PROTEST ACTIONS OF SOCIAL AND POLITICAL ORGANIZATIONS ARE AIMED AT SOLVING PROBLEMS OF MILITARY CALL CAMPAIGNS TO THE ARMED FORCES OF THE USSR (1990–1991)

Abstract

The article retrospectively analyzes the activities of public and political organizations in opposition to the Communist Party of Ukraine (CPU), which sharply criticized the USSR leadership for its unwillingness to reform the USSR Armed Forces. Soviet Union (USSR) intervention in Afghanistan (1979–1989), deepening publicity processes, democratization at the turn of the 1980s and 1990s (creation of «informal» societies, holding elections on an alternative basis, etc.), rapid politicization of the youth environment led to the politicization of military conscription campaigns in the Ukrainian SSR, brought up the issue of citizens of the USSR conscription on the territory of their republic. Elections to the Verkhovna Rada of the Ukrainian SSR (1990) and the formation of a political opposition in parliament (the Peoples Rada) became the catalysts that turned the problem of military construction into one of the top priorities for the national democratic forces. It is noted that due to informal societies, political parties in 1990–1991 in the Ukrainian SSR became widespread anti-army movement, the main vectors of which were aimed at boycott, disruption of conscription campaigns in the USSR Armed Forces, the establishment in the public consciousness is the creation of national Armed Forces. Representatives of opposition political forces had their own vision for solving the problems of conscripts during the military conscription campaigns of 1990–1991. The National Democrats stressed the need to: military service by residents of Ukraine only in the republic; termination of military service on the territory of Ukraine by residents of other republics; recall of residents of Ukraine who serve in the military outside Ukraine to the territory of the republic; creation of the Ukrainian Armed Forces; providing opportunities for alternative military service on the territory of Ukraine; gradual transition to a professional Armed Forces, etc.