2.2.2008
The President of Ukraine Viktor YUSHCHENKO took part in the actions on the occasion of Kruty heroes memory honoring
The President of Ukraine Viktor YUSHCHENKO made a working trip to Chernigov region. The main purpose of his trip was participation in actions, devoted to honoring of Kruty heroes memory.
The President participated in laying festoon to Memorial “Memory of Kruty heroes” and spoke to people. Also, Viktor YUSHCHENKO watched the historical dramatization of the fight near Kruty town – reflection of the real events of 1918 with participation of military-historical clubs.
Reference information:
History of the Fight*
- Creation of the Ukrainian National Republic (the third Decree, 20.11.1917) and proclamation of its independence (the fourth Decree, 22.01.1918) gave a chance for national liberation movement and revival of the lost stateness. But conditions were completely unfavourable: war coursed the ruin and chaos, which brought spread of Bolshevist cunning ideas among considerable part of nation. There were also serious mistakes of the young state leadership, including in military construction sphere. But the main danger was the policy of Soviet Russia, which could not afford existing of the independent Ukraine.
- The battle near Kruty is the episode of the Soviet-Ukrainian war, which began at the end of December 1917. When on the 12th of December 1917 the Ukrainian Soviet Republic was proclaimed in Kharkov, Russia began to help the Bolshevist forces in Ukraine. Under the command of Antonov-Ovsijenko, 20-30 thousands of Bolshevists went to Kyiv across the railway Kharkov-Poltava-Kyiv, and Muravjov detachment directed from northern east to Kursk-Bakhmach-Kyiv.
- At the same time, there began rebellion at the plant “Arsenal” in Kyiv, that is why military forces of UNR were directed to suppress this rebellion against the Ukrainian Central Rada.
- The battle near Kruty was held on the 29th of January 1918 by the railway station Kruty (between Bakhmach and Nizhyn).
- The number of the Ukrainian forces under the command of sotnik (lieutenant of Cossacks) Averkij Honcharenko was more than 600 fighters (20 sergeant majors, near 500 students of senior courses of the first Kyiv B. Khmelnyts’kyj youth school, 115-130 persons of the first hundred of the Student Kuren), supplied by 16 machineguns and railway platform with cannon. They were added with 80 volunteers from the Free Cossacks (“Kuren of death”).
- The first hundred of Student Kuren was from Volodymyr the Saint University, Ukrainian People’s university, and pupils from Kyiv Kyrulo-Mefodiy gymnasium that have no military training. Commanding officer – sergeant major Andriy Omel’chenko.
- Bolshevist forces amounted near 6 thousands of soldiers and Baltic sailors. In the battle directly took part 2.5-3 thousands of people.
- Ukrainian losses were according to various data from 80 to 100 dead (including executed captive students after the battle). Bolshevist losses – not less than 300 deaths.
- The battle lasted from 9 to 5 o’clock p.m. and it was ended with an organized retreat of the Ukrainian units by the train.
- Bolshevists captured 7 injured students that were sent to Kharkov. 27 students more, during retreat in the darkness, got into the hands of Bolshevists. Being angry because of great losses, “reds” tortured and executed those students. High school student Pyps’kyj began to sing an anthem “Ukraine is still alive” before the military execution, other students supported him. Executed bodies were buried by the local priest on the cemetery in Pechi village. Later on, they were reburied with honouring on the Askold grave in Kyiv.
* prepared on the basis of materials from Historical Institute of the National Academy of Sciencies of Ukraine with participation of the leading historians (V. Serhijchuk, V. Uljanych, O. Bojko).
Reference:
Historical reconstruction is a maximal elements’ reflection of military uniform, arming, life and its mode of servicemen, military battles of the different times in contemporaneity, namely the history, which can be seen and touched.
This form of historical hobby is very popular in European countries. Annually, there are reconstructions of the battles in Austerlits (Check Republic), Leipzig (Germany), Borodino (Russia) and many others.
In Ukraine there are historical reconstruction clubs that carry out international festivals, such as “Terra Неrоіса” in Kam’yanets-Podil’skyj (devoted to events of the Khmel’nytsk region). In Sevastopol – reconstruction of the Crimea war episodes of the year 1854, near Berestechko – annual historical festival, in Kyiv – reconstruction of the World War the II (battle for Kyiv).
