Ukrainian National Council

The Ukrainian National Council is a socio-political center created in Kiev occupied by the Germans on October 5, 1941 at the initiative of the OUN (the wing of Andriy Melnyk ). The Presidium of the Council was headed by Professor Nikolai Velichkovsky , the secretaries were Ivan Dubina and Osip Boydunik, among the famous members were General Nikolai Kapustyansky and Oleg Olzhich (under the pseudonym “Dr. Kandyba”). Members of the OUN (m) burgomaster of Kiev Vladimir Bagaziy , writers Ivan Rogach , Olena Teliga , Fedor Bogatyrchuk and others closely cooperated with the Ukrainian National Council. At a press conference in front of reporters of allied countries in Germany, Council members announced the restoration of Ukrainian independence and the recognition of the sole leader of Ukraine, Andrey Melnik :

The press conference was attended by German, Italian, Swedish, Japanese journalists. Velichkovsky’s statement was brief: “Ukraine in 1918 declared independence, which was recognized by the whole world and, in particular, Germany. In 1920, Ukraine was illegally occupied by Bolshevik gangs that terrorized the country for 20 years, starved it, destroyed the village, and exported the national elite to Siberia. Now that the invaders fled from Ukraine under the blows of German troops, Ukraine is restoring the order that existed before its occupation, based on the Constitution of the UPR of 1918, which is considered the most democratic in the world. The property stolen by the Communists from the people is returned to him. ” To the question “What political power are you targeting, and who is your leader?” Velichkovsky and Bagazy answered that they rely on the OUN led by Andrei Melnik .

With the assistance of Vladimir Bagazia, the Council launched work in the Reich Commissariat of Ukraine on introducing members of the OUN (m) into the bodies of the occupation authorities , in publishing publications oriented to the OUN (m), and in promoting the Ukrainian language. In late 1941, Reichskommissar Erich Koch banned the Council and launched reprisals against its members and supporters, many of which were executed in January - February 1942 . Until 1943 , the surviving members of the Council worked underground.

Another body under the same name and led by Andrei Livitsky quite legally existed on the territory of the Galicia District (occupied by the Germans of western Ukraine). The body was considered the government of the UPR in exile, but in fact had few powers - the German authorities instructed the Ukrainian national organizations to coordinate the activities of another body, the UCC under the leadership of Vladimir Kubiyovich .

The Germans' distrust of Livitsky and his advice is explained by the fact that it mainly included former Petliurists, who had a reputation in the eyes of Germans as "pro-Polish" leaders (which was incompatible with the active anti-Polish policy of the Germans). On the other hand, the ONS led by Livitsky recognized Taras Bulba-Borovets .

On April 29, 1944, both of the above organizations, together with representatives of the former Sejm of the Carpathian Ukraine , created a single All-Ukrainian National Council (VUNS) led by Mykola Velichkovsky , and Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky and Augustine Stefan were appointed his deputies. However, other Ukrainian organizations competed with this Council - the Ukrainian Main Liberation Council (UGOS, supporters of Stepan Bandera ) led by Cyril Osmak and the Ukrainian National Committee headed by Pavel Shandruk , who also acted under the auspices of the Germans. Attempts to create a common platform (autumn 1944, Bratislava ) were unsuccessful, and in 1946, in exile, VUNS ceased operations.

In 1947, as a result of an agreement between Ukrainian parties operating in exile, a body was again formed under the name "Ukrainian National Council" as the pre-parliament of the Ukrainian People’s Republic. He elected Andriy Livitsky “president of Ukraine in exile”, later Stepan Vitvitsky , Nikolay Livitsky and Nikolay Plavyuk were elected to this position; the latter in 1992 solemnly handed over his regalia to the first elected President of Ukraine Leonid Kravchuk .

• UNRada. Documents, materials, statistics, information. London 1949;
• UNRada. Memorials, decrees, komunіkati. Part 3. Munich 1950;
• Third session of UNRadi. Materials and documents. Munich 1954;
• The fourth session of UNRadi. Materials and documents. In a foreign country. 1957;
• P'yata session UNRadi. Materials and documents. In the Alien 1962;
• Boydunik O. Konsolіdatsіya (in the book. On the turning point). Paris 1967;
• Documents and materials before the current situation in U. N. R. Munich 1969;
• Voskobіynik M. Dying Hold. Center UNR. "Ukr. Вісті ”, Zhovten 1979.