Ukraine on Fire (2016) Timeline Explained – Every Event in Order

Cossack Hetmanate and the Road Through World War I

The film opens with a survey of Ukraine's historical foundations, beginning with the Cossack Hetmanate. It then moves through World War I and the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, which reshaped the fate of the region. These early chapters frame Ukraine as a territory long caught between larger powers.

Where

Ukraine

USSR Annexes Western Ukraine and the Great Patriotic War Begins

The film recounts the annexation of Western Ukraine by the USSR, followed by the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War. This period brought brutal occupation and devastation to Ukrainian lands. It is presented as a formative era for the nationalist currents examined later in the film.

When

1939–1941

Where

Western Ukraine

Wartime Collaboration and the Massacres of WWII

Ukrainian collaborationism during World War II is documented, alongside the massacre of Jews at Babyn Yar and the Volyn massacre of Poles. The film also covers the guerrilla war waged by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army against the Soviets. This armed resistance continued into the mid-1950s.

When

1941–mid-1950s

Where

Babyn Yar and Volhynia, Ukraine

CIA Contacts with Ukrainian Nationalists

During the Cold War, the CIA maintained contact with Ukrainian nationalists as possible channels for counterintelligence toward the USSR. The film names leaders including Mykola Lebed, Stepan Bandera, Dmytro Dontsov, Andriy Melnyk and Roman Shukhevych. This connection is presented as early groundwork for American involvement in Ukrainian affairs.

When

Cold War era

The 'Crazy 1990s' and the Rise of the Oligarchs

After the collapse of the Soviet Union, Ukraine introduced a free market economy during what the film calls the 'crazy 1990s'. This transition gave rise to a small class of oligarchs who acquired vast wealth and power. Meanwhile, the majority of the population was left in poverty.

When

1990s

Where

Ukraine

Far-Right Politics Take Center Stage

A substantial part of the film is dedicated to far-right politics in Ukraine, focusing on organizations such as Svoboda, Tryzub and Right Sector. These groups are presented as influential actors within Ukrainian political life. The film uses them to support its claim that a large and influential section of the 2014 protest movement was neo-Nazi in character.

Where

Ukraine

The Orange Revolution

The film covers the Orange Revolution, in which Ukrainians took to the streets to reject a fraudulent presidential election. The mass protests ultimately succeeded in overturning the disputed results. It is portrayed as an earlier wave of popular mobilization that foreshadowed the later Maidan uprising.

When

2004

Where

Kyiv, Ukraine

Negotiations Over the EU Trade Agreement

The film portrays the negotiations over a trade agreement with the European Union and the tensions surrounding it. The role of NGOs and the appearance of US politicians such as Chris Murphy and John McCain are highlighted. This is framed as part of Western efforts to pull Ukraine away from Russia's sphere.

When

2013

Where

Kyiv, Ukraine

Maidan Protests Turn Radical

The Maidan protests began as peaceful demonstrations, but the film shows how they escalated with the involvement of radical elements. Right Sector activists were purportedly brought to the Maidan to 'muscle' the peaceful demonstrations. The movement is thus depicted as being steered by forces beyond ordinary protesters.

When

2013–2014

Where

Kyiv, Ukraine

Oliver Stone Interviews Yanukovych and Putin

The film presents Oliver Stone's interviews with Viktor Yanukovych and Vladimir Putin. Both leaders expound their view of the situation in 2013 regarding the trade agreement and why negotiations were paused. Their accounts offer the perspective of the leaders at the center of the unfolding crisis.

Yanukovych Removed from Office

The film covers selected events leading to Viktor Yanukovych's removal from office by the Verkhovna Rada, Ukraine's parliament. It claims that the impeachment mounted against him was unconstitutional. The film also questions the legitimacy of the post-Yanukovych government that subsequently took power in Kyiv.

When

February 2014

Where

Kyiv, Ukraine

Russia Invades and Annexes Crimea

In the months following Yanukovych's removal, Russia invaded and annexed Crimea. The film presents this as one of the immediate consequences of the political upheaval in Kyiv. The annexation marked a dramatic escalation in the confrontation between Russia and the West over Ukraine.

When

February–March 2014

Where

Crimea

War Erupts in Eastern Ukraine

The film covers the outbreak of war in eastern Ukraine, where conflict erupted following the change of government in Kyiv. The war is shown as another flashpoint in the broader struggle over the country's future. It becomes one of the central and bloodiest consequences of the crisis.

When

2014

Where

Eastern Ukraine

Downing of Airliner MH17

The film addresses the downing of the airliner MH17 by a Russian missile over eastern Ukraine. The disaster claimed all passengers and crew aboard and drew international condemnation. It is used to underline the deadly stakes of the ongoing conflict in the region.

When

July 2014

Where

Eastern Ukraine

NATO Expansion, Sanctions and the Doomsday Clock

The film criticizes NATO's eastward expansion and the imposition of sanctions against Russia, while questioning the legitimacy of the government in Kyiv. It reinforces its central thesis that the U.S. used Ukraine as a proxy against Russia for many years. It concludes with the Doomsday Clock, which in 2015 indicated a high level of global risk due to the modernization of nuclear arsenals.

When

2015