Central Rada

historical political organization, Ukraine

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June 24, 2026

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The Central Rada, or "Council," was a revolutionary parliament established in Ukraine in March 1917, initiated by the Society of Ukrainian Progressives and other associations. Elected in April 1917, it initially focused on cultural matters but soon demanded political self-government. In January 1918, the Central Rada proclaimed an independent Ukrainian state with Kyiv as its capital. This declaration was recognized by Soviet Russia through the Treaty of Brest-Litovsk in March 1918, though German troops then occupied Ukraine, installing a puppet government. Following Germany's withdrawal, an independent Ukraine was again declared under Symon Petlyura, leading to a period of conflict involving Ukrainian nationalist, White Russian, and Soviet forces.12

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Russian Provisional Government
Nationalist movements and the Provisional Government
…Government refused to regard the Central Rada, which had not been regularly elected by popular suffrage, as representing the people of Ukraine and insisted that the question of any future Ukrainian autonomy could be decided only by the All-Russian Constituent Assembly. On June 10 (June 23, Old Style) the Rada…
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…Government refused to regard the Central Rada, which had not been regularly elected by popular suffrage, as representing the people of Ukraine and insisted that the question of any future Ukrainian autonomy could be decided only by the All-Russian Constituent Assembly. On June 10 (June 23, Old Style) the Rada…
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Kyiv
The revolutionary period
…1917, a revolutionary parliament, the Central Rada (“Council”), was established through the initiative of the Society of Ukrainian Progressives and other cultural, professional, and political associations. Its membership was elected in April 1917 by the constituent All-Ukrainian National Congress. In January 1918 the Central Rada proclaimed an independent Ukrainian state…
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…1917, a revolutionary parliament, the Central Rada (“Council”), was established through the initiative of the Society of Ukrainian Progressives and other cultural, professional, and political associations. Its membership was elected in April 1917 by the constituent All-Ukrainian National Congress. In January 1918 the Central Rada proclaimed an independent Ukrainian state…
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Ukraine
World War I and the struggle for independence
…of these new organizations, the Central Rada (“Council”) was formed in Kyiv as a Ukrainian representative body. In April the more broadly convened All-Ukrainian National Congress declared the Central Rada to be the highest national authority in Ukraine and elected the historian Mykhaylo Hrushevsky as its head. The stated goal…
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…of these new organizations, the Central Rada (“Council”) was formed in Kyiv as a Ukrainian representative body. In April the more broadly convened All-Ukrainian National Congress declared the Central Rada to be the highest national authority in Ukraine and elected the historian Mykhaylo Hrushevsky as its head. The stated goal…
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