THE LAST FIRE OF THE UPA IN ZHYTOMYR REGION: 70 YEARS AGO
On July 9, 2025, it will be 70 years since the last battle of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) in the Zhytomyr region. This battle took place in my native village of Sushky, Korosten district, and became the final chord of UPA’s armed resistance in Polissia. It stands as evidence that the fight for Ukraine’s independence continued long after World War II, contrary to the narrative presented in Soviet history textbooks.
The ancient village of Sushky, nestled in the dense forests of Polissia, was part of the Ukrainian underground network in the 1940s–50s. Its remoteness from major transportation routes and the loyalty of its residents made it an ideal location for UPA units and clandestine OUN (Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists) cells.
By 1955, the Soviet repressive machine had virtually eliminated most UPA structures in the Zhytomyr region. However, in Sushky there remained an UPA unit that had survived underground for years—thanks largely to the support of local residents and couriers.
Of course, many locals, wary under conditions of mass repression and state control, maintained their allegiance to the OUN and UPA quietly and refrained from active involvement. Having lost contact with central leadership due to the political situation, OUN units continued their anti-Bolshevik struggle. Up until 1950, individual UPA detachments were still conducting raids in Zhytomyr region.
The Zhytomyr area was a hub of OUN activity, with regional, sub-regional, district, local branches, UPA units, and squads carrying out operations. Strong UPA detachments (companies and battalions) engaged in battles against the occupiers throughout Zhytomyr oblast and conducted propaganda raids into Kyiv oblast.
With the support of locals, excellent knowledge of the terrain, and strict secrecy, many UPA units remained active in Zhytomyr region even into the 1950s. Among them were the squads of “Budko” (Sylvestr Prymak) in Radomyshl district, “Artem” (Ivan Malymon) in Andrushivka district, and “Roman” (Volodymyr Kudria) in Korosten district.
The “Roman” company operated for 13 years across Volyn, Rivne, and Zhytomyr regions.
In January 1945, UPA company commander “Roman” (Volodymyr Kudria) arrived in Zhytomyr oblast. He took charge of the nationalist underground in the northern districts of Kyiv and Zhytomyr regions. In one report, Roman wrote:
“The population welcomes our propaganda warmly and favorably… The people treat us kindly and are not afraid of us. They have realized that we do not harm anyone, and at night they open their doors to us without fear, sharing even their last piece of bread. When they recognize us as insurgents, they willingly inform us about everything we ask.”
It was only after the liquidation of the last UPA squad in 1955 that the Soviet security forces and Communist Party authorities in the region were able to report to their superiors that the OUN underground in Zhytomyr had been eradicated.
The final squad to fall was that of company commander “Roman.” It happened due to betrayal. On July 8, 1955, the homestead of Mariia Yatsenko on the western outskirts of Sushky was surrounded by several hundred KGB agents. Using loudspeakers, they demanded the insurgents surrender (there were only two fighters in the hideout: company commander “Roman” and soldier “Lys” [Oleksandr Usach], whose identity would only be established 40 years later in an independent Ukraine). The punitive forces heard the reply: “UPA soldiers do not surrender!”
The battle began at night and lasted nearly 10 hours. The KGB agents set fire to the house from which Roman and Lys were firing back. The two insurgents dashed out of the burning house and ran in different directions, but the village was encircled in a tight ring. Both Roman and Lys were shot dead.
The Moscow punitive forces were astonished at the resilience of the UPA fighters—only two men standing against several hundred KGB troops.
In 2002, a memorial was erected in Sushky in honor of the fallen insurgents of Roman’s company.
On the night of August 10, 2014, this monument was destroyed by vandals.
The monument was restored in a slightly updated form nearly three years later—on July 9, 2017, during another anniversary of the battle.
Petro Shcherbyna
