West Ukrainian People's Republic

Origins

As the Austro-Hungarian Empire collapsed, Ukrainian soldiers seized Lviv on 1 November 1918, and a Ukrainian National Council proclaimed the West Ukrainian People's Republic over eastern Galicia, northern Bukovina and Transcarpathia. Yevhen Petrushevych became its president and Kost Levytsky headed the government.

Rule and society

The republic quickly built a working administration, police and courts out of former Austrian institutions and formed the disciplined Ukrainian Galician Army. Polish residents of Lviv resisted, and the Polish-Ukrainian War began; the Ukrainians lost Lviv in November and moved the capital to Ternopil and then Stanislaviv. In January 1919 the republic proclaimed union with the Ukrainian People's Republic, keeping its own government.

Decline and legacy

A Polish offensive in mid 1919 drove the Galician Army across the Zbruch in July, and the Second Polish Republic occupied the whole territory. Petrushevych's government went into exile, and the Allies recognised Polish rule over eastern Galicia in 1923.