The Kholodnyi Yar events of the Ukrainian Revolution (1917–1921) in the materials of regional academic conferences

Abstract

Abstract. The purpose of the article, grounded in a preliminary historiographical analysis, is to draw scholarly attention to the issue of the Kholodnyi Yar events during the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–1921. The research simultaneously embraces the historical context of the Kholodnyi Yar Uprising of 1918–1922, its unique source base–particularly original materials from local history museums–and, most importantly, numerous publications that, due to the general neglect of local history, have rarely been incorporated into comprehensive historical syntheses.  Scientific novelty. For the first time, this article analyzes materials from regional academic forums (conferences, symposia, round tables, seminars) of recent decades devoted to the Kholodnyi Yar events of the revolutionary period, taking into account their specific characteristics. A portion of this scholarly and local history work, as well as contributions from «patriotically minded» publicists, is valuable for presenting original museum sources, including those that have entered collections only relatively recently. Conclusions. The relevance of such a study is evident, as previously developed aspects of local history have largely remained unknown to a broader circle of researchers. In many cases, the dissemination of published papers and abstracts was limited to the participants of those academic gatherings. Consequently, the continued peripheral status of this knowledge and the insufficient integration of these materials into scholarly discourse perpetuate the sad tradition of communist-era neglect and ideological suppression of the Kholodnyi Yar movement. In other words, the revival of Cossack traditions on a national foundation–symbolized by Kholodnyi Yar during the revolutionary era–proved so «ideologically inconvenient» for politicians and historians that the echoes of such rejection are still felt today. Surprisingly, even after 1991, this stereotypical perception persisted among many officials and adherents of Clio. The need for more comprehensive scholarly syntheses is further motivated by the necessity to counter entrenched myths and stereotypes that hinder the objectivity of historical narratives and the development of appropriate commemorative practices. In the context of the ongoing hybrid war waged by Ukraine’s northeastern neighbor, these tasks have acquired the status of a matter of national security.