Ukrainian State

This article is about the government of the Ukrainian National Republic, 1918–1920. For the Cossack state under the Russian Empire (1654–18th century), see Cossack Hetmanate.

Ukrainian State Українська Держава
← 1918 →
Flag Coat of arms
Capital	Kiev
Government	Monarchy
Hetman	Pavlo Skoropadsky
History
- coup	April 29, 1918
- civil war	November 16, 1918
- abdication	December 14, 1918
Today part of	Ukraine Russia Belarus Moldova Poland

The Ukrainian State (Ukrainian: Українська держава, Ukrains’ka Derzhava) or The Second Hetmanate (Ukrainian: II Гетьманат, Drugyi Het’manat) was a short-lived polity in Ukraine, installed by Ukrainian Cossacks and military organizations under the support of the Central Powers, after disbanding the Central Rada of the Ukrainian National Republic on 28 April 1918.

History

Pavlo Skoropadsky, the hetman of the Ukrainian State.

On April 29, 1918 the head of the German group army Kiew (Heeresgruppe Kiew), Hermann von Eichhorn organized a coup and appointed the Conservative General Pavlo Skoropadsky (commander of the first Russian Corps and later leader of the Free Cossacks) as Hetman of what was termed the Ukrainska Derzhava or Ukrainian State. That day Skoropadsky issued his manifesto (hramota) to the All-Ukrainian Nation and the laws of the Provisional State System. The Austro-Hungarian and German occupiers, wanting stability above all else, welcomed the coup; Skoropadsky co-operated with them, making him unpopular among many Ukrainian peasants. The new state retained the tryzub and the national colors, but reversed the flag design to light blue over yellow. The Sich Riflemen opposed the coup and were disbanded along with the "Bluecoats" (a Ukrainian division named after their blue uniforms and formed from POWs in Germany and Austria).

Internal opposition was provoked by the Hetman's requisitioning of food stocks and restoration of land to the wealthy landowners. Opponents of the Skoropadsky regime committed acts of arson and sabotage, and in July 1918 assassinated Field-Marshal Hermann von Eichhorn, the commander of the German troops in Ukraine. The anti-Skoropadsky coalition succeeded in forcing him to re-form the Sich Riflemen Corps in August 1918. By then it was becoming obvious that the Central Powers had lost the war and that Skoropadsky could no longer rely on their support. He then turned to support from conservative Russian elements in society and proposed joining a federation with Denikin's Russia, which further eroded his standing among Ukrainians.

Ukrainian Civil War

Skoropadsky with his troops.

A military conflict that started on November 16, 1918 in Bila Tserkva and lasted to December 14 of the same year when Pavlo Skoropadsky renounced his position of the Ukrainian State Hetman. After the Armistice of 1918 the Ukrainian socialists formed a rival body known as the Directory, whose forces were spearheaded by the Corps of Sich Riflemen as well as the "Greycoats" who also joined the revolt. Although German and Austrian troops were still present in Ukraine, they had no further interest in the war. Most of Skoropadsky's own forces changed sides and chose the side the Directory. Skoropadsky had to turn to the thousands of Russian White Guard officers who escaped to Ukraine intending to join Denikin's Volunteer Army, based in the neighboring region of Don further to the east. They were assembled into a "Special Corps"; Denikin was favoring Skoropadsky as he distrusted the other Ukrainian nationalists. However, the Skoropadsky's attempt to resist the forces of Symon Petlyura proved to be unsuccessful as he was unable to resist the Directory's troops. The Ukrainian People's Army took Kiev in December 1918 and overthrew Skoropadsky's regime forcing him into exile.

After Skoropadsky was expelled by the insurgent forces, the Hetmanate was replaced by the provisional government of Directorate.

Administrative division

Administrative division of the US. Green line shows the territorial claims.

Unit	Central city	Starosta
Volhynian Governorate	Zhytomyr	Dmytro Andro
Katerynoslav Governorate	Katerynoslav	Ivan Chernikov
Kiev Governorate	Kiev	Ivan Chartoryzhski
Podolia Governorate	Kamyanets	Serhii Kyselov
Poltava Governorate	Poltava	Serhii Ivanenko
Kharkiv Governorate	Kharkiv	Petro Zaleski
Kherson Governorate	Kherson	Semen Pyshchevych
Holm Governorate	Brest	Olexandr Skoropys-Yoltukhovski
Chernihiv Governorate	Chernihiv	Mykola Savicki
Polissia land	Mozyr
Tavria land	Berdiansk
Crimean Regional Government1	Simferopol
Kuban People's Republic1	Katerinodar

References

History of Ukraine

This article is part of a series

Ancient History Trypillian–Cucuteni culture Yamna culture Catacomb culture Cimmeria Taurica Scythia Sarmatia Zarubintsy culture Chernyakhov culture Hunnic Empire

Middle Ages Early East Slavs Onoghuria White Croatia Rus' Khaganate Khazars Kievan Rus' Galicia–Volhynia Cumania Mongol invasion of Rus' Golden Horde Principality of Moldavia Grand Duchy of Lithuania

Cossacks Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth Zaporozhian Host Khmelnytsky Uprising The Ruin Cossack Hetmanate Left bank Sloboda Ukraine Right bank Danube

Early Modern Period Russian Empire Little Russia New Russia Habsburg Monarchy Kingdom of Galicia Bukovina Carpathian Ruthenia

Early Twentieth Century Ukraine during World War I Ukraine after the Revolution Ukrainian Civil War Ukrainian People's Republic West Ukrainian People's Republic Ukrainian State Directorate of Ukraine

Soviet Era Ukrainian SSR Holodomor Ukraine in World War II Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists Chernobyl

Modern Ukraine Cassette Scandal Orange Revolution Russia–Ukraine gas disputes

Topics Name of Ukraine Historical regions Christianity in Ukraine

Ukraine Portal

• Comparison of Skoropadsky to Yushchenko: "Ukrainian History: déjà vu?" and article in Ukrayinska Pravda (Ukrainian Truth), October 11, 2005, available online (in English).