Military and Political Confrontation between the UPR and RSFSR in the Modern Ukrainian Historiography
Journal Title: Українознавство - Year 2019, Vol 3, Issue 72
Abstract
The article analyzes the coverage of the first Bolshevik-Ukrainian war (December 1917 – April 1918), which began as a result of the conflict between the UPR and the RSFSR, by modern Ukrainian scientists. In the days of Ukraine’s independence, a considerable amount of research on this confrontation appeared. These are the works of V. Verstiuk, O. Boiko, L. Harcheva, V. Yeshpanov, Ya. Tynchenko, V. Savchenko, V. Soldatenko, S. Lytvyn, M. Kovalchuk, and others. This historiographical exploration focuses on new approaches and interpretations in the writings of domestic scientists on the most important events of this war. It has been investigated that the scientific literature has covered in great detail the causes of the first Soviet-Ukrainian war and the peculiarities of the events of late 1917, early 1918, as well as the more important motives for military failures of national formations. The majority of modern domestic researchers are claimed to conclude that the UPR was not ready for war. Their works analyze the causes and consequences of the conflict between V. Vynnychenko and S. Petliura; the latter’s measures to build the Ukrainian army; his steps to strengthen Ukraine’s defense capability and prepare for the counteraction against the Bolshevist aggression in November–December 1917. Scientists lay the main responsibility for the difficult situation on V. Vynnychenko as the head of the Ukrainian government, who failed to secure Ukraine’s defense and did not support S. Petliura’s efforts to organize resistance to the Bolsheviks’ offensive. The questions of the UPR’s readiness for the war with the RSFSR, its origins and beginning, failure in the creation of a national army remain controversial in the latest scientific works. The scientists disagree on the fighting capacity of the military forces, both Ukrainian and Soviet, and their numbers. These differences in figures are quite significant and require further clarification.
Authors and Affiliations
Іryna Krasnodemska
Anti-Soviet Propaganda Literature Published by the Ukrainian Emigrants in Great Britain (the 1950s—1990s): The Idea and Its Implementation
The article is based on the materials of the Ukrainian Publishing Union in London, Ukrainian Union in Great Britain, library collections of the Ukrainian diaspora in Great Britain, as well as those of the British Library...
Activity of Zapillia and Etap Commands of the WR UPR Armed Forces from June 1919 to December 1919
In the scientific article, the author examines the activities of Zapillia and Etap Commands – central bodies of executive power and military management of Western region of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (WR UPR). After...
Days of Science at Research Institute of Ukrainian Studies in Terms of the 10th All-Ukrainian Scientific Festival (19—21th of May, 2016)
Days of Science at Research Institute of Ukrainian Studies in Terms of the 10th All-Ukrainian Scientific Festival (19—21th of May, 2016)
Documentary Materials on the Nutrition of the Volhynian Society in the Early Modern Period
Documentary Materials on the Nutrition of the Volhynian Society in the Early Modern Period
Ukrainian Youth Association in Galicia: Establishment and Activity
Ukrainian Youth Association in Galicia: Establishment and Activity