Yurii Tiutiunnyk

Yuri Tiutiunnyk ( _uk. Юрій Тютюнник) (April 20, 1891 in Budyshcha, Pendivsky uyezd, Kyiv Gubernia, currently Zvenyhorodsky Raion, Cherkasy Oblast, Ukraine - October 20, 1930 in Moscow) was a Ukrainian military commander of Ukrainian People's Republic (UNR) during the during the Ukrainian-Soviet War [http://encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkPath=pagesTITiutiunnykYurii.htm Yuri Tiutiunnyk] at the Encyclopedia of Ukraine ] .

Early Years

Yuri Tiutiunnyk was born on April 20, 1891, to a peasant family in the village of Budyshche, near Kyiv [ [http://www.vechirka.com.ua/history/xxcen/0404132806.php Героїка двадцятих. Людина — проблема ] ] . He was the grandson of Taras Shevchenko's sister. Only 5 of 9 children in his family reached adulthood. Tiutiunnyk finished primary education at the village school. He was married, and had two daughters.

Military Service

Early World War I

With the outbreak of World War I, Tiutiunnyk was drafted into the Imperial Russian Army and served in the 6th Siberian battalion in Vladivostok. He was injured during the Battle of Lodz, in Poland. However, Tiutiunnyk continued to read, especially military strategy, and quickly rose through the ranks. He was offered command of the 6th batallion, and was sent to Kyiv for further military studies.After a second injury, Tiutiunnyk was sent to Simferopol, where he joined the 32nd auxiliary battalion.

Revolution

With the coming of the February Revolution, Tiutiunnyk's military acumen caught the attention of Alexander Kerensky, who was in Crimea at the time. Kerensky offered Tiutiunnyk command of the Odessa Headquarters, however Tiutiunnyk did not place much faith in the future of the Provisional Government, and declined the post.

Tiutiunnyk left for Kyiv, where he became a member of the Central Rada and the chairman of the "Kiev Revolutionary Committee", preparing the uprising against the Hetmanate. It was interesting that Tiutiunnyk did not support any political party.

In the Autumn of 1917, Tiutiunnyk organized a unit of "Free Kozaks", and became its leader. After the fall of Kyiv to Communist forces in 1918, Tiutiunnyk increased the size of the Unit to 20 thousand. During the next year, Tiutiunnyk exerted influence throughout central Ukraine - from Kiev to Kherson.

In 1919, Tiutiunnyk merged his force with that of Matviy Hryhoryev. Hryhoryev became the Commander in Chief while Tiutiunnyk became the Chief of Staff. The combined force was formidable, numbering in over 23,000 soldiers, 52 cannon, and 20 armoured trains. The force cooperated through various battles, including with and against Bolshevik forces, against Entente forces and the White Army.

By the end of 1919, however, Tiutiunnyk had decided that Bolshevik aims at Ukraine were not beneficial, and took part in the First Winter Campaign - which lasted into 1920.

Tiutiunnyk remained undaunted by the failure of the campaign, and was preparing plans for a Second Winter Campaign. This campaign took place in 1921, and ended in failure. The unit was overrun, and over 300 soldiers were executed by the Red Guard.

Later Life and Execution

In 1923 he returned to Soviet Ukraine where he lectured at the "Kharkiv Red Officer School" and wrote movie scripts for the "All-Ukrainian Photo-Cinema Administration" .

Tiutiunnyk was offered a position in the Military academy in Kharkiv, and accepted. He wote a numer of film scenarios and played himself in an anti-Petlurist propaganda film.

On February 12, 1929, he was arrested in Kharkiv, and deported to Moscow where he was put on trial. On december 3 1929 he was found guilty of anti-soviet agitation and sentenced to death.

On October 30, 1930, he was executed by firing squad.

Tiutiunnyk in popular culture

Through playing himself in various art films Tiutiunnyk created an image of a dashing revolutionary in Ukrainian popular culture. This was captured in verse by writer Ivan Bahriannyj and set to music by Hryhory Kytasty..The song "Pisnya Pro Tiutiunnyka" (Ukrainian: Пісня про Тютюнника; song about Tiutiunnyk) describes a popular image of his forces rushing to Ukraine from Siberia to help the Petlura government of the Ukrainian National Republic in 1919.

References