Chyrhyryn Soviet Republic

The Chyrhyryn Soviet Republic (Ukrainian: Чигиринська Радянська Республіка) was an unrecognised revolutionary state in Ukraine formed during the Ukrainian War of Independence (within the wider Russian Civil War).

History

In early January 1919, Ataman Svyryd Kotsur, commanding the Subbotovsky rebel detachment which included 600 rebels, occupied the city of Chyhyryn. The Ataman dispersed the administration of the existing directorate in the city and declared the creation of an independent state, the "Chyrhyryn Soviet Republic". The head of the republic, and all the rebel forces, was Svirid Kotsur.

Kotsur began his rule with class terror. On his orders the bourgeois and government officials were shot. 60 suspicious persons were also arrested in Chigirin. Kotsur's detachments carried out punitive actions against kulak villages and landowners' estates as well as arranging contributions, and confiscations, of food for the needs of the revolution.

Due to the robberies of Kotsur's detachments in March 1919, the residents of the villages of Ositnyazhka and Tsybulevo rebelled against the authority of the ataman.

Governance

The main form of government in the republic was free city and village councils. In some settlements, revolutionary committees were created but they did not have real power.

Territory

At the time of the proclamation of the republic, the rebels controlled the territory of Chyhyryn - Kamianka - Subbotov - Yanichi - Novosel'tsy - Ivanovka and several surrounding farms.