The Bolshevik Model of Ukrainian Statehood: an Attempt to Implement in 1919

The article considers the process of establishing Soviet power in Ukraine in 1919. The political principles of the Ukrainian Socialist Soviet Republic (USSR) as a variant of the Bolshevik model of statehood are analyzed. It is substantiated that the political system of the Russian Socialist Federal Soviet Republic (RSFSR) was taken as a model. The power structure was headed by the Provisional Workers and Peasants Government of Ukraine, which exercised the powers not only of the central governing body, but was also the highest legislative body of state power. All its activities were directed and controlled by the TsK RKP(b), the Radnarkom of the RSFSR, and the TsK KP(b)U. The most common form of Soviet power on the ground were revolutionary committees. The Revolutionary Committees carried out all current work on the places: organizing kombidy and komnezamy, seeking to implement prodrozverstki plans, conducting an election campaign, etc. A characteristic feature of the Bolshevik political system was the establishment of an absolute monopoly on state power – all the People’s Commissars of the USSR represented only one ruling party. Ukrainian left-wing socialist parties have been denied a request to include their representatives in the government. Another characteristic feature of the Bolshevik political system in Ukraine was its foreign non-Ukrainian character – in the leading party and government bodies of the republic several times the majority were representatives of other nationalities. Based on the analysis of Bolshevik documents, it is proved that the Central Committee of the RKP(B) steadfastly sought the complete elimination of the sovereignty of the USSR and its unification with the RSFSR. During the spring and summer of 1919, a number of measures were taken to unite the two republics. However, the formal unification of Ukraine with Russia was hampered by the forces of Denikin.