Nykyfor Hryhoriv
Никифор Григор'єв
c.1885–1919
✕ Killed in a confrontation with Makhno’s side in 1919
Ukrainian otaman who took Odesa for the Reds, then turned to revolt and pogrom
A junior officer of the Russian imperial army, he joined the rising against the Hetman in 1918, became otaman of the Kherson region, served under the Directory and in February 1919 brought his troops over to the Soviets. In March he took Kherson and Mykolaiv and on 6 April entered Odesa as the French and Greek troops evacuated, ending Allied intervention in the south. But on 7 May he issued a 'Universal' and rose against Soviet power, denouncing grain requisitioning and outsider officials, and during the rising his troops committed dozens of pogroms, including the murder of more than 1,500 Jews at Yelysavethrad from 15 to 17 May. After the rising was crushed at the end of May he sought an alliance with Makhno, and on 27 July was shot by Makhno's men at a meeting in the village of Sentove. He should not be confused with the socialist politician of the same name. His year of birth is given differently in the sources and is left unconfirmed.
Related historical events
- 1917–1921Ukraine’s revolution and warsUkrainian otaman who turned against his Red alliesTook Odesa for the Soviets in April 1919, rose against them in May, and his troops massacred more than 1,500 Jews at Yelysavethrad; he was shot by Makhno's men in July.
- 1918–1922The Civil War and Foreign InterventionUkrainian otaman who turned against his Red alliesMoved from anti-Hetman forces through the Directory to Red service, then rebelled in May 1919. His troops committed anti-Jewish massacres. He was killed in a confrontation with Makhno’s side in July, and should not be confused with the socialist politician of a similar name.
Revolution and independence wars
Moved from anti-Hetman forces through the Directory to Red service, then rebelled in May 1919. His troops committed anti-Jewish massacres. He was killed in a confrontation with Makhno’s side in July, and should not be confused with the socialist politician of a similar name.