The Bolshevik Myth · Chapter
XXIX: Kiev explained
The narrator describes Kiev's beauty and recent violent history under various occupying forces.
What happens
The narrator describes Kiev's beauty and recent violent history under various occupying forces. The city appears peaceful, but Soviet institutions are chaotic, inefficient, and plagued by bureaucracy and antisemitism. Ukrainian Communists criticize Moscow's centralization and ignorance of local conditions. The economy is in collapse, with factories idle and sugar refineries operating at a loss. Labor unions have been stripped of power and replaced by Communist appointees. Rumors of military reverses and Makhno activity circulate. A Ukrainian Communist, T⸺, expresses frustration with Moscow's domination and the alienation of the local population.
Themes in this chapter
Nationalism and Ethnic Conflict
Antisemitism is rampant in Kiev, with pogroms and popular hatred of Jews; Ukrainian nationalism clashes with Moscow's centralism.
Economic Collapse and Survival
Factories are idle or operating at a deficit; sugar refineries lose money; workers pretend to work while making items for private sale.
Betrayal of Revolutionary Ideals
Labor unions have been stripped of power and replaced by Communist appointees; the elective principle is abolished, and bureaucracy stifles worker initiative.
Distrust of the Masses
Officials treat petitioners with indifference and contempt; the 'revolutionary method' is used arbitrarily, alienating workers and peasants.
Characters to notice
- Unknown Narrator
Observes Kiev's beauty, Soviet bureaucracy, and antisemitism; gathers documents for the Museum; interacts with T⸺.
- Chicherin
Mentioned for protesting alleged Polish vandalism of Kiev's cathedrals, which the narrator finds baseless.
- T⸺
Ukrainian Communist met in Kharitonensky; criticizes Moscow's centralization and lack of autonomy for Ukraine.
- Skoropadsky
Mentioned as one of the rulers who turned Kiev into a slaughterhouse and issued the decree to Ukrainianize business signs.
- Petlura
Mentioned among the leaders responsible for violence in Kiev.
- Nestor Makhno
Rumored to be active in the Kiev province.
Key passages
“We know the conditions and needs of the people better than those who sit in the Kremlin.”
Ukrainian Communists claim superior understanding of local needs compared to Moscow's distant leadership.
Expresses frustration with centralization and lack of autonomy.
“Kill the Jews, save Russia!”
A man in the Podol market shouted this antisemitic slogan while stabbing people.
Illustrates the intense antisemitism among the populace.
“Pogroms are sad, but if that is the only way to get rid of the Bolsheviki, then we must have pogroms.”
A recent publication by an intellectual justifies pogroms as a means to eliminate Bolsheviks.
Shows how antisemitism was rationalized even by educated figures.
“We are a republic in name only; in reality we are just a Russian province.”
T⸺ says Ukraine's nominal independence is meaningless under Moscow's control.
Highlights the tension between central authority and regional autonomy.
