Yuriy Tyutyunnyk

Yuriy (Yurko) Yosypovych Tyutyunnyk(Ukrainian:Юрій Тютюнник;20 April 1891 in Budyshche, Pendivsky district, Zvenyhorodka county,Kiev Governorateof theRussian Empire(currentlyZvenyhorodka Raion,Cherkasy Oblast,Ukraine) – 20 October 1930 in Moscow,Soviet Union) was a general of theUkrainian People's Armyof theUkrainian People's Republic(UNR) during theUkrainian–Soviet War.

Yuriy Yosypovych Tyutyunnyk
Photo of Tyutyunnyk made after his arrest by theOGPU
Born	(1891-04-20)20 April 1891 Zvenyhorodka county,Kiev Governorate,Russian Empire
Died	20 October 1930(1930-10-20)(aged 39) Moscow,Soviet Union
Allegiance	Russian Empire(1904–1917) Ukrainian People's Republic
Service/ branch	Ukrainian People's Army
Years of service	1904–1921
Rank	Otaman Khorunzhy
Commands	Kyiv Division
Battles / wars	World War I Ukrainian–Soviet War

Photo of Tyutyunnyk made after his arrest by theOGPU(complete Russian Cyrillic reads Tyutyunik Yurii Iosifovich)

Early years

Yuriy Tyutyunnyk was born on 20 April 1891, to a peasant family, former serfs Yosyp and Maryna, in the village of Budyshche, nearKyiv.His older cousins, Levko and Ananiy Shevchenkos were the organizers of theFree Cossacks,later joining theUPSR.Only five out of nine children in his family reached adulthood. Tyutyunnyk finished his primary education at the village school and later at an agrarian school inUman.He was married and had two daughters.

Military service in World War I

Tyutyunnyk was drafted into theImperial Russian Armyin 1913 and initially served in the 6thSiberianbattalioninVladivostok.With the outbreak of World War I, in 1914 he became anon-commissioned officerand was wounded during theBattle of Lodz,inPolandin October of that year. For his recovery Tyutyunnyk was transferred to a reserve regiment inKremenchuk.Upon recovery, he came back to the 6th battalion which at that time was fighting near theLake Narach(today inBelarus).

Later Tyutyunnyk was offered command of the 6th Siberian battalion by the regimental command, but because he was interested in military strategy, the army suggested he undertake formal military studies. Tyutyunnyk successfully took entrance tests to the 1st Kyiv gymnasium, but soon he was sent to theCaucasuswhere he finished a military school inGori(today inGeorgia). After completing his studies, he was again offered command of the 6th battalion, which was still actively fighting during the war. Tyutyunnyk was wounded a second time, and after recuperating, he was sent toSimferopol,where he joined the 32nd Auxiliary battalion.

Revolution

With the coming of theFebruary Revolution,Tyutyunnyk's military acumen caught the attention ofAlexander Kerensky,who was inCrimeaat the time. Kerensky offered Tyutyunnyk command of the Headquarters ofOdessa Military District,however, Tyutyunnyk did not place much faith in the future of theProvisional Government,and declined the post. In the Spring of 1917, he participated in the creation of the 1st Simferopol Regiment of Hetman Doroshenko.

Tyutyunnyk left forKyivas a military representative for the 2nd All-Ukrainian Military Congress, the meeting of which was unsanctioned. There he became elected as a non-partisan member of theCentral Rada,and chairman of theKiev Revolutionary Committee.Officially Tyutyunnyk was transferred to the 228th Reserve Regiment inYekaterinoslav.

Ukrainian–Soviet War

In the Autumn of 1917, Tyutyunnyk organized a unit of "Free Kozaks"inZvenyhorodka,and became its leader. After the fall of Kyiv toBolshevik forcesin 1918, Tyutyunnyk transformed the unit to a kish-size of 20 thousand and engaged in battles throughout central Ukraine. He had a number of victories over the Bolshevik forces, including winning battles against theBolshevik's 8th Army and 8,000 group ofMikhail Muravyov,while reclaiming the towns and cities likeBirzulaandVapniarkafrom Bolshevik forces. Later, in 1918, Tyutyunnyk's unit waged guerilla warfare against both the occupying German forces and the forces of the newHetmanate.

In February 1919, Tyutyunnyk merged his unit with that ofNykyfor Hryhoriv,who became the Commander in Chief while Tyutyunnyk became the Chief of Staff. The combined force was formidable, numbering over 23,000 soldiers, 52cannons,and 20armoured trains.The force cooperated through various battles, including with and against Bolshevik forces, againstEntenteforces and theWhite Army,taking under control cities ofKhersonandOdessa.

Later, however, Tyutyunnyk concluded that theBolshevik's aims in Ukraine were not beneficial, he united with the units ofUkrainian People's ArmynearZhmerynka.In the summer of 1919 along with the 3rd Steel Rifle Division, 2nd Volyn Division, and 2nd Halych Brigade conducted series of successful military operations liberating several cities such asZhytomyr,Bratslav,Uman,and others. By the end of the summer, his forces were faced against the Southern group ofIona Yakirand later in the fall dealing against theWhite movementGeneralYakov Slashchov.

From 6 December 1919 to 5 May 1920 he took part in theFirst Winter Campaignunder the command ofMykhailo Pavlenko,leading the Kyiv Rifle Division with which he fought against theBolsheviksto the fall of 1920.

Tyutyunnyk remained undaunted by the failure of the campaign, and participated in the planning of theSecond Winter Campaign.This campaign took place in 1921, and although there were some early victories, it ultimately ended in failure. The unit was overrun, and over 300 soldiers were executed by theRed GuardnearZhytomyr.Tyutyunnyk, together with a small number of soldiers, escaped.

Soviet Ukraine and execution

A 1921 Soviet recruitment poster with theUkrainizationtheme. The text reads: "Son! Enroll in the School ofRed Commanders,and the defence ofSoviet Ukrainewill be ensured. "

AfterSecond Winter CampaignTiutiunnyk illegally settled inLviv,which was then part of theSecond Polish Republic.On March 26, 1923, former VVR head Mykhailo Doroshenko called upon Tiutiunnyk to return to Soviet Ukraine. On the night of June 17, 1923, Tiutiunnyk was arrested after crossingDniester.The Soviet government invited him to work cooperatively, and he agreed, lecturing at theSchool of Red CommandersinKharkiv.Later he co-wrote a movie script for the film "Zvenigora"byAlexander DovzhenkoHe also played himself in an anti-Symon Petliurapropaganda film, "P.K.P. (Pilsudski Bought Petliura)".

Later, however,Joseph Stalinordered areversal of Ukrainization policies in Soviet Ukraineand many Ukrainians became victims ofpolitical repressionby theStalinistregime. On 12 February 1929, Tyutyunnyk was arrested inKharkivand deported to Moscow where he was put on trial. On 3 December 1929, he was found guilty ofanti-Soviet agitationand sentenced todeath.On 20 October 1930, he wasexecuted by firing squadin theLubyanka,Moscow.

Family

Tyutyunnyk's family was secretly transferred by theChekafrom abroad toKharkiv,then after the death of Yurii they lived inKubanuntil 1932. The further fate of Tyutyunnyk's family is unknown.

• Wife: Vira Andriivna Tyutyunnyk
• Children: two daughters

Tyutyunnyk in popular Ukrainian culture

Through playing himself in various movie films, Tyutyunnyk created an image of himself as a dashing revolutionary in popular Soviet Ukrainian culture. This image was captured in verse by the Ukrainian writerIvan Bahriannyand set to music byHryhory Kytasty.The song "Pisnya Pro Tyutyunnyka" (Ukrainian:Пісня про Тютюнника— "Song about Tyutyunnyk" ) describes a popular image of his unit rushing to Ukraine from Siberia to help thePetliuragovernment of theUkrainian National Republicin 1919.