23 January 2025

Members of Zhadan and Sobaky Band Serhii Zhadan and Yevhen Turchynov Released a Song About Colonel P. Bolbochan’s Struggle

On January 22, Serhii Zhadan and Yevhen Turchynov, members of the band Zhadan i Sobaky, released a song about Colonel P. Bolbochan’s struggle. The lyrics reference the Crimean Operation conducted by the Ukrainian People’s Republic colonel in 1918.

Petro Bolbochan was a colonel in the Army of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and the commander of the Zaporizhzhia Corps. The Crimean Operation, carried out in April 1918, aimed to liberate Crimea from the Bolsheviks, who had seized the peninsula following the October Revolution of 1917, and to secure control over the Black Sea Fleet.

P. Bolbochan’s troops successfully advanced through southern Ukraine, and on April 22, 1918, Ukrainian forces engaged in battle with the Bolsheviks on the Perekop Isthmus. Thanks to Bolbochan’s decisive actions and military expertise, Ukrainian troops swiftly overcame resistance and captured key positions on the peninsula. By April 25, 1918, Bolbochan’s forces had entered Simferopol, effectively completing the operation. The success of this military campaign demonstrated the strength of the newly established Ukrainian army.

One of the primary objectives of the operation was to establish control over the Black Sea Fleet. This fleet had the potential to play a decisive role in strengthening the position of the Ukrainian People’s Republic, both regionally and internationally. Ukraine sought to protect its territorial waters and assert its readiness to ensure security in the Black Sea region independently. Unfortunately, due to the significant influence of Germany, which was an ally of the UPR at the time, these ambitions were not fully realized. The German command prevented the integration of the fleet into the Ukrainian military forces, underscoring the complexities of diplomatic relations during the liberation struggle.

“For us, the figure of the Colonel remains vivid and tragic, symbolic and controversial. His story is yet another attempt to break free from the cycle of Ukrainian inability to unite and believe in victory. Our history is a history of resistance. And this resistance is often marked by bright victories and hopes. The story of Colonel Bolbochan is precisely about this—about our hope, which will inevitably lead to victory,” the musicians commented.

You can watch the video and listen to the song by following the link: