Throughout its 72-year history, the republic's borders changed many times, with a significant portion of what is now Western Ukraine being annexed by Soviet forces in 1939 from the Republic of Poland, and the addition of Carpathian Ruthenia from Hungary in 1945. At the same time big portions of eastern Ukraine, such as Sloboda Ukraine, and other areas were taken away without national approval or any discussion. From the start, the eastern city of Kharkiv served as the republic's capital. However, the seat of government was subsequently moved in 1934 to the city of Kyiv, Ukraine's historic capital. Kyiv remained the capital for the rest of the Ukrainian SSR's existence, and remained the capital of independent Ukraine after the breakup of the Soviet Union. In 1954 the transferring of Crimea was commemorated to so called the "Union of Russia and Ukraine" ("Eternally together") which supposedly took place in 1654, while Russia continues to deny the Ukrainian sovereignty before the Russian Imperial times (1721–1917).