Free Territory of Ukraine

The Free Territory of Ukraine was an anarchist region in what is now Ukraine from 1918 to 1921.

Background
The area of Ukraine had long been a subject of the Russian Empire, with its people treated as colonial subject. The area was also very deindustrialized compared to the rest of Russia, mainly containing a population of farmers. The region had a small anarchist movement involved with assassinations, bank robberies and unionization efforts. However, after the Russian Revolution, many anarchist political prisoners from Ukraine were released back home, and began to organize. When Lenin gave much of the Russian Empire's land and natural resources (including Ukraine) to the German Empire without the consent of the local population, many were outraged, and the Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine was formed.

Criticism
The Free Territory has been criticised for alleged anti-semitic pogroms, banditry and sexual abuse of women within the Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army. Supporters of the Free Territory argue that some of these criticisms (such as anti-semitism) are outright fabrications, or have been significantly exaggerated by Leninists to discredit anti-authoritarian forms of socialism. However, sexual abuse of women was witnessed by anarchists, and thus cannot be discredited.

Notable People

 * Nestor Makhno