Youth Nationalist Congress

The Youth Nationalist Congress (Ukrainian: Молодіжний Націоналістичний Конгрес, МНК; also rendered in English as YNC) is an all-Ukrainian youth civic organisation founded on 10 February 2001 at the initiative of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (Revolutionary) — OUN(r). It describes itself as the only organisation working in the youth sector in accordance with the goals and objectives set by OUN(r), focusing on membership training, protection of the rights and interests of Ukrainian youth, and promotion of the ideas of Ukrainian nationalism. Its motto is "Вір і дій" ("Believe and act"). The organisation grew out of the youth referentura of the Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists (KUN), which had operated in 1998–2001 as the Youth Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists (МКУН). The first all-Ukrainian gathering of МКУН took place in Kyiv on 25 October 1998, electing Viktor Roh as chairperson. After disagreements with KUN leadership, the structure was reorganised, and on 10 February 2001 the Youth Nationalist Congress was formally created. Ivan Havdyda, deputy head of the OUN leadership in 2000–2003, is described as the initiator, inspirer and "godfather" of the YNC. The YNC presents itself as a network organisation that engages young people through a system of membership training (вишкіл) and local branches. Its activities span patriotic education and training camps (including the all-Ukrainian camps "Hurby-Antonivtsi", "Vidvaha im. Ivana Havdydy", "Povstanska Vatra", the "Course of Free People" seminars, and regional camps such as "Lysonia", "Lystar Chesty", "Stezhyna Neskorenykh", "Mesnyky", "Pidpillia" and "Klych"); civic and political activity (representation in state bodies, participation in the "Free People" all-Ukrainian network and the "Movement of Resistance to Capitulation"); international cooperation with Ukrainian communities abroad, including the League of Ukrainian Canadians; volunteer work supporting ATO soldiers through the "Free People" initiative; and propaganda work, including book publishing and information resources. According to its own history page, the organisation counts 153 active members, has completed 1,885 civic projects and initiatives, and has involved 35,000 participants in its events. A Ukrainian Wikipedia article states that over more than 20 years the YNC has held around 750 training schools and more than 2,700 events with 62,000 participants. In 2020 an IREX study identified the Youth Congress as one of the most influential organisations working with youth on social media, with its media platforms reaching more than a million users per year. The YNC has been involved in major Ukrainian civic and political moments: the "Ukraine without Kuchma" protests in 2001; local elections in 2002, when 28 YNC members became local council deputies; the "Volyn Remembers!" actions in 2003; the Orange Revolution in 2004, including the "Student Wave" and Maidan volunteer guard units; and public service roles taken by its representatives from 2005. Since 2008 it has implemented projects in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine, and it is a participant in the Reanimation Package of Reforms coalition and a member of the National Ukrainian Youth Association public union. Its printed organ, the newspaper "Teren-Ukraine", is described as the most widely circulated publication among Ukrainian youth public organisations. The organisation continues to work with Ukrainian youth, takes part in civic and political life, and conducts informational and propaganda activity.

The Youth Nationalist Congress (YNC) was founded on 10 February 2001 at the initiative of the Organisation of Ukrainian Nationalists (Revolutionary) — OUN(r). Its predecessor was the youth referentura of the Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists (KUN), which in 1998–2001 operated as the Youth Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists (МКУН), formed in place of the parallel "Tryzub" and SUM structures that had moved away from the OUN(b) and KUN platform. On 25 October 1998 the First All-Ukrainian Gathering of МКУН took place in Kyiv, electing Viktor Roh as chairperson. The leadership included Volodymyr Moroz as deputy, Vasyl Boiko, Oleh Medunytsia (head of the Sumy regional organisation) and Andrii Stasyshyn (head of the Ternopil regional organisation). Because of disagreements between МКУН and KUN leadership, it was decided to reorganise МКУН into an independent structure, leading to the creation of the YNC in 2001. Ivan Havdyda, deputy head of the OUN leadership in 2000–2003, is described as the initiator, inspirer and "godfather" of the YNC. In 2001 the organisation took part in the mass "Ukraine without Kuchma" protests. In 2002, during local elections, 28 YNC members were elected as deputies to local councils at various levels. Viktor Roh served as the first chairperson from 2001 to 2003; he is also described as an author, editor and compiler of over 100 books and editor of the OUN(b) newspaper "Shlyakh Peremohy". In 2003 the YNC held "Volyn Remembers!" protest actions against the one-sided portrayal of the 1943 Ukrainian-Polish conflict. Oleh Medunytsia became the second chairperson (2003–2007) and later served as a member of the Parliament of Ukraine in the VII and VIII convocations. In 2004 the YNC was involved in the Orange Revolution, including the Mukachevo events, the "Clean Ukraine" campaign, participation in the "Ukrainian House" resistance committee, leadership in the "Student Wave" initiative, and organisation of the Maidan Volunteer Guard Units. In 2005 YNC representatives entered public service as heads of regional state administration departments, heads and deputy heads of district state administrations, and local council deputies in various regions. That year also saw the humanitarian project "Support Our Own" ("Свій до свого по своє"), the charity campaign "Help OUN-UPA veterans", and the official registration with the Ministry of Justice of Ukraine of the organisation, its symbols and its printed organ "Teren-Ukraine", described as the most widely circulated publication among Ukrainian youth public organisations. In 2006 a Russian-language special edition of "Teren-Ukraine" was published with a print run of 10,000 copies. In 2007 the campaign "Flag of Ukrainian Nationalism" involved raising the OUN flag on all the highest peaks of Ukraine. In 2008, with YNC participation, the State Doctrine of Youth Policy for 2009–2015 was developed. According to the organisation's own history page, it counts 153 active members, has completed 1,885 civic projects and initiatives, and has involved 35,000 participants in its events. A Ukrainian Wikipedia article states that over more than 20 years the YNC has held around 750 training schools and more than 2,700 events with 62,000 participants. In 2020 an IREX study identified the Youth Congress as one of the most influential organisations working with youth on social media, with its media platforms reaching more than a million users per year. Since 2008 the YNC has implemented projects in partnership with the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine. It is a participant in the Reanimation Package of Reforms coalition and a member of the National Ukrainian Youth Association public union. The organisation continues to work with Ukrainian youth, takes part in civic and political life, and conducts informational and propaganda activity.

• 2020

  IREX study identifies the Youth Congress as one of the most influential organisations working with youth on social media.

• 2008

  State Doctrine of Youth Policy for 2009–2015 developed with YNC participation; start of partnership projects with the Ministry of Youth and Sports.

• 2007

  "Flag of Ukrainian Nationalism" campaign — raising the OUN flag on all the highest peaks of Ukraine.

• 2006

  Russian-language special edition of "Teren-Ukraine" published with a print run of 10,000 copies.

• 2005

  YNC representatives enter public service; organisation, symbols and newspaper "Teren-Ukraine" officially registered with the Ministry of Justice.

• 2004

  Involvement in the Orange Revolution, "Student Wave" and Maidan Volunteer Guard Units.

• 2003

  "Volyn Remembers!" protest actions; Oleh Medunytsia becomes second chairperson (2003–2007).

• 2002

  28 YNC members elected as local council deputies during local elections.

• 2001

  Youth Nationalist Congress founded on 10 February at the initiative of OUN(r); participation in "Ukraine without Kuchma" protests.

• 1998

  First All-Ukrainian Gathering of the Youth Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists (МКУН) in Kyiv; Viktor Roh elected chairperson.

All-Ukrainian youth civic organisation promoting Ukrainian nationalism through training, civic activism and propaganda.

• All-Ukrainian camp "Hurby-Antonivtsi"

• Camp "Vidvaha im. Ivana Havdydy"

• Camp "Povstanska Vatra"

• "Course of Free People" seminars

• Regional camps: Lysonia, Lystar Chesty, Stezhyna Neskorenykh, Mesnyky, Pidpillia, Klych

• Newspaper "Teren-Ukraine"

• Books: "Nation That Does Not Capitulate", "A Few Words About National Characters", "Why Rusyns Became Ukrainians"

1. 1МНК - Головнаmnk.org.ua
2. 2Наша історіяmnk.org.ua
3. 3Our historymnk.org.ua
4. 4About usmnk.org.ua
5. 5Youth Nationalist Congresswikidata.org
6. 6Молодіжний націоналістичний конгресuk.wikipedia.org