In February 1919, the Red Army occupies Kyiv. Vynnychenko, deprived of all support, emigrates. The Directorate is headed by Petliura, who is preparing a new offensive with a united Ukrainian army comprising units from Galicia, former subjects of Austria-Hungary, and Cossacks from eastern Ukraine, born in the Russian Empire. They all have their own perspective on the situation. The Galicians are fairly tolerant of the idea of broad autonomy within Russia — they did not experience life in the Russian Empire, so such a prospect to them seems like deliverance. The Cossacks, however, are categorically opposed to both the Reds and the Whites, and are fully committed to independence. The Galicians lived about four hundred years under Polish rule, so the leadership of the West Ukrainian People’s Republic is as historically traumatized by Poland as the leadership of the Ukrainian People’s Republic is by Russia. Military units from Galicia will help the former to unite with White Russia against Poland, while Petliura wants to join with Poland against any form of Russian power.
— War and Punishment (Mikhail Zygar), Loc. 1393–400
Oct 27, 2026 comment:
I’m with the cossacs on this. Fuck ruzzianz whatever it takes.