Hridina A. Memoirs as a Source for Studying Society during the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–1921

The dissertation clarifies the significance of memoirs for understanding society during the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–1921. These memoirs contain descriptions of political institutions, legislative activities, the course of revolutionary events, combat encounters, and assessments of prominent figures. The memoirs reflect the intensification of the Ukrainian national movement during the revolutionary upsurge. The research identifies the source potential of memoirs regarding the material conditions of daily life in the context of an unstable military-political situation. Due to the inability of the authorities to provide the population with necessities, society found itself on the brink of a humanitarian catastrophe. The memoirists document the socio-economic hardships throughout the Ukrainian Revolution, with particular intensification during the periods of Bolshevik presence. The potential of memoirs in studying the state of culture and spirituality in society during the revolutionary era is determined. The memoirists testify that, despite material and organizational difficulties, Ukrainian figures continued to create and preserve cultural heritage, which suffered significant losses during the revolution. The level of coverage of religious life during the Ukrainian Revolution is outlined, the activities of religious and church leaders are analyzed, and the issue of Ukrainian autocephaly is raised. It is established that memoir sources, written in a personal form, can provide a deeper understanding of the revolutionary era. The memoirs reflect an individual perspective on the revolutionary struggle, which often differed from the established version of history. Despite their subjectivity and certain fragmentariness, the collection of memoirs from contemporaries of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–1921 allows for a more comprehensive understanding of society at that time. At the same time, given the high level of subjectivity in memoirs, they must be subjected to critical analysis and considered in conjunction with other types of sources.