The battle near Kruty is history
At the end of December 1917, the government of Soviet Russia began open aggression against the Ukrainian People's Republic. The Bolsheviks were annoyed by Ukraine's declaration of independence, so Moscow created a separate "Ukrainian Red Government" in Kharkiv, which declared war on the independent part of the state.
The Ukrainian military command expected the Bolsheviks to attack from the direction of Poltava - it was there that the freshest and most capable units were sent. But the offensive began from the other side.
In December 1917, the Bakhmach station in Chernihiv Oblast - a critical railway junction on the border of the Ukrainian People's Republic and Russia - was guarded by a detachment of the First Ukrainian Military School named after B. Khmelnytskyi. At the beginning of 1918, they received reinforcements from Kyiv - the 1st hundred Kuren of students of the Sich Riflemen. They were students of the Ukrainian People's University, St. Volodymyr University of Kyiv (now named after T. Shevchenko), high school students. They took up defence near Kruty station - between Nizhyn and Bakhmach, 130 km from Kyiv.
On the morning of January 29, 1918, the Bolshevik offensive on the Kruty station began. According to various sources, there were from 4 to 6-7 thousand of them. On the Ukrainian side, 300-600 soldiers took part in the battle near Kruty. The battle lasted several hours: several attacks were repulsed, and the Bolsheviks lost up to 300 killed, wounded and captured.
In order to avoid encirclement, Ukrainian troops were ordered to withdraw. Then, retreating, part of the student hundred got surrounded. At dusk, the platoon lost its bearings and went to the Kruty station, which was already occupied by the Red Army. About 30 young men were captured, tortured, and then executed. Battle near Kruty - the significance. In the battle near Kruty, Ukrainian troops carried out the order of the command - the Bolshevik offensive was stopped. Our troops retreated in an organized manner, destroying tracks and bridges behind them. And Simon Petliura had time to suppress the Bolshevik uprising, which began at the Arsenal plant at the same time. It was during these days that the negotiations between the Ukrainian People's Republic and the countries of the Quadruple Alliance (Germany, Austria-Hungary, Turkey and Bulgaria) continued. It was important that at that moment the Ukrainian capital was under the control of the Central Rada - the delay of the Bolsheviks near Kruty made it possible to do so.
On February 9, 1918, the Brest Peace Treaty was signed - the Ukrainian People's Republic was recognized as an independent state, and its army received the support of the German and Austro-Hungarian armies in the fight against the Bolsheviks. Remember the Kruty - facts and events for the Day of Remembrance of the Kruty Heroes. About 30 young men captured by the Bolsheviks after the battle and executed were buried near the Askold Grave. All of them are recognized as heroes, but the names of only 19 of the dead are known. Pavlo Tychyna dedicated the poem "Memory of the Thirty" to the Heroes of Kruty. In 2006, a monument was erected at the battle site near Kruty. To the 80th anniversary of the Battle of Kruty, the Mint issued a commemorative coin with a denomination of 2 hryvnias. In 2019, Oleksandr Shaparev's historical drama "Kruty 1918" was released, which received mixed reviews. To commemorate the Heroes of Kruty in Ukraine, thematic lectures and meetings are held in museums, history lessons in educational institutions, round tables and book exhibitions are organized, highlighting the chronicle of the events of January 1918 and the feat of the Heroes of Kruty.
The Battle of Kruty is a tragic and important event in the history of our country, which reminds us of the struggle for Ukraine's independence. History repeats itself - today we continue to defend against the Russian invasion.
