Soviet republic that existed on the territory of Ukraine at the end of 1917 – beginning of 1918.

 

It was established at the 1st All-Ukrainian Congress of Soviets of Workers’, Soldiers’ and Peasants’ Deputies on December 11–12, 1917 in Kharkov as a republic within Soviet Russia subject to all decrees and orders of the central Soviet government in Petrograd. Congress proclaimed illegal the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UPR) established on November 7, 1917, in Kiev and canceled all decisions of the Central Council of Ukraine (Central Rada). The People’s Secretariat became the executive body of the Provisional Central Executive Committee of the Soviets of Ukraine (the government) headed by Yevgenia Bosch and, since March 1918, by Nikolay Skripnik.

 

From December 1917 to January 1918, Soviet power was established in Yekaterinoslav, Lugansk, Mariupol, Kharkov, Aleksandrovsk, and Odessa. The Government of the UPR of Soviets declared war against the Central Rada on January 4, 1918. A general offensive of Soviet troops to Kiev through Poltava began. On January 16, an armed uprising at the Kiev Arsenal Plant organized by the Bolsheviks began, involving workers of the largest enterprises and soldiers (suppressed by January 22). On January 27, Soviet troops entered Kiev, where presently the Government of the UPR of Soviets moved from Kharkov. In February 1918, Soviet power was established in almost the entire territory of Ukraine, except for Volyn, where the Central Rada was hiding. Vladimir Antonov-Ovseenko was appointed commander of the Soviet armed forces.

 

The Treaty of Brest-Litovsk was signed in March 1918, then the troops of the Central Powers marched into Ukraine. The Soviet Ukrainian Government moved to Poltava and then to Yekaterinoslav. Here at the 2nd All-Ukrainian Congress of Soviets, on March 17–19, 1918, the independence of the Ukrainian Soviet Republic was proclaimed and the All-Ukrainian Central Executive Committee was elected. The UPR of Soviets united with other Soviet authorities: Donetsk-Krivoy Rog Soviet Republic and Odessa Soviet Republic. However, Austro-German’s advance made the Government leave for Taganrog. On April 18, 1918, the last session of All-Ukrainian Central Executive Committee was held there and the All-Ukrainian Bureau to Lead the Insurgent Struggle against the German Occupiers was established. The UPR of Soviets ceased to exist.