Ukraine has suffered from 3 major famines in the 20th century: 1921-1923, the Holodomor of 1932-1933 and the post-war famine of 1946-1947. And while the first and last did have environmental factors that contributed to the famine, it was the policies of the Bolsheviks and Soviets that led to the death of millions of people, who could have lived if it weren't for their ruthless and stupid agricultural policies. Find out about how did these famines start, how many were affected and how it effected the Ukrainians in this latest episode of Wandering the Edge.

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• Timothy Snyder, Bloodlands (2012)

• Orest Subtelny, Ukraine: A History (2009)

• Michael Ellman, "The 1947 Soviet Famine and the Entitlement Approach to Famines" in Cambridge Journal of Economics (2000)

• Nicholas Ganson, The Soviet Famine of 1946-47 in Global and Historical Perspective (2009)

• Roman Serbyn, "The First Man-Made Famine in Soviet Ukraine, 1921-1923" in The Ukrainian Weekly (1988)

• O. Rudnytskyi, S. Kulchytskyi, O. Gladun & N. Kulyk, "The 1921-1923 Famine and the Holodomor of 1932-1933 in Ukraine: Common and Distinctive Features" in Nationalities Papers (2020)

• Wasyl Veryha, A Case Study of Genocide in the Ukrainian Famine of 1921-1923 (2007)

• Andrea Garziosi, "The Great Famine of 1932-1933: Consequences and Implications" in Harvard Ukrainian Studies (2001)

• O. Veselova, M. Olynyk & A. Wynnychkyi, "Famine in Ukraine after the Second World War" in Harvard Ukrainian Studies (2008)

• Kazuo Nakai, "Soviet Agricultural Policies in the Ukraine and the 1921-1922 Famine" in Harvard Ukrainian Studies (1982)

• S. Kulchytskyi, M. Olynyk & A. Wynnyckyj, "The Holodomor and Its Consequences in the Ukrainian Countryside" in Harvard Ukrainian Studies (2008)

Ivan Kotliarevsky (1769-1838) was the first modern Ukrainian writer who wrote in actual Ukrainian. His parody "Eneida" followed some rowdy Ukrainian Cossacks on their journey to/from Troy. His other works included the great play - "Natalka Poltavka", which was the last play performed at the Kyiv Opera Theatre before the 2022 invasion. Kotliarevsky was also a military veteran and even mobilized his fellow Ukrainians against Napoleon in 1812! How did he influence Ukrainian literary history? Why was he so cool and such a great party guest? Find out in this episode of Wandering the Edge!

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• Ivan Kotliarevsky, Aeneid (2004)

• Marko Pavlyshyn, "The Rhetoric and Politics of Kotliarevsky's Eneida" in Journal of Ukrainian Studies (1985)

• O. Nikolenko & O. Kyrylchuk, "Tradytsij Evropejskoii Melodramy u Piesi I.P. Kotliarevskoho 'Natalka Poltavka'" in Filolohichni Nauky (2020)

• Bohdan Rubchak, "Because We Have No Time: Recent Ukrainian Poetry" in Agni (1991)

• Serhy Yekelchyk, "The Nation's Clothes: Constructing a Ukrainian High Culture in the Russian Empire, 1860-1900" in Juhrbucher fur Geschichte Osteuropas (2001)

• M.I. Stepanenko, I.H. Pavlova, S.O. Pedchenko, "Movna Osobystist Ivana Kotliarevskoho: Vid Rymacha-Pochatkivtsia do Zachynatelia Novoii Ukrainskoii Literaturnoii Movy" in Ukrainska Mova (2019)

The Kholodny Yar area of Ukraine is a beautiful ancient forest filled with whimsy - but also a long history of rebellion and insurrection. From the 1700s with the Haidamak brigands to the early 20th century insurgents who first used the term "Glory to Ukraine" - this was the region of folk heroes, successful insurgent armies and severe repercussions. Find out more about this region and its link to the modern Ukrainian Armed Forces in this episode of Wandering the Edge!

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• "Povstannia u Lukianivksyj Tiurmi: Yak Vidbuvsia Ostanniy Biy Otamaniv Kholodnoho Yaru" in Espreso TV (Online), (2020)

• Christine Chraibi, "A Short History of the Ukrainian Greeting 'Slava Ukrayini!'" in Euromaidan Press (2016)

• Roman Koval, "Nacherk do Istorii Kholodnoyarskoii Orhanizatsii 1917-1922 rokiv" in Kholodny Yar (2013)

• Mykhailo Doroshenko, Stezhkamy Kholonoyarskymy (1973)

Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky was a powerful figure in Ukrainian history and an influence in European politics in the second half of the 1600's. His most controversial act was signing an agreement with the Russian Tsar, the consequences of which have reverberated into modern Ukraine. His legacy is also shadowed by Cossack actions against the Jews and the Catholics. How has Khmelnytsky been remembered throughout the centuries and what has been his impact and influence on Ukrainian history? Find out in this latest episode of Wandering the Edge!

Photo Credit: Eugene Chystiakov

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• M. Hrushevsky, Istoria Ukrainy (Vol. VIII), (1922)

• Amelia M. Glaser (ed.), Stories of Khmelnytsky (2015)

• Frank Sysyn, "Seventeenth Century Views on the Causes of the Khmelnytskyi Uprising: An Examination of the 'Discourse on the Present Cossack or Peasant War'" in Harvard Ukrainian Studies (1981)

• Frank Sysyn, "A Contemporary's Account of the Causes of the Khmelnytskyi Uprising" in Harvard Ukrainian Studies (1981)

• Orest Subtelny, Ukraine: A History (2009)

Bohdan Khmelnytsky (1595-1657) could have been a minor Cossack noble and a small footnote in Ukrainian history until some soap opera level drama shook his life and at the age of 50 he led an uprising that would shake the entire Eastern European political and military landscape. What were his motivations and why did the other Cossacks follow his lead (and elect him Hetman)? And what were the reactions from those kingdoms and empires around the Cossacks? Find out in this episode of Wandering the Edge!

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• M. Hrushevsky, Istoria Ukrainy (Vol. VIII), (1922)

• Amelia M. Glaser (ed.), Stories of Khmelnytsky (2015)

• Frank Sysyn, "Seventeenth Century Views on the Causes of the Khmelnytskyi Uprising: An Examination of the 'Discourse on the Present Cossack or Peasant War'" in Harvard Ukrainian Studies (1981)

• Frank Sysyn, "A Contemporary's Account of the Causes of the Khmelnytskyi Uprising" in Harvard Ukrainian Studies (1981)

• Orest Subtelny, Ukraine: A History (2009)

In this interview with journalist and activist Julian Hayda, we discuss the Ukrainian funerary customs and traditions - those Ukrainians observe in Ukraine and abroad. We talk about how these customs evolved, what exactly do Ukrainians do during a funeral and the importance of certain songs and customs to soothe our grief.

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For more episodes, sources and extras, please visit: wanderingtheedge.net

Sviatoslav was the son of a warrior king and a smart queen who loved a good fight (or war) but not so much the actual ruling bit of being a ruler. He won great battles in the east and lost great battles in the west. Was the first "Slav" king that great? And why is his image now so complicated? Find out in this episode of Wandering the Edge!

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• Leontiy Vojtovych, Kniazha Doba: Portrety Elity (2006)

• Walter K. Hanak, "The Infamous Svjatoslav: Master of Duplicity in War and Peace?" in Peace and War in Byzantium (1995)

• Vladimir I. Petrukhin, "The Normans and the Khazars in the South of Rus' (The Formation of the 'Russian Land' in the Middle Dnepr Area)" in Russian History (1992)

• Volodymyr Kuzovkov, "Dnipro-Buh Estuary Coast in Context of Eastern Campaigns of Prince Sviatoslav (964-972)" in Eminak: Scientific Quarterly Journal (2021)

• M. Hrushevsky, Istoria Ukrainy-Rus (1913)

• Paul Robert Magocsi, A History of Ukraine (2010)

• Orest Subtelny, Ukraine: A History (2009)

• Vasyl Yavir, "Nevdalyj Heroi: pro Kult Kniazia Sviatoslava v Ukraini" in Spilny Commons (2016)

The Revolution of Dignity began as the pro-EU Euromaidan protest in November 2013. It then transformed into a revolution that wanted to change Ukraine itself. It turned violent when the government that was elected on behalf of the people, turned on the people. This was also the beginning of this current Ukrainian-Russian war, with 2022 only being the full scale invasion. Why did this Revolution happen? Why did the government fire on its own citizens? And why is it important? Find out in this episode!

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For more episodes, sources and extras, please visit: wanderingtheedge.net

Ivan Franko (1856-1916) is considered the third in Ukraine's literary pantheon. He was a poet, writer, social and literary critic, journalist, translator, economist, political activist, doctor of philosophy, ethnographer and staunch Ukrainian independentist. His work has been used by the Soviets to completely alter his historical influence but his ideas on socialism were never so simple. This episode looks into his life and times and examines his works and their influence - which are felt even today.

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Sources:

• Asher Wilcher, "Ivan Franko and Theodor Herzl: To the Genesis of Franko's Mojsej" in Harvard Ukrainian Studies (1982)

• Ulrich Schmid, "Between 'Narodnist' and 'Indyvidualnist': Ivan Franko's Theory of Literary Creativity" in Harvard Ukrainian Studies (1999)

• Vitaly Chernetsky, "Nationalizing Sacher-Masoch: A Curious Case of Cultural Reception in Russian and Ukraine" in Comparative Literature Studies (2008)

• Thomas M. Prymak, "Ivan Franko and Mass Ukrainian Emigration to Canada" in Canadian Slavonic Papers (1984)

• Hugo Lane, "Class Interest and the Shaping of a 'Non-Historical' Nation: Reassessing the Galician Ruthenian Path to Ukrainian Identity" in Harvard Ukrainian Studies (1998)

• "Ivan Franko" in Encyclopedia of Ukraine Online

• Ivan Franko Online Encyclopedia of his Life and Works

Thousands of Ukrainians were imprisoned in the GULAG system of the Soviet Union. And many of them were involved in the numerous GULAG uprisings that sprang up after Stalin's death in 1953. This episode will look at 3 of them in particular: the Norilsk and Vorkuta Uprisings of 1953 and the Kengir Uprising of 1954. Why did the uprisings occur and how important where the Ukrainians in organizing and spreading unrest in the Soviet Union's concentration camp system? Find out in this episode!

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• Anne Applebaum, Gulag: A History (2004)

• Steven A. Barnes, "'In a Manner Befitting Soviet Citizens': An Uprising in the Post-Stalin Gulag" in Slavic Review (2005)

• Teodor Antemijchuk, Norylski Tabory. Tabirnyk E-058 (2002)

• "Duzhe Kryvava Konfrontatia z Rosianamy Bula" - Odyn iz Lideriv Norylskoho Povstannia 1953 roku Yevhen Hrytsiak in Radio Svoboda Online (2017)

• Yaroslav Stekh, "Interviu z Partyzanom UPA Maksymom Vovkom ('Baidoiu')" in Nasze Slowo Online (2016)

• Roksolana Popeliuk, "'Yakyj Tam Kryk Buv!': Norylske Povstannia Provadyly Ukraintsi" in Local History Online (2020)

• Yurii Finikovskyi, "Uchast Danyla Shumuka u Norylskomu Povstanni 1953 Roku" in Vsesvitnia Istoria (2020)

• Svitlana Orel, "Naivilnishi Liudy v SRSR" in Dzerkalo Tyzhnia (2009)

• Lesia Bondaruk, "Banderivskyj Standart" in Hlavred (2008)

• Lesia Bondaruk, Z Istorii Kenhirskoho Povstannia