Ukraine commemorates decisive 1918 battle of Kruty against Russian Bolsheviks

Today Ukraine commemorates the heroes of the Battle of Kruty. The battle took place on Jan. 29, 1918, when a 400 soldiers unit of the Ukrainian forces (300 of them were students) briefly halted the advance of a 4.000 Red Army marching towards Kyiv.

This was part of Ukrainian Revolution 1918 when Ukraine was fighting for its existence against Soviets and Royalists. More than a half of the Ukrainian soldiers perished in the unequal battle.

President Petro Poroshenko together with his wife Maryna Poroshenko honored memory of the Kruty Heroes on the 101st anniversary of the Battle of Kruty, when several hundred students held the line against the Kyiv Army of the Bolsheviks, defending Ukrainian statehood.

The Head of State together with his wife put flower bouquets to the monument.

A basket of flowers from the President of Ukraine with an inscription on the ribbon of national colors "To the Kruty Heroes from the Ukrainian people" was put to the Memorial Cross.

The presidential couple also installed candles in memory of the young heroes in the St. Nicholas Church.

The ceremony of laying flowers to the Memorial Cross was also joined by Chairman of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine Andriy Parubiy, people's deputies of Ukraine, members of the Government, veterans of the ATO.

The attendees honored the feat of the Ukrainian youth with a moment of silence.

The State Anthem of Ukraine was played, then the warriors of the Honor Guard solemnly marched past the Memorial Cross to the Kruty Heroes.