THE ROLE OF PETRO BUBELA IN THE GENESIS OF UKRAINIAN-HUNGARIAN RELATION IN 1918 – 1919

Abstract

This article discusses the role of Petro Bubela in the emergence and development of relations between the Western Ukrainian People's Republic (WUPR) and Hungary in 1918 – 1919. After the collapse of the Habsburg Empire and the formation of new nation-states in Central and Eastern Europe, the problem of forming a new international relations system became acute. The genesis of Ukrainian-Hungarian interstate relations was important for both countries and the political situation in the region. Based on the analysis of archival materials and memoirs, the authors analyzed the stages of development of these relations. They concluded that the main problem for both sides was the issue of political affiliation in Transcarpathia. However, this issue was postponed due to the Polish-Ukrainian War of 1918 – 1919 and Budapest's military conflicts with its neighbors. The parties focused on economic and military cooperation. It was found out that аtaman Petro Bubela, who at that time was the Deputy Secretary of State for Military Affairs in the Western Region of the Ukrainian People's Republic (WRUPR) and was involved in the logistics and technical support of the Galician Army (GA) with military equipment, weapons, medicines and various goods for the needs of the army, was in contact with Hungary on these issues. It was found that Petro Bubela established relations with a representative of the Hungarian Soviet Republic (HSR), who arrived in Stanislaviv in 1919 thanks to the government of the Western Region Ukrainian People's Republic, signed a trade agreement with Hungary. It was installed that Petro Bubela personally corresponded with Kuhn Bela, the National Commissioner for Foreign Affairs of the Hungarian Soviet Republic (HSR). It was noted that one of the reasons for Petro Bubela's retirement from the position of Deputy Secretary in Military Affairs of the Western Region Ukrainian People's Republic in June 1919, as he claimed himself, it was the existence of links with Soviet Hungary's representative. Thus, we believe that the topic of Ukrainian-Hungarian relations in 1918 – 1919, the participation in their establishment of certain prominent representatives in the Western Region Ukrainian People's Republic (WRUPR), such as, in particular, Petro Bubela is the prospect and requires further researches.