The Ukrainian Herald (1970–1972, 1987–1989)

The Ukrainian Herald was a samizdat (self-published) journal that circulated clandestinely in Soviet Ukraine during two distinct periods: from 1970 to 1972, and again from 1987 to 1989. It served as a crucial platform for disseminating information about human rights violations, political repression, and the suppression of Ukrainian language and culture under Soviet rule.

The initial iteration of the Ukrainian Herald, edited by Viacheslav Chornovil, was a highly influential publication that documented instances of political arrests, trials of dissidents, and the persecution of religious believers. It provided a voice for those who were silenced by the Soviet regime and raised awareness within Ukraine and internationally about the conditions faced by Ukrainians and other national minorities. The KGB's crackdown on dissidents in the early 1970s led to the arrest of Chornovil and the suppression of the journal.

The second period of publication, from 1987 to 1989, coincided with the glasnost and perestroika reforms initiated by Mikhail Gorbachev. This "renewed" Ukrainian Herald, though continuing to expose past abuses, also advocated for greater national and cultural autonomy for Ukraine within the Soviet Union and promoted democratic reforms. This later incarnation played a significant role in the burgeoning Ukrainian national movement that ultimately led to Ukraine's independence in 1991. The Ukrainian Herald, in both its phases, represents a significant example of dissident activity and resistance to Soviet policies in Ukraine.