Nykyfor Hryhoriv
Никифор Григор'єв
Ukrainian otaman who took Odesa for the Reds, then turned to revolt and pogrom
Proclaiming revolt in his May 1919 Universaл, he cried: "Ukrainian people! Take power into your own hands. Let there be no dictatorship of any one man or any one party."
The Ukrainian otaman who took Odesa for the Soviets in the spring of 1919, he rose against them in May and his troops massacred Jews at Yelysavethrad and elsewhere. He was shot by Makhno's men in July.
Career timeline
- 1901–1907Volunteered for the imperial army, fought in the Russo-Japanese War, and won three Crosses of St George.
- 1914–1916Served as an officer on the Southwestern Front in World War I, rising to staff-captain.
- 1918Led peasant partisans in Kherson province against the Austro-German occupiers and the Hetmanate.
- 1918–1919Served as chief of the Kherson Division of the Ukrainian People's Republic (Directory).
- 1919-02Went over to the Red Army, commanding the 1st Zadniprovska Brigade and then the 6th Ukrainian Soviet Division, and took Odesa in April.
- 1919-05Led the Hryhoriv uprising against the Red Army in May.
- 1919-07Shot dead by Makhno's men in July.