Alexander Zagrodsky General Ensign of the Army of the Ukrainian People's Republic Date of Birth: 10.04.1889

1. Early Life and Education
2. Military Service during World War I
3. Role in the Ukrainian War of Independence
4. Later Military Service and Exile

Early Life and Education

Petro Bolbochan was born into a priest's family. He attended three classes of the Kyiv Theological Seminary and became a rural teacher.

Military Service during World War I

In 1912, Bolbochan was conscripted into the army and served in the 74th Stavropol Infantry Regiment stationed in Uman. He became a junior non-commissioned officer in 1913 and a senior non-commissioned officer in 1914. In June 1914, he passed the exam for the rank of ensign (promoted in August 1914). As a participant in World War I, Bolbochan rose through the ranks from ensign to staff captain and was wounded three times. He earned the prestigious George Cross for his valor.

Role in the Ukrainian War of Independence

From November 1917, Bolbochan commanded the Kyiv Security Regiment in the Central Rada army. He fought against Bolshevik forces during the battles of Konotop, Darnitsa, and the defense of Kyiv. On February 9, 1918, he led the 1st Zaporizhian Kuren of the Central Rada troops. After returning to Kyiv, the kuren was expanded into the 1st Zaporizhian Doroshenko Regiment, which Bolbochan commanded from March 15, 1918. Despite holding only the rank of staff captain, he was retained as commander under Hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky. On October 21, 1918, he was promoted to captain and renamed sotnyk.

Bolbochan actively supported the uprising against Skoropadsky. From November 16, 1918, he commanded the Zaporizhian Division of the Directorate's army, operating in the Kharkiv region. From December 19, 1918, he concurrently led Ukrainian forces in the Kharkiv region. On February 28, 1919, he also served as assistant commander of the Eastern Front of the UPR Army. Despite initially supporting the Revolutionary Council in Vapniarka, which advocated peace with the Bolsheviks, Bolbochan later rejected the actions of its leader, Yemilian Volokh, who defected to the Red Army in December 1919.

Later Military Service and Exile

Bolbochan commanded the 6th Zaporizhian Division from May 1919 and the Zaporizhian Group of the UPR Army from June 10, 1919. He served as acting commander of the Zaporizhian Group from September 1 to 10, 1919, and then commander of the Volyn Group of the army from September 10, 1919. During the First Winter Campaign of 1919-1920, he led the Consolidated Volyn Division. After recovering from typhus, Bolbochan headed the 2nd Volyn Infantry Division of the UPR Army from May 15, 1920, before being interned along with the army. He remained active in the military opposition against Chief Ataman Symon Petliura.

From 1923, Bolbochan lived in Kalisz, Poland, where he led the Union of Ukrainian Invalids. He retired to Austria in 1944 and then to the United States in 1950. He held honorary positions in various Ukrainian veterans' organizations and was buried in Bound Brook, New Jersey.