Today, Ukraine honors those who fought in the Battle of Kruty in 1918. The courage and sacrifice of these heroes have left a mark on our history forever. May the memory of the Heroes of Kruty always be alive, and may their actions serve as an example of devotion and love for a free Ukraine!

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On January 29, Ukraine commemorates the Heroes of the Battle of Kruty, expressing gratitude for their resilience and courage in the fight. On this day, we express our boundless gratitude to those who stood up to defend the Ukrainian state, stopping the enemy's attack at the cost of their own lives.

Battle of Kruty: history 

The events near Kruty went down in the history of the Ukrainian liberation struggle of 1917-1921 as a tragic but legendary page. 105 years ago, Ukrainian soldiers and volunteers stopped the Bolshevik offensive on Kyiv. Negotiations between the Ukrainian People's Republic and the Quadruple Alliance led to the signing of the Brest Peace Treaty on February 9, 1918, which recognized the independence of the Ukrainian People's Republic.

The Battle of Kruty was marked by a defensive operation that stopped the enemy's advance for several days. This episode has become a symbol of patriotism, resilience and self-sacrifice of Ukrainian youth in the struggle for statehood.

The heroes of Kruty made a significant contribution to the international recognition of Ukrainian independence. By stopping the russians for four days near the Kruty railway station, they helped the UPR defeat the uprising of the russian fifth column in Kyiv and conclude the Brest Peace Treaty with the Quadruple Alliance.

The proclamation of independence of the Ukrainian People's Republic on January 22, 1918, and its official recognition established the state on the political map of the world. This period lasted three years and was filled with constant struggle. Today's defenders of Ukraine continue the work of the Kruty heroes.

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The significance of the battle for Ukraine's future

The Battle of Kruty was decisive for the future of Ukraine. Thanks to the support of German and Austro-Hungarian troops under the Brest Treaty, Ukrainians liberated Kyiv from the Bolsheviks on March 1, 1918, and in April, almost all of Ukraine. The Ukrainian People's Republic won the first war in the twentieth century against the russian aggressor, Soviet russia.

The fate of the young Ukrainian state was determined in Kruty, where hundreds of brave young men and women of different social backgrounds united to oppose russian military aggression and defend Ukraine. 

The Battle of Kruty is a symbol of the struggle for Ukraine's independence in the twentieth and twenty-first centuries. The heroic deeds of the Kruty soldiers are compared to the courage and endurance of the defenders of the Donetsk airport in the current russian-Ukrainian war, and therefore they are often called "the first cyborgs" in Ukrainian journalism.

Those who fought at the cost of their own lives

The young men who lost their lives near Kruty remain in the nation's memory as heroes. Among them are students of the People's University, such as Oleksandr Sherstiuk, Isidor Puryk, Borozenko-Kononchuk, Holovashchuk, Chyzhov, Siryk, Omelchenko (a centurion); students of the Kyiv University of St. Volodymyr (now named after Shevchenko) - Oleksandr Popovych, Oleksandr Kulinsky, and others. Oleksandr Popovych, Volodymyr Shulhin, Mykola Lyzohub, Bozhko-Bozhynskyi, Dmytrenko, Andriiv; students of the 2nd Cyril and Methodius Gymnasium - Andriy Sokolovskyi, Yevhen Ternavskyi, Volodymyr Hnatkevych, Hryhorii Pipskyi, Ivan Sorokevych, Pavlo Kolchenko (ensign), Mykola Hankevych.

In general, the losses on the Ukrainian side near Kruty, according to various estimates, ranged from 70 to 100 people, while the losses of Bolshevik troops were estimated at 300 people.

After the shooting, the Bolsheviks did not allow local residents to bury the bodies of the dead. Only after the liberation of Kyiv from the Reds, by order of the Ukrainian government, a solemn funeral for those killed in the battle of Kruty was held at Askold's Grave on March 19, 1918.

During the Soviet period, the graves of those killed at Kruty were destroyed. For decades, the history of this battle was either silenced or discussed with myths and fictions in both foreign and domestic history.

Battles for the Future of Ukraine in Modern History

Even after more than 100 years, the enemy and its methods of warfare have not changed, but we have a real chance to end this struggle. Our society has chosen the path of free democratic development of its own state and is ready to defend this choice on all fronts - military, volunteer and historical.

Today, thousands of Ukrainians who were peaceful citizens yesterday - teachers, students, managers, businessmen, historians, singers - have stood up to defend Ukraine. My sincere gratitude goes to all those who are now fighting for our victory and the right to live in a free country on our own land.

The Battle of Kruty remains a tragic and important event in the history of Ukraine, which reminds us of the importance of the struggle for independence.

Let us remember the Heroes of Kruty who laid down their lives for a free Ukraine!

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