CA Country Anthems

Ukraine National Anthem History

Derzhavnyi Himn Ukrainy · Державний гімн України

Ukraine's national anthem originated as a patriotic poem in 1862, with music composed shortly after. Suppressed during Soviet times, it was embraced again upon Ukraine's independence, with its lyrics officially adopted and subtly modified in 2003.

Ukraine Derzhavnyi Himn Ukrainy

Ukraine

Language
Ukrainian
Anthem
Derzhavnyi Himn Ukrainy
Duration
1:44
Status
Today, the official anthem consists of the first modified verse of Chubynskyi’s poem and the first half of his original chorus.

History timeline

  1. 1862

    Pavlo Chubynskyi wrote the patriotic poem “Ще не вмерла Україна,” gaining wide popularity.

  2. 1864

    Mykhailo Verbytskyi composed music for the poem; it was first performed as a choral work.

  3. 1917

    The work was used as a de facto national anthem upon Ukraine's declaration of independence.

  4. 1920

    The anthem was officially discouraged after Ukraine became part of the Soviet Union.

  5. 1991

    Following Soviet collapse, the music of Chubynskyi's anthem was adopted de facto, then de jure.

  6. 2003

    Official lyrics were adopted, including a key modification to the first line and reduction to one verse plus chorus.

The first line of Ukraine's anthem was notably borrowed from the Polish national anthem, with a subtle but significant change in meaning.