Restoration of the historical memory of the Kholodny Yar struggle (1918–1922): commemorative practices

Abstract

Abstract. The purpose of this article, based on a preliminary historiographical analysis, is to draw the attention of the scholarly community to the issue of the Kholodny Yar events during the period of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–1921. At the same time, it seeks to encompass the historical events of the Kholodny Yar uprising of 1918–1922, its unique source base – primarily original materials preserved in local history museums – and numerous publications that, due to the lack of proper interest in local history, have rarely been included in broader synthetic studies. Scientific novelty. For the first time, the article analyzes materials from regional academic forums (conferences, symposia, round tables, and seminars) held in recent decades and dedicated to the Kholodny Yar events of the Ukrainian Revolution, taking into account their specific features. Part of this scholarly output by historians, local researchers, and patriotically oriented publicists is particularly valuable because it presents original artifacts from museum collections, including items that have only recently been incorporated into these holdings. Conclusions. The need for such research is evident, as previously developed narratives of “local” history have largely remained unknown to the wider scholarly community. In many cases, the dissemination of published articles and conference abstracts was limited to the participants of the respective events. In this regard, the existing marginalization of knowledge and the limited incorporation of these materials into the broader research process continue the unfortunate tradition of ignoring and biased silencing of the Kholodny Yar events under the communist regime. In other words, the revival of Cossack traditions on a national basis – an essential feature of Kholodny Yar during the revolutionary period – proved to be so «ideologically inconvenient» for politicians and historians that the consequences of this rejection are still felt today. Interestingly, even after 1991, many officials and historians still tended to view these events through the lens of old stereotypes. At the same time, there are several important reasons for creating more thorough and well-rounded scholarly syntheses. One of them is the necessity to counter entrenched myths and stereotypes that hinder the objectification of historical narratives and, consequently, the formation of appropriate commemorative practices. In the context of the ongoing hybrid war waged by Ukraine’s north-eastern neighbor, these tasks have acquired the significance of national security.