Documents from the National Archival Fond of Ukraine as a Source on the History of the Development of the Ukrainian National Movement in the Camps of POW Offi cers of the Russian Army in Austro-Hungary (1917 – the first half of 1918)

The aim of the article is to introduce into the scientifi c circulation the unpublished archival documents preserved in the archives in Kyiv, such as the Central State Archives of Supreme Authorities and Governments of Ukraine, Central State Archives of Public Associations and Central State Archives-Museum of Literature and Art of Ukraine. Documents from the aforementioned institutions represent a unique source for modelling the dynamics of Ukrainian offi cers' national education organized in Austro-Hungarian camps. The research methodology stipulates the usage of historical, anthropological, civilizational, synergetic and systemic principles as well as the methods of analysis, synthesis and comparative methodology. The scientifi c novelty of the article is determined by the high value of the aforementioned archival documents that contain a considerable array of factual information about the national and cultural movement among Ukrainian POW offi cers on the territory of Austro-Hungary during the fi nal stages of World War I. Conclusions. Thanks to the activity of the Union for the Liberation of Ukraine (ULU), several camps for POW offi cers of the Russian Army saw the establishment of Ukrainian theatrical and choir circles, libraries, athenaeums and various educational courses. The ULU's work among offi cers was additionally intensifi ed after the tsarism's demise when it became possible to create separate stanitsas (camps) so that Ukrainian offi cers stayed separately from POWs of other nationalities with written declarations of the former expressing their desire to be relocated. Thanks to these events a part of Ukrainian POW offi cers managed to get rid of the remnants of colonial identity, dedicating themselves to serving Ukraine's interests. Their patriotic aspirations became one of the important milestones in developing the Ukrainian military during the Ukrainian War of Independence of 1917–1920.