An estetism of venture: Yevhen Konovalets

One of the heroes of the national-liberation struggle of 1917-1920, the founder and leader of an organized nationalist movement in Ukraine, the legend of international policy of the interwar time. He was born June 14, 1894 in Zashkiv village, Lviv region. After graduating from the local public school, Konovalets continued his studies at the Lviv gymnasium. Subsequently, in 1909, Konovalets becomes a law student at Lviv University.

Polish chauvinism, he has faced during studying at the university contributed for crystallization of his nationalist views and increasing social and political activity which was so far from pacifist politicking. Konovalets was an organizer and one of the most active participants of anti-polish student unrest in Lviv at 1910.

The attentat against Anjey Pototsky, Polish politician with anti-Ukrainian position, executed by Miroslav Sichynsky, Ukrainian student, nationalist and public activist and familiarity with Dmytro Dontsov played an important role in Konovalets further life and strengthening of his nationalist position.

Realizing the need of Ukrainian military forces further development Yevhen Konovalets has promoted the development of the "Sich Riflemen" military movement. However he fought in the ranks of Polish Army during the World War I and took part in one of the Battle at Makeevka, one of the "Sich Riflemen" most famous battles, during which he was taken prisoner and imprisoned in Russia till 1917.

Keep calm and be Ukrainian nationalist

After escape from captivity Konovalets went to Kiev to resume public activity despite the opposition of leftist liberal politicians like Vinnichenko. Later he manages to start the foundation of new the "Sich Riflemen" divisions, who becomes the most capable and effective military formations in Ukraine. Later Konovalets has managed to suppress the bolshevik uprising in Ukraine and was one of the commanders of joint the military operation on Kyiv liberation from the Soviet forces was carried by the Sich Riflemen units and the UNR army in 1918.

The experience of the national-liberation struggle of 1918-1920 showed us the negative impact politicking and ideological leftism. However, even the defeat in the independence struggle and occupying the Ukrainian lands by fourth neighbor states did not forced the Ukrainian nationalists to give up. Yevhen Konovalets was in the vanguard of the struggle for Ukrainian Independent State almost two decades. In 1920 the Ukrainian Military Organisation was created on his initiative, in 1929 Konovalets founded the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists. Yevhen Konovalets was the leader of Ukrainian nationalists for the veterans of USS, UGA , UNR and for the younger generation of Ukrainian patriotic movement. 

Of course, Konovalets not the only outstanding person of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists, but we cannot deny the fact that he mad one of the greatest particles in development of national-liberation movement of our country. First of all, we should remind his diplomatic talent, which help him to build a new bridges between the Ukrainian nationalists of old and new generations.

Later the OUN leadership have established diplomatic relations with the governments and secret services of the number of European and Asian countries, such as Lithuania, Germany, England, Japan and France. Here is a few examples of this cooperation: In 1925, the Ukrainian Military Organisation branch in Gdansk contributed to Lithuanian secret services in the case of transport two submarines to the port of Klaipeda. Next year the UMO secret services the plan of Polish invasion of Lithuania. Konovalets transferred the plan to Lithuanian, German and English secret services. Thus, Lithuania - a strategic ally of the Ukrainian liberation movement in the struggle against Russia and Poland was saved from invasion in consequence of the Ukrainian nationalists activities in Poland.

... Konovalets was too noticeable and disadvantageous person for Moscow Bolshevik regime. May 23, 1938 Ukrainian national-liberation movement was beheaded by insidious explosive in Amsterdam in accordance with Stalin`s Order. Student riots, turbulent years of war and "adventurism" of interwar time were crowned by the sweet death ...

Twenty years later, Stepan Bandera said the following words standing over his grave: "The inexhaustible source of strength for our souls, his goodness and justice, it gives us a confidence that our leader involved in a new, higher and endless life. From this faith we take our belief in indissoluble connection between him, other fallen freedom fighters and our further liberation struggle. And I am talking not only about their physical contribution in our liberation struggle, but about a mystical too, which is helps us till now. We are divided by death but we are united by faith..." remembering these words we remember the Leader of the Ukrainian Nationalists ...

original by Igor Zagrebelny