--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: The old bastions of the post-communist…" description: "\"The old bastions of the post-communist regime collapsed before my very eyes. The monsters who had kept Ukraine in a criminal state left the stage.\" — Y..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/yulia-tymoshenko-31498_communist_the-old-bastions-of-the-post-communist-r_1502035.jpg" --- # The old bastions of the post-communist regime collapsed… ![“The old bastions of the post-communist regime collapsed before my very eyes. The monsters who had kept Ukraine in a criminal state left the stage.” quote by Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/yulia-tymoshenko-31498_communist_the-old-bastions-of-the-post-communist-r_1502035.jpg) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/yulia-tymoshenko-31498_communist_the-old-bastions-of-the-post-communist-r_1502035.jpg) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/yulia-tymoshenko-31498_communist_the-old-bastions-of-the-post-communist-r_1502035.jpg) > “The old bastions of the post-communist regime collapsed before my very eyes. The monsters who had kept Ukraine in a criminal state left the stage.” [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The speaker describes the collapse of entrenched post‑communist power structures and the removal of oppressive forces in Ukraine. **In simple terms:** Old corrupt regimes fell in Ukraine. Key Takeaway Support democratic change and accountability. Themes political change freedom accountability Mood determined hopeful serious Type political historical When to use this quote - elections - civil society activism - policy reform Key Concepts authoritarianism democratic transition Questions to Reflect On - How to sustain reforms? - What lessons learned? A Different Perspective Transition can be unstable. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Communist](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) [Criminals](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/criminals/) [Monsters](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/monsters/) [Stage](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/stage/) [Ukraine](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/ukraine/) ## Related quotes > [“Like many Eastern European gangsters, he had been an official in the state security apparatus until the Communist regime collapsed.”](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/massimo-carlotto/like-many-eastern-european-gangsters-he-had-been-an-official-in-the/) Massimo Carlotto > [“When Communism fell in 1989, the temptation for Western commentators to gloat triumphantly proved irresistible. This, it was declared, marked the end of History.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tony-judt/when-communism-fell-in-1989-the-temptation-for-western-commentators/) [Tony Judt](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tony-judt/) > [After the fall of communism in Poland, we had a post-communist as president for two terms: Aleksander Kwasniewski. He was very good. He brought…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/adam-michnik/after-the-fall-of-communism-in-poland-we-had-a-post-communist-as/) [Adam Michnik](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/adam-michnik/) > [“The dominance of former communists and the insufficient discussion of the past in the post-communist world is not coincidental. To put it bluntly, former…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/anne-applebaum/the-dominance-of-former-communists-and-the-insufficient-discussion-of/) [Anne Applebaum](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/anne-applebaum/) > [The Soviet Union came apart along ethnic lines. The most important factor in this breakup was the disinclination of Slavic Ukraine to continue under…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/daniel-patrick-moynihan/the-soviet-union-came-apart-along-ethnic-lines-the-most-important/) [Daniel Patrick Moynihan](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/daniel-patrick-moynihan/) > [You cannot compare any leaders in America to what Vladimir Putin has done. This is a man and a regime that has taken down…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/amy-klobuchar/you-cannot-compare-any-leaders-in-america-to-what-vladimir-putin-has/) [Amy Klobuchar](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/amy-klobuchar/) > [There is only one conflict in Ukraine today and it is between the regime and the people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/viktor-yushchenko/there-is-only-one-conflict-in-ukraine-today-and-it-is-between-the/) [Viktor Yushchenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/viktor-yushchenko/) > [Ukraine is a vital link for Europe: our energy transportation networks; our location between the European Union and Eurasia. We're the melting pot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/ukraine-is-a-vital-link-for-europe-our-energy-transportation-networks/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [I know the Russian political elite has got used to the Ukraine suffering from an inferiority complex, but I want this to disappear from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/i-know-the-russian-political-elite-has-got-used-to-the-ukraine/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [My goal in politics from the very beginning has been, and will be, the goal of giving Ukraine a chance to finally secure a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/my-goal-in-politics-from-the-very-beginning-has-been-and-will-be-the/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [We will fight and defend my good name in the European court. We have to be strong and defend Ukraine from this authoritarianism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/we-will-fight-and-defend-my-good-name-in-the-european-court-we-have/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [I am sure that all complaints regarding me were initiated from Ukraine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/i-am-sure-that-all-complaints-regarding-me-were-initiated-from-ukraine/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [I ask you, people who care about the soul of Ukraine, those who want to preserve the heart, the spirit and the faith of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/i-ask-you-people-who-care-about-the-soul-of-ukraine-those-who-want-to/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [People power. It has no limits. In politics, every politician in Ukraine is afraid of that. They know, if people go to the streets,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/vitali-klitschko/people-power-it-has-no-limits-in-politics-every-politician-in-ukraine/) [Vitali Klitschko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/vitali-klitschko/) > [All I say is, let's pray for Ukraine... and they need the prayers. I know that it wasn't easy for my grandfather's family, and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-santos/all-i-say-is-let-s-pray-for-ukraine-and-they-need-the-prayers-i-know/) [George Santos](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-santos/) ## More by Yulia Tymoshenko > [I ask you, people who care about the soul of Ukraine, those who want to preserve the heart, the spirit and the faith of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/i-ask-you-people-who-care-about-the-soul-of-ukraine-those-who-want-to/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [Yanukovych has changed everything in Ukrainian jails - real criminals have been released, while representatives of the middle class and politically rebellious free-minded people…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/yanukovych-has-changed-everything-in-ukrainian-jails-real-criminals/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [I never complain. I chose the road of fighting with the Ukrainian oligarchy in 1996, and have paid for this with my freedom and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/i-never-complain-i-chose-the-road-of-fighting-with-the-ukrainian/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [The post-Soviet mafia wove a spider's web of dirty money around the world. Where better to attack it than to start with the Ukrainian…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/the-post-soviet-mafia-wove-a-spider-s-web-of-dirty-money-around-the/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [I think women have to change their hairstyle from time to time.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/i-think-women-have-to-change-their-hairstyle-from-time-to-time/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [I think everyone remembers how certain Russian bureaucrats used to work against the Ukrainian opposition; I think it is hard to drop old habits.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/i-think-everyone-remembers-how-certain-russian-bureaucrats-used-to/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [Everything that I have is natural - braid, nails - I practically never use cosmetics. They often ask me in the provinces about my…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/everything-that-i-have-is-natural-braid-nails-i-practically-never-use/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [I will get to the truth, if not in Ukrainian courts, then in international ones. I will fight to my last breath. They want…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/i-will-get-to-the-truth-if-not-in-ukrainian-courts-then-in/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [We will fight and defend my good name in the European court. We have to be strong and defend Ukraine from this authoritarianism.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/we-will-fight-and-defend-my-good-name-in-the-european-court-we-have/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [My goal in politics from the very beginning has been, and will be, the goal of giving Ukraine a chance to finally secure a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/my-goal-in-politics-from-the-very-beginning-has-been-and-will-be-the/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [I know the Russian political elite has got used to the Ukraine suffering from an inferiority complex, but I want this to disappear from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/i-know-the-russian-political-elite-has-got-used-to-the-ukraine/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [Ukraine is a vital link for Europe: our energy transportation networks; our location between the European Union and Eurasia. We're the melting pot of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/ukraine-is-a-vital-link-for-europe-our-energy-transportation-networks/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [I just heard the latest joke about my hair: 'Do you know what that is on her head? It's a steering wheel to drive…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/i-just-heard-the-latest-joke-about-my-hair-do-you-know-what-that-is/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [Whenever you see a successful woman, look out for three men who are going out of their way to try to block her.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/whenever-you-see-a-successful-woman-look-out-for-three-men-who-are/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) > [I am sure that all complaints regarding me were initiated from Ukraine.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/i-am-sure-that-all-complaints-regarding-me-were-initiated-from-ukraine/) [Yulia Tymoshenko](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) [Explore all 16 Yulia Tymoshenko quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/) ## More Communist quotes > [ Corruption could lead to the collapse of the Party \[Communist Party of China\] and the downfall of the state \[People's Republic of China\]. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/xi-jinping/corruption-could-lead-to-the-collapse-of-the-party-communist-party-of/) [Xi Jinping](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/xi-jinping/) > [If the director's a communist, whatever, he's a communist. All I care is that he directs. For the actor, the same thing. All you…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/clint-eastwood/if-the-director-s-a-communist-whatever-he-s-a-communist-all-i-care-is/) [Clint Eastwood](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/clint-eastwood/) > [The most effective method of propaganda directed at the enemy forces is to release captured soldiers and give the wounded medical treatment... Whenever soldiers…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/mao-zedong/the-most-effective-method-of-propaganda-directed-at-the-enemy-forces/) [Mao Zedong](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/mao-zedong/) > [I am like all other atheists only in that I do not believe there are any gods. Beyond that, I may differ dramatically in…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/richard-carrier/i-am-like-all-other-atheists-only-in-that-i-do-not-believe-there-are/) [Richard Carrier](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/richard-carrier/) > [What we need in South Africa is for egos to be suppressed in favour of peace. We need to create a new breed of…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/chris-hani/what-we-need-in-south-africa-is-for-egos-to-be-suppressed-in-favour/) [Chris Hani](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/chris-hani/) > [A man who is not a communist at the age of twenty is a fool. Any man who is still communist at the age…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-bernard-shaw/a-man-who-is-not-a-communist-at-the-age-of-twenty-is-a-fool-any-man/) [George Bernard Shaw](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-bernard-shaw/) > [The ultimate goal of the whole policy of peaceful co-existence was to make progress on the basic goal laid down by Lenin of a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/paul-nitze/the-ultimate-goal-of-the-whole-policy-of-peaceful-co-existence-was-to/) [Paul Nitze](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/paul-nitze/) > [“Soviet Communism was a fanatical and missionary religion. A devout Communist could not be a Christian or a Buddhist, and was expected to spread…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yuval-noah-harari/soviet-communism-was-a-fanatical-and-missionary-religion-a-devout/) [Yuval Noah Harari](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yuval-noah-harari/) > [ That's why we had Louis C.K. portray the harder line Communist, to accuse \[Dalton\] Trumbo of being a hypocrite. ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/jay-roach/that-s-why-we-had-louis-c-k-portray-the-harder-line-communist-to/) [Jay Roach](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/jay-roach/) > [... what we should be looking for is fresh ideas of how we make moral decisions about our dealings with one another, economic, social,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/davis-mccaughey/what-we-should-be-looking-for-is-fresh-ideas-of-how-we-make-moral/) Davis McCaughey > [My father, Charles Seeger, got me into the Communist movement. He backed out around '38. I drifted out in the 50's.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/pete-seeger/my-father-charles-seeger-got-me-into-the-communist-movement-he-backed/) [Pete Seeger](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/pete-seeger/) > [We must protect each other against the attacks of those self-appointed watchdogs of patriotism now abroad in the land who irresponsibly pin red labels…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/joel-henry-hildebrand/we-must-protect-each-other-against-the-attacks-of-those-self/) [Joel Henry Hildebrand](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/joel-henry-hildebrand/) > [This time we'll hate, alright - but we'll hate the enemy - the vicious gang of colored scum attackers and Jewish-Communist traitors - rather…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/george-lincoln-rockwell/this-time-we-ll-hate-alright-but-we-ll-hate-the-enemy-the-vicious/) [George Lincoln Rockwell](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/george-lincoln-rockwell/) > [Fidel Castro outlasted U.S. presidents determined to overthrow him, survived the collapse of the communist bloc that sustained him and outlived many of those…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/tom-gjelten/fidel-castro-outlasted-u-s-presidents-determined-to-overthrow-him/) [Tom Gjelten](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/tom-gjelten/) > [Communists all seem to wear small caps, a look I consider better suited to tubes of toothpaste than to people.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/fran-lebowitz/communists-all-seem-to-wear-small-caps-a-look-i-consider-better/) [Fran Lebowitz](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/fran-lebowitz/) [Browse all 1,048 Communist quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/communist/) ```json { "@context": "https://schema.org", "@graph": [ { "@type": "Quotation", "text": "The old bastions of the post-communist regime collapsed before my very eyes. The monsters who had kept Ukraine in a criminal state left the stage.", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Yulia Tymoshenko" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/the-old-bastions-of-the-post-communist-regime-collapsed-before-my/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Communist" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/the-old-bastions-of-the-post-communist-regime-collapsed-before-my/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/yulia-tymoshenko-31498_communist_the-old-bastions-of-the-post-communist-r_1502035.jpg", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/yulia-tymoshenko-31498_communist_the-old-bastions-of-the-post-communist-r_1502035.jpg", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/ad6/yulia-tymoshenko-31498_communist_the-old-bastions-of-the-post-communist-r_1502035.jpg", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“The old bastions of the post-communist regime collapsed before my very eyes. The monsters who had kept…” — Yulia Tymoshenko", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Yulia Tymoshenko", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/yulia-tymoshenko/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "The old bastions of the post-communist...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/the-old-bastions-of-the-post-communist-regime-collapsed-before-my/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/yulia-tymoshenko/the-old-bastions-of-the-post-communist-regime-collapsed-before-my/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```