“We’ll have a better life“ – Ukraine on the Eve of Independence (1991)

“We’ll have a better life in an independent Ukraine, we’ll have everything.“ One year on from Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, ITN Archive looks back through to the beginnings of Ukrainian independence. On 29 November 1991, ITN’s Gaby Rado reported from Kyiv as Ukraine prepared for a referendum on national independence. The Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine’s parliament) had, on 24 August 1991, adopted the Act of Declaration of Independence, which declared the Ukrainian SSR to be separate from the Soviet Union. Before the act could be realised, it was put to the people in a nationwide referendum. This report captures the nation’s capital shortly before referendum day and includes interviews with fans watching Dynamo Kyiv play in the European Cup. On 1 December 1991 – three days after this report – voters were asked, “Do you support the Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine?“ In a vote saw the participation of % of Ukraine’s electorate, 92.3