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Petro Bolbochan

Petro Bolbochan was a colonel of the Ukrainian People's Republic (UPR) army, commander of the Zaporozhian Corps, who liberated Crimea from the Bolsheviks in April 1918.

Overview

In April 1918, the Zaporozhian Corps of the UPR army under the command of Colonel Petro Bolbochan forced the Bolsheviks to retreat from the peninsula, establishing Ukrainian authority over its territory and control over the Black Sea Fleet. April 22, 1918, went down in history as the date of the liberation of Crimea; the Ukrainian troops were met with enthusiasm, and Crimean Tatar cavalry units eagerly joined them.

Bolbochan intended to form a separate regular unit from volunteer detachments sympathetic to the Ukrainian cause. However, the head of the Central Rada, Mykhailo Hrushevskyi, and Prime Minister Vsevolod Holubovych did not dare to confront Germany and ordered the army to leave Crimea.

Key Details / Subtopics

  • Liberation of Crimea (April 1918): expulsion of the Bolsheviks, control over the Black Sea Fleet.
  • April 22, 1918: the date of the liberation of Crimea; in 2018, the 100th anniversary was commemorated.
  • Retreat: the order for the Ukrainian army to leave the peninsula due to German pressure.