How Moscow Defeated the UPA: Historian Reveals the Method Used by Russians Even Today.

Ukrainian historian, former head of the Ukrainian Institute of National Memory, MP Volodymyr Vyatrovych spoke about how the UPA was defeated after World War II, hinting at the present day. Vyatrovych wrote about this on Facebook.

The historian emphasizes that the USSR could not defeat the UPA due to the mutual trust between the insurgents and the civilian population, despite its superiority in military resources.

The insurgents were 'our guys' to the locals, their own. Most of them were neighbors, relatives who lived nearby before they had to take up arms - says Vyatrovych.

The civilian population provided the insurgents with weapons, food, and information.

The warriors trusted those who provided them with vital resources not only because they were their relatives but also because they understood that their potential for struggle depended on them. They understood that without the support of the 'village', there would be no 'forest' - says the historian.

How the USSR Destroyed Trust Between UPA and the Civilian Population

Vyatrovych notes that the Soviet occupiers actively worked to destroy mutual trust between the insurgents and the population. They recruited local residents who began to betray the underground fighters.

This happened not only among those who lived nearby and saw everything, but the Chekists also spread false information about mass betrayals, claiming that every second villager collaborates with them - says the MP.

Initially, the recruitment was carried out secretly, but later almost every civilian was publicly summoned to the NKVD office. Many villagers succumbed to this influence. Although some agreed to collaborate, the majority refused. But no one knew who exactly had become an agent, leading to general suspicion of everyone in the village.

The Soviet recruitment led to the emergence of traitors, and the UPA began to suspect everyone.

Distrust spread like a virus among those who had previously worked together and helped the underground. Fear drove the spread. The price of betrayal was very high. For those who helped the UPA, it could mean the exile of the entire family to Siberia, while for the insurgents - simply death - notes Vyatrovych.

Spread of Paranoia Among the Insurgents

Vyatrovych acknowledges that the underground fighters harshly punished traitors, but over Time, the number of innocent people became victims of the insurgents’ revenge or were wrongfully accused by the NKVD.

Paranoia gradually paralyzed the connection between the village residents and the insurgents. No one knew who was on which side. The sown confusion and distrust began to destroy the struggle. The Chekists had to carry out a final purge.

Therefore, Vyatrovych urges to remember that Moscow knows how to divide to destroy.

In the comments under the post, many Ukrainians note that Moscow is currently using the same tactics, trying to divide Ukrainians and create conflict between civilians and military personnel.

Lviv professor Yaroslav Hrytsak also emphasizes the importance of establishing a red line that does not depend on the front. This is necessary for the protection of their constitutional rights.

The professor also noted that the Russian-Ukrainian war will not end in 2025, and there is a high risk of an explosion in Russia, which is at the very heart of the conflict.