СУСПІЛЬНО-ПОЛІТИЧНІ ПЕРЕДУМОВИ ОРГАНІЗАЦІЇ УКРАЇНСЬКОГО ВІЙСЬКА У ПЕРІОД ВІДНОВЛЕННЯ НАЦІОНАЛЬНОЇ ДЕРЖАВНОСТІ НА ПОЧАТКУ ХХ СТОЛІТТЯ
Authors: Eder Pavlo ,   Львівський національний університет імені Івана Франка
Published: July 2024

The article analyzes the social and political prerequisites of the organization of the Ukrainian army during the period of restoration of national statehood at the beginning of the 20th century. It is shown that after the events of the First World War and on the verge of the collapse of the Russian Empire, Ukrainians made another attempt to restore national statehood. From the first days of the Ukrainian revolution of 1917–1921, the question of organizing military units composed of Ukrainians arose. Revolutionary processes in Russia in February 1917 became a prerequisite for the need to create Ukrainian military committees as elected national military bodies. The Ukrainian military has developed an interest in national statehood, a sincere desire to defend Ukraine's independence with weapons in hand. The growth of the Ukrainian military movement required the creation of a single command center. Such a center was formed in Kyiv. The leading role in it belonged to the former founder of the Revolutionary Ukrainian Party, lieutenant M. Mikhnovskyi, who was an active initiator and organizer of the Ukrainian military movement. It is noted that on May 18-25, 1917, the first All-Ukrainian Military Congress was held in Kyiv, which elected the Ukrainian General Military Committee headed by S. Petliura and made a decision to create the Ukrainian National Army. Among other issues discussed during the Military Congress, the issues of war, discipline, desertion, maintaining order in the ranks of the army deserve attention. The congress elected the 18-person Ukrainian General Military Committee from among its members. In June, the second congress was held, which elected the All-Ukrainian Council of Military Deputies in the number of 130 people, who entered the Central Rada in full. At the Ukrainian Central Council, a special Military Board was formed for the Ukrainianization of units of the Ukrainian army. It is noted that the Second All-Ukrainian Military Congress, at which the Statute of the Ukrainian General Military Committee was approved, was a significant success in the development of the army. Therefore, the committee was to consist of ten departments: 1) campaigning, educational and organizational; 2) inspector's office; 3) mobilization and military communication; 4) offices; 5) commandant's office; 6) consular lawyer; 7) military schools; 8) special services; 9) sanitary and medical; 10) military engineering. In addition, the second AllUkrainian Military Congress decided that the orders of the UGVK are binding for all Ukrainian military personnel. It is substantiated that after the announcement of the III Universal of the Central Rada, attention to the military increased, the previously initiated measures to ukrainize military units in the former imperial army became more active. The General Secretariat of Military Affairs issued an order on the further Ukrainianization of the Kyiv Military District, appointed Colonel V. Pavlenko as its commander, and later – Captain Mykola Shynkar. On November 29, 1917, it was decided to create the Ukrainian General Military Staff to coordinate the actions of all Ukrainian units on the territory of Ukraine. It is emphasized that as a result of the Ukrainian revolution, which began in March 1917, among other things, the task of creating Ukrainianized military units was declared. However, a sufficient legal basis for the creation of the Ukrainian army was not established, and its formation was sporadic and by no means systematic. The establishment of the General Secretariat of Military Affairs (Military Ministry), the approval of draft laws on the formation of branches of the "Free Cossacks" and the People's Army (People's Militia) can be considered an absolute achievement. The war with Bolshevik Russia proved the inadequacy of such steps by the Central Rada. In general, the situation surrounding the development of the Ukrainian army at the initial stage of the revolution, in particular the lack of understanding on the part of the political elites of the importance of forming an effective national army in the shortest possible time, is instructive in today's conditions. Keywords: army, military bodies, statehood, legal regulation, Ukraine.