The central Rado in Ukraine was focused on Ukrainian territorial autonomy and Ukrainian independence, even claiming lands that were traditionally part of the Russian empire. After the October revolution, Russia nationalists in support of the provincial government who were ousted by the bolsheviks set up shop in the Don region. The bolsheviks, now technically in charge of Russia, faced counter revolutionary forces in the form of Russian nationalists. Lenin called upon the central Rada for assistance in defeating his opponents, but the central Rada remained neutral. Ultimately Lenin sent bolshevik military units led by members of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic into Kyiv, to violently oust the central Rada. What unfolded was very violent, and many Ukrainians were imprisoned or executed, even if the claims of aiding the counter revolutionary forces were weak.
The entire population of Kyiv was subjected to weeks of arbitrary arrests and executions, the kind of “Red terror” that served as a template for subsequent Bolshevik atrocities. After entering the city, Muraviev demanded 5 million rubles to supply his army. He also ordered his troops “mercilessly to destroy all officers and cadets, haidamakas [members of Ukrainian military formations], monarchists, and enemies of the revolution in Kyiv.” According to some estimates, close to 5,000 people suspected of allegiance either to the old regime or to the Central Rada were killed by Muraviev’s thugs.
