Lest we repeat old mistakes

This year marks the centennial of the 1917-21 Ukrainian National Revolution. President Petro Poroshenko has proclaimed 2017 the Year of the Ukrainian Revolution. The International Convention Center, popularly known as the Ukrainian House in Kyiv, recently hosted a special event, including the documentary “For Ukraine, for its Freedom! Scenes from Ukrainian History,” and photo exhibits “Ukrainian National Revolution: Noted Figures” and “A Hundred Victories Scored by Ukraine.”

The event started with all those present singing the National Anthem. Minister of Culture Yevhen Nyshchuk acted as emcee and addressed the audience, saying that those revolutionary events marked the beginning of the Ukrainian state building process: “Ukraine proclaimed its national independence and renaissance in its development in 1991, for good reason.”

Serhii Bukovsky, director and script writer of the documentary “For Ukraine, for its Freedom!...”, referred to current realities, pointing out problems with the Ukrainian archives: “I think that our posterity will take a look at us a hundred years from now. There are certain problems here. I don’t want to mention any sad facts today. Our archivists, who have made every effort to make this documentary a reality, are living in misery, having to use equipment dating back to the times of Nikita Khrushchev. This situation is intolerable.”

Those present at the Ukrainian House could watch the documentary after listening to the noted Ukrainian dissident, Levko Lukianenko, recipient of the highest “Hero of Ukraine” government award who said onscreen that what they were about to see were scenes from the 1917-18 revolution, that they fitted into “a sequence of events that constitute documented proof that can be upgraded using other literary sources, in order to lay the foundations of genuine Ukrainian history.”

Mr. Lukianenko referred to the reasons behind the revolution: “Looking back, I have to say that Ukrainians have been struggling for their national independence, for their nation state, over hundreds of years. Their effort failed at the time. The First World War and the abdication of Nicholas II of Russia rocked the boat of society so hard, any ethnic group received an opportunity to show its worth.” He went on to explain the reasons behind the fiasco, that the founding fathers of the Ukrainian National Republic were still under the spell of socialism and Russian ideas, that socialist ideas were predominant in the second half of the 19th century, that they were in vogue: “On the other hand, the socialists  failed to perceive the gap between Asiatic Muscovy and European Ukraine, hence certain illusions concerning the possibility of building a nation state, even as part of a Muscovite/Russian federation. Our political elite was immature at the time. Remember Yurii Yanovsky’s novel Four Swords [1930] about the four brothers joining four armies? That was the level of national self-identity, that was why we lost the UNR. Muscovy proceeded to occupy Ukraine for the next 70 years, turning us into slaves… We are now happy to witness the rebirth of the Ukrainian nation and state. Back in 1917-21, Ukrainians were an ethnic group known for its borscht, sausages, salo fatback, folk songs, vyshyvanka embroidered blouses and shirts, and so on. Today we see a political nation being formed… Now the struggle is focused on the building of a nation state, and the idea is getting increasingly popular, along with the reviving of all things Ukrainian, tracing back our spiritual roots…”

The documentary has unique historical scenes showing a parade of the Free Cossacks on St. Sophia Square in Kyiv, a parade of troops of the “State of Ukraine,” an inspection of Ukrainian Cossack units; UNR leaders, among them Mykhailo Hrushevsky, head of the Central Rada; Hetman of Ukraine Pavlo Skoropadsky; Symon Petliura, head of the UNR Directorate; Colonel Yevhen Konovalets of the Sich Riflemen, et al. There are scenes of the February revolution in Russia that triggered off the Ukrainian revolution, and WW I battle scenes.

After the screening, Volodymyr Viatrovych, head of the Institute of National Memory, addressed the audience, saying that “the official celebration of the centennial of the Ukrainian Revolution is very important for Ukraine; this country is gradually getting back an important part of its history and state-building heritage.” He went on to say that it would be very important to officially mark the dates of events in March 1917, after the beginning of the Ukrainian Revolution, like the centennial of the [first] Ukrainian government and those of the Armed Forces, Academy of Sciences, National Bank, and other structures that were involved in the state-building process: “Apart from the politicians, statesmen, and political figures who will have to take an active part in the Ukrainian Revolution festivities, historians will have to make a dedicated effort; they will have to bring Ukrainian society up to speed, concerning what exactly happened in 1917-21, what was done right or wrong, lest we repeat old mistakes.”

The festive event at the Ukrainian House became a reality thanks to a number of patrons of the arts, including the Stus All-Ukrainian Society “Memorial,” National Photo Library “Ukrainian Moment,” Benevolent Foundation “Rebirth of Ukraine,” and In Jure Publishers.

Stepan Kubiv, First Deputy Prime Minister of Ukraine, head of the Memorial, said absolutely no government funds were involved in the project, and that over 2,000 individuals had contributed to it: “Assessing events dating back a hundred years, one can see Ukrainian state-building and freedom-loving traditions. Their continuity is obvious, considering our national symbols, our national currency that are part of the UNR heritage.” Mr. Kubiv added that the greatest achievement of the Ukrainian National Revolution was the proclamation of unity of all Ukrainian lands on January 22, 1919, as a unique example of the people’s will fulfilled.

The photo exhibit boasted pictures reflecting a hundred of the most important events in the history of building a Ukrainian nation state, from March 4, 1917, marking the institution of the Central Rada, until January 26, 2017, marking the date on which the Ukrainian mathematician, Maryna Viazovska, was awarded the Salem Prize in 2016.

Mr. Kubiv said the exhibit and the documentary should be seen in other Ukrainian cities, and especially in high schools.