»Ukraine between Russia and the European Union«: For centuries the Ukrainians tried to make their way as an independent nation. It was not until August 24, 1991 that the Ukrainians were allowed to proclaim Ukraine's independence. With the Orange Revolution in 2004 and the Maidan Revolution in 2013, the Ukrainians showed that it was no longer the post-Soviet elites but the citizens themselves who should bring about change. The country was not allowed to develop in peace, however, as Russian forces annexed the Crimea and caused unrest in eastern Ukraine