Decolonizing Ukraine: How the Indigenous People of Crimea Remade Themselves after Russian Occupation

by Greta Lynn Uehling

In this ground-breaking book, distinguished anthropologist Greta Lynn Uehling illuminates the untold stories of Russia's occupation of Crimea from 2014 to the present, revealing the traumas of colonization, foreign occupation, and population displacement. Drawing upon extensive fieldwork in Ukraine, including over 90 personal interviews, Uehling brings her readers into the lives of people who opposed Russia's Crimean operation, many of whom fled for government-controlled Ukraine. Via the narratives of people who traversed perilous geographies and world-altering events, Uehling traces the development of a new sense of social cohesion that encompasses diverse ethnic and religious groups. The result is a compelling story-one of resilience, transformation, and ultimately, the unwavering pursuit of freedom and autonomy for Ukraine, regardless of ethnicity or race. Ukraine is Indigenous People, Race, and the Pathway to Decolonizing Ukraine demonstrates how understanding Crimea is essential to understanding Ukraine – and the war with Russia – today.

Genres: Ukraine

355 pages, Kindle Edition

Published February 25, 2025