Społeczeństwo ukraińskie i I sekretarz KC Komunistycznej Partii Ukrainy Petro Szełest w czasie kryzysu sowiecko-czechosłowackiego w 1968 r.

Abstract

The article is devoted to the protests of Ukrainian society against the invasion of Czechoslovakia in 1968 by the Soviet Army and satellite states and the role of Petr Sheloest in the events of that time. The article presents the following as­pects of this issue: Prague Spring, or reforms of the political and economic system in Czechoslovakia; the situation of Ukrainian society after the destruction of the shistdesiannyk movement and the arrest of many intellectuals by the KGB; interest in and support for reforms in Czechoslovakia and various forms of opposition and protests against the inva­sion. Petro Szełest, the First Secretary of the Central Com­mittee of the KPU, was concerned about the impact of the freedom ideas of the Prague Spring on Ukraine. However, he believed that the Prague Spring could be liquidated by the so-called “Healthy forces” in the Communist Party of Czechoslovakia, and military intervention is the last resort. Petro Szełest knew the mood of Ukrainian society and the situation in the local committees of the KPU, where they spoke out against the invasion. As the opinion of Ukrainian soci­ety was not expressed in the resolutions of “working people” against “Czechoslovak revisionists”, referred to by Petro Szełest and adopted under pressure, it was expressed in in critical statements, massive purchases of food and basic necessities, as well as inscriptions on walls and leaflets condemning the Kremlin's policy towards Czechoslovakia. The issues presented in the article are not mentioned in Ukrainian history textbooks.