UWC Honors the Heroes of Kruty

On January 29, the Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) traditionally joins Ukraine and Ukrainians worldwide in paying tribute to the Heroes of Kruty. 107 years ago, at the Kruty railway platform in the Chernihiv region, around 500 Ukrainian volunteer fighters and students bravely fought against Russian Bolshevik forces, halting their advance towards Kyiv with 16 machine guns and one cannon.

Despite the battle of Kruty ending in defeat, the resilience of Ukrainian defenders had a crucial impact on the fledgling Ukrainian national state. By holding off the Russian Bolshevik offensive on Kyiv for four days, they enabled the government of the Ukrainian National Republic to sign the Brest-Litovsk Peace Treaty ​​in early February of 1918, gaining international recognition for Ukrainian independence.

This triumph of Ukrainian volunteer fighters has become one of the most cherished legends in modern Ukrainian history and is fundamental to the modern Ukrainian national identity.

Throughout the twentieth century, the Heroes of Kruty inspired the Ukrainian nation to fight for the freedom and independence of their country. Despite being prohibited during Soviet times, the story of the Battle of Kruty was passed down orally and lived on in the people’s memory until the restoration of Ukraine’s independence in 1991.

Today, this example of a heroic feat in the name of Ukraine and its independence continues to inspire Ukrainian defenders and the broader Ukrainian society to resist the deadly Russian full-scale invasion, which aims to eliminate Ukraine as a sovereign state and erase the Ukrainian national identity.

Glory to Ukraine! Glory to its Heroes!