In the 9th century, as a country of Eastern Slavs, Kiev-Russia was once very powerful until12nd century split. Since the middle of14th century, Ukraine has been ruled successively by the Golden Horde, the Kingdom of Poland and the Grand Duchy of Lithuania. After the Great Northern War (1700- 172 1), Ukraine was divided by other forces. /kloc-in the 0/9th century, most of Ukraine belonged to the Russian Empire, and the rest belonged to the Austro-Hungarian Empire. During the chaotic period of World War I and China Revolution, Ukraine became independent from 19 17 to 192 1 for a short time. After the civil war in Ukraine, Soviet Ukraine became one of the founding countries of the Soviet Union in 1922. Then until the end of World War II, the former Polish-ruled western Ukraine was merged into Soviet Ukraine. 1945, Ukraine is one of the founding members of the United Nations.