The events of the Battle of Kruty occupy a special place in the history of the Ukrainian Revolution of 1917–1921 and are one of the symbols of Ukrainian resistance. Their understanding and popularisation are important for the formation of national historical memory.
The relevance of events that took place a century ago, in particular the Battle of Kruty, is reflected in the history of contemporary events in the Russian-Ukrainian war. On 28 January, the Municipal Institution ‘Administration of the State Historical and Architectural Reserve in Sviatohirsk’ organised and held a round table for cultural workers from Donetsk and Vinnytsia regions entitled ‘Kruty: a historical phenomenon of Ukrainian resistance’.
During the round table, participants considered the historical context of the events leading up to the Battle of Kruty, analysed the political and military circumstances of early 1918, addressed the human dimension of this event by reflecting on the personalities and motivations of those who took part in the battle, and focused on the significance of Kruty as a symbol of Ukrainian resistance, sacrifice and national dignity, which remains relevant in the current struggle for Ukraine's independence.
The speakers at the event were Oleksandr Fedoryshyn, historian and director of the Vinnytsia Museum; Yurii Legun, Doctor of Historical Sciences, director of the State Archives of the Vinnytsia Region; and Kyrylo Melekestsev, Candidate of Historical Sciences, associate professor at Vasyl Stus Donetsk National University.
At the end of the round table, participants discussed ways to popularise the history of the Battle of Kruty through cultural and educational initiatives. The event became an important platform for exchanging experiences and jointly reflecting on the events at Kruty as an integral part of Ukrainian history.