Historical Dictionary of the Russian Civil Wars, 1916-1926

UKRAINIAN STATE. The Ukrainian State (in Ukrainian, Ukrainska derzhava) was the official title of the generally conservative and nationalist polity (often referred to as the Hetmanate) that was established following a coup at Kiev on 29 April 1918, led by Hetman P. P. Skoropadskii, that (temporarily) overthrew the pro-socialist Ukrainian National Republic (UNR). Skoropadskii’s regime rested on the support of the occupying forces of the Austro-German intervention, who were attempting to extract from Ukraine the food resources and other prizes promised to them under the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk (27 January 1918). The regime was markedly Russophile in complexion and faced opposition from much of the Ukrainian peasantry, as well as politicians associated with the UNR (notably those involved with the Ukrainian National-State Union) and military forces such as the Sich Riflemen (disbanded by Skoropadskii in May 1918, but reluctantly reformed by him in August).

On the day of the coup that brought him to power, Skoropadskii issued two edicts, a “Manifesto to the Entire Ukrainian Nation” and “Laws Concerning the Provisional State System of Ukraine,” which together constituted a provisional constitution for the new regime. The Ukrainian Central Rada and the Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian National Republic and their laws and land reforms were all abolished, and the right of private land ownership was reinstated. All legislative and executive powers were transferred to the Hetman, who was simultaneously proclaimed commander in chief of the Hetmanite Army. The edicts also created a Council of Ministers, with executive and legislative functions, to be appointed by the Hetman and to be responsible solely to him. Decrees and orders of the Hetman had to be countersigned by the prime minister (or another responsible minister), but the Hetman was to ratify all decisions of the council, thereby reinforcing his dictatorial powers. The name of the Ukrainian State was supposed to reinforce the notion that this new entity was a distinctly Ukrainian variant of a constitutional monarchy, based on some ill-defined aspects of the traditional Cossack Hetmanate of the 17th and 18th centuries.

Skoropadskii initially nominated Mykola Ustymovych and then Mykola Vasylenko to form a government from representatives of moderate Ukrainian parties, mainly the Ukrainian Party of Socialists-Federalists (UPSF). However, neither succeeded in establishing a stable cabinet because most Ukrainian political parties, including the UPSF, boycotted the regime. Eventually a cabinet was formed (on 10 May 1918) that included the following ministers: premier and minister of internal affairs, Fedir Lyzohub; foreign affairs, Dmytro Doroshenko; army, Aleksandr Rogoza; finance, Antin Rzhepetskii; trade, S. Gutnik; agriculture, Vasilii Kolokoltsov; food supply, Iurii Sokolovskii; religion, Vasilii Zenkovskii; health, Vsevolod Liubynskii; education, Vasylenko; communication, B. Butenko; justice, Mykhailo Chubynskii; labor, Iu. Vagner; state controller, Iurii Afanasev; and state secretary, Ihor Kistiakovskii. Numerous changes were made to that list during the summer of 1918; notably, S. N. Gerbel′ became minister of food provisions, A. Romanov became minister of justice, Kistiakovskii became minister of internal affairs, and S. Zavadskii became state secretary. The ministries of the UNR were also overhauled; most deputy ministers and many senior bureaucrats were replaced, although the majority of officials from the previous government remained in their posts. Local administration was entrusted to provincial and county commissioners appointed by the Hetman, who tended to distrust the elected zemstvos.