Before 1991, both Croatia and Ukraine were part of multinational socialist states, SFR Yugoslavia and Soviet Union.

Croatia declared independence from Yugoslavia on 25 June 1991, but considering a three-month moratorium on the decision urged by the European Community, it put into effect on 8 October 1991.

Ukraine proclaimed independence from the Soviet Union on 24 August 1991 and recognized Croatia on 11 December 1991 as the first United Nations member state which did it.

[3] Since the beginning of Russian invasion of Ukraine, Croatia has drawn on its historical experience with the United Nations Transitional Administration for Eastern Slavonia, Baranja and Western Sirmium to offer insights to Ukraine on peaceful conflict resolution and post-conflict reintegration, highlighting it as a model for managing territorial and ethnic disputes.

[7] Ukrainians and Rusyns of Croatia have opened two main cultural and educational organizations in Slavonski Brod and Vukovar, which later expanded into ten smaller communities each, presently operating in various Croatian cities including Zagreb and Rijeka.