A threat of losing the significance of Ukrainian literature and culture became apparent towards the age of the Soviet Union, but Mykola Rudenko was impelled to write to ensure the relevance of Ukrainian literature when resisting the Soviet Union. Mykola Rudenko grew up in the rural villages of Ukraine. His earlier years had many hardships, which include losing his father at six, but he and his family managed by his mother’s widow pension. He eventually went to Kiev State University, and wrote poems about his past. After completing ten years of education, he became the first in his family who could read or write (CIUS). This backstory of his life shows how he learned to develop the writing skills to become an important dissident leader during this era. Rudenko’s reminiscence of his home village reminded him how none of his family members are capable of writing or reading, and how this was a common occurrence for many families located in more rural areas. Ukrainians not knowing how to write or read their own language made it difficult for them to advocate for proper rights, and because of this, Rudenko decided to entirely focus his career to write and address their needs for them.

 

Unfortunately, his time at the university was short-lived after being called for military duty during WWII. He later was severely injured, but surprisingly survived: he was shot by an explosive bullet, which tore off the flesh that surrounded his spine (Petro Grigorenko). His experience in the army was likely the hardest point of his life, due to the physical damage that was enforced on his body. He, however, did not let this setback stand in the way of his work. The moment he was brought back home, he divulged himself into writing literature. Rudenko’s close friend, Petro Grigorenko, would recall the moments shared with Rudenko in their earlier years. Both Grigorenko and Rudenko believed that Ukrainian literature has fallen victim to the ‘Great Pogrom’, essentially an act of violence for the purpose to entirely annihilate any evidence of a certain group; religion, ethnicity, race, etcetera. Petro Grigorenko and Mykola Rudenko have been good friends the moment they met, with one of their first interactions immediately sparking inspiration from one another: As Grigorenko asked about a copy of a novel Rudenko possibly had, Rudenko’s response became sincere, and he hoped that Grigorenko would read over his work (Petro Grigorenko). This interaction is an example of how Ukrainian activists collaborate with one another to accomplish their united goals of making Ukraine independent from the Soviet Union. Collaboration between dissidents was extremely common during this time, and so by looking through each other’s work, dissidents found ways to improve their literature and impact on Ukrainian history and culture.

 

In 1946, he started involving himself more with poetry, publishing his first collection in 1947, while simultaneously becoming chief editor of the Kiev literary journal, Дніпро. Rudenko then was later elected secretary of the Writers' Union of Ukraine, which would give him the opportunity to publish many articles, essays, and books during this period (Petro Grigorenko). Rudenko’s influence on the writing community in Ukraine gave him many opportunities to share his work towards a larger audience, making more people divulge themselves into Ukrainian literature. His article, Poetry and Popularity, published in January 30th, 1962, spoke about what the responsibilities of a poet should be, consisting that poets should be advocates, and although it wasn’t an outspoken protests against Soviets, it still indicated his beliefs of what poets should be doing during this period: to fight against Soviet oppression. Rudenko also began addressing concerns about the social and economic conditions occurring in Ukraine towards the Committee of the Communist Party of Ukraine (CC CPU). However, since Rudenko was forbidden to write about these topics against the Soviet Union, the USSR’s response was to ban his work from being printed, which disposed of his ability to write for the public (Petro Grigorenko). Understanding that the USSR would still analyze his work, he attempted to become more discreet on how he’d share his messages to his audience, by generalizing his themes throughout his content to fight oppression, inspiring multiple activists to come about. Mykola Rudenko’s background allowed him to understand the importance of preserving and continue utilizing Ukrainian literature towards advocacy against the Soviet Union.

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One of the most mentally anguishing moments of his life, having to survive the Gulag, proved to Rudenko how much of an impact support can have on an individual. Rudenko was sent to prison along with the majority of the UHA due to the USSR implanting false evidence to make certain that all associates of the UHA would be under arrest. Many dissidents were imprisoned by 1979, and some were sent to separate gulags. Rudenko was sentenced twelve years to the Gulags, and was specifically exiled June 1st, 1977 (Olga Kostiuk). Rudenko understood that the best way to secure Ukraine’s freedom was to endanger his own safety, allowing whatever outcome the Gulag had for him to happen. The USSR expected the outcome of the UHA to have Ukrainian dissidents capitulate under Soviet control, instead this inspired more activists to come about in order to continue managing the UHA, and encouraging more Ukrainians to join the cause. Rudenko’s punishment after being arrested was being sent a six month sentence to a labor camp, but then his sentence was decided to be increased to threaten other activists. The KGB wanted to pressure him into submitting to their rule, threatening to continually increase his sentence until he finally submits to their rule. The KGB would constantly pressure Rudenko, always asking why he decided to be so stubborn, and how his wife must feel knowing that he left her by herself. The KGB had no consideration or remorse towards anyone who opinionated differently from the public, and would evidently mock and torture their prisoners, taking away their human rights. The KGB would violate the law by sending him somewhere away from where he enacted his ‘crimes’, purposefully to stray him away from any support he originally had (Petro Grigorenko). The Soviet Union hoped for this increased sentence to scare off upcoming members of the UHA, as well as Ukrainian dissidents in general. But in actuality, people from all over the country showed their support for Rudenko, with one of the most prominent supporters being Rudenko’s wife, Raisa Rudenko. These ignorant threats coming from the KGB officers prove how much of an impact Ukrainian dissidents have been to weakening Soviet power, and attempting to threaten Rudenko by speaking about his wife shows how desperate they are to end Ukrainians’ resolve for independence. After being removed from Ukraine, Rudenko continued to maintain the same values he has had since his arrest, and his morals never once weakened from the officers. Rudenko’s perseverance from surviving the Gulags was only possible because of the endless support by his community and family, urging him to keep pushing until they finally released him.

 

Mykola Rudenko advanced Ukraine’s independence by relying on illicit journalism, Ukrainian literature, and his bravery when imprisoned. Without the assistance from Rudenko, Ukraine wouldn't have succeeded in retrieving its freedom as soon as it did. Unfortunately, the past hardships that led to the foundation of Post-Soviet Ukraine are weakening due to the current Russian invasions since February 24th, 2022. However, Ukrainian dissidents still continue to persevere regardless, by continuing to follow the strategies past dissidents used against the Soviet Union. No matter the hardships Ukraine has to endure to regain peace, the nation remains founded with these dissident morals, demonstrating the Ukraine's resistance against absolute authority