Pro-independence movements in the Russian Civil War

Main article: Dissolution of the Russian Empire

Pro-independence movements in the Russian Civil War within the territory of the former Russian Empire sought the creation of independent nation states that were not aligned with the Bolsheviks after the October Revolution. Many pro-independence movements emerged after the dissolution of the Russian Empire and fought in the Russian Civil War.

The following list presents some of the pro-independence movements and the conflicts they were involved in during this period.

Western periphery

• Finland (independence from 1917)
  • White Guard
  • Kingdom of Finland

Finnish Civil War

Heimosodat

Viena expedition

Aunus expedition

• United Baltic Duchy
  • Baltic State (Lasted from April to September 1918)
  • Duchy of Courland and Semigallia (1918)
• Estonia (independence from 1918)
  • Estonian Provisional Government

Estonian War of Independence

• Latvia (independence from 1918)
  • Latvian Provisional Government
  • Iskolat

Latvian War of Independence

• Lithuania (independence from 1918)
  • Perloja
  • Central Lithuania

Lithuanian Wars of Independence

Polish–Lithuanian War

• Poland (independence from 1918)
  • Zakopane
  • Tarnobrzeg

Polish–Ukrainian War

Polish–Soviet War

Polish–Lithuanian War

• Soviet Republic of Naissaar
• Ukrainian People's Republic (independence 1917–1921; partitioned between Poland, Czechoslovakia, Romania and the Ukrainian SSR)
  • Ukrainian State
  • West Ukraine
  • Komancza
  • Hutsul
  • Lemko
  • Kholodny Yar Republic
  • Donetsk–Krivoy Rog Soviet Republic
  • Odessa Soviet Republic

Ukrainian War of Independence

Ukrainian–Soviet War

Polish–Ukrainian War

• Belarusian People's Republic (independence 1918–1919; partitioned between Poland and the Belarusian SSR)
• Crimea (independence 1917–1918; annexed by the Russian SFSR in 1921)
  • Crimean Regional Government
  • Crimean Frontier Government
• Moldavian Democratic Republic (united with Romania in 1918)

European Russia

• East European Russia
  • Bashkiria (autonomy and de facto independence 1917–1919; joined the Russian SFSR)
  • Idel-Ural (independence 1917–1918; annexed by the Russian SFSR)
  • Provisional Regional Government of the Urals
• North European Russia
  • North Ingria
  • Committee of Uhtua
  • Republic of Uhtua
  • Provisional Government of White Karelia
  • Provisional Government of Karelia
  • Olonets Government of Southern Karelia
  • Karelian United Government
  • Republic of Eastern Karelia
  • Karelian Temporary Committee
  • Center Committee Karelian Village of Uhtua
• South European Russia
  • Kuban Rada (formed into April, 1917. Became the Kuban People's Republic in 1918)
  • Kuban People's Republic (independence 1918–1920; annexed by the Russian SFSR)
  • Don Republic (independence 1918–1919; annexed by the Russian SFSR)

Eastern periphery

• • Siberian regionalism
    • Siberian Republic
  • Buryat-Mongolia
  • Yakutia
  • Green Ukraine
  • Tungus Republic
  • Far Eastern Republic. (De facto independent 1920–1922; merged with the RSFSR)

Caucasus

• Transcaucasia
• Azerbaijan (independence 1918–1920; invaded by the Russian SFSR and transformed into the Azerbaijan SSR)
  • Republic of Aras

Armenian–Azerbaijani War

Red Army invasion of Azerbaijan

• Armenia (independence 1918–1921; invaded by the Russian SFSR and transformed into the Armenian SSR)
  • Mountainous Armenia

Georgian–Armenian War

Armenian–Azerbaijani War

Turkish–Armenian War

• Georgia (independence 1918–1921; invaded by the Russian SFSR and transformed into the Georgian SSR)

Georgian–Ossetian conflict

Georgian–Armenian War

Sochi conflict

Red Army invasion of Georgia

• Kars Republic
• Caucasian Emirate
• Mughan
  • Mughan Soviet Republic
• Centrocaspian Dictatorship
• United Republics (independence 1917–1922; annexed by the Russian SFSR)

• Socialist Soviet Republic of Gilan

Central Asia

• Basmachi
• Alash Autonomy
  • Kazakh Socialist Soviet Republic
• Confederated Republic of Altai
  • "second" Confederated Republic of Altai
• Khiva
• Emirate of Bukhara
• Turkestan Autonomy
• Transcaspian Government
• Semirechye Cossacks

Legacy

With the exception of the Baltic states, the pro-independence movements were ultimately unsuccessful in achieving their goals, with most territories succumbing to Soviet rule. Pro-independence sentiment remained in exile, with Prometheism being promoted in interwar Poland. National movements reactivated during Glasnost and Perestroika, leading to the dissolution of the Soviet Union and the independence of all constituent republics. Pro-independence sentiment within the borders of the Russian Federation continued to exist, most notably in Chechnya and Tatarstan, and the issue has regained relevance following the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine.