IMAGI-NATIONS. PART 37.

 TENSION IN UKRAINE.

During the summer of 1887 Russian military patrols to Ukraine were significantly increased. Under the terms of the treaty, both sides had the right to make patrols to ensure the other side was not undertaking construction of a railway. Therefore both sides had tended to patrol along the line of the old demolished railway in the north of the country. Very occasionally UNION patrols visited Kiev but Russian patrols did not go this far south. This changed in May when a strong force of Russian troops appeared outside Kiev. The Russian commander demanded that the Ukrainian government provide supplies and billets for his troops on the basis that Ukraine remained officially part of Russia. With no military just a small police force the Ukrainian government had little choice but to comply. As the Russians began to settle down for an apparently extended stay, Russian soldiers became increasingly troublesome to the local population.

Before long the Ukrainian government was complaining daily about excesses caused by Russian soldiers. The Russian general noted these complaints but did nothing to address them. As time progressed the thefts, beatings of civilians, destruction of property and threatening behavior of the Russians became intolerable. Finally on 15th June two Ukrainian policemen were murdered by Russian soldiers while trying to stop them stealing from a shop. Demands for justice being ignored by the Russian commander the Ukraine government appealed for UNION assistance. The UNION was already aware of the Russian presence in Kiev but had decided to take no action as Russia was quite within its rights to send troops into the country. However when the appeal of the Ukrainians was received the UNION knew it was time to act.  However confronting the Russians would need to be carefully handled as there was no clear breach of the treaty.

As the Russian force was almost a thousand strong, the UNION knew it had to send a powerful expedition. It was decided to send a short cavalry brigade some 4000 strong consisting of three cavalry regiments and one horse artillery regiment together with additional QM transport to provide sufficient supplies for the long journey as well as a good supply of ammunition just in case. Four days before the UNION force arrived outside Kiev on 21st July a fight had broken out at the UNION agricultural school in Kiev as Russian soldiers attempted to steal from students. Two UNION teachers and four Ukrainian students were killed by the Russians. Although alarmed by the deaths of the UNION teachers the Russian commander refused to take any action against his soldiers. His alarm turned to panic when , only four days later, he received reports of a large UNION cavalry force arriving on the outskirts of the city.

A few hours later the Russians watched anxiously as a seemingly endless force of UNION cavalry with artillery, entering from the east, marched through the city and set up camp astride the road to Russia on the eastern outskirts. The Russians were trapped. Next morning the UNION general arrived at Russian headquarters demanding the Russians hand over those responsible for killing the UNION teachers. After an angry exchange the UNION general left empty handed. Shortly after midnight that same day the Russian general was woken by several UNION soldiers storming into his quarters and placing him under arrest. As he was led outside and frog marched to a large empty warehouse on the edge of the city he saw UNION soldiers seizing his troops and throwing them into the warehouse. Soon the whole Russian force was inside the warehouse and UNION soldiers were guarding every door and window.

Around lunchtime next day the Russian general was again interviewed by the UNION general who again demanded the hand over of those responsible for killing the teachers. Again the Russian refused. He was then told that he and his soldiers would be marched back to Russia in chains and disgrace. Four days later the Russians were indeed chained together and set out on the long march back to Russia escorted by the UNION cavalry.  In the meantime the Ukrainian authorities had confiscated all the Russian soldier's property including weapons and equipment and had also recovered all stolen goods and had returned to the owners what could be identified and sold the rest by auction.

Over the next six weeks the Russian prisoners struggled on the long march back to Russia. They remained chained at all times and were fed short rations. Many collapsed and died and were buried by their comrades. Late in September the column arrived at the border bridge over the Volga river. A meeting was arranged with the local Russian commander and he was given an official UNION government note for transmission to his government. This was to the effect that any future Russian military patrols into Ukraine must seek permission before crossing the border and would be escorted by UNION troops throughout their patrol in Ukraine to prevent any future abuse of the Ukrainian people. Next morning the starving Russian soldiers were sent over the bridge, still in chains and clothed in rags and mostly without boots in a powerful warning to Russia.

The UNION cavalry short brigade then withdrew but only a few miles in order to watch the border for signs of a Russian reaction. In Russia the government and army were furious with the UNION, its note and the treatment of its soldiers. The Russian expedition's general was put on trial for not offering any resistance, found guilty and shot. Russia wanted revenge for this appalling humiliation and found a pathway to retribution with news that Germany might be prepared to enter a military alliance with Russia against the UNION.