DEPORTATION OF UKRAINIAN PEASANTS FROM POLAND TO THE USSR IN 1944–1945 (ON THE EXAMPLE OF THE PEASANT FAMILY OF AGAFIA KRULKO AND ANTON KRILY)

Abstract

The purpose of this article is to conduct a comprehensive study of the life trajectories of two Ukrainian peasant families who underwent forced deportation from postwar Poland to the USSR in1944–1945. The research focuses on the circumstances of their displacement, the peculiarities and stages ofadaptation to new socio-economic conditions, the transformation of their traditional rural way of life under Soviet collectivization, and the character of interpersonal and labor relations between the deportees and local Ukrainian villagers in both the pre-collective and collective farm periods. Methodology. The methodological framework of the study is based on the principles of historicism, systematization, objectivity, and critical anal-ysis. The research employs general scientific methods (analysis, synthesis, comparison, and generalization) and specific historical approaches (historical-genetic, historical-comparative, and problem-chronological).The use of a historical approach made it possible to comprehensively examine the prerequisites and mecha- nisms of the deportation of Ukrainian rural populations from Poland, to trace patterns of their socio-economic adaptation in new living conditions, and to reconstruct the material, everyday, and psychological aspects of their integration into Soviet society. Scientific novelty. The novelty of this research lies in its microhistorical perspective – the reconstruction of the destinies of two particular Ukrainian families, those of A. Krulko and A. Kril, as a case study illustrating the impact of interstate political decisions on individual human lives.Drawing on a combination of oral testimonies, archival documents, and contextual historiographical analysis, the article reveals how forced resettlement led to a profound transformation in the material circumstances, moral and psychological state, and social interactions of these families during two distinct historical stages – pre-collective and collective life in the USSR. Conclusions. The examination of the life experiences of thesetwo Ukrainian peasant families during the final stage of the Second World War and the early postwar years demonstrates the tragic nature of the deportation processes that affected hundreds of thousands of Ukrainians.The families faced extreme material hardship, psychological strain, and social alienation. Forced to submitfirst to Polish and then to Soviet authorities, they nonetheless retained a deep sense of nostalgia for their native environment. Over time, they gradually adapted to the new socio-economic reality, found their place withinthe local community, and preserved a respectful and caring attitude toward their past. Such microhistorical studies contribute to a deeper understanding of the social dynamics and psychological consequences of forced migrations among the Ukrainian rural population in the 1940s.