ВІЙСЬКОВІ РЕФОРМИ ГЕТЬМАНА ПАВЛА СКОРОПАДСЬКОГО У КОНТЕКСТІ ДЕРЖАВОТВОРЧИХ ПРОЦЕСІВ В УКРАЇНІ (квітень – грудень 1918 р.)

Abstract

The military reforms of hetman Pavlo Skoropadskyi in the context of processes of state development in Ukraine have been analyzed. The period is pointed out to be quite significant for developing a national regular force; though, in 1918 there were no chances for force development because of the German rule and also there was an offer to federate Ukraine with the other parts of non-Soviet Russia, which was supported by Cadet and October government of Ukraine. A political stance of ministers and cadets proved that the recognition of the independence of Ukraine was contextual (except for the head of the government Lyzohub who was an Octobrist) as a required stage for a federate, parliamentary or monarchical Russia.It is established that Skoropadskyi succeeded in obtaining the permission for developing numerous Ukrainian Forces such as career-oriented corps, divisions which included gun brigades, engineering units with the officer and sergeant personnel and equipment. This stage of the force development was special because there was a planned organization at a high level in accordance with the developed organizational structures.It was admitted that unlike «The Tsentralna Rada», hetman focused on developing a capable regular army with involving experienced generals, admirals, and senior officers of a former imperial army, who were willing to serve Ukraine. It was proved that though there were a plenty of enlisted generals who were not committed statists, they stayed in the army because it was the way to provide for a family or because of a professional need «to serve».The Russian system was taken as a base for organizing the land forces of the Ukrainian Army and their kinds of armament, particularly the armament control system which was renewed and implemented starting from the Chief inspecting officers of infantry, artillery and mounted troops to commanders of corps, divisions of brigades and regiments. After coming back from battlefield to the base, 15 gun brigades joined the Ukrainian Army, except for most demobilized soldiers. The Serdiutska dismounted division was organized and Sira dismounted division was entirely preserved. Also, there was restored the function of infantry, artillery and a horse cavalry school and cadet corps. To conclude, thanks to hetman ruling the bases for developing Ukrainian Armed forces were established which in organization, structure, commanders, armament and tactics reached the same level of development as the European armies.