Fedir Shchus



Fedir Shchus, also Fyodor Shuss, Feodosiy Shchus (Федір Щусь, died in June 1921) was a commander (otaman) in the Revolutionary Insurrectionary Army of Ukraine of Nestor Makhno. Originally separate and independent of Makhno, Shchus eventually swore his loyalty to Makhno and became one of his ablest officers. He was formerly a sailor at Russian battleship Ioann Zlatoust, and was wounded and confined to crutches.

According to the Ukrainian historian Pavlo Hai-Nyzhnyk Shchus until late 1918 acted independently against the occupational forces, mostly from Austria-Hungary until his formation was destroyed by the Hetman's "State Guard" (Derzhavna Varta), after which he hid near the Dibrovka village woods. On September 26, 1918 he united with the Makhno's units. As a commander, Shchus proposed that the RIAU should retreat and hide to recover their losses after being defeated by Austro-Hungarian troops, local landowners and German colonists near the village of Dibrovka, although Makhno overruled this and counter-attacked the village.

He had many disagreements with Makhno and Shchus acted as a semi-independent commander, who used terror against the German colonists in the Ukraine. Because of this constant use of terror, Makhno arrested Shchus and promised to shoot him, but Shchus could resist the power of Makhno in the region, and Makhno's power and influence rested not on military strength alone. Shchus swore his loyalty to Makhno and promised not to repeat the murders.

He perished in a fight with the 8th Division of Red Cossacks (Red Army) in June 1921 near or in Nedryhayliv, Poltava Governorate (today - Sumy Oblast).