December 25, 1917: The first Congress of Soviets, convened in East Ukrainian city of Kharkov, declared Soviet power in Ukraine.
It also called to disobedience to Kiev bourgeois Central Rada and declared socialization of lands.
Prior to the declaration of Soviet Ukraine, masses of revolutionized sailors (anarchists, Left SRs and Bolsheviks) flooded Kharkov, disarming the nationalist troops and police loyal to Ukrainian bourgeois-nationalist Central Rada government. That’s why till 1935 Kharkov remained the capital of Ukraine.
The first Ukrainian Soviet government was headed by a Ukrainian Bolshevik V. Zatonsky.
In the following civil war between Ukrainian governments in Kiev and Kharkov, the first appealed for help to West countries, while the latter – to Soviet Russia. The first appealed primarily to nationalist sentiments and property rights, the latter called to socialize lands and bourgeois wealth.
