Today, Ukraine honors the heroic stand of volunteer heroes who halted the rapid advance of Russian Bolshevik forces near the Kruty railway station. The readiness of young people to resist and the skillful organization of the defense by their commanders thwarted the occupiers’ plans. It became a lasting example of heroism and dedication for all subsequent generations of Ukrainians.
At the time, the Russian side believed it was well prepared for the offensive. The Bolsheviks succeeded in misleading the senior military and political leadership of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, exploiting the inertia of many veterans of the First World War, and instigating unrest in Kyiv through their agents. What remained was a swift raid on the Ukrainian capital to impose an occupation authority, since control of Kyiv determined who would speak on behalf of Ukraine to the world.
The honor of defending Kyiv fell to the cadets of the 1st Ukrainian Junker School named after Bohdan Khmelnytskyi, the fighters of the Student Battalion, the Free Cossacks, and other units. Most of them were young people, yet it would be incorrect to describe them as victims of war. They were heroes who voluntarily chose to defend Ukraine.
During hours of fighting, the Ukrainian garrison under the command of Averkii Honcharenko, reinforced by Semen Loshchenko’s armored train, destroyed at least 300 Bolshevik troops. Taking advantage of the weather, the garrison conducted an organized withdrawal to Kyiv, having first destroyed the railway line and delayed the Bolshevik advance for several more days. This time gained proved decisive, allowing the government to secure allies in the struggle against Russia.
The defenders of Kruty emerged from that battle not only with glory but with invaluable experience in confronting Russian forces. They learned that numerical superiority and material advantage did not make the enemy invincible. Through the fate of 27 brothers-in-arms who were captured and executed, they saw clearly that humanity and honor were alien to the Russian occupiers. Participants in the Battle of Kruty later took part in key engagements of the First and Second Wars of Independence, inspiring others in the struggle for Ukraine’s freedom.
Glory to the Heroes!