Dakota Beacon

During the 1900s Ukrainians fought for their freedom -- first against Soviet takeover, then against German invasion, then once again against Soviet occupation. Ukrainians defended their homeland with unbelievable pride and patriotism.

Now, in 2022, a new generation of Ukrainians shoves the burning torch of liberty in the face of the Russian assault on the civilian population. This generation laughs at safe spaces and micro-aggressions. And they clearly distinguish between male and female. They have more important things on their minds – like maximizing damage in an ambush kill zone or how to destroy an armored vehicle with a Javelin antitank missile or how to take down Russian aircraft with a Stinger antiaircraft missile.

In February the Russians overwhelmed the Ukrainian military leaving little choice but to resort to guerrilla warfare of which the Ukrainians have a rich history. A guerrilla force has never defeated a conventional force in the long term. But they can sure make life a living hell for occupation troops. A new generation of Ukrainians is about to pick up where partisans of the 20^th century left off.

Following the collapse of the Russian monarchy in 1917, Ukraine set up a provisional republic declaring itself independent in 1918. The new state resisted the Bolshevik Red Army for three years until succumbing to the Russians in 1921. Since that time various Ukrainian anti-Communist movements have operated with the objective of liberating their country.

Known as the Breadbasket of Russia, Ukraine’s agriculture was collectivized into state-controlled farms as part of Stalin’s first Five Year Plan in 1928. The Communist-forced collectivization came without peasant support. Rather than submit, peasants resisted by destroying their crops and livestock. Soviet agents then used force to take over farms. Ukraine faced manmade famine in the 1930s. The Great Ukraine Terror Famine was executed to break the will of the peasants (1932-1933). Between 3.5 and 7 million people died and many were sent to the gulag. The Soviet Union rejected outside aid and confiscated food. This manmade famine was intended as genocide.

Not surprisingly, the Ukrainians welcomed the Germans as liberators in June 1941. Ukrainian soldiers in Soviet units deserted in large numbers. After the battle of Kiev in 1941 entire units led by their commanders surrendered to the Germans -- over 675,000 in all. But this love affair was short lived. Within a week the German political administration bungled the friendly relations and scuttled the collaboration of 40 million Ukrainians. The Germans took grave exception to Ukraine announcing its independence. Ukrainians now saw the Germans as the new oppressors replacing the Russians. Multiple anti-German guerrilla bands were formed in 1941. By 1942 those bands came together in a single command – Ukrainska Povstancha Armia (UPA), Ukrainian Guerrilla Army. The commander of the UPA was assisted by a general staff with operations, intelligence, personnel, logistics, and military instruction sections. An underground communications and liaison service was added.

By the end of the German occupation the UPA had about 200,000 armed guerrillas in organized units assigned to four operational regions and a series of independent operational groups. Each region was subdivided into military districts consisting of guerrilla regiments, battalions, and companies. Companies were organized on the triangular system – three platoons to a company; three squads to a platoon. Light companies were designed for hit-and-run raids armed with light machine guns, grenades, and demolitions. Heavy companies were armed like light companies plus mortars and heavy machine guns. They were trained to fight open battles. Additionally, mounted guerrillas formed special heavy squadrons equipped with light artillery. The source of armaments were German and Soviet arsenals seized in raids and major engagements. Seizure of weapons and ammunition was a permanent objective of the guerrillas. Finally, self-defense detachments or village militia were particularly effective against German and Soviet foraging parties and raids.

With the defeat of Germany in 1945 the UPA collected all the abandoned material and equipment. When the Communist Armies entered the Ukraine they were met with a strongly organized and well-equipped resistance.

In 1947 the Soviet Union called for joint action by several Communist countries to destroy the UPA. Combined operations were launched by Polish infantry, Czechoslovakian mountain troops, Red partisans, Soviet armored forces, NKVD secret police, paratroop units, and Soviet Air Forces, plus Hungarian and Romanian units. This concerted effort could not wipe out UPA resistance. But, because of the attrition suffered by UPA, the mission shifted in 1950 from active combat to psychological warfare. The UPA went underground. Objectives remained the same; only the methods changed. The UPA continued to carry on propaganda campaigns and sabotage into the early 1980s.

Vladimir Putin’s war today is not designed to win the hearts and minds of the Ukrainian people. His objective is to force people to flee or be bottled up in built up areas. Once bottled up, cities could be razed on top of the people. Putin acted so in Syria in order to break resistance. Either way – no people, no resistance. But Putin’s best-laid plans might easily unravel in the face of a popular Ukrainian insurgency. The resilient Ukrainians have done so before. Putin will face a long, bloody insurgency that could spread across multiple borders.

Meanwhile, spring approaches. Who will take to the fields to plant and harvest the crops in the Ukrainian Breadbasket to feed Mother Russia?

Dennis M. Patrick can be contacted at (JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).