Gordiy Kotsyuba Ukrainian writer Date of Birth: 16.02.1892

1. Childhood and Education
2. Political Activism and Journalism
3. Literary Career
4. Arrest and Execution

Childhood and Education

Mykola Khvylovy (Mykola Kotsyuba) was born into a peasant family in the village of Trostyanets, Poltava Governorate, Ukraine. After completing a three-year public school, he worked as a clerk in various offices.

In 1917, Kotsyuba passed external examinations equivalent to eight years of gymnasium studies and enrolled in the law faculty of St. Petersburg University. He graduated in 1917.

Political Activism and Journalism

Kotsyuba was a member of the Ukrainian Party of Socialist-Revolutionaries (October 1917 - May 1918) and the Ukrainian Communist Party (1918 - 1920). From October 1921, he worked briefly for the press bureau of the Soviet embassy in Warsaw.

Kotsyuba was a co-founder and editor of the literary magazine "Shlyakhy mystetstva" (Paths of Art, Kharkiv, 1921 - 1923). He also worked for various newspapers and magazines.

Literary Career

Kotsyuba's literary works began appearing in 1919. He was a member of the literary organizations Hart (1923 - 1925), VAPLITE (1925 - 1927), and Prolitfront (1930 - 1931). From 1934, he was a member of the Union of Soviet Writers of Ukraine.

Kotsyuba was considered one of the "pioneers of the Ukrainian proletarian literary movement." His writing style evolved from "red symbolism" to a more realistic approach.

Arrest and Execution

On March 21, 1938, Kotsyuba was arrested by the NKVD, the Soviet secret police. On December 17 of the same year, the military tribunal of the Kharkiv Military District sentenced him to death by firing squad.