The first in a series of 3 episodes on Ukraine. Pt 1 looks at the years 980 - 1945. It’s the news story no one can escape. It has been everywhere and we knew we would have to cover it. Ukraine has a long, long history. A place of great natural beauty, home to many civilisations, people groups and empires. It has been fought over, divided, conquered, liberated, repeat cycle. How does a piece of land become so fought over? How many border changes can occur, how often can your citizenship, cultural and ethnic status be questioned? Why is it called Ukraine and not The Ukraine? Why does Vladimir Putin want it? And ultimately, how did it come to this?