Key insights

• 🇷🇺 Russian Empire's end and rise of the first communist country
• 🇺🇦 Ukrainian struggle for independence post-revolution
• 🏛️ Central Rada's proclamation of the free Ukrainian national republic
• ⚔️ Bolsheviks' attempt to take over Ukraine
• 🛡️ Resistance from the Central Rada
• 🎓 Inexperienced Ukrainian students faced subsequent attacks after driving back the initial Bolshevik wave
• 🤝 Recognition of the independence of the Ukrainian National Republic by Lenin
• 🔴 Red Army's victory in the first months of the campaign resulted in them entering the city of Kiev on February 5th, 1919

Q&A

• What determined Ukraine's fate?

  Ukraine's fate was determined by the Polish-Soviet War, resulting in the division of the country between Poland and the Soviet Union. The Ukrainian National Republic made several attempts to fight the Soviet forces but ultimately failed.

• How did the Ukrainian forces transition during the conflict?

  After leadership changes, the Ukrainian forces launched a successful counter-offensive against the Red Army. They later engaged in irregular warfare, faced challenges due to typhus outbreak, and eventually signed the Warsaw treaty with the Poles.

• What challenges did the Ukrainian National Republic face after the German control?

  After the German control, Ukraine faced a state of complete anarchy with multiple armies operating in the territory, leading to a new offensive by Moscow and the unpreparedness of the Ukrainian army, resulting in the Red Army's victory in the first months of the campaign.

• How did the Ukrainian National Republic respond to the Bolshevik invasion?

  The Ukrainian National Republic proclaimed an independent Ukrainian state in response to the Bolshevik invasion and later signed the Brest-Litovsk peace treaty with the Central Powers, leading to the defeat of Bolshevik troops in Ukraine.

• What was the Battle of Kruti?

  The Battle of Kruti took place on January 29, 1918, where Ukrainian forces faced the Bolshevik invasion, drove back the initial wave, but later faced subsequent attacks.

• What does the video discuss?

  The video discusses the struggle for Ukrainian independence following the Russian Revolution, focusing on the period of 1917-1921.

• 00:00 Russia's invasion of Ukraine 1917-1921 marked a period of struggle for Ukrainian independence following the Russian Revolution. The Bolsheviks' attempt to take control was met with resistance from the Central Rada.
• 02:13 Bolshevik troops from Russia invaded Ukraine in 1917, leading to the Battle of Kruti on January 29, 1918, where Ukrainian forces faced the invasion, driven back the Bolshevik wave, but faced subsequent attacks.
• 04:13 The Bolsheviks staged an armed rebellion in Kiev, but were defeated by government forces. The Ukrainian National Republic signed the Brest-Litovsk peace treaty with the Central Powers, leading to the defeat of the Bolshevik troops in Ukraine. This coerced Lenin to recognize the independence of the Ukrainian National Republic.
• 06:23 The Ukrainian National Republic faced challenges and conflicts with various armies after the German control, leading to a state of complete anarchy and a new offensive by Moscow. The Ukrainian army was unprepared and faced the Red Army, leading to the Red Army's victory in the first months of the campaign.
• 08:35 After leadership changes, the Ukrainian forces launched a successful counter-offensive against the Red Army. They later joined forces with the Galatian army, but faced challenges due to typhus outbreak and disagreements with the White movement. The army switched to irregular warfare and engaged in extensive battles across Ukraine. They eventually signed the Warsaw treaty with the Poles.
• 10:44 Ukraine's fate was determined by the Polish-Soviet War, resulting in the division of the country between Poland and the Soviet Union. The Ukrainian National Republic made several attempts to fight the Soviet forces but ultimately failed.