EAST EUROPEAN HISTORICAL BULLETIN

COMMON AND SPECIFIC: HYBRID “LARGA / IVANIJA” TYPE AXES

2025-06-15T10:09:31+03:00

The Larga-Ivanija type axes stand out both by their very small number and by their beauty. Summing up specific elements, found individually and in the case of other axes (semi-calotte flat, curved blade, decoration on the sleeve and so on), the use of the term hybrid axes is justified. Their similarity with Drajna-type axes is obvious, supporting their symbolic value. Their dating is relative, with no specific context, but they can be dated in the Late Bronze. The study aims to present morphologically each component of these axes, grouped by blade, handles, necks, ornaments. This detailed analysis allows both highlight both the common and the particular elements. Our approach is an extension of the study published in 2023.

Scientific novelty. After the stage of outlining the main challenges offered by a hybrid type, we considered it essential to analyze some aspects in detail. Such ‘refinement’ allows us not only to observe the finest morphological details, but also how the latter are distributed geographically. Conclusions. Thus, taking into account the importance of the discoveries in Ukraine, we proposed in this study to use the compound term “Larga-Ivanija-type axes” instead of the term “Larga-type” used today by specialists in Romania and Hungary. There are two metallurgical areas that produced and used such very rare axes: western Ukraine, Transylvania and Maramureș. Their kinship with Drajna-type axes connects these regions to the widespread and dynamic trade of Bronze Age elites in the Balkan and Aegean area.

Keywords: Larga-Ivanija type axes, prestige goods, Late Bronze Age, Carpathian Bronze Age metallurgy.

CONFESSION SACRAMENT IN THE ORTHODOX RITUALITY AS A FACTOR IN THE UKRAINIAN MENTALITY FORMATION IN THE 17th – 19th CENTURIES

2025-06-14T22:21:53+03:00

The purpose of the research is to elucidate the history of confession sacrament introduction into the socio-cultural space of the Orthodox Ukrainian population and its influence on the national mentality formation of the Ukrainians in the 17th – 19th centuries based on the materials of canonical and literary literature, directives, statutory acts, and information and publications. Research Methodology. The historical and analytical, discursive, and interdisciplinary focus of the research is determined by an extensive methodological toolkit, which is used in accordance with the research fields of individual religious and historical disciplines, using, first of all, the methods of deconstruction and critical analysis of sources. Scientific Novelty. The issue of a religious factor influence in general and in the context of the confession sacrament in particular on the formation of mass and individual forms of national self-identification of the Ukrainian population remains poorly studied. Conclusions. The installation of the procedure for introducing the holy sacraments of confession and communion into church rituals took place from the middle of the 2nd century to the 7th century, when Christian canons were established. There were three forms of the confessional rite: the confession of a Christian alone with God, a collective confession at a general prayer meeting of believers in the temple, the confession before a monk or other holy person. Over time, public confession was replaced by a private appeal of a believer to Christ through the mediation of a priest. Initially, the anonymity of a confessor was emphasized, but gradually the requirement of mandatory identification of a person and his social status was introduced. In the confessional preface, a priest listed warnings about avoiding a sinful behaviour, and separately emphasized the fulfillment of God's instructions in various life situations. A believer could communicate with the Almighty independently through a prayer-appeal. A priest addressed God with the aim of forgiving a believer's sins reading a specific prayer from the “Trebnyk” prayer book of 1646 by P. Mohyla. Violators of confession were prosecuted according to the norms of spiritual and civil law. A Christian who had not undergone the rite of confession could not testify under oath in court in either civil or criminal cases. The confessional rite acquired special significance in the lives of convicted and dying people. Through subtle psychic impulses, religious self-identification was affirmed, and distinctive features of individual and mass forms of the national mentality of the Ukrainians were formed.

Key words: Orthodox Church, repentance, holy sacrament, priest, confession, religious rite, national mentality.

CUSTOMS SERVICE DURING THE UKRAINIAN REVOLUTION (1917 – 1923) IN UKRAINIAN HISTORIOGRAPHY

2025-06-14T22:12:49+03:00

The purpose of the article is a comprehensive analysis of the Ukrainian historiography regarding the customs service activities during the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917 – 1923. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, systematicity, scientificity, objectivity, the use of general historical, historical and genetic, historical and comparative, historical and typological, historical and systematic methods, as well as methods of historiography, in particular internal criticism of sources, specific historiographic analysis and historiographic synthesis. Conclusions. If in the Soviet times the studied topic was a taboo in the Ukrainian historiography, with the revival of Ukraine's independence in 1991 it became a sphere of interest of a number of scholars – mainly historians, political scientists and lawyers. Typical of the majority of the analyzed studies is the belief that although the government of the Ukrainian People’s Republic during the existence of the Central Rada (the Central Council of Ukraine) in the field of customs policy in practice managed to do much less than theoretically develop its own first regulatory and legal acts in this direction, it was the very acts that were largely used by the leadership of the Hetmanate headed by P. Skoropadsky. According to the authors' publications under analysis, he managed in a few months, including taking into account the positive aspects of the pre-revolutionary peaceful legislation of Russia, and the modern of Ukrainian People’s Republic, to develop and implement the creation of a virtually full-fledged customs system, which to a large extent brought dividends after the seizure of power in Ukraine by both Directory of Ukrainian People’s Republic and the Bolshevik and Denikin occupiers. Regarding the activities of the customs authorities of the ZUNR, the historiography is significantly narrower, however, in recent years, the studies have appeared that also focus on the customs policy of the Western Ukrainian People’s Republic (ZUNR) government and state that the Western Ukrainian revolution of 1918 – 1919 had a chance to overcome the crisis socio-economic phenomena that arose against the backdrop of the end of World War I and the collapse of Austria-Hungary, and ultimately the reason for its subsequent defeat was not the poor governance of the ZUNR leadership, in particular in the customs sphere, but unfavourable foreign policy circumstances.

Key words: customs service, Ukrainian revolution, Ukrainian historiography, Ukrainian People’s Republic, Ukrainian State, Western Ukrainian People’s Republic

MINISTRY OF JUSTICE OF THE UKRAINIAN STATE DURING THE PERIOD OF PAVLO SKOROPADSKY'S HETMANSHIP (1918) IN UKRAINIAN HISTORIOGRAPHY

2025-06-15T10:57:24+03:00

The purpose of the study is to elucidate the areas of research into the activities of the Ministry of Judicial Affairs (from April 29, 1918 – the Ministry of Justice) of the Ukrainian State during the period of Pavlo Skoropadsky's Hetmanship in Ukrainian historiography. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, scientific objectivity, systematicity, and comprehensiveness. In the article general scientific (analysis, synthesis, generalization) and special historical methods (comparative historical and bibliometric) have been used. Scientific Novelty. Modern Ukrainian historiography has been analyzed, the main problems of studying the activities of the Ministry of Judicial Affairs (Justice) during the time of Pavlo Skoropadsky have been outlined. Conclusions. The study of state-building processes within the Ukrainian State during Pavlo Skoropadsky's Hetmanship begins with the completion of the national liberation struggles, in particular, during the interwar period in the emigrant circles, the first memoirs and journalistic essays of the former UNR figures, supporters of the Hetman's regime, were published. The long history of research on these issues in emigration, in the Soviet historical and legal science became the foundation for further research in Ukrainian science. Many publications by O. Reient, V. Verstiuk, V. Soldatenko and the others focus on covering the change of power and Pavlo Skoropadsky's coming to power, qualifying the essence of the Hetmanate, and analyzing his state position. Biographical sketches and a comprehensive analysis of the Hetman's activities were carried out by H. Papakin and R. Pyrih. More narrow issues of the state apparatus development during the period of 1917 – 1920, and in particular the Ukrainian State during P. Skoropadsky's Hetmanship, various government branches formation, in particular the judicial system, were covered by the following historians and lawyers: B. Tyshchyk, O. Vivcharenko and N. Leshkovych, O. Myronenko, R. Pyrih, H. Papakin, O. Tymoshchuk, and I. Usenko.

Key words: Ministry of Justice, Pavlo Skoropadsky, Ukrainian National Democratic Revolution, Ukrainian state, historiography.

ORTHODOX EDUCATION AND RELIGIOUS PRACTICES AT SCHOOLS OF VOLYN VOIVODSHIP (1921 – 1939)

2025-06-15T09:38:18+03:00

The purpose of the research is to analyse religious education as an integral part of the Polish educational model comprehensively, to highlight the problem of maintaining religious tolerance regarding the confessional affiliation of schoolchildren, and to implement the didactic principles of religious education, spiritual and moral education in educational institutions. The research methodology consists of the comprehensive application of general scientific research methods – analysis and synthesis, objectivity, historicism, as well as special historical methods – historical and source studies, historical and comparative, historical and genetic, historical and typological, historical and systemic methods. The scientific novelty consists in the fact that for the first time, based on the analysis of a wide range of sources – two Constitutions of the Second Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, government decrees, school legislation, textbooks on the Law of God and the methodology of its teaching, Ukrainian Orthodox periodicals, memoirs, as well as the achievements of the Ukrainian and foreign historiography, the peculiarities of teaching the basics of religious education at school and religious practices have been analysed. The principles of religious pedagogy and the requirements for the personnel of teachers of Law of God have been clarified. Conclusions. Thus, the study of the Orthodox religion at schools of Volyn Voivodeship contributed to the preservation of national identity, an important component of which was confessional memory. The Polish legislation in schools issues ensured the interests of all religious communities. In curricula religion was a mandatory school subject, and teaching the basics of Christian doctrine was entrusted to a person with theological education, mainly parish priests. The Volyn Eparchy and the Theological Seminary in Kremenets united the clergy and laity who worked on curricula, textbooks on Law of God, and teaching methods to ensure the educational process at schools properly. Religious practices played an important role, consolidating the acquired religious knowledge in students and contributing to the formation of moral and spiritual virtues and the observance of piety in everyday life. And yet, despite the declared religious tolerance, Polonization of education was clearly visible in Volyn due to the reduction of Orthodox institutions for training clergy, the increase in Polish and Utraquist schools, which was an integral part of the policy of assimilation of Catholic Poland.

Key words: Poland, Volyn Voivodeship, interwar period, school, religion teacher, Orthodox education, religious practices.

“THE HELL OF GALICIAN UKRAINE”: THALERHOF'S IMAGES ON THE PAGES OF THE “NASH LEMKO” NEWSPAPER

2025-06-15T10:16:29+03:00

The purpose of the study is to clarify the peculiarities of a diverse understanding related to the Thalerhof concentration camp issue by the representatives of the authors' circle of the “Nash Lemko” newspaper. The methodological basis of the research is an interdisciplinary approach. In the article such methods and approaches as systematic, comparative and critical analysis of the source base, represented by large text arrays, have been used. The correct interpretation of various genres of the newspaper information has been made possible by the use of the content analysis method. The scientific novelty of the article consists in the attempt to comprehensively analyse the reception of a number of Thalerhof stories by the authors of the “Nash Lemko” newspaper. In conclusion, it has been noted that it was the Thalerhof events that significantly influenced the self-awareness of the Ruthenians as an ethnic group during the interwar period. Realizing this issue somewhat later than the representatives of the Muscovite camp, the Ruthenian intellectuals united around the “Nash Lemko” newspaper and began a difficult activity of deconstructing the stereotypes spread by their opponents, and thus a difficult activity of Ukrainizing the Thalerhof narrative. The activity carried out by Yulian Tarnovych, Petro Antonyshyn, Ostap Kostarevych and other employees of the newspaper was multifaceted, as it included the development of a new conceptual model, interviewing eyewitnesses of the tragedy, processing and publishing their memories, preparing polemical speeches, writing analytical studies, etc. As a result, a completely competitive historiographical image of the Thalerhof tragedy was created, which encouraged the Lemkos to remain with the Ukrainian national choice after their expulsion from their native lands and a subsequent resettlement by many diaspora centres during the post-war years. This conceptually balanced and factually based interpretative model proved to be in demand for the Ukrainian socio-humanitarian studies of the independence era, becoming an organic component of a modern academic reconstructure of the Thalerhof issue.

Keywords: the “Nash Lemko” newspaper, Thalerhof concentration camp, Second Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, Muscovite, reception.

RELIGIOUS MENTALITY OF BORYSLAV DEANERY PARISH POPULATION OF PEREMYŚL GREEK CATHOLIC DIOCESE (the 30s of the 20th century)

2025-06-15T10:46:29+03:00

The purpose of the research is to reveal the main manifestations regarding the religious mentality of Boryslav Deanery parish population of the Greek Catholic Diocese of Przemyśl in the 1930s. The research methodology is based on the work with manuscript documentary materials, analytical and synthetic criticism of sources was used to verify the information from them. The scientific novelty can be traced to the involvement of a significant array of documentary material from the church funds of the Greek Catholic Consistory of Przemyśl with the presentation of the latest scientific interpretations and views. Conclusions. The religious mentality of Boryslav Deanery parish population of the Greek Catholic Diocese of Przemyśl was built on the Christian principles of love, mercy, and mutual assistance. There have been established charitable societies at churches in order to provide material assistance to the poor, widows, orphans, and cripples. The сhurch brotherhoods organized the parish communities to maintain the churches. The religious societies of the Apostolic Prayer involved the most active believers in popularizing the spiritual practices of the Christians: daily prayers, monthly confession, and communion. The spread of the Catholic press among the parish population was to help oust the anti-Catholic sectarian publications. Encouraging the reading of faithful Christian literature contributed to the believers’ awareness in the basic teachings of the Catholic Church. The preaching work of the parish clergy was aimed at eradicating the influence of distorted teachings of the sectarian Christian communities. The socialist and communist ideas were spreading among the local labour migrants, aimed at undermining the authority of the church and promoting the atheistic ideology. Local priests directed their public and cultural and educational activities to combating these threatening anti-Christian movements, since the Deanery included the largest number of the parish centres (Boryslav, Tustanychi, Stebnyk), where industrial infrastructure was being built. There were organized regular spiritual retreats and long-term missions for the believers in the individual parishes among the workers with the Basilian monks’ involvement, which converted the apostates and raised the piety of the Christians. However, there were isolated cases of conflict between the parishioners and the parish priest, which had a negative impact on the Christian virtues and national education development.

Key words: mentality; Christianity; Catholicism; society; brotherhood; recolactio; mission.

SEGREGATION OF THE JEWS IN THE GHETTO OF “VOLYN-PODILLIA” GENERAL DISTRICT ACCORDING TO THE MATERIALS OF YACHAD-IN UNUM ORGANIZATION (PARIS, FRANCE)

2025-06-15T10:13:03+03:00

The research methodology is based on the principles of scientificity, historicism, problem-historical, search methods, as well as the methods of analysis and systematization. The method of oral history, orevidence is a leading one in the research. Scientific Novelty. For the first time in historiography, a separate research focuses on the analysis of the Holocaust oral history sources, orevidences of “Yahad-In Unum” scientific institution regarding the situation of the Jews in the ghetto of “Volyn-Podillia” General District. The life of the Jews in the ghetto has been analyzed from the perspective of non-Jewish testimonies. For the first time, a large number of unpublished oral sources have been introduced into scientific circulation. Conclusions. The analysis of the Yahad-In Unum oral sources, orevidences made it possible to reconstruct the history of the ghetto establishment and functioning in “Volyn-Podillia” General District during the Holocaust from the perspective of non-Jewish testimonies. These sources are valuable because they contain details of the Jewish life in the ghetto and information not found in other official documentary sources. In the study the features of the ghetto establishment, resettlement, everyday life, labour, robbery, physical and moral abuse of ghetto prisoners have been elucidated. The Jews used various methods to survive, interacting with representatives of the occupation administration and civilian residents. Despite the fact that the ghetto functioning has been researched on the example of “Volyn-Podillia” General District, certainly, the research results have a much broader significance for understanding the Nazis’ plans “to solve the Jewish issue”, in particular the segregation of the Jews in ghettos on the territories occupied by Germany.

Key words: Yahad-In Unum, the Holocaust, video testimony, oral history, orevidence, ghetto, Patrick Debois, “Volyn-Podillia” General District.

EVERDAY LIFE ISSUES OF THE DISABLED WAR VETERANS IN THE POST-WAR UKRAINIAN SSR

2025-06-14T22:35:52+03:00

The purpose of the research is to elucidate the content of the disabled war veterans' everyday life in the Soviet reality of the first post-war years, based on the archival documents of the official origin. The methodology of the research is based on the combination of study techniques from various scientific disciplines within the framework of an everyday life history. There have been used diverse concepts from the theory of the Soviet everyday life. The scientific novelty of the research consists in the problem under research formulation, the means and methods of its solution, the research conclusions, and the specificity of the references. Conclusions. The Soviet mentality, in particular its continued existence, is considered to be the problem of modern Ukrainian society. The “Sovietism” hinders the civilizational development of independent Ukraine and is a dangerous factor under the conditions of the Russo-Ukrainian War. Due to a thorough study on the Soviet society using modern techniques of historical research, in particular methods of an everyday life history, it is feasible to solve the above-mentioned problem. There emerged a large social group of veterans with disabilities in the Ukrainian SSR after the end of World War II. A full-fledged historical reconstruction of the post-war everyday life of the Soviet society is impossible without studying the life of this contingent of the war veterans. During the Third Famine in Ukraine, the party and government leadership of the Republic initiated a campaign to reduce the number of veterans with disabilities by manipulating medical and labour check-ups and examinations in order to avoid the deficit in the social security budget. The front-line soldiers with the disabilities were forced to put in a great deal of effort to have their status recognized as “the Disabled of the Patriotic War”, since the status gave the right to the social protection. The administrative pressure was aimed at reducing the percentage of the disabled veterans of Group 2, which caused a typical Soviet everyday life phenomenon – “blat” (favourism and bribes). The survival strategies used by some disabled war veterans also included deception in order to obtain deficit benefits. Numerous disabled war veterans faced a lack of empathy by the society and neglect by the civil servants of their direct duties to provide assistance to veterans in everyday life.

Key words: everyday life, disabled war veterans, disability group, favourism, social protection.

THE CONFRONTATION BETWEEN THE AUTHORITIES AND THE PEASANTS ON THE TERRITORY OF SOVIET UKRAINE IN THE SECOND HALF OF THE 1940S (ACCORDING TO DOCUMENTS OF THE SECRETARIAT OF PEOPLE’S COMMISSARIAT OF STATE SECURITY – MINISTRY OF STATE SECURITY OF THE UKRAINIAN SSR)

2025-06-15T09:58:21+03:00

The purpose of the article is to reveal the main directions of the confrontation between
the authorities and the peasants on the territory of Soviet Ukraine in the second half of the 1940s
(according to the documents of the Secretariat of the People’s Commissariat of State Security –
Ministry of State Security (NKVD-MDB) of the Ukrainian SSR). The research methodology is based
on the principles of historicism, objectivity, comprehensiveness, critical and systematic approaches.
General scientific, historical and source-study methods have been used: analytical, logical, synthetic, typological, historical comparative and heuristic. Scientific novelty. The features and information
potential of the reporting documents of the NKVD-MDB of the Ukrainian SSR, which are concentrated
in the Sectoral State Archive of the Security Service of Ukraine (SSA SSU) in the fund of the Secretariat
of the State Police of the Ukrainian SSR-KGB of the Ukrainian SSR, were clarified to reveal the littlestudied
problem of the confrontation between the authorities and the peasantry on the territory of
the Ukrainian SSR in the second half of the 1940s. Conclusions. Thus, through poor management
of agriculture, merciless tax pressure, and deliberate disregard for the needs of the population in the
most essential things, the authorities pushed the peasants into desperate conscious and spontaneous
resistance. Anti-Soviet and anti-collective farm agitation spread throughout Ukraine as the main form
of conscious peasant resistance. Peasants in the western regions of Ukraine also joined the organized
armed struggle against national enslavement and the introduction of collective farm slavery.
Condemned to hunger and poverty, ordinary people were forced to steal, rob, sabotage, and even
kill in order to survive or seek revenge. The mechanism for combating the resulting wave of crime
was harsh and inevitable criminal prosecution. The meager and often unreliable in-kind payment
for the hard labor in collective farms led to widespread, open sabotage of work. The state’s use of
administrative deportation for failing to fulfill the minimum number of workdays forced peasants to
make a difficult but clear choice between ungrateful l work on the collective farm and hardship in exile.
Keywords: peasantry, famine, Ukrainian SSR, NKVD-MDB, source, research methodology.

THE PROBLEM OF HIGHER EDUCATION MANAGEMENT IN THE INTERDISCIPLINARY DISCOURSE OF UKRAINIAN SCIENTISTS (the 90s of the XXth – first quarter of the XXIst centuries)

2025-06-15T10:30:55+03:00

Purpose of the Research – to carry out a comprehensive synthesized analysis of the
reflection of foreign experience in the management and reform of higher education in interdisciplinary
research by Ukrainian scholars in the 1990s – the first quarter of the 21st century. The research
methodology consists of methods of comparative studies and historiography (periodization,
ideographic, historical structural, historical comparative, historical actualization, main array
and monographic and selective analysis, analysis of the knowledge system), as well as elements of
metaanalysis, content analysis, discourse analysis). The scientific novelty of the research lies in the
fact that for the first time in historiography, a substantive analysis of the interdisciplinary Ukrainian
discourse on the problem of higher education management in European countries has been carried out and its comparative analysis has been carried out with priority areas of study of the specified problem
in the USA, China, etc. Conclusions. The results of the study indicate that foreign experience in higher
education management became the subject of active studies by Ukrainian scholars in the 1990s – the
first quarter of the 21st century. Their important achievement was a comprehensive understanding of this
problem from the standpoint of various fields of knowledge (public administration, history, economics,
philosophy of education, comparative pedagogical studies); development of an interdisciplinary
methodology for studying the problem; understanding of the complex processes of management of
modernization of national higher education systems in historical retrospect and through the prism of
Ukraine’s integration into the European Higher Education Area and the challenges of globalization.
The features of the dynamics of the studied historiographic process are determined, when in the first
period of the 1990s, a number of works appeared that treated the raised problem within the framework
of post-Soviet methodological constructs, in the second period, under the influence of the processes of
European integration, its study reached a boom in 2006 – 2011/12, and in the third period, there was
a gradual fading of scientific interest and the transfer of the accents of its understanding to the context
of globalization. The narrow territorial vector of studies was manifested in the focus on studying the
history of the development of administrative and reform processes in the countries of Western Europe
and the USA, which led to a certain underestimation, with the exception of Poland, of this experience
accumulated by the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. We see the prospects for further research
in the implementation of a comprehensive comparative analysis of the achievements of Ukrainian and
Polish scholars and scientists from other countries on the problems of higher education policy and its
reform in the retrospective of the 20th – early 21st centuries.
Key words: historiography, higher education management, higher education reform, Western
European countries, Central European countries, Eastern European countries.

UNDERGROUND ORGANIZATIONS OF PATRIOTIC YOUTH AND THEIR LIQUIDATION BY THE STATE SECURITY AGENCIES OF THE UKRAINIAN SSR (the second half of the 1950s – first half of the 1970s)

2025-06-15T10:51:55+03:00

The methodological basis of the research is the principles of scientific objectivity, systematicity, verification, and historicism. Both general scientific (analysis, synthesis, generalization) and special historical (historical and comparative, historical and genetic, historical and systemic) methods have been used. The scientific novelty of the research results is determined by the fact that, based on the unpublished archival materials mostly, the activities and liquidation of opposition youth organizations and groups by the state security bodies of the Republic during the period under study have been analysed. Conclusions. The mid-1950s were marked by the emergence of a new stage in the national liberation struggle of the Ukrainian people – the transition to unarmed resistance to the Soviet regime. Having taken advantage of the political thaw, the opposition organizations of patriotic youth emerged: the United Party for the Liberation of Ukraine (1955); the Ukrainian National Front (1964); For Free Ukraine (1965); the Volia Committee (1969); the Organization of Ukrainian Youth of Galicia (1972); the Golden Four (1973), and other underground youth groups. Their participants spoke out against the administrative command pressure and arbitrariness of the communist regime, violations of the rule of law, the implementation of the policy of Russification in Ukraine, fought for civil liberties, the national rights of the Ukrainian people, conducted anti-Soviet agitation, discussed ways of fighting for independent Ukraine, etc. The Republic's state security organs, guided by the instructions of the party and Soviet bodies, made enormous efforts to expose and eliminate opposition youth organizations and groups, often using extremely harsh sanctions provided for by the Criminal Code.

Key words: underground youth organizations and groups, state security bodies of the Ukrainian SSR, Ukrainian nationalists, anti-Soviet activities, arrests.

SPECIAL OPERATION OF THE CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE DIRECTORATE OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA “AERODYNAMICS” AND THE SPLIT IN THE FOREIGN UNITS OF THE ORGANIZATION OF UKRAINIAN NATIONALISTS IN 1954

2025-06-15T10:38:10+03:00

The purpose is to do the research on the impact of the US CIA special operation “Aerodynamics” on the split in the OUN Foreign Units in 1954. The research methodology is based on adherence to the principles of historicism, objectivity, and scientificity using specific historical, comparative historical, problem chronological, and structural systemic methods. The scientific novelty of the article consists in the fact that for the first time, based on the declassified CIA documents, the OUN archives, domestic archives, and foreign printed sources, there has been analysed the influence of the CIA on the activities of the Ukrainian emigration nationalist organizations of the OUN Foreign Units and Foreign Representation of the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council.

Conclusions. In the context of the Cold War aggravation, the CIA studied the activities of Eastern European émigré groups for the purpose of cooperation and among the Ukrainians identified the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council (UHVR) as such. The cooperation began in 1948 under the code name “Aerodynamics” and lasted until 1990. The first stage of the operation was the penetration of CIA agents into Ukraine, and after 1954 it was carried out in the form of cooperation with the Research and Publishing Association “Prolog”.

In 1948, at the Second Extraordinary Conference of the OUN Foreign Units, the first stage of internal discussion was completed, and the participants of the opposition, based on Foreign Representation of the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council, voluntarily resigned from their mandates as members of the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council and the OUN Foreign Units. The offer of cooperation, financial and material support received from the CIA changed their behavior, they announced the withdrawal of their resignation and stated that they would continue their activities independently. After this, the internal conflict in the OUN Foreign Units got a new momentum.

In 1948 – 1954, cooperating with Foreign Representation of the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council, the CIA made efforts to discredit its opponents. The CIA demanded from the British intelligence MI6 to abandon cooperation with S. Bandera and the OUN Foreign Units, and among the leadership of the Ukrainian underground, the document “Political Position of the United States Government” was distributed prepared by the CIA employees, which expressed support for the Foreign Representation of the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council and condemned the activities of S. Bandera and the OUN Foreign Units. Such actions also contributed to the aggravation of the internal conflict in the OUN Foreign Units, which ended in a split in 1954.

Key words: US CIA, special operation “Aerodynamics”, the OUN Foreign Units, Foreign Representation of the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council, Research and Publishing Association “Prolog”.

THE KGB REPRISAL TOWARDS ZENOVIIA FRANKO IN THE CONTEXT OF THE CASE “BLOCK” (1971 – 1972)

2025-06-15T10:23:40+03:00

The purpose of the research is a comprehensive study of the reprisal towards the philologist Zenoviia Franko by the State Security Committee (KGB) in the context of the “general pogrom” of the Ukrainian dissident movement. Methodology of the Research. The methodological basis of the article is the principles of objectivity, comprehensiveness, continuity, and historicism. In the study the methods of analysis and synthesis, problem-chronological, retrospective, typology have been used, as well as and comparison of information from various sources. The scientific novelty consists in the introduction into scientific circulation of a set of little-known documents from the State Archives of the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), which enable us to reveal the prerequisites, course and results of the Soviet regime's reprisal towards Z. Franko. For the first time, in the article there has been carried out a comprehensive analysis of the KGB's measures against the linguist in 1971 – 1972. Conclusions. Thus, at the turn of the 1960s and 1970s, a linguist Z. Franko was one of the socially active participants in Kyiv dissident community. She was engaged in the distribution of samvydav publications, collecting funds for the public treasury, and making contacts with the Ukrainian diaspora. In July of 1971, after the dissident was included in the group development case “Block”, the KGB officers significantly intensified operational work against her using an agent network and a wiretapping system. In January of 1972, during the wave of arrests, it was decided to use preventive measures to achieve Z. Franko's cooperation with the KGB, to obtain the necessary evidence against like-minded people from her, and completely compromise the dissident. The KGB's special operation to discredit Z. Franko and isolate her from the resistance movement was complete success. Z. Franko's penitential statement and subsequent appearance on television and radio were among the serious achievements of the special services at the initial stage of the “Block” case. The philologist's testimony was actively used against the arrested dissidents, and her “renunciation” was a painful blow to the morale of the dissident community. In the following years, the linguist, temporarily deprived of her authority, withdrew from dissident activity and was forced to maintain close contacts with the KGB. Z. Franko was able to return to active participation in the national movement only during Gorbachev's perestroika in the late 1980s.

Key words: Zenoviia Franko, Ukrainian dissident movement, Committee for State Security (KGB), Soviet regime, repressions, “Block” case.

“PEACEFUL” EXPANSION OF THE RUSSIAN FEDERATION IN UKRAINE (1991 – 2014)

2025-06-15T09:45:02+03:00

The purpose of the research is to study and elucidate the process of Russia’s territorial expansion in Ukraine in 1991 – 2014 and the role of the pro-Russian political and public agents of influence in it. The research methodology is based on the general scientific principles of historicism, objectivity and systematicity. There have been used general scientific methods: analysis, synthesis, periodization and the others, as well as special methods of historical research: historical genetic, historical systemic, historical comparative. The scientific novelty of the obtained results consists in the comprehensive analysis of the process of the so-called “peaceful” expansion of the Russian Federation in Ukraine in 1991 – 2014, without use of the armed force. Taking into consideration some separate examples, it has been proved that the war of the Russian Federation against Ukraine has historical roots from the beginning of its declaration of independence in 1991. The relations between Russia and Ukraine, as two sovereign states, during this period were not good-neighbourly, but were accompanied by constant territorial claims on the part of the Russian Federation, as open, and veiled, through the pro-Russian political parties, separatist movements, religious organizations, and other political and public agents of influence. Conclusions. The Russian aggression against Ukraine began in 1991 after its independence. The main goal of the Russian “peaceful” expansion was the destruction of sovereign and independent Ukraine or, in the event of its unreachability, keeping it under its control within a single “union” space. In order to achieve this goal, Russia imposed political, economic, religious, cultural, informational, military and other pressure with the wide use of technologies of subversion, blackmail, lies, intimidation, provocations, etc. Russia masked its own participation in destructive processes in Ukraine and carried out expansion through various pro-Russian political parties and organizations, representatives of criminal oligarchic groupes, separatist movements, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (Moscow Patriarchate) and some of its ministers, pro-Russian media and other agents of influence, who operated under Russian special services management. In 1991 – 2014, during the Russian expansion in Ukraine, there were distinguished two conditional stages. The first stage, from August 26, 1991 to September 29, 2003, from the right of the Russian raising the issue on revising the state borders of the postsoviet republics, if they do not coexist within the unified space of the Union. It was considered to be the biggest crisis in the Russo-Ukrainian relations at the time, when Russia resorted to the use of force against Ukraine before the conflict had broken out regarding Kosa Tuzla Island. The second stage took place from September 29, 2003 to February 20, 2014, which began with the conflict around Kosa Tuzla Island, ended with the termination of the so-called “peaceful” expansion after the Revolution of Dignity in 2014, and then the beginning of the Ukrainian Crimea and Sevastopol occupation. There are several cites on the separate provisions of regulatory legal acts of Russia and Ukraine in the article, which strengthens the author’s argumentation and outcomes on a chosen topic.

Key words: Russian Federation, Ukraine, hybrid warfare, Russo-Ukrainian war, expansion, territorial expansion, agents of influence, separatism, occupation of Crimea, self-proclaimed organizations “DPR” and “LPR”.

THE FIGHT AGAINST HUMAN TRAFFICKING BY UKRAINIAN LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENCIES (1991 – 2014)

2025-06-15T10:04:16+03:00

The purpose is to do the research on the organizational and legal foundations of combating human trafficking, the activities of the Ukrainian law enforcement agencies in this area from independence of Ukraine (1991) to the beginning of the Russo-Ukrainian war (2014). The methodology of the research is based on general and special methods of scientific knowledge. In the process of the research, general scientific methods of deduction and induction, analysis and synthesis have been used. The comparative legal method has been applied during the analysis of regulatory legal acts related to the problem of human trafficking. The historical comparative method has been used to study the patterns and prerequisites of human trafficking. The qualitative and quantitative analysis of the issue under study has been done due to the use of the statistical method. The scientific novelty of the study consists in a retrospective analysis of the legal counteraction means to human trafficking in the national legislation of Ukraine and its practical implementation in the activities of law enforcement agencies.

Conclusions. Human trafficking is a manifestation of a transnational crime and at the same time one of the most shameful violations of human rights and freedoms. Given the international scale of this problem, democratic states focus on combating this phenomenon, adopting a number of international legal acts aimed at prohibiting human trafficking in all its possible manifestations and interstate cooperation. Ukraine has implemented conventions and protocols aimed at preventing and combating trafficking in human beings of the UN and the Council of Europe. Ukraine is also one of the first countries in Europe to criminalize trafficking in people in 1998. Gradually, Ukraine updated national legislation, in particular the Criminal Code, to comply with international standards on the specified issue. The internal affairs bodies of Ukraine play an important role in combating human trafficking. Since 2000, specialized units for combating crimes related to human trafficking had operated within the structure of the Criminal Investigation Department of the Ministry of Internal Affairs and regional departments. Later, it was transformed into the Department for Combating Crimes Related to Human Trafficking. The Main Department for Combating Organized Crime (HUBOZ) is also within the structure of the Ministry of Internal Affairs. The Ukrainian law enforcement officers cooperate with international law enforcement agencies and national law enforcement agencies. Joint operational developments are implemented regarding transnational criminal organizations involved in human trafficking, exchange of operational information; planning and implementation of joint operations, which are carried out under the leadership of Europol, the Regional Centre of the South-East Europe Cooperation Initiative (SECI) in the fight against international crime, with HUAM, etc. A new challenge for the state was the beginning of the Russian Federation's war against Ukraine in 2014, as the number of people “vulnerable to human trafficking” increased, especially among internally relocated people. Data from international organizations show a quantitative increase of several percent at the beginning of the conflict, while qualitative studies have shown the emergence of new types of exploitation: recruitment into the military formations of the LPR-DPR, work under military conditions.

Key words: law enforcement agencies, Ministry of Internal Affairs, regulatory documents, combating human trafficking, combating crimes related to human trafficking, Main Department for Combating Organized Crime, military aggression of the Russian Federation in Ukraine in 2014.

YOUTH “MILITARY AND PATRIOTIC” CLUBS IN THE TEMPORARY OCCUPIED TERRITORIES OF DONETSK AND LUHANSK REGIONS: CREATION AND FUNCTIONING FEATURES

2025-06-15T10:27:35+03:00

The purpose of the research is to reveal the specifics of the activity of youth “military and patriotic” clubs in the temporarily occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The methodology of the research. Due to the historical genetic method of research, it became possible, based on a complex of open sources, to reproduce events in their chronological sequence and analyze the main aspects of the military and patriotic clubs functioning, historical systemic – to consider their activities as part of the system of the military and patriotic education formed by the occupational administrations. Scientific Novelty. In the article there have been made an attempt to analyze the organizational and substantive aspects of the functioning of such clubs, which have been established since 2014 in the temporarily occupied territories of Donbas. Direct military training of minors (with the use of weapons and ammunition) was entrusted to the individuals, who took part in the illegal armed formations with the appropriate content: practical focus (conducting basic military training on a permanent basis, organizing mass events, competitions, military camps, etc.) and ideological work (in particular, forming the image of the enemy, exploiting historical narratives of World War II in a pro-Russian interpretation with reference to the present, etc.). Conclusions. The training of youth in similar organizations, including the holding of events on the territory of the Russian Federation, gives reason to believe that the Russian military political leadership tried, on the one hand, to form a new identity for the population of certain regions of Donbas, and on the other hand, to provide minors with specific knowledge, skills and abilities related to military. The combination of these goals was aimed at the future use local youth as a potential mobilization resource in case of a full-scale invasion on the territory of Ukraine.

Key words: military patriotic education, militarization, military training, ideological work, youth, club, temporarily occupied territory, Ukraine, Donbas, Russian Federation.

HISTORICAL POLICY OF THE CZECH REPUBLIC AND SLOVAKIA: EXPERIENCE AND PRACTICES

2025-06-15T10:42:14+03:00

The purpose of the research – using the example of the Czech Republic and Slovakia to reveal the features of the policy of historical memory, developed in the process of “overcoming the past” in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe. Methodology: General scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, comparison, generalization) were used to collect information and analyze it. The scientific novelty consists in the fact that, based on the collected materials, the peculiarities of the historical policy of the Czech Republic and Slovakia have been analyzed; common and distinctive features of such policies have been traced; the creation aspects of special organizations engaged in memory policy have been noted, in particular, the Institute of National Memory (Ústav pamäti národa) in Slovakia as a participant in the revision of the history of World War II and the role of the Institute for the Study of Authoritarian Regimes (Ústav pro studium totalitních režimů) in the Czech Republic; the conclusions have been drawn about the strategies for the development and functioning of models of historical policy of Slovakia and the Czech Republic in a comparative perspective. Conclusions. Over the past three decades, the communist theme has remained a priority for the Czech and Slovak historical policy, despite the diversity of other aspects. The analysis of the activities of the Memory of the People project and special organizations shows that the focus is mainly on the memory of the crimes of the communist regime. The researchers note the success of the historical policy of the Czech Republic and Slovakia, which is indirectly confirmed by the achievements of both countries after joining the European Union. The main topics in the Czech and Slovak political and social discourse are the topics related to World War II, the Nazi occupation, the Soviet period, the period of the collapse of Czechoslovakia and the modern life of countries within the European Union. In the Czech Republic and Slovakia the historical memory policy on these topics is not limited only to the participation of the aforementioned institutions and the concepts put forward by them. The study of the past is manifested in the decommunization of history, the dismantling of Soviet monuments, as well as active discussions in the media. The role of these discussions in the historical policy formation is significant and requires further study.

Keywords: historical politics, politics of memory, the Czech Republic, Slovakia, international relations.

DNIPRO UKRAINE REGIONAL SCIENTIFIC AND EDUCATIONAL CENTRES IN THE EUROPEAN INTERCULTURAL DIALOGUE (peer-review of the monograph: Ivanenko, O. A. Integration of the Dnipro Ukraine Regional Scientific and Educational Centres into the European Intellectual Space (Second Half of the 19th – Early 20th Centuries). Kyiv: Institute of History of Ukraine of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 2024. 555 p.)

2025-06-14T22:29:51+03:00

Peer-review of the monograph: Ivanenko, O. A. Integration of the Dnipro Ukraine Regional Scientific and Educational Centres into the European Intellectual Space (Second Half of the 19th – Early 20th Centuries). Kyiv: Institute of History of Ukraine of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine, 2024. 555 p.

UNION FOR THE LIBERATION OF UKRAINE AS A MODEL OF THE UKRAINIAN-CENTRIC ORGANIZATION (peer-review on the monograph: Pater Ivan. Union for the Liberation of Ukraine (1914-1918). Personalities / NAS of Ukraine, I. Krypiakevych Institute of Ukrainian Studies. Lviv, 2024. 404 p.)

2025-06-15T09:52:50+03:00

peer-review on the monograph: Pater Ivan. Union for the Liberation of Ukraine (1914-1918). Personalities / NAS of Ukraine, I. Krypiakevych Institute of Ukrainian Studies. Lviv, 2024. 404 p.