- Council of People's Ministers
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The Council of People's Ministers was the main executive institution of the Ukrainian People's Republic. It was reorganized out of the General Secretariat of Ukraine upon the proclamation of the 4th Universal and Independence on January 25, 1918. As the General Secretariat it is a preceding government institution to the today's Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine. The members of the former secretariat did not change at least right away, but rather were renamed as ministers, while the chancellor became a secretary. The first Chairman of the council (Prime Minister) became Volodymyr Vynnychenko.
Scope
The composition of the council was determined by agreement among the major parties (coalition) and confirming by the plenum of Central Rada. The list of proposed members was petitioned by the chairman of the Central Rada.
Vynnychenko's Cabinet (January 25-30, 1918)
The former members of secretariat continued to serve now as ministers. The major changes was no introduction of the Ministry of Agrarian Affairs and the former secretary of Food Supply Kovalevsky was replaced by Dmytro Koliukh (unaffiliated). Also the Commissioner to the Russian Government was abandoned as well.
Ministry/Position Name Party Remarks Secretary Ivan Mirny unaffiliated Internal Affairs (chairman) Volodymyr Vynnychenko USDRP three deputies Finance Vasyl Mazurenko USDRP (acting) Foreign Affairs Oleksandr Shulhyn UPSF Education Ivan Steshenko UPSI Deputy Petro Kholodny (UPSF) Controller Aleksandr Zolotarev Jewish Bund Military Affairs Mykola Porsh USDRP Deputy Oleksandr Zhukovsky (UPSR) Naval Affairs Dmytro Antonovych USDRP Food Supply Dmytro Koliukh unaffiliated Post and Telegraph Mykyta Shapoval UPSR Trade and Industry Vsevolod Holubovych UPSR Justice Mykhailo Tkachenko USDRP Transport Vadym Yeshchenko UPSI Russian Affairs D.Odinets RRNSP Polish Affairs Mieczysław Mickiewicz PDCP Jewish Affairs Moishe Zilberfarb Fareynikte Deputy-Chairman: Ivan Kraskovsky (UPSF), Oleksandr Karpynsk, and L.Abramovych.
The initial coalition was composed Esdeks, SRs, Federalists, and national minorities, however by the end of January a crisis has developed between Esdeks and SRs as the Bolshevik forces of the Soviet Russia were quickly advancing towards Kiev, while the Kiev Bolshevik faction instigated another disorder. Rada issued a note of non-confidence in Vynnechenko's government forcing him to resign on January 30, 1918.
Cabinet of Holubovych (January 31 - April 29, 1918)
A new cabinet was composed mostly out of members of the Socialist-Revolutionary party headed by its leader Vsevolod Holubovych. Along with it a special commission was organized to the Brest-Litovsk negotiations. Holubovych's government existed for about three months. One of the major changes to the cabinet was reappointment of the Minister of Military Affairs, with which Mykola Porsh had a lot of trouble.
Ministry/Position Name Party February Replacement Internal Affairs Pavlo Khrystiuk UPSR Mykhailo Tkachenko (USDRP) Finance Stepan Perepelytsia unaffiliated Petro Klymovych (unaffiliated) Foreign Affairs (chairman) Vsevolod Holubovych UPSR Mykola Liubynsky (UPSR) Education Nykyfor Hryhoriiv UPSR Vyacheslav Prokopovych (UPSF) Military Affairs Ivan Nemolovsky UPSR O.Zhukovsky (UPSR) Naval Affairs Dmytro Antonovych USDRP discontinued Food Supply Mykola Kovalevsky UPSR Dmytro Koliukh (unaffiliated) Post and Telegraph Hryhoriy Sydorenko unaffiliated Agrarian Affairs Arystarkh Ternychenko unaffiliated Mykola Kovalevsky (UPSR) Justice Mykhailo Tkachenko USDRP Serhiy Shelukhin (UPSF) Transport Yevhen Sokovych unaffiliated Labor Leonid Mykhailiv (USDRP) Trade and Industry Ivan Feshchenko-Chopivsky (UPSF) Controller Oleksandr Lototsky (UPSF) Secretary Pavlo Khrystiuk (UPSR) Right before the coup d'état (April 29) all members of the Ukrainian Party of Socialists-Federalists left the council.
On April 29 the Central Rada finally adopted its Constitution. In it the Council of People's Ministers was defined as the supreme executive power of the republic. The council was to be formed by the president of the National Assembly in consultation with Council of Starshyna and confirmed by the assembly. The members of the Council of People's Ministers were responsible individually and collectively to the National Assembly.
Council of Ministers (1918)
Hetmanate
On April 29, 1918, what is believed to be as, an anti-socialist coup d'état brought to power a conservative in his political views former Russian General, a well-respected military specialist throughout the region, an elected Hetman of the Free Cossacks Association, Pavlo Skoropadsky. The Congress of the All-Ukrainian Union of Landowners the same day proclaimed him as the Hetman of Ukraine. A well organized coup was supported by the German Armed forces Command that was stationed in the Kiev-city. The historical evaluation of the Skoropadsky's regime that lasted less than year still requires a substantial analysis and a balanced approach. Nonetheless some important milestones in the Ukrainian State Affairs were reached during that period of time.
MANIFESTO TO THE ENTIRE UKRAINIAN NATION
Citizens of Ukraine!
…The rights of a private property as the basis of culture and civilization are to be restored completely, all the directives of the former Ukrainian government as well as the Provisional Russian government are abolished and annulled… On the financial and economic field will be restored the full liberty of trade and will be opened a wide space for the individual entrepreneurship and initiative…
The same day Skoropadsky issued couple edicts: Manifesto to the Entire Ukrainian Nation (author Aleksandr Paltov) and Laws concerning the Provisional State System in Ukraine. Both of those documents became a provisional constitution of the new government. All laws and reforms provided by the Central Rada and the Council of People's Ministers were abolished. All legislative and executive powers were transferred to the hetman who also was recognized as the Commander-in-Chief of the National Armed Forces. The mentioned edicts provided the Council of Ministers with the legislative and executive functions, members of which were appointed by the hetman and solely responsible to him. All decrees and orders of the hetman had to be countersigned by a otaman-minister (prime-minister) or another appropriate minister, while the hetman was to ratify all decision of the council. Civil rights were to be guaranteed within the limits of the law. A supreme court was to be created with the hetman retaining the authority to commute sentences. The name of the country was changed to the Ukrainian State (Ukrainian: Українська Держава).
Vasylenko Government (April 30 - May 4, 1918)
Initially Mykola Sakhno-Ustymovych was appointed as the acting Prime-Minister, the very next day (April 30) was replaced with another Ukrainian statesman Mykola Vasylenko (Kadet) who went onto a compromise with some socialists composing the government out of moderate Ukrainian parties among which were the Ukrainian Party of Socialist-Federalists (UPSF). However UPSF did not seek to cooperate with the conservative regime of Skoropadsky and was boycotting the sessions of the council. Vasylenko who was acting Otaman-minister could not fully organize the cabinet and performed several ministerial roles as a result of that. In less than a week later his attempt was scratched as well.
Ministry/Position Name Party Remarks Internal Affairs Oleksandr Vyshnevsky (acting) Finance Anton Rzhepetsky Kadet Foreign Affairs (chairman) Mykola Vasylenko Kadet also Minister of Confessions Naval Affairs M.Maksymov Food Supply Yuriy Sokolovsky Health Security Vsevolod Liubynsky Justice Mykhailo Chubynsky Kadet Transport Boris Butenko Labor Yuliy Vagner Trade Sergei Gutnik Kadet (real name Izrail Mikhelov) State Secretary Gizhytskiy On May 4 the council was replaced with the Government of Lyzohub.
First Cabinet of Lyzohub (May 4 - October 25, 1918)
On May 4 the Otaman-minister Fedir Lyzohub finally was able to compose a working government. During summer some changes were made to the original cabinet. Lyzohub's government lasted for over half a year and was one of the longest existing governments in the revolutionary period. It resigned with the start of the Ukrainian civil war and replaced by the government of Grebel.
Ministry/Position Name Party Replacements Internal Affairs (chairman) Fedir Lyzohub Octobrist Ihor Kistiakovsky Finance Anton Rzhepetsky Kadet Foreign Affairs Dmytro Doroshenko UPSF Education Mykola Vasylenko Kadet Military Affairs General Rogoza Naval Affairs M.Maksymov (temporary acting) Food Supply Yuriy Sokolovsky Sergei Gerbel Confessions Vasiliy Zenkovskiy Agrarian Affairs Vasiliy Kolokoltsev Justice Mykhailo Chubynsky Kadet A.Romanov Transport Boris Butenko Labor Yuliy Vagner Health Security Vsevolod Liubynsky Controller Yuriy Afanasyev Secretary Ihor Kistiakovsky S.Zavadsky Second Cabinet of Lyzohub (October 25 - November 14, 1918)
Pressure from the Ukrainian National Union (UNU) (Battle at Motovylivka) and witnessing that Central Powers were losing ground (Bulgaria armistice Sep.29, Ottoman Empire - Oct.30) forced the Skoropadsky's regime to start negotiations to broaden his base of support. The Union demanded eight ministerial portfolios, the convocation of a diet, end of censorship and restriction on freedom of speech. Although no compromise was found, five members of the Union agreed to join the Council of Ministers on October 25.
Ministry/Position Name Party Remarks Internal Affairs Victor Reinbot (temporary) Finance Anton Rzhepetsky Kadet Foreign Affairs Dmytro Doroshenko UPSF Education Petro Stebnytsky UNU (UPSF) Military Affairs General Rogoza Food Supply Sergei Gerbel Confessions Oleksandr Lototsky UNU (UPSF) Agrarian Affairs Volodymyr Leontovych UNU (unaffiliated) Justice Andriy Vyazlov UNU (UPSF) Transport Boris Butenko Labor Maksym Slavinsky UNU (UPSF) Health Security Vsevolod Liubynsky Trade and Industry Sergei Mering Controller S.Petrov Secretary S.Zavadsky Gerbel's Cabinet (November 14 - December 14, 1918)
The final capitulation of the Central Powers on November 11, 1918 and withdrawal of the German-Austrian contingent from the territory of Ukraine forced Skopropadsky dramatically change his policy and on November 14, 1918 he proclaimed a federal union with the forces of non-Bolshevik Russia (Russian Republic). Fedir Lyzohub resigned from the government and the council was reorganized under the former minister of food supply Sergei Gerbel. The federation with Russian triggered a full-scale uprising which turned into a month long warfare led by the Directorate of Ukraine.
Ministry/Position Name Party Remarks Internal Affairs Ihor Kistiakovsky Finance Anton Rzhepetsky Kadet Foreign Affairs Yuriy Afanasyev Education and Arts Volodymyr Naumenko UPSF Military Affairs D.Shchutsky Naval Affairs Admiral Pokrovsky Captain Bilysnky Nov.26 Food Supply G.Glinka Confessions Mikhail Voronovich UL Agrarian Affairs (chairman) Sergei Gerbel Justice Victor Reinbot Transport V.Laindeberg Labor Volodymyr Kosynsky Health Security Vsevolod Liubynsky Trade and Industry Sergei Mering Controller S.Petrov On December 14, 1918 the Council of Ministers surrendered its powers and Skoropadsky abdicated. Several ministers were arrested, while Skoropadsky fled to Germany.
Chekhivsky's Cabinet (December 26, 1918 - February 13, 1919)
Between December 15 - 25 there was a stand off between the Revolutionary Committee in Kiev and the Temporary Council of State Affairs (TRZDS) in Vinnytsia. It took couple of weeks before the new government was formed on December 26. The head of the new cabinet became Volodymyr Chekhivsky. Chekhivsky's government together with the government of Ostapenko altogether lasted for two and a half months. During this period the Ukrainian national forces were almost completely eliminated controlling a miser territory near Rivne–Brody. Both of the governments had also to deal with a series of military revolts against them and were unable to control the situation in the country. They were finally replaced with the Martos-Mazepa government that throughout summer of 1919 were in control of the Podillia territory near Kamyanets.
Ministry/Position Name Party Remarks Secretary I.Snizhko Mykhailo Korchynsky (UPSF) Internal Affairs Oleksandr Mytsiuk UPSR Finance Vasyl Mazurenko USDRP Foreign Affairs (chairman) Volodymyr Chekhivsky USDRP Education Petro Kholodny UPSF Ivan Ohiienko (UPSF) Controller Dmytro Symoniv UPSI Defense General Osetsky General Hrekov Naval Affairs Admiral Bilynsky Food Supply Borys Martos USDRP Post and Telegraph I.Shtefan UPSR Trade and Industry Serhiy Ostapenko UPSR Justice Serhiy Shelukhin UPSF Transport Pylyp Pylypchuk UNRP Agrarian Affairs Mykyta Shapoval UPSR Religious Confessions Ivan Lypa UPSI Arts Dmytro Antonovych USDRP Health Security Borys Matiushenko USDRP Labor Leonid Mykhailiv USDRP Press and Propaganda Osyp Nazaruk UPSR Jewish Affairs Abraham Revutsky Poale Zion During this time the Ukrainian nationalists were losing their war against Bolshevik Russia and their puppet-state Ukrainian SSR. On February 5, 1919 the Ukrainian government was forced out of Kiev once again and relocated to Vinnytsia. On February 13 a new government, consisting of non-socialist members, was formed in order to convince the representatives of the Entente to provide some military support in the fight with Bolsheviks. The same day Volodymyr Vynnychenko resigned from the Directorate of Ukraine and emigrated abroad.
Ostapenko's Cabinet (February 13 - April 9, 1919)
The head of the new cabinet became Serhiy Ostapenko who quit the Ukrainian Party of Socialist Revolutionaries. Along with him left the SR party Osyp Nazaruk.
Ministry/Position Name Party Remarks Secretary Mykhailo Korchynsky UPSF Internal Affairs H.Chyzhevsky UNRP Finance Mykhailo Kryvetsky UPSI Foreign Affairs Kost Matsiyevych UPSF Education Ivan Ohiienko UPSF Controller Dmytro Symoniv UPSI Defense Oleksandr Shapoval UPSI Naval Affairs Admiral Bilynsky National Economy Ivan Feshchenko-Chopivsky UPSF Deputy Premier Justice Dmytro Markovych Transport Pylyp Pylypchuk UNRP Agrarian Affairs Yevhen Arkhypenko UNRP Religious Confessions Ivan Lypa UPSI Health Security Ovksentsiy Korchak-Chepurkivsky Press and Propaganda Osyp Nazaruk The unsuccessful dialogue with the representatives of the Entente led to dismissal of the Ostapenko's Cabinet.
See also
- People's Secretariat
References
- ^ Decree of Hetman Skoropadsky (Ukrainian)
External links
- Encyclopedia of Ukraine (English)
Bibliography
- Khrystiuk, P. Zamitky i materiially do istoriï ukraïns’koï revoliutsiï 1917–1920 rr., vol 2 (Notes and materials to the history of the Ukrainian Revolution 1917-1920, vol.2)(Vienna 1921, New York 1969)
- Doroshenko, D. Istoriia Ukraïny 1917–1923 rr., vol 1: Doba Tsentral’noï Rady (History of Ukraine 1917-1923, vol.1: Times of the Central Council) (Uzhhorod 1932, New York 1954)
- Pidhainy, O. The Formation of the Ukrainian Republic (Toronto–New York 1966)
- Zozulia, Ia. (ed). Velyka Ukraïns’ka revoliutsiia: Kalendar istorychnykh podii za liutyi 1917 roku–berezen’ 1918 roku (The Great Ukrainian Revolution: Calendar of historic activities from February 1917 to March 1918) (New York 1967)
- Reshetar Jr, J. The Ukrainian Revolution, 1917–1920: A Study in Nationalism (Princeton 1952, New York 1972)
- Hunczak, T. (ed). The Ukraine, 1917–1921: A Study in Revolution (Cambridge, Mass 1977)
- Verstiuk, V. (ed.) Ukraïns’ka Tsentral’na Rada: dokumenty i materiially v dvokh tomakh (The Ukrainian Central Council: documents and materials in two volumes) (Kiev 1996–7)
- Hunczak, T. The Ukraine, 1917-1921: A Study in Revolution. Cambridge, MA, 1977.
All Cabinets of Ukraine* Ukrainian People's Republic
(1917–1920)General Secretariat (1917) • Holubovych Government (1918) • Vasylenko Government (1918) • Lyzohub Government (1918) • Gerbel Government (1918) • Chekhivsky Government (1919) • Ostapenko Government (1919) • Martos Government (1919) • Mazepa Government (1920) • Prokopovych Government (1920) • Livytskyi Government (1920)
Ukrainian SSR
(1917–1991)Artem Government (1917-1918) • Council of People's Secretaries (1917-1918) • Provisional Workers-Peasants Government of Ukraine (1918-1919) • All-Ukrainian Revolutionary Committee (1919-1920) • Council of People's Commissars (1919-1946) • Khrushchev Government (1944-1947) • Second Korotchenko Government (1948-1954) • First Kalchenko Government (1954-1957) • Second Kalchenko Government (1957-1961) • First Shcherbytsky Government (1961-1963) • Kazanets Government (1963-1965) • Second Shcherbytsky Government (1965-1968) • Third Shcherbytsky Government (1968-1972) • First Lyashko Government (1972-1976) • Second Lyashko Government (1976-1981) • Third Lyashko Government (1981-1986) • First Masol Government (1987-1990)
Ukraine
(1991-Present)Fokin Government (1990-1992) • Kuchma Government (1992-1993) • Second Masol Government (1994-1995) • Marchuk Government (1995-1996) • Lazarenko Government (1996-1997) • Pustovoitenko Government (1997-1999) • Yushchenko Government (1999-2001) • Kinakh Government (2001-2002) • First Yanukovych Government (2002-2004) • First Tymoshenko Government (2005) • Yekhanurov Government (2005-2006) • Alliance of National Unity (2006-2007) • Second Tymoshenko Government (2007-2010) • Azarov Government (2010-present)
- Acting cabinets not included
Categories:- History of Kiev
- History of Ukraine
- Government of Ukraine
- National cabinets
- Cabinets of Ukraine
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