of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, resulting in the unit being taken out of service. The accident was one of the factors that accelerated the debate over the future of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant and its gradual shutdown.

October 1992 – Resignation of the First Government of Independent Ukraine

In October 1992, the first government of independent Ukraine, led by Vitold Fokin, concluded its term. The Verkhovna Rada passed a vote of no confidence in the government, and Leonid Kuchma became the new prime minister. The resignation took place against the backdrop of a deep economic crisis, soaring prices, shortages of goods, and mounting social tensions.

October 31, 1999 – First round of the presidential election in Ukraine

According to the results of the vote, Leonid Kuchma and Communist Party leader Petro Symonenko advanced to the second round. Kuchma received 36.49%, and Symonenko received 22.24%.

October 26, 2008 – Ukraine agreed with the IMF on a $16.5 billion financial assistance program

Amid the global financial crisis and problems in the banking system, Ukraine reached an agreement with the International Monetary Fund on a two-year stand-by loan program. It provided for the disbursement of funds in installments, subject to the implementation of agreed-upon economic measures. The assistance was intended to help stabilize the financial system and overcome the effects of the crisis.

October 26, 2014 – Early elections to the Verkhovna Rada were held

These were the first parliamentary elections following the Revolution of Dignity and the start of Russian aggression. Voting did not take place in occupied Crimea and Sevastopol, nor in parts of the occupied Donbas.

October 8, 2022 – Explosion on the Crimean Bridge

The explosion damaged the road and rail sections of the bridge, which the aggressor had been using as a key logistical artery between the Russian Federation and occupied Crimea. 

October 14, 2025 – Revocation of Ukrainian citizenship for Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov

On October 14, Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree stripping Odesa Mayor Hennadiy Trukhanov of his Ukrainian citizenship.  The official reason was evidence from the Security Service of Ukraine confirming that Trukhanov possessed a Russian passport, which violates the principle of single citizenship under the Constitution of Ukraine. Gennadiy Trukhanov was automatically removed from the office of mayor, and his duties were assumed by Ihor Koval, secretary of the Odesa City Council.

The events of October demonstrate just how varied Ukraine’s history has been over the past century—from large-scale Soviet industrialization and repression to the restoration of independence, political crises, democratic protests, and the struggle for the country’s territorial integrity.

Ігор Льов

Publications in the "Blogs" section reflect only the author's point of view. The Intent editorial team's position may differ from the author's.