July 16, 1991. Kyiv, Ukraine. Women dressed in the national costumes celebrated the first anniversary of the Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine in the Square of the October Revolution (now Independence Square)

On July 16, 1990, the Verkhovna Rada (Supreme Council or Parliament) of the Ukrainian SSR adopted Ukraine’s Declaration of State Sovereignty. While Ukraine was still a part of the Soviet Union then, this document was a crucial step forward on the Road to Independence.

In just one year and 39 days, on August 24, 1991, the Verkhovna Rada adopted the Declaration of Independence of Ukraine.