The peace-loving and hard-working people of Ukraine have been forced to prove their right to independent existence and development for centuries. History preserves a large number of facts about various violent confrontations of our people with the invaders. And although not all of them ended in victories and positive changes for the nation as a whole, each of these battles tempered and strengthened the national consciousness and mentality, making Ukrainians true patriots and children of their homeland.
This list may seem subjective to some, but some historical events are practically impossible to reduce to specific dates and battles. Some of them can only be conditionally called battles for Ukraine, but nevertheless each of these events left a deep mark and set the direction for further historical development.
1. Battle of the Blue Waters in 1362
Historical sources tell us that from September 24 to December 25, 1362, events took place that helped free the Ukrainian lands from the Tatar-Mongol yoke. At that time, part of modern Ukraine was under the rule of the Lithuanian state, and the Kiev principality and modern Podillia were under the oppression of the Tatars, who captured these territories in the middle of the 13th century. Scholars believe that it was the victory of the Russo-Lithuanian army in this battle that undermined the undisputed power of the Golden Horde.
2. Siege of Kaluga posad, 1618
In November-December 1618, during the Polish-Muscovite War, the Zaporozhian army led by Peter Sahaidachny attacked the Kaluga posad, the result of which contributed to the signing of an armistice agreement on the conditions dictated by the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. Sahaidachny's army took part in those events on the side of Poland. Sahaidachny's main conditions for siding with the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth were: expansion of Cossack territories, increase in the number of Cossack troops, lifting of bans and restrictions on the Orthodox faith, and recognition by Poland of the administrative and judicial autonomy of the Zaporozhian Army. Another factor in accepting one of the sides was the need to maneuver between the Ottoman Empire, the Moscow Kingdom, and the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. The events of that time became a good moment to demonstrate the strength and durability of the Ukrainian Cossacks. As a result, the king and the Sejm of Poland partially satisfied the demands of the Cossacks. In general, after these events, the Cossacks received a good reward, the Hetman's regiment was stationed in Kyiv, and Petro Sahaidachny himself accepted the title of "Hetman of Ukraine" and began to rule those territories of Ukraine that considered themselves Cossack.
3. Battle of the Yellow Waters, 1648
During the uprising led by Bohdan Khmelnytsky in the spring of 1648, the historic Battle of Zhovty Vody took place, which was marked by the victory of the Cossack army in alliance with the Tatars over the Polish army. During this battle, the registered Cossacks who were in the service of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth switched to Khmelnytsky's side. The victory at Zhovty Vody gave hope for Ukraine to escape from Polish influence.
4. Battle of Korsun, May 1648
After the victory at Zhovty Vody, Khmelnytsky's army marched to Korsun, where units of the Polish crown hetmans Potocki and Kalynovsky were stationed. During this battle, the Polish army was almost completely defeated, and one of the most famous national liberation uprisings began on the territory of Ukraine - the national liberation movement against the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth led by Bohdan Khmelnytsky.
5. Battle of Berestechko, 1651
In June 1651, near the city of Berestechko, another battle took place under the leadership of Hetman Khmelnytsky, but it ended in defeat, unlike the previous ones. As a result of those events, Khmelnytsky was forced to sign the "Bila Tserkva Peace". According to this discriminatory document, the Hetmanate (Cossack territory) was reduced from 16 regiments to 1 Kiev Voivodeship, the number of registered Cossacks was reduced by half, the Polish nobility returned all their possessions on the territory of Ukraine, and the peasants had to return to serfdom again. During those events, Khmelnytsky's political influence and authority fell sharply. So, as a result, a combination of circumstances forced him to make a decision to transfer the Hetmanate to the Russian Empire.
6. Battle of Pidhaitsy in October 1667
The autumn of 1667 deprived the Right-Bank and Left-Bank Ukraine of the opportunity to unite. This happened after the defeat of the Cossack army led by Petro Doroshenko and the signing of a peace treaty by him, which defined the rights of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth to the Right-Bank part of Ukraine, depriving it of any autonomy, independence and geopolitical significance in general.
7. Ivan Mazepa's Battle of Poltava, summer 1709
During the Northern War, Hetman Ivan Mazepa tried to withdraw the left-bank part of Ukraine from the rule of the Russian Empire, concluding an agreement with the King of Sweden in 1707. However, during the fighting in the summer of 1709, the Swedish troops near Poltava were almost completely defeated. This battle was a turning point in the course of that war. The military power of the Swedish crown was undermined and victory nevertheless went to Russia. The participation of Mazepa and his troops on the side of the Swedish king became the reason for the disbandment and abolition of the Zaporozhian army and the institutions of the administrative-territorial structure of the Hetmanate. Control and management over these territories now finally passed to the Little Russian Collegium.
8. Battle of Makivka, 1915
In the spring of 1915, during the offensive operation of the German-Austrian troops, called the Gorlytsky breakthrough, the largest and bloodiest battle of the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen took place, who took part in the confrontation on the side of Austria-Hungary, against the army of Tsarist Russia. Later, the Sich Riflemen took part in the fifth Galician battle, the "Kerensky offensive", where they lost most of their fighters. In general, the Sich Riflemen during the events of the First World War took part on the side of different sides, both Austrian and Russian. However, this Ukrainian military formation requires special attention, since their activities and traditions had a great influence on the formation of the modern Ukrainian army, its uniform, music and terminology. These were the first military formations in history that were selected on a national basis. With the collapse of the Austro-Hungarian Empire, the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen became the basis of the Galician Army, which later defended the Western Ukrainian People's Republic from Polish encroachments. The same part of the Sich Riflemen, which was captured by Russian troops in 1917, formed the Galician-Bukovina Kuryn, which later became the basis for the formation of the army of the Ukrainian People's Republic.
9. Battle of Kruty
January 1918 brought one of the heroic pages in the history of the development of Ukrainian statehood - the battle near the village of Kruty. It was here at the railway station that a bloody confrontation unfolded between the detachments of the Soviet army and the young defenders of the Ukrainian state, who tried at any cost to stop the army's advance on Kyiv. And although this battle had practically no effect on the subsequent military campaign and the struggle for Ukrainian independence and identity, which lasted until 1921, young students, gymnasium students and cadets did everything possible to stop the enemy, completely destroying the road and bridges behind them. According to historians and researchers, after this bloody battle, the Soviet army was paralyzed for 4 days.
10. Capture of the Black Sea Fleet in April 1918
In April 1918, during the Crimean operation, the army of the Ukrainian People's Republic against the Bolshevik government managed to seize the Black Sea Fleet, raise the Ukrainian flag in Sevastopol, thereby declaring its right to exist as an independent state. Interestingly, the UNR was ready to accept Crimea into its composition on the terms of autonomy.
11. The Lviv Uprising or the November Coup of 1918
In November 1918, a Ukrainian uprising took place in Lviv, the goal of which was to establish Ukrainian power. This coup was organized by the Ukrainian National Council and the forces of the Sich Riflemen. The result of the November Coup was the creation of the Western Ukrainian People's Republic.
12. Chortkiv Offensive in June 1919
In June 1919, an offensive operation of the Ukrainian Galician Army took place, which became one of the brightest pages of the Ukrainian-Polish War of 1918-19. The 25,000-strong Ukrainian army was able to push back the 100,000-strong Polish army along the entire demarcation line, but the lack of logistical support and other unfavorable external factors still allowed the enemy to win.
13. The capture of Kyiv by the troops of the Directory and the restoration of the UNR, December 1918
The year 1918 was marked by the dispersal of the Central Rada and the transfer of power to Pavlo Skoropadsky, who was proclaimed hetman. At that time, the UNR was renamed the Ukrainian State. However, in the autumn of the same year, former figures of the Central Rada created the UNR Directory and began their struggle with Hetman Skoropadsky. On December 14, 1918, the troops of the Directory managed to occupy Kyiv and restore the UNR. In parallel with the restoration of the UNR, under the actual leadership of Symon Petliura, close ties were established with the ZUNR. So, on December 1, representatives of the Directory signed a preliminary agreement with the ZUNR on the unification of the Ukrainian republics into a single state. And on January 22, 1919, the Act of Union was signed, on the unification of the UNR with the ZUNR on a federal basis.
14. April 1920 – Battle of Voznesensk
On April 15, 1920, during the First Winter Campaign of the UNR, the battle for Voznesensk took place, at the entrance to which it was possible to capture a strategically important railway junction station. In general, historians and researchers consider this first campaign to be one of the most heroic pages in the national liberation struggle of Ukraine in 1917-20. In addition to the victory, this campaign accelerated the liquidation of Denikin's army and, as a result, the complete discrediting of the "white movement". The population joyfully met its troops and the Ukrainian authorities. These events stirred up the rise of national consciousness among Ukrainians and forced the Bolshevik authorities to change their tactics towards Ukraine, weakening pressure on everything Ukrainian.
15. Battle near the village of Bazar, Volyn in November 1921
During the Second Winter Campaign of the Volyn Army of the UNR, the battle near the village of Bazar ended in defeat. In general, this campaign was more of an act of desperation and heroism. The command of the UNR Army planned to provide assistance to the partisan movement, which was to prevent the export of food from the territory of Ukraine and thereby prevent famine. It was in the winter of 1921-22 that the first famine in Ukraine occurred, provoked by the policy of "war communism", and in fact by the plundering of villages according to the "prodrozverstki". The most important task of this operation was to raise a national uprising and completely overthrow the Bolshevik government. The second winter campaign was the last military attempt to gain independence, which, unfortunately, ended in defeat.
16. The heroic battle for the Dnieper in 1943
This battle became one of the most heroic and largest battles in world history. About 4 million people from both sides took part in this confrontation, the front line stretched for 750 kilometers. During this difficult four-month confrontation, almost the entire left-bank part of Ukraine was liberated from occupation by the troops of fascist Germany, Kyiv was liberated and a number of strategic bridgeheads were captured.
Someone may of course note that not only Ukrainians took part in the military operations of World War II, but our compatriots fought in all directions and fronts and took part in all battles. And Soviet generals and army marshals of Ukrainian origin commanded most of the 15 fronts. On the other side of the USSR, OUN units led by Stepan Bandera opposed them. Their main goal was to declare the independence of the Ukrainian state, but such aspirations caused discontent among the OUN's German allies. And later Bandera and his associates were arrested. Which prompted them to switch to underground methods of fighting for statehood and independence. It also prompted the creation of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
17. Battle on the Kovel-Brest highway in May 1943
In May 1943, a melee battle took place between the “Revenge of Polissya” detachment of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and the German military. As a result of this battle, a column of German fascist troops was destroyed and Obergruppenführer Viktor Lutze was killed. By the second half of 1943, the armed units of the UPA and OUN(b) were able to recapture and take control of most of Polissya and Volhynia, while the German administration at that time controlled only large settlements and key supply routes. One of the key factors in such success was the popularity and widespread underground activities of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists among the population, based on nationalist slogans and aspirations for independence. In response to the activities of the OUN-UPA, the German administration carried out mass arrests and show executions of members of nationalist operations.
18. Battle of Gruby in April 1944
On April 21-25, 1944, one of the numerous battles of the UPA against the Soviet army and partisans took place, and although the end of the battle was marked by a tactical victory for the enemy, the Ukrainian insurgents were able to break out of the encirclement. In general, the confrontation between the Soviet troops and the partisans began back in 1943, when, following Polissya and Volhynia, UPA units began to be created in Galicia. The first to fight the Ukrainian insurgents were the partisan units of Sydor Kovpak. To destroy the UPA, the Bolshevik authorities first used frontal battles and skirmishes, often involving units of the NKVD troops in them. In 1945, a large blockade was arranged by NKVD troops in most settlements, in order to prevent the population from helping the underground. After the end of World War II, the Soviet government of the Ukrainian SSR appealed to members of the UPA to lay down their arms in exchange for pardon, but those who refused these calls were later tried and sent to camps. The death of the main commander of the UPA, Roman Shukhevych, in 1950 significantly weakened the insurgent army, but protests against the Bolshevik government continued until the second half of the 1950s.
19. November 22, 2004 - Orange Revolution
November 22 - the first night of the Orange Revolution, which became an important moment in the history of the Ukrainian struggle for its independence and freedom. This is the first time when a few thousand supporters of the then opposition, who were left to wait for the announcement of the results of the presidential elections, a peaceful protest turned into a multi-million resistance in most regions of the country. During the popular protest, on December 3, the Supreme Court considered the issue of determining the winner and approved the need for a second round of elections, according to the results of which Viktor Yushchenko won. And although the protesters feared that the authorities would use force to disperse them, this did not happen and the Orange Maidan, fortunately, passed peacefully and without bloodshed.
20. The Burning "Pear" or the Beginning of the Hot Phase of the Revolution of Dignity
A peaceful protest in the form of Euromaidan, which arose as a sign of dissatisfaction of Ukrainians with the refusal of the then President Viktor Yanukovych to sign the Association Agreement with the EU. As a result of inadequate actions of the authorities and law enforcement agencies (beating of students on November 30, repeated attempts to disperse and the adoption of criminal laws) provoked the transition of a peaceful protest into a violent confrontation between the people and the authorities. January 19-24, 2014, Maidan and Hrushevsky Street turned into the hottest spot in the country, tires caught fire in the capital and mass clashes between demonstrators and the "Berkut" took place. Law enforcement officers began to use live ammunition, and it was during these days that the first victims appeared.
21. Execution of the Heavenly Hundred, February 20, 2014
February 20, 2014 was the day when the Ukrainian parliament was supposed to consider possible amendments to the constitution, and outraged protesters came to the walls of the Verkhovna Rada. But special forces units met the protesters at the corner of Institutskaya and Shovkovychna streets with water cannons and gas, while in Mariinsky Park, Euromaidan activists were attacked by the so-called “titushki” - anti-Maidan representatives, specially brought to the capital by Yanukovych’s team to fight with opponents. Representatives of law enforcement agencies tried to storm and push the protesters from their positions on January 18-19. But on February 20, the Maidan went on the offensive and regained its positions, expanding the area under its control up to the government quarter, unfortunately, all this happened under a shower of sniper fire… More than 100 people tragically died that day. And representatives of the Ministry of Internal Affairs for the first time officially acknowledged the fact of using firearms against Euromaidan participants.
22. February 2014 – annexation of Crimea and the beginning of the Russian-Ukrainian war
On February 23, a rally of pro-Russian parties was held in Simferopol near the building of the Supreme Council of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea. The action was supported by Russian special forces. The organizers of the action announced the creation of people's brigades to "protect peace and tranquility on the peninsula." On February 27, the Kremlin protege Sergei Aksyonov declared himself "Chairman of the Council of Ministers of the Autonomous Republic of Crimea" and refused to recognize the legitimacy of the authorities in Kyiv and asked for protection and assistance from the Russian Federation. In response to Aksyonov's calls, the peninsula was filled with so-called "little green men" - soldiers without any identifying marks. It was these "little green men" who began to seize Ukrainian military units and ships of the Ukrainian Navy. As a result of such unlawful actions, the peninsula became occupied by Russia, and the aggressive aggression began to spread throughout the mainland of Ukraine. However, only certain parts of the Luhansk and Donetsk regions did not resist, and military operations in them, unfortunately, are still taking place.
23. Battles for Ilovaisk and Ilovaisk Cauldron, August 6-7, 2014
In early August 2014, fierce fighting took place in the area of the city of Ilovaisk. During these battles, the Ukrainian army was able to recapture part of the city, but later the forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine and the Ministry of Internal Affairs were surrounded by militants of the terrorist organization "DPR" and Russian military personnel supporting the terrorists. And although during the negotiations an agreement was reached on a ceasefire and the opportunity for the Ukrainian army to retreat, the terrorists opened fire on the fighters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces who were taking advantage of the encirclement. The consequence of the Ilovaisk cauldron was heavy losses in the ranks of the Ukrainian military.
24. Battles for Donetsk Airport
The battles for control of the strategically important facility - Donetsk airport - began in April 2014. These fierce battles are compared to the defense of Stalingrad, and the soldiers who defended the airport are called nothing other than cyborgs. The defense of Donetsk airport lasted 242 days and the Ukrainian military left it only in mid-January 2015. The withdrawal of the invincible "cyborgs" from the airport was due only to the fact that "the concrete could not withstand it" - all the buildings and runways were completely destroyed and ceased to represent any strategic value and importance.
25. Battles for Debaltseve, February 2015
After the Ukrainian "cyborgs" left the completely destroyed Donetsk airport, large-scale fighting resumed in the area of the city of Debaltseve at the end of January 2015. They became especially fierce in early February 2014, after the signing of the Minsk agreements on a ceasefire and the establishment of a truce, which is constantly violated by representatives of Russian-terrorist bandit formations. In mid-February, the "DPR" terrorists and the Russian military occupied most of the city. As a result, the Ukrainian military was forced to retreat in order to protect the local population and the city from destruction.
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