On 24–25 September 1917, the Congress of Slobozhanshchyna was held in Kharkiv, where a resolution was adopted proclaiming: “Throughout Ukraine within its ethnographic borders, the sole supreme authority is the Ukrainian Central Rada and the General Secretariat, responsible to it. Sloboda Ukraine (Kharkiv Governorate and the Ukrainian parts of Voronezh and Kursk regions) must be joined to autonomous Ukraine.”[1]
“The Congress of Slobozhanshchyna. Yesterday, the session of the Congress of Sloboda Ukraine ended. The Congress was attended by more than 400 delegates representing the Kharkiv, Voronezh, and Kursk governorates, as well as the Don Host Region. The purpose of the Congress is the unification of Slobozhanshchyna with all Ukraine and the organisation of the Slobozhanshchyna Rada,” wrote the Kharkiv press.[2]
It is worth noting that this Congress was preceded by tremendous work carried out in the villages of the Voronezh and Kursk regions[3]. Congresses of Ostrohozhshchyna and Valuyshchyna were held. Resolutions were sent to the Central Rada and the Provisional Government, expressing the will of the people to be part of Ukraine. Local active participants of the Ukrainian national liberation movement conducted all preparatory, organisational, and educational work.
Nina Belyaeva
[1] Robitchyna Hazeta. II.X.1917. No.120
[2] Kharkiv newspaper “Yuzhny Kray”. – 1917. – 26 September (No. 14247), p. 6.
[3] Belhorod region is not mentioned anywhere, because the Belhorod Uyezd was part of the Kursk Governorate (1797–1928). It was included in the concept of the Kursk region.
