EAST EUROPEAN HISTORICAL BULLETIN

COPPER COINS OF THE PRINCIPALITY OF ANTIOCH (1103 – 1130): PHYSICO-CHEMICAL ANALYSIS

2025-09-15T18:27:48+03:00

The purpose and scientific novelty of the article. This article investigates the development of coin minting in the Crusader states, with a particular focus on the Principality of Antioch, during the first third of the 12th century. For the first time, the authors have conducted a comprehensive physicochemical analysis of copper coins from the Principality of Antioch, utilizing X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy, an MMP-2P model optical metallographic microscope, and a spark optical emission spectrometer Solaris CCD Plus GNR. Сonclusions. We conclude that the copper coins were struck on coin flans produced by casting. All the coins contain lead (Pb). Lead (Pb) was widely used in copper alloys in the Levant during the 11th–12th centuries. Taking into account the uniform technology used for producing flans for all coin types and the use of an alloy with a high lead (Pb) content, the authors conclude that a single mint operated in the Principality of Antioch. The consistent presence of lead (Pb) in all analyzed samples of Antiochene copper Crusader coins strongly suggests that lead was deliberately added during the melting process. After casting, the flans underwent further mechanical processing, including the removal of the solidified gating system and the remelting of defective pieces. Only then were the coins struck using a manual minting technique.

A comparative analysis of the coins of the Principality of Antioch and those of the Seljuks of Syria indicates that the addition of lead (Pb) to the coin alloy was not a practice at the Antiochene mint prior to the Crusader occupation. Significant variations in the content of the primary elements in the coin alloy within a single coin type suggest the use of diverse raw materials in alloy production.

Comparing the results of X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy and optical emission spectrometry, it is important to note that the former allows for more accurate determination of the chemical composition of a metal object, as the assessment is based on radiation from a larger surface area. Furthermore, X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy does not damage the surface of the studied coin.

Keywords: Principality of Antioch, Crusades, Oriental coins, follis, fals, dirham, numismatics, coin minting, mint, physicochemical analysis.

ENNOBLEMENT OF THE ORTHODOX /GREEK CATHOLIC CLERGY IN PRZEMYŚL LAND (THE 16th – 18th CENTURIES): LEGAL CONFLICTS AND EVERYDAY REALITY

2025-09-15T18:36:56+03:00

The purpose of the study is to do a comprehensive research on a separate aspect of inter-estate relations in the Old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, in particular, the ennoblement of priestly families and the mechanisms by which they achieved social success. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, scientificity, verification, as well as on the use of general scientific (analysis, synthesis, generalization) and special historical (prosopographic, historical and typological, historical and systemic) methods. Scientific Novelty. The study focuses on a previously unknown aspect of inter-estate relations in the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, in particular the entry of the Orthodox and later Greek-Catholic clergy into the nobility (szlachta in Polish). The scope and mechanisms of this phenomenon have been elucidated through the prism of the legal field and everyday practice. Conclusions. The noble class of the Old Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, despite its apparent isolation, was constantly replenished with new families. Among them there were descendants of the Orthodox (Greek-Catholic) clergy. This phenomenon is observed in the territory of modern Western Ukraine (the Ruthenian Voivodeship). Within the boundaries of Przemyśl land, four dozen priestly families managed to improve their social status. All known cases of clergy ennoblement took place in the area of compact residence of the Ruthenian (Ukrainian) nobility (szlachta). After all, ennoblement was achieved not by legal instruments, but by close coexistence and kinship between the nobility and the local clergy. The life circumstances in which this latent ennoblement was carried out were different. However, certain trends and mechanisms of this process were common. Priests and their descendants, living in villages where the nobility lived compactly, acquired land ownership, became related to local families. Some of them changed their surnames to noble ones. Individual families lived in royal estates. They also achieved ennoblement through kinship with the nobility. However, the memory of their unprivileged origin persisted and their noble status was permanently questioned by the local noble community.

Keywords: nobility (szlachta) in Przemyśl land, Orthodox clergy, Greek Catholic clergy, Przemyśl diocese.

THE POBIDYNSKI NOBLE FAMILY IN SANOK LAND IN THE 16th CENTURY (ACCORDING TO THE RECORDS OF THE SANOK CASTLE AND LAND COURTS)

2025-09-15T18:04:09+03:00

The purpose of the research is to reconstruct the genealogy, property, and social status of the Pobidynski family in the 16th century, based on the records of the Sanok castle (grod) and land courts. The methodology of the research is based on the principles of scientific criticism, historicism, as well as on the use of general scientific (analysis, synthesis, generalization) and specific historical (historical typological, historical systemic, prosopographic, microhistorical) methods. Conclusions. Vladyslav (also known as Wacław) Pobidynski (1470 – † ar. 1499), the descendant of the Pobidynski family, carried on the lineage in the 16th century. The family experienced demographic growth due to large offspring in multiple family branches during this period. The Sanok castle and land court records provide information on 57 individuals from the Pobidynski family, who lived during the 16^th century, in contrast to only 36 identified for the 15th century. However, the family’s landholdings did not expand accordingly. On the contrary, estates were increasingly divided among numerous heirs, resulting in smaller and less economically viable shares. This marks a stark contrast to the 15th century, when the family’s property base grew significantly in each generation. The weakening of the family’s economic standing appears to have affected their social status. In the local administrative hierarchy of the 16th century, only three family members held official positions: Yan Pobidynski (1500 – †1527/1529), who served as Deputy Judge and later Land Judge of Sanok land; his brother Klemens Pobidynski (1483 – † before 1526), who was the Castle Judge and Wacław, the son of Stanisław Pobidynski (1541 – 1581), who served as Deputy Judge and Vice-starosta of Sanok land. Despite their declining material base, the Pobidynski family remained active in legal and economic matters, acting as creditors and borrowers, and maintained their place within the local nobility through kinship ties and regular participation in local assemblies (sejmik) and court sessions as assessors.

Key words: Sanok land, the Pobidynski family, nobility, castle (grod) court, land court, economic matters, creditors, borrowers, debtors.

FORMATION AND ADAPTATION OF THE ESTONIAN DIASPORA IN KAZAKHSTAN AT THE END OF THE 20th – BEGINNING OF THE 21st CENTURY

2025-09-15T19:03:44+03:00

The article covers the stages of resettlement and adaptation of the Estonians in Kazakhstan at the end of the 19th and the beginning of the 21st centuries. The relevance of the study is determined by the formation of the Estonian diaspora of Kazakhstan, which has become a stable component of the demographic, socio-economic, political and cultural life of the Republic and has been as an example of successful readaptation of an ethnic group in a foreign cultural environment. The purpose of the study is to reveal the contribution of the Estonians to the development of Kazakhstan, to consider in detail the stages of resettlement, the number and features of adaptation of the Estonians in Kazakhstan. Scientific novelty: For the first time, the article examines the stages of resettlement and adaptation of the Estonians in Kazakhstan in the pre-revolutionary era, in the era of deportation during World War II and in the post-war years, in the period since the establishment of independent Kazakhstan. Along with the stages of resettlement and the number of migrants, the types of adaptation are described in detail: economic, social, cultural. The process of creating settlements is discussed as a necessary condition for collective adaptation to the natural and climatic conditions of Kazakhstan. Household adaptation, which included the construction of dwellings adapted to the natural and climatic conditions of Kazakhstan, is described in detail. The process of adaptation of farming to local climatic conditions using three-field and fallow systems and the gradual dominance of cattle breeding, which for centuries was the guarantor of the survival of the local Kazakh population, has been analyzed. The socio-cultural relationships of immigrants with representatives of other ethnic groups have been highlighted. Research Methodology. General scientific and historical methods have been used in the preparation of this publication. The study is based on a micro-historical approach, which makes it possible to study in more detail the types of adaptation (climatic, economic, social, cultural) of the Estonians in Kazakhstan by reducing the scale of analysis. An interdisciplinary approach has been applied, borrowing methods from sociology and political science. In particular, content analysis has been applied to periodicals as the main group of sources. The research is also based on the paradigm of ethno-symbolism, which makes it possible to identify the features of the Kazakh-Estonian relations. The development of the topic has been carried out using the general scientific principles of historicism and objectivity, which made it possible to consider the phenomena under study on the basis of objective patterns, in their internal interrelation and interaction with specific historical conditions. The methodological tools are the biographical method, through the use of which the facts of the biographies of famous Estonians of Kazakhstan have been studied, the activity approach made it possible to trace the life positions of the studied figures. At the same time, the following methods have been used: comparative historical, axiological, chronological, analysis and synthesis, etc., which made it possible to generalize, take into account the historical context of events, and avoid political stereotypes and prejudices. Conclusions. The Estonian diaspora in Kazakhstan in the process of its formation in the late 19th – early 21st centuries turned into a stable component of the demographic, socio-economic, political and cultural life of the Republic, showing an example of successful adaptation of an ethnic group in a foreign cultural environment. The materials are of practical value, since the application of this experience will undoubtedly become the basis for practical application in the field of creating an atmosphere of interethnic harmony.

Key words: Estonians, adaptation, Kazakhstan, Steppe region, migration, deportation.

AMONG THE YOUTH: MYKHAILO HRUSHEVSKY AND THE STUDENT BODY OF LVIV UNIVERSITY

2025-09-15T18:41:35+03:00

The purpose of the research is to determine the nature of Mykhailo Hrushevsky’s relationship with the students of Lviv University. The methodology of the research is based on an interdisciplinary approach. There has been given special emphasis on structural functional system analysis of historiographical facts and the comparative historical method, based on the principles of objectivity and historicism. There have been also used the methods of periodization, classification, and typologization. The scientific novelty of the research consists in its attempt at a comprehensive reconstruction of Mykhailo Hrushevsky’s communicative strategies in relation to the student community of Lviv University. Conclusions. Taking into consideration the summarized material, it is possible to speak of Mykhailo Hrushevsky as an innovative pedagogue in higher education. Rejecting the patriarchal practices of demonstrative professorial superiority over the student body, the scholar laid the foundation in our intellectual culture for a tradition of democratic engagement with the youth. At its core was the Enlightenment idea of the University as a harmonious community of the authoritative mentors and knowledge-seeking students. The communicative strategy chosen by M. Hrushevsky enabled the establishment of a productive, partnership-based dialogue with his students, which had several important consequences. First and foremost, the first national historiographical school emerged, whose representatives shaped the leading trends by large in the Ukrainian social sciences and humanities throughout the 20^th century. The impact of bringing politically opposed student youth together behind the concept of higher education in their own mother tongue was equally important. This cultural maxim became the foundation of a long-term strategy and tactic, adopted by all Ukrainian political parties, in the struggle against discriminatory Polish policies in the region. Hrushevsky’s undisputed leadership in these initiatives made him a cult figure among the Ukrainian youth.

For the same reason, his students of other nationalities, especially the Poles, often treated the scholar with a certain distance, and at times with outright hostility, echoing the rhetoric of their older peers. However, those among them not involved in political disputes and preparing for academic careers considered M. Hrushevsky to be a classic figure in Ukrainian studies and preserved a respectful memory of him. In general, it was precisely Hrushevsky’s students, who became the main participants in the complex Polish-Ukrainian dialogue during the war years and the two decades that followed. Elucidating the influence of the Professor’s ideas on the nature of this process remains a topical issue in the intellectual history of Central and Eastern Europe.

Key words: M. Hrushevsky, Lviv University, students, cooperation, conflicts.

CONTRIBUTION OF AGRICULTURAL SOCIETIES TO STUD MATTER DEVELOPMENT IN CATTLE BREEDING ON UKRAINIAN LANDS AS PART OF THE RUSSIAN EMPIRE (the beginning of the 20th century)

2025-09-15T18:53:06+03:00

The purpose of the research is to identify the most significant achievements and initiatives of agricultural societies of Ukraine under Russian rule in the direction of developing breeding in cattle breeding in 1907 – 1915 (although the chronology of the study partially goes beyond this framework). The methods of the research are based on the principles of objectivity, systematics, historicism; historical genetic, historical systemic, historical typological methods, as well as there have been applied the methods of scientific criticism of historical sources. The scientific novelty of the study consists in the comprehensive analysis of the agricultural societies contribution of the specified period to cattle breeding development. Conclusions. It has been determined that the issues on the improving livestock breeding in Ukrainian lands at the beginning of the 20^th century were dealt with by the majority of agricultural societies that had branch departments. Hence, the Imperial Agricultural Society of Southern Russia (Odesa) focused on the development of sheep and horse breeding. The Poltava Society of Agriculture and Agricultural Industry made a significant contribution to the development of sheep and pig breeding. Yelyzavethradske Agricultural Society developed measures to improve the care of cattle and established a horse breeding committee. However, as it turned out, the greatest contribution to the development of breeding in cattle breeding in the studied period was made by Kharkiv, Kyiv and Podilsk Agricultural Societies. The first of them is the initiative to introduce a cattle stud book, the development of which began in 1907. By the end of 1913 on the analogy with Kharkiv stud books were introduced in other regions of the empire. The merit of the Livestock Department of Kharkiv Agricultural Society was the organization of the first control unions for fattening cattle in Ukraine, which began to function in 1910 – 1911. In 1913, the so-called “Mixed Russian-Swiss Committee for the Purchase of Swiss Pedigree Cattle” was established at the Livestock Department of Kyiv Agricultural Society, access to which was open to all agricultural societies, zemstvos and individual farmers of the Russian Empire. The Committee's activities were aimed at eliminating intermediaries in the livestock trade. In 1915 the Podilsk Union of Cattle Breeders at Podilsk Agricultural Society included more than 100 purebred cattle factories in Podilsk, Kyiv, and Volyn hubernias. It is proven that these activities of agricultural societies contributed to the search of rational methods of animal husbandry, the acquisition of breeding material and the profitable sale of livestock products. The agricultural societies made an important contribution to the formation and development of breeding in Ukrainian cattle breeding at the beginning of the 20^th century, in particular, in the development of animal breeding selection programs, effective methods and technologies for the reproduction of valuable breeding resources, practical recommendations for the application of scientific and technical achievements in production, etc.

Key words: livestock, cattle breeding, breeding business, agricultural societies, cattle breeding book, control unions for cattle fattening.

VIEWS AND PUBLIC POLITICAL ACTIVITIES OF STANISŁAW STEMPOWSKI DURING THE YEARS OF THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL REVOLUTION. 1917 – 1921.

2025-09-15T17:35:35+03:00

The purpose of the article is to present and analyze the public views and public political activity of one of the leaders of the Polish democratic camp in Ukraine, Stanisław Stempowski, to clarify his place and role in the public political life of Ukraine during the Ukrainian National Revolution and state formation. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, systematicity and objectivity. Owing to the chronological method and historical political and proposographical analysis, the policy of the Polish democratic camp in Ukraine in relation to the Ukrainian statehood has been elucidated through the position of its leader. The scientific novelty consists in presenting the public views and public political activities of the Polish democrat Stanisław Stempowski in the events of the Ukrainian National Revolution and the Ukrainian and Polish state formation in the first decades of the 20th century. Conclusions. Stanisław Stempowski, a Polish landowner from Podillia, belonged to the Polish democratic camp in Ukraine and was a consistent supporter of the Ukrainian state independence. From his childhood, he developed friendship and respect for the Ukrainian people and recepted the Ukrainians as the masters of their land during the revolutionary and democratic transformations of 1917. After becoming the leader of the party of the democratic camp in Ukraine – the Polish Democratic Central, which united the majority of Polish democratic groups, he held struggle with the Polish nationalists (National Democrats, Endeks), defended the autonomy and interests of the Polish population in Ukraine. The Polish democratic camp supported the Ukrainian statehood, cooperated with the Ukrainian Central Council at various stages of statehood. As Minister of Land Affairs and Health and Social Welfare in two governments of the Ukrainian People's Republic, Stanisław Stempowski contributed to the development of the Ukrainian state. An extraordinary personality, intellectual, translator, freemason, social and political figure with a vivid democratic and civic position, Stanisław Stempowski left his bright mark in the Ukrainian and Polish history.

Key words: Stanisław Stempowski, the Polish democratic camp in Ukraine, the Ukrainian National Revolution, public views, public and political activity.

PROCUREMENT ACTIVITIES OF GERMAN TROOPS IN UKRAINE (FEBRUARY – APRIL 1918)

2025-09-15T18:10:42+03:00

The purpose of the study is to find out, based on the testimony of contemporaries, what methods of procuring food and other resources were used by the German troops in the Ukrainian People's Republic (February – April of 1918). The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, systematicity, objectivity and integrity, on general scientific and special scientific methods (functional, problem-chronological historical systemic methods, as well as methods of criticism of historical sources). The scientific novelty of the research consists in the fact that for the first time, within the framework of a special study, the issue of procurement activities of the German armed units in the Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR) has been considered. Conclusions. Since February of 1918, the German military group had been stationed on the territory of the Ukrainian People's Republic – military assistance forces invited by the Ukrainian government to protect against aggression of Soviet Russia. In Ukraine the German troops had to take care of their own supplies, as well as carry out orders from the command to purchase raw materials and other goods (primarily food) for export to their homeland, and therefore, in addition to performing actual combat missions, they also carried out procurement activities. The main way to obtain what was needed was to buy at market prices (under free trade conditions), but at the same time, the army widely used requisitioning – forced paid withdrawal. When carrying out requisitions, the German military sometimes committed abuses – they paid an incomplete price or did not pay at all, resorted to fraud with receipts, and took away property that was vital to the owners. Disputes between the German military and the Ukrainian population regarding the seizure of property in a number of cases led to armed clashes. Cases of abuse, having become widely publicized, had an extremely negative impact on the attitude of the Ukrainian society towards the German troops. At the same time, the scale of abuse should not be exaggerated. Judging by the testimonies of the then contemporaries, this was not a general practice, but individual incidents.

Key words: Ukrainian People's Republic, German Empire, Austro-Hungarian and German troops in Ukraine (1918), export, requisition, procurement system.

RECONSTRUCTION OR DECLINE: THE POSTWAR STATE OF UKRAINIAN EDUCATION IN GALICIA AS COVERED IN THE NEWSPAPER “DILO” (1918 – 1923)

2025-09-15T17:58:41+03:00

The purpose of the study is to identify the peculiarities of the reception by the authors and editorial staff of the newspaper “Dilo” of the reconstruction and transformation issues in Galicia in the first years after the end of the Great War. The chronological framework of the study is determined by the end of World War I in November 1918 and the official recognition by the Council of Ambassadors of the Polish sovereignty over Eastern Galicia in March 2023. The research methodology is based on the principles of historicism, systematicity, objectivity, as well as methods of criticism of historical sources, content analysis of media materials. Scientific novelty. For the first time in historical science, the coverage of the problems of reconstruction and transformation of education in Galicia 1918 – 1923 in Ukrainian newspaper “Dilo” was analyzed. Conclusions. Thus, the Ukrainian daily newspaper “Dilo”, despite censorship and persecution by the Polish occupation authorities, was one of the most informative press sources about the daily life of Ukrainian society in Galicia. The issue of education of the Ukrainians was one of the key issues on the newspaper's pages: about 50 publications (articles and short reports) focused on the issues of primary, secondary, vocational and higher education. The leading refrain of publications in the newspaper “Dilo” regarding Ukrainian schooling was the topic of oppression by the Polish authorities, which manifested itself in the closure of the Ukrainian primary and secondary schools, the ban on the use of the Ukrainian language at schools as the language of instruction and administration, the conversion of the Ukrainian schools into the Polish ones, and opposition to the opening of new Ukrainian educational institutions. Reports about successful educational projects of the Ukrainians (for example, about the elementary school in Berezhany, the Commercial School in Lviv, the private Ukrainian gymnasium in Yavoriv) were episodic and gave way to negative descriptions of the oppression of the Ukrainian schooling by the Polish authorities. The newspaper's editorial staff consistently advocated for the national character of the Ukrainian schools and reconstruction of the Ukrainian educational system that existed in Galicia before World War I. At the same time, it noted the deterioration of educational achievements and prospects for the Ukrainians due to Poland's incorporation and assimilation policies. In the newspaper chief focus is on the issue of the Ukrainian University creation in Lviv, the activities of the Petro Mohyla Scientific Lecture Society. We consider the analysis of the articles published in the newspaper “Dilo” on the activities of the Ukrainian educational public organizations that resumed their activities after World War I to be a promising direction of research.

Key words: Newspaper “Dilo”, Post-War Reconstruction, Ukrainian education, schooling, educational policy, Polish Republic, Western Ukrainian People's Republic.

ORGANIZATION OF ACTIVITIES AND PERSONNEL COMPOSITION OF THE PRISON IN THE TOWN OF WIŚNICZ, KRAKÓW VOIVODSHIP, II RZECZPOSPOLITA (SELECTED ASPECTS)

2025-09-15T18:13:36+03:00

After World War I, in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe an integral part of the state-building processes was the formation of penal service (penitentiary system) – an integral component of any state law enforcement system. Interwar Poland – the Second Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (II Rzeczpospolita) was no exception, where even before the declaration of independence restoration, the formation processes of penitentiary system were traced. The purpose of the article is to study selected aspects of activities organization and personnel composition of the prison in the town of Wiśnicz, Kraków Voivodeship of II Rzeczpospolita. The research methodology is based on the use of general scientific and specifically historical research methods, including problem-chronological, synchronous, diachronic, comparative and historical, etc. The scientific novelty consists in the fact that the authors attempted, based on unpublished archival materials, to highlight selected aspects of the organization of activities and personnel composition of the prison in the town of Wiśnicz, Kraków Voivodeship in II Rzeczpospolita.

Conclusions. Thus, the prison in Wiśnicz was an integral part of the penitentiary system of II Rzeczpospolita. Between the two world wars, this prison evolved from one of the largest penal institutions of the state to the prison of a new profile – “a prison – a craft institution” with broad resocialization opportunities. The penitentiary institution under study was designed to imprison 580 people, but it was often overcrowded and on the eve of World War II there were almost 860 people.

During the period under analysis this prison was headed by S. Sledzewski, under whose leadership numerous assistants, inspectors, guards, and office employees worked. The prison staff also included auxiliary personnel – doctors, teachers, and clergy. The staffing level of the prison in Wiśnicz was around 90 – 100 people and was insufficient for the proper functioning of this institution due to its constant overcrowding. At the same time, the prison employees tried to perform their duties properly, which is confirmed by the documentary materials we have analyzed.

Key words: Poland, Wiśnicz, prison, penitentiary system, organization, personnel.

THE VOICE OF TRUTH ABOUT THE HOLODOMOR-GENOCIDE OF 1932 – 1933 IN UKRAINE. MATERIALS FROM “THE AMERICA” NEWSPAPER EDITION, 1932

2025-09-15T17:52:37+03:00

The purpose of the article. The authors of the article aim at gaining new knowledge on the subject matter, content, and genre representation of the publications published in the 1932 “The America” newspaper concerning the Holodomor-Genocide of 1932–1933 in Ukraine. The scientific novelty is that the subject matter, content, and genre representation of the publications published in the 1932 America magazine concerning the Holodomor-Genocide of 1932 – 1933 in Ukraine have become the subject of special scientific focus for the first time. Conclusions. One of the historical sources of the voice of truth about the Holodomor-Genocide of 1932 – 1933 in Ukraine is the Ukrainian diaspora press in the United States – “The America” newspaper. It played a powerful role in informing the world about the Holodomor-Genocide of 1932 – 1933 in Ukraine. In the information war of that time, it also fulfilled the mission of deconstructing Soviet and pro-Soviet ideologies that denied and/or distorted and manipulated information about the Holodomor-Genocide of 1932 – 1933 in Ukraine. In 19 issues of “The America” newspaper from August 30 till December 27, 1932, 31 publications of various genres of materials about the “famine tragedy” in Ukraine were published. In the newspaper, the public could learn about the objective picture of the Holodomor-Genocide of 1932 – 1933 in Ukraine from such diverse materials as: telegrams; analytics; information; eyewitness accounts; reflections; criticism; stories; letters; “reports”; interviews; diverse materials that contain a story, “news,” and analytics in one. All of them are in Ukrainian. They present a holistic and unbiased picture of the famine reality of 1932 in Ukraine. For example, the following issues are covered: executions of starving peasants; punishment of peasants for forced theft; massive fleeing of peasants from villages; food crisis and starvation of peasants; content, implementation and consequences of the implementation of Soviet legislation; reasons for collectivization; causes and artificial nature of the famine; the essence of the Bolshevik regime and its attitude towards peasants; reasons for artificial deviant behaviour of peasants; repressions in the USSR, purging of the party ranks; import of grain by the USSR from abroad; forms of peasant resistance, etc.

Key words: Holodomor-genocide of 1932 – 1933 in Ukraine, “The America” newspaper, peasant resistance, forced famine, collectivization.

PECULIARITIES OF THE SOVIET UNDERGROUND AND PARTISAN MOVEMENT IN “GALICIA” DISTRICT (1941 – 1944)

2025-09-15T19:11:24+03:00

The purpose of the research is to determine the ethnic composition of the Soviet self-organized underground organizations and partisan detachments in “Galicia” district during the Nazi occupation and to clarify the participation of the Polish population in the underground organizations and partisan detachments. The research methodology is based on the principles of systematicity, scientificity, historicism and comprehensiveness. In the research, historical comparative, problem-chronological, retrospective methods, and the method of criticism of historical sources have been used. The scientific novelty consists in the fact that for the first time the author, based on a critical analysis of the Ukrainian historiography and information sources, has determined the role of the “Polish” factor in the formation and activity of underground and partisan organizations and groups in the region. In the conclusions, the author proceeds from the fact that the Soviet underground and partisan movement in the district “Galicia” was small and relatively weak. It is also quite debatable to apply to it such definitions as “partisan” or “resistance movement”. The reason for this is the lack of a critical mass of the local population in its ranks and a clear organization of efforts to resist the Nazi occupation authorities. The predominantly Ukrainian population of the region did not support such a movement.

Considering the above mentioned facts of the archival sources analysis and the results of previous research, we should determine a significant role of the “Polish” influence on the organization and activities of the Soviet underground and partisan cells in the district. This significant role was manifested both in the active participation of the Polish anti-Hitler underground of the pro-Soviet leftist orientation, and the local Polish ethnic population, which, not always willingly, but under the power of circumstances, began its cooperation with non-local organizers of local groups of underground partisan struggle – the Soviet soldiers and communists. An additional factor in such cooperation was the peak of the Ukrainian-Polish conflict in Western Ukrainian lands during World War II.

In every way the Soviet and pro-Soviet historiography tried to conceal the fact of a significant Polish influence on the above mentioned forms of struggle. The aim of such activity was to support the myth of “people’s Soviet avengers”, “nationwide struggle against fascism under the Soviet power leadership”, etc.

Key words: district “Galicia”, the Poles, the Soviet partisans, the Soviet underground, occupation.

THE ROLE OF SONGS AND SINGING IN THE EVERYDAY PRACTICES OF THE UPA AND OUN SOLDIERS IN ZAKERZONNIA

2025-09-15T18:33:11+03:00

The purpose of the research is to elucidate and characterize the everyday military practices related to singing and the use of music among the UPA and OUN soldiers in Zakerzonnia region in 1944 – 1947. Research Methodology. The study is based on an interdisciplinary approach that combines the analysis of memoir sources and insurgent documents with theoretical developments in military anthropology, social psychology, and musicology. In the research musicological approaches and concepts have been applied that explain the role of a collective singing in shaping group identity and in combat situations. Scientific Novelty. This article represents the first attempt to explore the anthropological dimension of the use of songs and singing in daily lives of the UPA and OUN soldiers in Zakerzonnia. The research expands the understanding of musical practices in military environments and opens new perspectives for studying the impact of a song on the psychological state and combat effectiveness of military formations. Conclusions. Thus, the role of a song and singing in everyday practices of the UPA and OUN soldiers in Zakerzonnia was multidimensional. The analysis of the sources shows that music served not only an entertainment or emotional function but also acted as a powerful tool for psychological adaptation, group identification, and even tactical influence on the enemy. This study identifies the functions that singing and songs played in the daily lives of the Ukrainian combatants. In particular, singing and songs served as a means of rest and leisure; accompaniment for celebrations and rituals; a tool for unity and communication; emotional support and stress relief; a marker of national identity and the distinction between “us” and “them”; an instrument of ideological influence and propaganda; support in combat situations; and the final act before death. Collective singing contributed to the formation of group identity and the maintenance of morale. Singing practices united combatants and civilians, becoming a kind of ritual that strengthened camaraderie and mutual understanding. Singing played a crucial role in regulating emotional states, alleviating anxiety, and improving mood. The article argues that the phenomenon of “combat singing” was used as a means of influencing the enemy. By analyzing these aspects, we not only gain a deeper understanding of the psychology and culture of the Ukrainian underground but also acquire a broader perspective on the role of music in military conflicts in general.

Key words: Ukrainian Insurgent Army, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, Zakerzonnia, combat singing, everyday life, military anthropology.

E JORDANIAN POLITICAL STANCE ON THE RHODES AGREEMENT WITH ISRAEL 1949 – 1950: HISTORICAL ANALYSIS AND ARAB–INTERNATIONAL REACTIONS

2025-09-15T17:17:25+03:00

The political stance of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on the Rhodes Agreement with Israel (1949) remains a subject of analytical and documentary interest, especially considering the complex Arab-Israeli dynamics in the post-1948 war era. While several Arab states accused Jordan of pursuing a separate peace, the available diplomatic and press records demonstrate a more nuanced and cautious approach adopted by the Jordanian leadership. The purpose of this research is to investigate Jordan’s negotiating strategy during the Rhodes Armistice talks, its interactions with Arab and Western powers, and the media discourse surrounding the agreement. The methodology of this research is based on a historical documentary approach that combines official U.S. and British documents with Egyptian and Jordanian newspaper accounts, in addition to scholarly interpretations from Israeli and Western historians. The scientific novelty сonsists in the reinterpretation of Jordan’s motives and goals during the negotiations, shifting the analysis away from nationalist rhetoric toward a more balanced reading grounded in primary sources. The findings indicate that King Abdullah I pursued the armistice to secure political leverage over Jerusalem and the West Bank, while maintaining an Arab consensus to the extent possible. Both strategic calculations and pressure from Britain, the Arab League, and internal constraints shaped the Jordanian position. Despite accusations of unilateralism, Jordan neither aimed to conclude a full peace treaty nor acted independently of the Arab context but sought instead to consolidate its territorial gains without fully detaching from the broader Arab cause. The conclusion of the study shows that the Rhodes Agreement inaugurated a new phase of legal and political contestation over Palestine, reflecting the interplay between diplomacy, war outcomes, and regional rivalries.

Keywords: Rhodes Agreement, Jordan, Israel, 1949 Armistice, Arab League, Egyptian Press, American Documents.

FOUNDATION AND ACTIVITIES OF THE FIRST “RUKH” CELL IN UKRAINE (1987 – 1991)

2025-09-15T18:18:15+03:00

The purpose of the study is to elucidate, based on scientific literature, periodicals, memoirs, and archival documents, the process of creating the very first “informal” public organizations of the Ukrainian SSR in 1987 – 1991, to characterize their contribution to the creation of the NRU and state development using the example of the Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Cultural and Scientific Society “Rukh”. The research methodology is based on heuristics, reconstruction, and interpretation in order to create a holistic picture of historical events using critical analysis. The scientific novelty consists in the fact that, based on “express-information” from special issues of the socio-political centre of The Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine, the memoirs and diaries of Oksana Olshanska and Oleh Maliarchuk, the process of forming the most influential socio-political organization of a new type at that time – The People's Movement of Ukraine for Perestroika (NRU, Rukh) – has been elucidated, and the experience gained in the field of national patriotic education has been highlighted. Using the example of The Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Cultural and Scientific Society “Rukh”, established de facto on December 19, 1987, and legally – on June 22, 1988, the activity process from the first cultural and educational events to political actions has been studied. Conclusions. In the history of Ukraine, the “Rukh” (NRU) embodies the Ukrainian patriotism during the collapse of the Soviet Union and the proclamation of independent states. Owing to it, we have prominent political and state figures, and leaders of local communities. The youth educated in the NRU were preparing to take up arms to fight for the independence of Ukraine and against a spiritual, occupational enslavement by russia. The forms and methods of work of “informal” organizations activists of Ukraine, tempered by generations of patriots, must develop in accordance with the challenges of today, adapt and modernize with the latest technologies. During the large-scale russian invasion of Ukraine, they fight with weapons in their hands in the ranks of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and are engaged in volunteer activities. Many Ukrainian patriots joined them, hoping to use their example and initiatives to involve as many citizens of our country as possible in building a powerful Ukrainian world as a counterweight to the “Rusky mir”. It is necessary to consolidate the Ukrainians around the national state idea in order to survive the war and build a strong state. And this will be facilitated by knowledge of history, the printed Ukrainian word, the use of the Ukrainian state language and, without any doubt, the patriotic spirit of people. In fact, from the very beginning of its creation, The Ivano-Frankivsk Regional Cultural and Scientific Society “Rukh” is a legal political organization. The main historical merit of the “Rukh” was and remains the creation of an environment for educating people in a national patriotic spirit for the realization of themselves as the Ukrainians. The historical mission has been accomplished, and our duty is to preserve the memory of the outstanding sons of Ukraine and their selfless work.

Key words: national idea, revival of Ukraine, People's Movement of Ukraine (NRU), Rukh.

STAGES OF THE HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT OF PILGRIMAGE TOURISM IN THE SOUTH OF UZBEKISTAN

2025-09-15T17:44:45+03:00

The purpose of the research is to identify and analyse the key historical stages in the development of pilgrimage tourism in the southern regions of Uzbekistan, in order to understand the evolving role of the sacred sites in the spiritual and cultural life of the region. The research is based on a comprehensive methodological framework combining historical, comparative, and content analysis as well as diverse sources, including primary historical texts, archival documents, travel diaries of renowned historical figures such as Ibn Battuta and Seydi Ali Reis, UNESCO materials and official governmental decrees. The methodology of the research is also based on the elements of historiographical analysis, enabling the identification and verification of long-term trends and turning points in the evolution of pilgrimage practices. There have been used the chronological descriptive method, which allowed the author to systematise data from various epochs, from the proto-Zoroastrian practices of the Bronze Age to the Islamic period, through the Soviet era and into the post-independence decades in order to deal with the periodisation of the pilgrimage tourism. This periodisation was further supported by discourse analysis of historical narratives and state policies, such as the Resolution of the Council of People’s Commissars (1945) and the presidential decrees on tourism development in the 21st century. In addition, policy analysis and digital ethnography have been used to study contemporary tools for promoting pilgrimage, including the Tabarruk Ziyorat digital portal. The scientific novelty of the study consists in its systematic reconstruction of the pilgrimage tourism’s historical trajectory in southern Uzbekistan, highlighting both continuity and transformation of the sacred geographies under different political regimes. The results have confirmed that the pilgrimage tourism in this region has deep historical roots, which were formed by diverse shifts in religious policy and cultural identity. Despite suppression during the Soviet era, the revival and institutionalisation of the pilgrimage tourism in independent Uzbekistan signal a broader recognition of its cultural, spiritual, and economic value. It has been concluded that pilgrimage tourism today is not only a vital part of Uzbekistan’s cultural heritage but also a promising vector for the international cooperation and regional development.

Keywords: Zoroastrianism, Islam, travellers, anti-religious policy, digitalisation of pilgrimage.

WAR CRIMES DURING WORLD WAR II IN UKRAINIAN SCIENTIFIC AND PUBLIC DISCOURSES

2025-09-15T17:24:30+03:00

The purpose of the research is to define the conceptual and categorical specificity of the term “war crime”, its application to the studied violations of the international law as well as to outline a thematic and contextual framework for studying the war crimes issues in Ukraine during World War II. The research methodology is based on a complex of general scientific (analysis, synthesis, induction and deduction) and special (historical and legal, historical and typological, historical and systemic, retrospective) methods of scientific research. The scientific novelty consists in the process of determining the concepts “war crime” and “military crime” in the international humanitarian law, and the Ukrainian interpretation of these concepts. There has been outlined the discourse of the study on the war crimes in the Ukrainian humanitarian studies comprehensively. There have been covered diverse manifestations of mass violence and political terror in the context of studying socio-political aspects of World War II. Conclusions. There were published numerous studies of a generalizing nature regarding World War II in Ukrainian historiography during the 1990s and the first half of the 2000s. There were also considered the information reports, research reports among the issues, which covered violations of the norms and customs of war, extreme violence against civilian population, prisoners of war. However, there has been carried out a more systematic study on the issues of the war crimes on the Ukrainian territory since the mid-2000s. There were brought out important studies on the policy of mass violence and terror of the Nazis during the occupation in 1941 – 1945 by O. Lysenko, V. Vasyliyev, collective studies edited by H. Boriak, V. Smolii, etc. The above-mentioned issues were discussed in more detail, as well as a regional cross-section of the repressive practices (including ideological reasons) against civilians, as well as murdering of prisoners of war, forced mobilization, in the studies by V. Shaikan, M. Shevchenko, S. Halchak, V. Levykin, T. Pastushenko, etc. The research on the “Extraordinary State Commission for Determination and Investigation on Atrocities of the German-Fascist Invaders and their Accomplices” in Ukrainian historical science, a regional cross-section of the work of this commission is considered to be another thematic study. Although, there is growing interest in the issues on implementing the norms of the international criminal law in modern Ukrainian legislation in public, popular scientific discourse, as well as in jurisprudence, which are relevant to the war crimes issue, the formation of an evidentiary base for the future prosecution of the Russian Federation for the atrocities committed in Ukraine since 2014, and mainly within the framework of the full-scale armed aggression.

Key words: war crime, World War II, Nazi occupation regime, civilian population, prisoners of war, mass violence, the Russo-Ukrainian War.

THE COME BACK OF THE FORGOTTEN HEROES: A NEW INTERPRETATION OF LITERARY AND HISTORICAL NARRATIVES ABOUT THE WARS ON THE STEPPE BORDER OF UKRAINE IN THE 16TH – MID-17TH CENTURIES (peer-review on the monograph: Vyrsky D. The War in the South: Chronicles of the Steppe Borderland of Ukraine (the 16th – Mid-17th Centuries). Kyiv: Institute of History of Ukraine, NAS of Ukraine, 2024. 292 p.)

2025-09-15T18:22:56+03:00

peer-review on the monograph: Vyrsky D. The War in the South: Chronicles of the Steppe Borderland of Ukraine (the 16th – Mid-17th Centuries). Kyiv: Institute of History of Ukraine, NAS of Ukraine, 2024. 292 p.)

NEW EDITION OF SOURCES ON THE HISTORY OF THE UNIATE CHURCH (The Peer-Review of the monograph: Vinnytsia Viceroyalty (Dean's Office) of the Ruska Catholic Church in the 17th Century: Research, Publication of Visitations Acts/ M.S. Hrushevsky Institute of Ukrainian Archeography and Source Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; State Archives of Vinnytsia Region; Vinnytsia Museum // Research by Arsen Zinchenko; Translations, Indexes, Terminological Dictionary by Oles Petrenko. Zaporizhzhia: FOP Riabtsev V.V., 2023. 896 p.: ill. [Series “Archive Key”, Part. II, Vol. 1])

2025-09-15T18:46:51+03:00

The Peer-Review of the monograph: Vinnytsia Viceroyalty (Dean's Office) of the Ruska Catholic Church in the 17th Century: Research, Publication of Visitations Acts/ M.S. Hrushevsky Institute of Ukrainian Archeography and Source Studies of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine; State Archives of Vinnytsia Region; Vinnytsia Museum // Research by Arsen Zinchenko; Translations, Indexes, Terminological Dictionary by Oles Petrenko. Zaporizhzhia: FOP Riabtsev V.V., 2023. 896 p.: ill. [Series “Archive Key”, Part. II, Vol. 1]