VOLYN GOVERNORATE IN THE REFUGEE PROCESSES DURING WORLD WAR I

This article analyzes the factors that, during World War I, led to the significant displacement of people of various nationalities (predominantly of Orthodox and Jewish faiths) deeper into the russian state. In 1915-1916s, Ukraine, as part of the Russian and Austro-Hungarian Empires, experienced a massive flow of refugees from west to east. Military actions taking place in the western regions forced hundreds of thousands of people to leave their homes and relocate to the central and eastern regions of the empire. In particular, during the Russian army’s offensive in Galicia in 1915, many Ukrainians and, to a lesser extent, Poles were compelled to evacuate deeper into the empire. The study identifies the primary evacuation routes through the territory of Volyn governorate and examines the activities of Russian state officials and local authorities in organizing and caring for refugees. It also touches upon the transportation, settlement, and registration of refugees, as well as the work of aid organizations. Evidently, while fleeing the war, residents of Ukrainian territories faced harsh living conditions, including shortages of housing, food, and medical care. In many cases, the authorities were unable to provide adequate assistance to the displaced persons. Moreover, epidemics spread among the refugees, leading to a high number of deaths. The refugee crisis, which affected not only the evacuees but also the residents of Volyn governorate through which the evacuation routes passed, became a genuine humanitarian catastrophe for both refugees and locals. Evacuees often lost contact with their families and loved ones, further complicating their situation. Some refugees from Galicia settled in Western Volyn, occupying former estates of German colonists. Displaced persons from Volyn governorate were frequently relocated to the Saratov, Voronezh, and other regions. World War I caused significant destruction and changes in the social structure of the Volyn governorate, as many refugees were unable to return to their pre-war settlements. By the end of the war, the issue of returning and reintegrating refugees remained one of the most challenging social problems, one that representatives of the Ukrainian governments of the Ukrainian People’s Republic and the Hetmanate «Ukrainian State» sought to address. The issue of refugees has been the subject of scientific investigations by both domestic and foreign researchers, primarily Polish, in previous years. However, it has often been examined on a broader scale than within the confines of a single administrative-territorial unit, which frequently led to overlooking the specific characteristics of each individual region. As a result, conclusions were generalized, failing to account for the peculiarities of certain regions.