Battle of Buchach (1919)

Battle of Buchach
Part of Polish-Ukrainian war and Chortkiv offensive
Date 10–11 or 12 June 1919 Location Buchach, West Ukrainian People's Republic Result Ukrainian victory
Belligerents
West Ukrainian People's Republic	Poland
Commanders and leaders
Oleksander Hrekov Yevhen Petrushevych	General Oleksandrovich
Casualties and losses
Unknown	Lots of POWs, several machine guns captured

Battle of Buchach (Ukrainian: Битва за Бучач) was a battle fought between the Ukrainian Galician Army under the leadership of general Oleksander Hrekov and Polish forces during the Chortkiv offensive and Polish-Ukrainian war which lasted from 10 to 11 june 1919. Ukrainian forces managed to liberate Buchach and Monastyrysk, while the Polish army retreated to Ternopil.[1]

Prelude

After the Polish May offensive, two-thirds of the Ukrainian Galician Army was destroyed and most of Galicia and Volhynia were captured by Poland.[2] The commander of UHA, Mykhailo Omelianovych-Pavlenko was preparing UHA to cross the Zbruch river and retreat from Galicia.[3] However, on June 7, UHA began the Chortkiv offensive. On June 8, Ukrainians defeated Polish forces at the battles of Yahilnytsia and Chortkiv.[3]

Battle

As of June 9, 1919, there was one regiment each of the 17th, 18th, and 42nd Polish regiments from the group of General Franciszek Aleksandrowicz in Buchach. On June 10, 1919, the battle for the city began. Units of the Ukrainian II Corps [pl] approached the city. On June 11, the Poles tried to counterattack but failed and retreated to Pidhaytsi and Nyzhniv.[4] At the same day, UHA captured Buchach.

Aftermath

The Polish army was forced to retreat to Ternopil.[4] After the battle, the High Commandership of the Ukrainian Galician Army (Ukrainian: Начальна команда Української Галицької Армії) moved to Buchach.[5]

References

1. "11 червня. Цей день в історії Тернопільщини". Тернополяни – головні новини міста Тернополя та Тернопільської області. Незалежний інформаційний ресурс Тернополяни (in Ukrainian). 2019-06-10. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
2. Савченко, Виктор (2005). Двенадцать войн за Украину (in Russian). Фолио. ISBN 978-966-03-2921-8.
3. "Тернистий життєвий шлях генерала Грекова. І його зоряний час :: 21.helsinki.org.ua". 21.helsinki.org.ua. Retrieved 2024-11-08.
4. Supreme Command Diary 1974, p. 6.
5. Литвин, М. Р. "Начальна команда Галицької армії". Енциклопедія Сучасної України (in Ukrainian). Retrieved 2024-11-08.

Sources

• Diary of the Supreme Command of the Ukrainian Galician Army (PDF). New York: "Chervona Kalyna" Ukrainian Publications Cooperative. 1974. Retrieved November 8, 2024.