Genesis of the Kholodnyi Yar Organization in 1917–1918
Abstract
Purpose. This article reconstructs the early genesis of the Kholodnyi Yar Organization in 1917–1918 through an analysis of local self-defense practices in the village of Melnyky and the area surrounding the Motronynskyi Monastery.
Method. The study applies the principles of historicism and source criticism, together with historical-comparative, spatial-reconstructive, and microhistorical approaches. Archival criminal case files, memoirs, local historical studies, and related materials are compared to distinguish verifiable evidence from later narrative constructions.
Findings. The study demonstrates that the events of 1917 should not be retrospectively equated with a fully developed military-political structure of Kholodnyi Yar. The early Melnyky–Motronynskyi center is interpreted as a transitional form of armed self-defense that emerged amid the collapse of administrative authority, the spread of criminal violence, the availability of front-line experience, and a local conflict over the monastic area. The year 1918, under the influence of the Hetman administration and the Austro-German military presence, is identified as the turning point at which community self-defense practices evolved into coordinated insurgent resistance.
Theoretical implications. The concept of the village-union is interpreted as an intermediate coordination mechanism linking local self-defense with the subsequent insurgent organization.
Practical implications. The findings may be applied in military-historical research on territorial self-organization, local security, and irregular resistance.
Originality/value. The article shifts the focus from a heroic narrative to the specific mechanisms of self-defense, including self-organization, territorial control, communication, personnel selection, and the authority of local leaders.
Limitations/future research. Further research requires broader use of archival criminal case files, cartographic materials, and other primary sources.
Paper type. Theoretical, historical-analytical.
Downloads
References
Demartyno, A. P. (2015a). Povstanskyi rukh u Serednomu Podniprovi Ukrainy (1918 – seredyna 1920-kh rr.) [The insurgent movement in the Middle Dnipro region of Ukraine (1918–mid-1920s)] [Candidate of Historical Sciences dissertation, National Pedagogical Dragomanov University]. https://enpuir.udu.edu.ua/entities/publication/9c010f31-2d06-4e33-bd9c-0e06b37a3135
Demartyno, A. P. (2015b). Povstanskyi rukh u Serednomu Podniprovi Ukrainy (1918 – seredyna 1920-kh rr.) [The insurgent movement in the Middle Dnipro region of Ukraine (1918–mid-1920s)] [Extended abstract of Candidate of Historical Sciences dissertation, National Pedagogical Dragomanov University]. https://enpuir.udu.edu.ua/entities/publication/f5ec198c-4816-4b5d-aceb-7ae8fb4b7aa6
Doroshenko, M. I. (1973). Stezhkamy kholodnoiarskymy: 1918–1923 rr. [Along the paths of Kholodnyi Yar: 1918–1923]. https://diasporiana.org.ua/wp-content/uploads/books/3150/file.pdf
Furmanchuk, D. (2025a). Bilshovyzm: Vid ideolohichnoho shtampa “politychnyi bandytyzm petliurivskoi oriientatsii” do represyvnoi praktyky u spravakh proty povstantsiv Kholodnoho Yaru 1918–1922 rr. [Bolshevism: From the ideological label “political banditry of Petliurist orientation” to repressive practices in cases against Kholodnyi Yar insurgents, 1918–1922]. Voienno-istorychnyi visnyk, 4(58), 42–53. https://doi.org/10.33099/2707-1383-2025-58-4-42-53
Furmanchuk, D. M. (Comp.). (2025b). Zbirnyk dokumentiv i materialiv arkhivno-kryminalnykh sprav amnistovanykh povstantsiv Kholodnoho Yaru (1918–1922) [Collection of documents and materials from the archival criminal files of amnestied Kholodnyi Yar insurgents, 1918–1922]. Ukrainskyi instytut voiennoi istorii; TsP “Komprynt.”
Furmanchuk, D. (2026a). Periodyzatsiia Kholodnoiarskoi orhanizatsii (1918–1922): Strukturno-orhanizatsiinyi ta instytutsiinyi analiz [Periodization of the Kholodnyi Yar Organization, 1918–1922: A structural, organizational, and institutional analysis]. Storinky voiennoi istorii Ukrainy, 31. https://doi.org/10.66858/sviu.2026.31.2
Furmanchuk, D. (2026b). Sposoby ta formy dii kholodnoiarskykh povstanskykh formuvan u borotbi proty rosiisko-bilshovytskykh okupantiv (1919–1921 rr.) [Methods and forms of action of the Kholodnyi Yar insurgent formations in the struggle against the Russian-Bolshevik occupiers, 1919–1921]. Social Development and Security, 16(2), 358–373. https://doi.org/10.33445/sds.2026.16.2.29
Horlis-Horskyi, Yu. Yu. (2013). Kholodnyi Yar: Spohady osavula 1-ho kurenia polku haidamakiv Kholodnoho Yaru [Kholodnyi Yar: Memoirs of the osavul of the 1st kurin of the Kholodnyi Yar Haidamaky Regiment] (R. Koval, Ed.; 18th expanded ed.). Istorychnyi klub “Kholodnyi Yar”; DP “Derzhavna kartohrafichna fabryka.”
Koval, R. (2016). Istoriia Kholodnoiarskoi orhanizatsii [History of the Kholodnyi Yar Organization]. Istorychnyi klub “Kholodnyi Yar”; PP “Aksioma.”
Liutyi-Liutenko, I. (1986). Vohon z Kholodnoho Yaru [Fire from Kholodnyi Yar]. https://chtyvo.org.ua/authors/Liutyi-Liutenko_Ivan/Vohon_z_Kholodnoho_Yaru/
Lunin, S. (2014, April 16). Operatsiia viisk VOKhR proty Kholodnoho Yaru u veresni 1920 roku ta vidomosti pro nei v spohadakh Yuriia Horlisa-Horskoho [The operation of the VOKhR troops against Kholodnyi Yar in September 1920 and its representation in the memoirs of Yurii Horlis-Horskyi]. Istorychna pravda. https://www.istpravda.com.ua/research/534e61ddb1073/
Mitrofanenko, Yu. (2016). Kholodnyi Yar v istorii Ukrainskoi revoliutsii 1917–1920-kh rr.: Istoriohrafichna tradytsiia ta suchasni innovatsii osmyslennia [Kholodnyi Yar in the history of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–1920s: Historiographical tradition and contemporary innovations in interpretation]. Ukrainskyi vyzvolnyi rukh, 21, 81–116.
Mitrofanenko, Yu. (2025). “Volia Ukrainy abo smert!” Povstantsi Kholodnoho Yaru [“Freedom of Ukraine or death!” The insurgents of Kholodnyi Yar]. Vikhola.
Podkur, R. Yu. (2005). Zbroinyi vystup yak radykalna forma oporu radianskii vladi v USRR u 1920-ti – na pochatku 1930-kh rr. (za materialamy VUChK–HPU) [Armed uprising as a radical form of resistance to Soviet rule in the Ukrainian SSR in the 1920s and early 1930s]. Istoriia Ukrainy: Malovidomi imena, podii, fakty, 31, 90–102. https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/12182
Shcherbatiuk, V. M. (2010). Selianskyi povstanskyi rukh na Kyivshchyni 1917–1923 rr.: Suchasna istoriohrafiia problemy [The peasant insurgent movement in the Kyiv region, 1917–1923: Contemporary historiography of the problem]. Ukrainskyi istorychnyi zhurnal, (3). https://resource.history.org.ua/publ/journal_2010_3_186
Shcherbatiuk, V. M. (2013). Selianskyi povstanskyi rukh v Ukraini 1917–1921 rokiv: Ukrainska istoriohrafiia [The peasant insurgent movement in Ukraine, 1917–1921: Ukrainian historiography] [Extended abstract of Doctor of Historical Sciences dissertation].
Shcherbatiuk, V. M. (2016). Vilne kozatstvo – dobrovilna hromadska militsiina orhanizatsiia v Ukraini 1917–1921 rr. [The Free Cossacks as a voluntary public militia organization in Ukraine, 1917–1921]. Naukovyi visnyk Natsionalnoi akademii vnutrishnikh sprav, 2(99), 275–285.
Solodar, O. (2020). Pid pokrovom Kholodnoho Yaru [Under the protection of Kholodnyi Yar]. Vydavets Chabanenko Yu. A.
Tsentralnyi derzhavnyi arkhiv hromadskykh obiednan ta ukrainiky. (n.d.-a). Fond 263, opys 1, sprava 50671 [Archival criminal file, 110 folios].
Tsentralnyi derzhavnyi arkhiv hromadskykh obiednan ta ukrainiky. (n.d.-b). Fond 263, opys 1, sprava 51689 [Archival criminal file, 36 folios].
Tsentralnyi derzhavnyi arkhiv hromadskykh obiednan ta ukrainiky. (n.d.-c). Fond 263, opys 1, sprava 54132 [Archival criminal file, 30 folios].
Tynchenko, Ya. Yu. (2007). Ofitserskyi korpus Armii Ukrainskoi Narodnoi Respubliky (1917–1921) [The officer corps of the Army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, 1917–1921] (Vol. 1). Tempora.
Vasylenko, V. (2008). Pidhotovka antybilshovytskoho povstannia v Ukraini u 1921 r. (za dokumentamy HDA Sluzhby bezpeky Ukrainy) [Preparation of the anti-Bolshevik uprising in Ukraine in 1921 based on documents of the Sectoral State Archive of the Security Service of Ukraine]. Z arkhiviv VUChK–HPU–NKVD–KHB, 1/2(30/31), 138–196. https://nasplib.isofts.kiev.ua/handle/123456789/41030
Vasylenko, V. M. (Comp.). (2015). Represii proty uchasnykiv antybilshovytskoho rukhu v Ukraini (1917–1925 rr.): Anotovanyi pokazhchyk arkhivnykh kryminalnykh sprav “Osnovnoho” fondu arkhiviv tymchasovoho zberihannia rehionalnykh orhaniv SBU [Repressions against participants in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Ukraine, 1917–1925: An annotated index of archival criminal cases from the “Main” collection of the temporary archives of regional bodies of the Security Service of Ukraine]. Instytut istorii Ukrainy NAN Ukrainy.
Vasylenko, V. M. (Comp.). (2021). Represii proty uchasnykiv antybilshovytskoho rukhu v Ukraini (1917–1925 rr.): Anotovanyi pokazhchyk sprav fondu kryminalnykh sprav “Prypynenyi” arkhiviv tymchasovoho zberihannia rehionalnykh orhaniv SBU [Repressions against participants in the anti-Bolshevik movement in Ukraine, 1917–1925: An annotated index of cases from the “Terminated” criminal case collection of the temporary archives of regional bodies of the Security Service of Ukraine]. Instytut istorii Ukrainy NAN Ukrainy.
Vasylenko, V. M., & Danylenko, V. M. (Comps.). (2011). Natsionalno-vyzvolnyi povstanskyi rukh v Ukraini naprykintsi 1920–1921 rr.: Anotovanyi pokazhchyk. Sprava “Petliurivski otamany” [The national liberation insurgent movement in Ukraine in late 1920–1921: An annotated index. The “Petliurist otamans” case]. Instytut istorii Ukrainy NAN Ukrainy. https://history.org.ua/LiberUA/978-966-02-6123-5/978-966-02-6123-5.pdf
Zozulia, N. M. (2017a). Do pytannia pro deiaki taktychni formy povstanskoi borotby v Serednomu Podniprovi u 1918 – na poch. 1920-kh rr. (za memuaramy starshyn ta ofitseriv Armii UNR) [On selected tactical forms of insurgent struggle in the Middle Dnipro region in 1918 and the early 1920s, based on the memoirs of officers of the UPR Army]. Humanitarnyi visnyk ChDTU. Seriia: Istorychni nauky, 11(27), 195–201.
Zozulia, N. M. (2017b). Svidchennia starshyn ta ofitseriv Armii UNR pro zabezpechenist zbroieiu ta amunitsiieiu povstanskoho rukhu v Serednomu Podniprovi u 1918–1921 rr. [Testimonies of officers of the UPR Army concerning the supply of weapons and ammunition to the insurgent movement in the Middle Dnipro region, 1918–1921]. Naukovi zapysky Ternopilskoho natsionalnoho pedahohichnoho universytetu imeni Volodymyra Hnatiuka. Seriia: Istoriia, 1(3), 64–68. https://journals.tnpu.ternopil.ua/index.php/history/article/download/691/608/1229
Zozulia, N. M. (2018). Povstanskyi rukh u Serednomu Podniprovi (1918–1922 rr.) za spohadamy starshyn Armii UNR [The insurgent movement in the Middle Dnipro region, 1918–1922, according to the memoirs of officers of the UPR Army] [Candidate of Historical Sciences dissertation, Bohdan Khmelnytsky National University of Cherkasy]. https://chtyvo.org.ua/authors/Zozulia_Nadiia/Povstanskyi_rukh_v_Serednomu_Podniprovi_1918__1922_rr_za_spohadamy_starshyn_armii_UNR/
Zozulia, N. M., & Lazurenko, V. M. (2017). Svidchennia starshyn ta ofitseriv Armii UNR pro politychni oriientatsii povstanskoho rukhu v Serednomu Podniprovi u 1918 – na poch. 1920-kh rr. [Testimonies of officers of the UPR Army concerning the political orientations of the insurgent movement in the Middle Dnipro region in 1918 and the early 1920s]. Humanitarnyi visnyk ChDTU. Seriia: Istorychni nauky, 11(27), 187–194. https://er.chdtu.edu.ua/handle/ChSTU/1948
Abstract views: 25 PDF Downloads: 15
Copyright (c) 2026 Дмитро Фурманчук
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
The authors agree with the following conditions:
1. Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication (Download agreement) with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2. Authors have the right to complete individual additional agreements for the non-exclusive spreading of the journal’s published version of the work (for example, to post work in the electronic repository of the institution or to publish it as part of a monograph), with the reference to the first publication of the work in this journal.
3. Journal’s politics allows and encourages the placement on the Internet (for example, in the repositories of institutions, personal websites, SSRN, ResearchGate, MPRA, SSOAR, etc.) manuscript of the work by the authors, before and during the process of viewing it by this journal, because it can lead to a productive research discussion and positively affect the efficiency and dynamics of citing the published work (see The Effect of Open Access).
