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What happened on December 8th?
Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus ratified the end of the USSR
Matthew Jones
December 08, 2024
1991 Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus Sign the Belovezha Accords
On December 8th, 1991, Russia, Ukraine, and Belarus signed the Belovezha Accords. The treaty marked the dissolution of the Soviet Union after nearly 70 years and established the Commonwealth of Independent States to coordinate policies among former Soviet republics.
The photo shows Ukrainian President Leonid Kravchuk (second from left, seated), Belarusian Supreme Council Chairman Stanislav Shushkevich (third from left, seated), and Russian President Boris Yeltsin (second from right, seated) during the signing ceremony of the Belovezha Accords at Viskuly Government House in the Belovezhskaya Forest, Belarus.
🗞️Today’s Headlines
Everything important that’s ever happened on December 8:
2022 ─ American basketball star Brittney Griner was released from a Russian penal colony in a high-profile prisoner exchange between the US and Russia.
2010 ─ SpaceX became the first private company to launch, orbit, and recover a spacecraft, paving the way for commercial space exploration.
2004 ─ Mia Hamm retired after a trailblazing soccer career and became a symbol of women's sports worldwide.
1987 ─ US President Ronald Reagan and Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev signed the INF Treaty, the first agreement to eliminate an entire class of nuclear weapons.
1980 ─ John Lennon, former Beatle and influential musician, was tragically shot and killed outside his Manhattan apartment by Mark David Chapman.
1978 ─ The Deer Hunter premiered. It depicted the harrowing impact of the Vietnam War and became a landmark in American cinema.
1854 ─ Pope Pius IX proclaimed the doctrine of the Immaculate Conception and affirmed Mary’s freedom from original sin in Catholic belief.
🎂 Today’s Birthdays
On December 8, we’re singing to:
Mary, Queen of Scots (1542) ─ Mary, Queen of Scots, a Scottish monarch whose tumultuous reign ended in her execution after years of political intrigue.
Diego Rivera (1886) ─ Mexican painter and muralist celebrated for his depictions of Mexican culture and social issues.
Jim Morrison (1943) ─ Charismatic lead singer of The Doors, known for his poetic lyrics and enigmatic stage presence.
Sinéad O’Connor (1966) ─ Irish singer-songwriter whose powerful voice and activism made her a global icon.
Nicki Minaj (1982) ─ Trinidadian-born rapper, singer, and television personality known for her dynamic performances and chart-topping hits.
🪦Who Died Today?
On December 8, we’re saying goodbye to:
Robert Henry Lawrence, Jr. (1967) ─ First African American astronaut, remembered for breaking barriers in the US space program.
John Glenn (2016) ─ US astronaut and senator famed for being the first American to orbit Earth and later serve as a statesman.
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