Ukrainian Social Democratic writer who led the Rada's General Secretariat and the Directory
Born to a peasant family in Kherson province, he was one of the leading novelists and playwrights of early twentieth-century Ukrainian literature and a leader of the Ukrainian Social Democratic Labour Party who was repeatedly imprisoned and exiled. In June 1917 he became chairman of the Central Rada's General Secretariat, leading the declaration of autonomy and the talks with the Provisional Government, and in November drafted the Third Universal proclaiming the Ukrainian People's Republic. He resigned in January 1918 during the war with the Bolsheviks, and in November became first chairman of the Directory against the Hetman, retaking Kyiv in December. Arguing for negotiation with Soviet Russia and a state based on councils of workers and peasants, he broke with Petliura, who wanted Allied cooperation, resigned in February 1919 and went abroad. In 1920 he returned to Soviet Ukraine to explore joining its government, found that the post carried no real power and left again, living in the south of France, writing novels and a diary, until his death in 1951.
Related historical events
- 1917.12–1918.11Brest-Litovsk and Germany’s eastern occupationUkrainian Central Rada leaderAs chairman of the Rada's General Secretariat he approved Ukraine's separate peace and resigned at the end of January 1918, just as Soviet troops took Kyiv.
- 1917–1921Ukraine’s revolution and warsLeader of the Rada’s Secretariat and the DirectoryLed autonomy and the proclamation of the People's Republic as chairman of the General Secretariat in 1917, retook Kyiv as first chairman of the Directory in December 1918 and resigned in February 1919 after breaking with Petliura.
- 1918–1922The Civil War and Foreign InterventionLeader of the Rada’s Secretariat and the DirectoryA Ukrainian socialist and writer, he led the General Secretariat in 1917 and became the Directory’s first chairman in 1918. He resigned amid disputes over Entente cooperation and state policy, seeking an independent socialist Ukraine.
Revolution and independence wars
A Ukrainian socialist and writer, he led the General Secretariat in 1917 and became the Directory’s first chairman in 1918. He resigned amid disputes over Entente cooperation and state policy, seeking an independent socialist Ukraine.