This section presents the most important historical figures who fought for the integrity of Ukraine, defending the ideals of independence, political self-determination, and national freedom. Each biography includes key facts, achievements, and the role of these leaders in the creation of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UPR) and in the wider socio-political processes of their time.
Heorhiy Narbut
Heorhiy (Yurii) Ivanovych Narbut (February 25 [March 9], 1886 – May 23, 1920) was a Ukrainian graphic artist, illustrator, and designer He was the author of the first Ukrainian state banknotes...
Dmytro Dontsov
Early Life and Education Dmytro Ivanovych Dontsov (August 30, 1883, Melitopol – March 30, 1973, Canada) was a Ukrainian literary critic, publicist, political thinker, and the founder of the...
Oleksandr Oles
Early Life and Education Oleksandr Oles (real name: Oleksandr Kandyba) was a Ukrainian poet, prose writer, essayist, translator, and one of the first authors of modern Ukrainian prose and...
Stepan Bandera
Early Life and Education Stepan Bandera was born on January 1, 1909 in Staryi Uhryniv, Halychyna (today Ivano-Frankivsk region) into a Greek Catholic priest’s family His surname, of...
Yevhen Konovalets
Early Life and Education Yevhen Konovalets (June 14, 1891 – May 23, 1938) was a prominent Ukrainian political leader, nationalist, and the first head of the Organization of Ukrainian...
Pavlo Skoropadskyi
Early Life Pavlo Skoropadskyi was born on May 3, 1873 in the village of Skoropady, Cherkasy region, into a noble Ukrainian family He studied in Odesa and St Petersburg military schools Later, he...
Symon Petliura
Early Life Symon Petliura (May 10, 1879 – May 25, 1926) was a Ukrainian political and military leader, head of the Ukrainian People’s Republic (UPR), and one of the key figures of the national...
Volodymyr Vynnychenko
Early Life and Education Volodymyr Vynnychenko (March 28, 1880 – March 6, 1951) was a Ukrainian writer, journalist, politician, and one of the key leaders of the national movement He was born...
Mykhailo Hrushevsky
Early Life and Education Mykhailo Hrushevsky (1866–1934) was a prominent Ukrainian historian, politician, writer, and public figure, often called the “father of Ukrainian history” He was...