The Ukrainian Revolution 1917–1921: a monologue in reply to an opponent (23.05.2022)
An extended monologue by Vitalii Dribnytsia in a street argument with an opponent who denies the existence of a Ukrainian state. Dribnytsia walks in detail through the early phase of the Ukrainian Revolution: the formation of the Central Rada under Hrushevsky in March 1917, the Provisional Government (first Prince Lvov, then Kerensky), the course toward autonomy within a democratic federative Russia and the Provisional Government’s recognition of the Central Rada in the summer of 1917, and then the offensive of Soviet Russian forces under Muravyov against Kharkiv and Kyiv, the Fourth Universal, the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk, and the Directorate’s war with the Bolsheviks. Used in the article on the Ukrainian Revolution 1917–1921 to describe the early phase (the Central Rada, the Universals, the Provisional Government) and Muravyov’s offensive.
Key moments
- 05:03 The Central Rada arose ~3–4 March 1917 under Hrushevsky — a body that defended the interests of Ukrainians within Russia
- 05:19 The February Revolution; the Provisional Government — first Prince Lvov, Kerensky headed it only in June 1917
- 05:36 The Central Rada sought autonomy within a democratic federative Russian republic; July 1917 — the Provisional Government recognizes the Rada and the General Secretariat
- 07:19 The offensive of Soviet Russian forces under Muravyov (~60,000): the seizure of Kharkiv, the advance on Kyiv
- 07:45 22 January 1918 — the Fourth Universal, the independence of the UNR; the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk; then the Directorate, the war with the Bolsheviks