The Day of Liberation of Dzhankoi by the Ukrainian National Republic. Crimea Оperation under command of Petro Bolbochan

In January 1918, the Bolsheviks seized power on the Crimean peninsula, occupying the Crimean Tatar People’s Republic, the first democratic republic of the Muslim world, which was proclaimed at the First Kurultai of the Crimean Tatar people in December 1917. The seizure of Crimea by the Bolsheviks not only made it impossible to restore the independence of the Crimean Tatars but also created a danger to shipping in the Black Sea.

Control of Crimea also opened the door for the Russians to launch an offensive against Ukraine. Everyone understood the danger of Bolshevik control of the peninsula: both Germans and Ukrainians wanted to establish control over Crimea to ensure safe navigation. Officially, the peninsula was not part of the Ukrainian National Republic, but the army of the loyal Crimean Tatar People’s Republic was defeated, and it was necessary to liberate the peninsula as soon as possible.

The Crimean Operation was made possible by the signing of the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. According to it, Germany sent its troops into Ukraine to support the resistance to the Bolsheviks. However, the Germans had their plans for Crimea and also wanted to gain access to Sevastopol. That is why it was decided to conduct the operation secretly.

Colonel Petro Bolbochan of the Zaporizhzhia division was entrusted with this mission. On April 13, the Ukrainian National Republic army unit of about 9,000 soldiers marched to Crimea to drive the Bolsheviks out and take control of the Black Sea Fleet. On the way to the Crimea, Bolbochan’s army entered Zaporizhzhia and liberated Melitopol.

On April 22, the army of the Ukrainian National Republic successfully forced Syvash, broke the Bolshevik defense at Chonhar, and liberated Dzhankoy. A unit of Ukrainian soldiers on carts prevented Bolsheviks from blowing up the Chonhar railway bridge in a brilliant operation. Armored trains, artillery, and infantry of the Ukrainian National Republic army followed.

The cities of Simferopol (April 24) and Bakhchysarai (April 25) were liberated next, with minimal losses in a lightning-fast offensive. The advanced units of the Ukrainian army moved to Sevastopol. However, the operation was stopped by order of the Ukrainian National Republic leadership: in order not to spoil relations with Germany, Bolbochan was ordered to leave Crimea. 

Despite the success of the Ukrainian army, the peninsula came under German control. However, on April 29, the leadership of the Black Sea Fleet decided to raise Ukrainian flags.