Warning: do not take it seriously. The diary was mostly fantasies of KGB and plain lies. The diary cannot serve as a good source of information on the history of Anarchism.

February 19, 1920 - March 28, 1920 

" February 19, new style, 1920. This morning we left the village of Gusarki. At about eleven in the morning we arrived in the village of Konskie Razdory. Here our boys disarmed about 40 “Reds.” Several lads from the same village joined our detachment. They stood here for a short time, about three hours, after which they moved to Fedorovka.

February 20-21. We spent the night in Fedorovka in an old apartment. In the morning they sent reconnaissance to Gulyai-Polye. After lunch we left Fedorovka. On the way we met our envoy, who informed us that there were 200-300 Red Army soldiers stationed in Gulyai-Polye. Our people decided to make a raid at night and disarm the Reds. In the evening we arrived in the village. Shagarovo, where we stopped for several hours. From here reconnaissance was again sent, which was supposed to find out the location of both the commanders and the (Red) troops. At about 12 o'clock at night we left Shagarovo for Gulyai-Polye. On the way, we were informed about the location of the enemy army. We quickly moved in. Gulyai-Polye and settled on the outskirts, and all the boys fit for battle went straight to the center, and then continued to disarm the uninvited guests. The Red Army soldiers did not protest much and quickly surrendered their weapons, but the commanders defended themselves to the last, until they were killed on the spot. Almost until morning? The 6th Regiment was disarmed. The part that was still not disarmed and whose turn finally came in the morning immediately began to bravely fire back, but quickly learned that their comrades were already disarmed and themselves surrendered their weapons. Our boys were very cold and tired by the time they finished this job, but the reward for this work and suffering for each rebel was the knowledge that a small group of people who were weak physically but strong in spirit, inspired by one great idea, could do great things. Thus, 70-75 of our boys defeated 450-500 enemies in a few hours, killed almost all the commanders, took away many rifles, cartridges, machine guns, gigs, horses and other things. who were still not disarmed and whose turn finally came in the morning, immediately began to bravely shoot back, but quickly learned that their comrades were already disarmed, and they themselves surrendered their weapons. Our boys were very cold and tired by the time they finished this job, but the reward for this work and suffering for each rebel was the knowledge that a small group of people who were weak physically but strong in spirit, inspired by one great idea, could do great things. Thus, 70-75 of our boys defeated 450-500 enemies in a few hours, killed almost all the commanders, took away many rifles, cartridges, machine guns, gigs, horses and other things. who were still not disarmed and whose turn finally came in the morning, immediately began to bravely shoot back, but quickly learned that their comrades were already disarmed, and they themselves surrendered their weapons. Our boys were very cold and tired by the time they finished this job, but the reward for this work and suffering for each rebel was the knowledge that a small group of people who were weak physically but strong in spirit, inspired by one great idea, could do great things. Thus, 70-75 of our boys defeated 450-500 enemies in a few hours, killed almost all the commanders, took away many rifles, cartridges, machine guns, gigs, horses and other things. but the reward for this work and torment for each rebel was the awareness that a small group of people who were physically weak but strong in spirit, inspired by one great idea, could do great things. Thus, 70-75 of our boys defeated 450-500 enemies in a few hours, killed almost all the commanders, took away many rifles, cartridges, machine guns, gigs, horses and other things. but the reward for this work and torment for each rebel was the awareness that a small group of people who were physically weak but strong in spirit, inspired by one great idea, could do great things. Thus, 70-75 of our boys defeated 450-500 enemies in a few hours, killed almost all the commanders, took away many rifles, cartridges, machine guns, gigs, horses and other things.
Having finished with this matter, the boys went in different directions - some went to bed, some went home, some to friends. Nestor and I also went to the center. We bought something, visited someone and returned to our apartment. They began to get ready for dinner, when Gavryusha suddenly flies into the hut and says to quickly harness the horses, because enemy cavalry is descending from the mountain along the Pologovsky road. Everyone quickly packed up and left. Savely Makhno, Vorobyov and Skromny remained in the center. When we left the village, there was a terrible shootout in the center. About two hours later we were already in Sanzharovka. We stayed here for about three hours and in the evening we moved to Vilogovka, where we spent the night.

February 22. We got up, had breakfast and left through Uspenovka to Dibrivka. The Uspenivka boys promised to come to us in Dibrivka. In Dibrivka we met with comrade Petrenko, who had already begun work with his boys and began to brag about how they disarmed small units that drove into Bolshaya Mikhailovka. The meeting was very joyful. Petrenko immediately announced that he was coming with us. We spent the night in Dibrivka. On the night of the 23rd I went crazy and felt bad all day. In the morning, at about 10 o'clock, our boys captured two Bolshevik agents, who were shot. After lunch we went to Gavrilovka. In Gavrilovka, they captured two agents who were taking away livestock, as well as one engineer who came to organize revolutionary committees and executive committees, and also to find out who was fighting with Petliura, Makhno and Denikin. Here we spent the night. There was a rally.

24 February. Looks like we'll be leaving here today. Fenya remains here. Two killed. Members of the Cult-Enlightenment Commission arrived from Gulyai-Polye, who did not have time to leave at the same time as us, and they say that the communists killed old Korostylev, and there was a shootout between Savka Tykhnenko and other Bolsheviks. There are rumors that Savka has been killed. After lunch we left Gavrilovka through Andreevka to Komar. There was a rally here. The Greeks really wanted to see their dad, but he refused to come out. They stood outside the apartment and went their separate ways. Here, in the teacher’s apartment, the “tsokotuhs” spent the night.

24 February.Today Fenya left us. Nestor said: “Fenya stayed behind - and it’s a pity.” I also feel sorry that she stayed. But it's better for her. As it turned out, only I needed her, and not always, but for the rest she was a burden, and most of them were hostile to her. I wouldn’t want to be in this position, and I don’t want her to be in it either. She left us - and she did well. And me?!.. And the idea was to stay somewhere with her. I was... Why didn’t I stay? Or was she really afraid that people had already seen and known me in Gavrilovka? No! Or maybe because Nestor said rashly: “If you stay, then don’t consider me your husband anymore”? Also no! On the contrary, I would certainly have stayed here... Maybe it was the fact that Nestor promised me to change the circumstances? All wrong! So what? what?.. Yes, we know what. Apathy, indifference to everything in the world, physical and spiritual impotence... Eh... what tediousness, what disgusting! I didn’t have the courage to bring the thought to feeling.

25 February. We left Komar for Bolshaya Yanisel. Here we met two guys. Everyone is waiting for the communists to make a big deal. We didn’t stay in Bolshoi Yanisel for long, because we received news that the Communists were going there in a numerical majority. After lunch we moved to Mayorskoye. Here they caught three agents collecting bread and other things. They were shot. Today, a visiting Gulyai-Polye resident confirmed the rumor that Savka and some other guy who was with him were killed by the communists. In Yanisel they learned that Lashkevich and Kozhin were arrested by the Reds.

February 26. We spent the night in Mayorskoye. We're standing here for now. After lunch we left through Kremenchug to Svyatodukhovka.

February 27.We spent the night in Svyatodukhovka. At about 10 am we left for Turkenevka. We stopped at the Lupaya school. We were received very warmly. We had just had lunch when we heard shooting in the village. We jumped out into the yard. It turned out that about 25 cavalrymen burst into the village from Uspenivka and started shooting at our people. Instantly all our men rose to their feet and fired at them with a machine gun, and about 10 cavalrymen chased after them. They ran out of the village onto the mountain and quickly disappeared behind the hill. Suddenly, after a few minutes, a chain of infantry appeared on the top, and between the infantry - cavalry. Quickly, more and more troops began to appear in the sky, which scattered into a chain and began to march towards Turkenevka. About 30 cavalrymen stood out and moved around on the left flank. Our boys, seeing this, quickly returned. We stood for an hour and a half and watched the enemy chain. At first she walked then she stopped, stood and began to reluctantly gather herself into a heap. It was clear that there was no great desire to attack the village frontally. Many of our boys were in favor of fighting, but many were also against it. There were significantly more enemies, and it was not our task to give battles to the Reds for now, unless there was a pressing need for this. We left the village. When they saw that we had left the village, they began to advance in a chain again. We arrived in Shagarovo in the evening, fed the horses and at night left through Gulyai-Polye, Varvarovka to Bashaul. The horses were terribly tired and they themselves were tired. The road is very difficult - the snow is wet and almost half of it has already melted. It is impossible to travel either by sled or cart. but many were also against it. There were significantly more enemies, and it was not our task to give battles to the Reds for now, unless there was a pressing need for this. We left the village. When they saw that we had left the village, they began to advance in a chain again. We arrived in Shagarovo in the evening, fed the horses and at night left through Gulyai-Polye, Varvarovka to Bashaul. The horses were terribly tired and they themselves were tired. The road is very difficult - the snow is wet and almost half of it has already melted. It is impossible to travel either by sled or cart. but many were also against it. There were significantly more enemies, and it was not our task to give battles to the Reds for now, unless there was a pressing need for this. We left the village. When they saw that we had left the village, they began to advance in a chain again. We arrived in Shagarovo in the evening, fed the horses and at night left through Gulyai-Polye, Varvarovka to Bashaul. The horses were terribly tired and they themselves were tired. The road is very difficult - the snow is wet and almost half of it has already melted. It is impossible to travel either by sled or cart. The horses were terribly tired and they themselves were tired. The road is very difficult - the snow is wet and almost half of it has already melted. It is impossible to travel either by sled or cart. The horses were terribly tired and they themselves were tired. The road is very difficult - the snow is wet and almost half of it has already melted. It is impossible to travel either by sled or cart.

28th of February. Today we got up late because yesterday it was late and we went to bed tired. Yesterday the boys who stayed in Gulyai-Polye returned. Today Danilov, Zelensky and several more of their old boys came to us. We spend the night in Bashaul.

February 29. It's bad weather outside. Snow water, mud, fog. It will be very difficult to travel. We are still standing still. We had breakfast and went to Vozdvizhenka. I visited the Rybalskys.

March 1. We received news that there was cavalry and a convoy in Rozhdestvenka (5 versts). At night, scouts came from there and beat one guy because when asked: “Who is in the village and how many?”, he answered: “I don’t know.”
After breakfast, we went to Varvarovka. When we were leaving the village, we saw a grandfather with a sawn-off shotgun, who went out to kill Kolchienko’s wife, who was traveling with the detachment. This grandfather was Kolchienko’s father; the latter’s first wife and three children live with him. Offended by his son’s act, the old father, together with his disgraced daughter-in-law, decided that “she” was to blame for everything, and that it would be better for “she” to die than for four to die. The boys drove up to the grandfather and said: “Give me the sawed-off shotgun, grandfather.” “Take it,” he says, “I’ll kill her, the scoundrel, even without a sawed-off shotgun.” The boys drove by, laughing. The son and the cavalry drove by another lane, and “she” in the cart, and the grandfather stood, stood still, looked after us and trudged back to the village.
In Varvarovka they learned that there were communists in Gulyai-Polye. Being ahead with reconnaissance, we met Fr. Stefan, who said that the regiment commander was the same one who was there when we disarmed the 6th regiment, and who then managed to hide. We stayed in Varvarovka for about an hour and moved to Gulyai-Polye. As we approached the village, we learned that the Reds were conducting searches and arresting someone. Then we learned that they were leaving quickly. Two machine guns and 10-12 cavalrymen were sent forward, who chased the Reds. We all entered the village and settled in our “corner”. Soon the boys from the chase arrived and reported that commander Fedyukhin had been wounded and captured, many Red Army soldiers were wounded, many had scattered across the field, and about 75 people were chasing the prisoners. The old man wanted to see the commander, and he sent for him, but the messenger quickly returned and said, that the boys did not have the opportunity to bother with him, who was wounded, and at his request they shot him. Having warned the prisoners not to get caught a third time, because they would not be released alive, they were released.
From the documents it turned out that Fedyukhin, after discovering his 6th regiment, again formed a “punitive detachment”, which was tasked with “carrying out searches and requisitions”, as well as making arrests of suspicious persons in the area of ​​Makhnovist gangs. We stayed in Gulyai-Polye for 2 hours and in the evening we went to Novoselka.

2nd of March. We spent the night and spent the whole day in Novoselka. Both horses and people rested a little. You can't hear any communists nearby. At about 10 a.m. today everyone got to their feet because shooting suddenly started. As it turned out later, it was our people who carelessly tried the machine gun, so the bullets ended up in our yard.
Yesterday, 8 guys came out from the Gulyai-Polye hospital and came with us. The sisters of mercy also left the infirmary, where only the red ones remained, and also began to ask us to take them with us. The boys took them. Last night the boys took two million in money, and today everyone was given 100 rubles.
We'll spend the night here.

March, 3rd. After breakfast we went to Konskie Rozdory. Driving through Fedorovka, we learned that today there were 6 cavalrymen there who asked to prepare 50 pounds of barley and several baked loaves, and also told the Fedorovites to wait for Makhno today.
Having arrived in Rozdory, they learned that the Reds had taken revenge on the innocent residents of Rozdory because we had killed five communists here - they shot the chairman, the headman, the clerk and three partisans. A bomb was thrown into the volost. The landlady where we stayed was beaten by the Reds, and all the property in the house was stolen. We stopped here for the night. It's bad weather outside. It's raining now. The road is now very difficult.

March 4th.It's a sad day today. We stood under gunfire. We quickly gathered and got ready. At night the Reds arrived from Polog and began to advance at dawn. Even at night, the enemies captured two of our cavalrymen and arrested about 20 local rebels. Comrade Sereda with a machine gun, as always, was the first to wedge his cart into the enemy camp. The second machine gunner, Comrade Litvinenko, did not lag behind him. Our cavalry had not yet had time to jump up when the Red forces fired machine guns and rifles at the Makhnovists who had rushed forward. This time our heroes were unlucky: an enemy bullet hits Litvinenko right in the forehead, the second bullet seriously wounds Sereda, the third kills the horse in the cart, the fourth pierces the coachman’s shoulder. Just then our cavalry galloped up, arrived in time and with infantry forced the enemy to show their heels. Ours took three machine guns, about 20 people killed Estonians and Poles, Many were wounded and the arrested Makhnovists were repulsed. They were chasing the enemies far away. Soon we got together and stood for another two hours, and left for Fedorovka. About 25 Rozdor residents left with us. The death of Comrade Litvinenko made a heavy impression on many - it has been a long time since our detachment has suffered such a loss as it does today.

5th of March. Everything is quiet and calm today. The sun is shining outside, and together with the breeze it’s drying out nicely. The snow has almost melted - it remains only on the gullies and in the hollows, and on the hills it has already dried out and young grass is breaking out of the ground. Winter crops in the steppe are beginning to turn green. Yesterday I saw a mouse in a field that had already crawled out of the ground, sensing spring.
We visited the wounded Sereda. He will get better, he just needs some rest. We leave him and the coachman here. Ivanenko visited us and informed us that Kapelgorodsky had been arrested.
Golik arrived from Gulyai-Polye and published an appeal to the peasants and workers. There is no one in Gulyai-Polye and the surrounding area right now.

March, 6. After breakfast, we left Fedorovka for Novoselka. We stayed in an old apartment. The owner here is a very nice person. Today he made some moonshine and treated us to some. Nestor drank and behaved very impudently towards me.

March 7. At about 8 am we left Shagarovo, from there to Gulyai-Polye. The road is impossible. Six horses are unable to pull one cart. “Dad” started drinking from Novoselka. In Varvarovka, both he and his assistant Karetnik became completely drunk. Even in Shagarovo, the “father” had already begun to make a fool of himself - he shamelessly swore all over the street, squealed like crazy, swore in the house in front of small children and women. Finally he mounted his horse and rode to Gulyai-Polye. On the way, I almost fell into the mud. The coachman had already begun to fool around in his own way - he came to the machine guns and began to shoot from one machine gun, then from another. Bullets whistled low over the huts. Panic set in. Then it quickly became clear that such shooting was started by a foolishly drunk Karetnik.
We arrived in Gulyai-Polye. Then, under the drunken command of the father, they began to do something impossible. The cavalrymen began to beat with whips and rifle butts all the former partisans they encountered on the streets.
Today is Sunday, a clear, warm day, there are a lot of people on the street. Everyone came out, looked at the newcomers, and the newcomers, like a mad wild horde, rushed about on horses, flew at innocent people, for no apparent reason they began to beat them, saying: “This is for you for not taking a rifle!” Two boys' heads were smashed, and one boy was driven up to his shoulders into a river in which ice was still floating. People got scared and ran away. The Gulyai-Poltsy began to grumble quietly in the corners, and were openly afraid to express their dissatisfaction against the Makhnovists - fear attacked everyone... And it’s true, how do the downtrodden, intimidated, tortured, robbed, weakened by all sorts of authorities peasants protest against the violence of drunken Makhnovists - their strength now, their will.

March 12. Days stood in Gulyai-Polye. Taranovsky came here. About 35 more guys came here with horses, but not everyone had saddles. On the evening of March 10, cavalry appeared along the Pologovo road. We drove out to meet them and fired at them. There was not a single shot fired by the cavalrymen. Those who arrived were taken prisoner. It turned out that these were 23 Red men sent from Taganrog to mobilize horses. They were disarmed and released. On the evening of March 11 there was a performance dedicated to the memory of T.G. Shevchenko. There were a lot of us there. Everything went well.
We drank a lot all these days. There were a lot of scandals. After drinking, Dad became very talkative and interested in “the purity and holiness of the rebel movement.” Today we arrived in Uspenovka.

March 13. We are standing in Uspenovka. The old man drank today and talks a lot. A drunk wanders down the street with an accordion and dances. A very attractive picture. After every word he swears. After talking and dancing, I fell asleep.
One Uspenovsky guy complained to headquarters about a former rebel who beat a girl - the guy's niece - and his son. The fact is that this girl once dated a rebel. During his absence, she fell in love with another guy, whom she is still dating. Returning home, the rebel again began to pester this girl, and when she refused him, he beat her, and then her cousin. After some time, the rebel, late at night, approached the beaten lad’s hut and began calling him into the yard to “make peace.” No one came out of the hut and asked to come and make peace during the day. The rebel insisted and promised to throw a bomb through the window. Then the guy - the boy's father - shot at the rebel and wounded him. Now the rebel promises that after recovery he will kill the guy. Our people listened to all this and sent everyone home, warning the rebel that if he takes revenge, they will deal with him on his next visit. In a private conversation about this matter, Nestor acquitted the rebel.

March 14th. Today we moved to Bolshaya Mikhailovka. One communist was killed here. We moved to Gavrilovka. Leaving B. Mikhailovka on March 15, they killed a Mikhailovsky rebel in the forest for the robberies and violence that he committed in his village. In Gavrilovka we took Fenya with us and went to Andreevka, where we spent the night.

March 16.In the morning we left for Komar. We had just left the village when we received news that there was a detachment of cadets in Marienthal who killed one of our boys and fired at the rest who came there to exchange horses. Our people decided to immediately go to this farm and beat the cadets. The horsemen immediately separated and went around. I and the boys were riding along the right flank. Approaching the farm, we saw several horsemen and foot soldiers jump out of the farm and start running. They quickly entered the village and began to fire at the huts. Those running away were caught up and killed on the spot. Someone set fire to the straw from the edge. Bombs were thrown at several huts. It was all over quickly. It turned out that there was no detachment here, but a local armed organization, which killed our Cossack. Marienthal paid dearly for this thoughtless murder - almost all the men with the exception of the very old and the very young, they were killed, it is said that there are women who died; For about an hour our boys felt like masters of the farm, they took a lot of horses and other things. Leaving the farm, in the steppe, in the weeds, they found two people who hid here with rifles. They were chopped down. We arrived in Komar. Here the Greeks gave us one German, who, in hiding, crossed the river and hid with them. He was also finished off.
It was sunny, warm and dry outside. After lunch, we all went for a walk to the river. A dead man lay on the shore. Many people gathered around him. When we appeared on the shore, people's attention was drawn to us. We approached the boats. Here people often went to the other side and did not let the water freeze, while there was ice on both sides of the narrow water path. We got into the boat and moved to the other side. After standing for a while, we returned back. We fooled around a little under the shore, sprayed someone with water and went home. Then we learned that 20 versts from us in the village. Andreevka, Bakhmut volost, has a Bolshevik punitive detachment. The next day they decided to measure their strength with him.

March 17. In the morning we went to Bogatyr and further to Andreevka. In Andreevka there really was a 3rd company of the 22nd punitive regiment. When, having left Bogatyr, crossing the Volchya River, on the other side near the mill on the hill they noticed two cavalrymen, who, noticing us, very quickly moved towards Andreevka.
Our cavalry, led by our father, rushed forward. When we approached the village, shooting immediately started. I also stitched up the machine gun. The cavalry rushed into the village, the infantry remained far behind. Soon we were told that our people had captured about 40 people. We entered the village and on the road we saw a bunch of people sitting, and some standing and undressing. Around them were our lads on horseback and on foot.
These were prisoners. They were stripped before being shot. When they undressed, they were ordered to tie each other's hands. They were all Great Russians, young healthy guys. After driving a little, we stopped. There was a corpse lying under the fence along the road. Here on the corner stood a villager with a chaise drawn by four, on which was a machine gun taken from the Reds. There was another cart with rifles right there. Our boys were milling around and many villagers had gathered. The villagers watched as the prisoners were first undressed, and then they began to take them out one by one and shoot them. Having shot several in this way, the rest were lined up and cut to pieces with a machine gun. One started to run. They caught up with him and killed him.
The villagers stood and watched. They looked and rejoiced. They told how these days the detachment ruled their village. Drunk people drive around the villages, demand that the best dishes be prepared for them, beat the villagers with whips, beat them and do not allow them to speak. After standing here for a while, we went to the center. There were many villagers here. They were given leaflets and held a rally.
We stopped around the yards for one or two hours to feed the very tired horses. As soon as we had a little snack, we looked - the boys were leading us into the yard of a small gray groomed horse. It was the boys who returned, who chased after those who were running away, killed them, killed the commander, and brought his skate to show us. After standing for a while and feeding the horses, we moved to Bogatyr to spend the night...

18th of March.We held a rally here. Three people were arrested following a denunciation, but the Greeks began to ardently defend them, and we released them. We left Comrade Ogarkin here for organization and went to Bolshaya Yanisel. Here we met Comrade Lashkevich. The meeting was very joyful. Everyone kissed him, hugged him, asked questions. We told him how we lived, asked him how he escaped from the communists. The first joy of the meeting passed. We started talking about business. The fact is that, leaving the Christmas holidays with. Gulyai-Polye, Comrade Lashkevich took with him 4.5 million total money. They asked him about them. He hesitated and said that I will tell you where I put them. Meanwhile, former Greek partisans began to approach the headquarters and tell with indignation what a riotous life Lashkevich led, throwing money around as he wanted, throwing balls, parties, making rich gifts to his mistresses,
A commission was created that would investigate this case and demand a report from Lashkevich. The investigation and interrogation of Comrade Lashkevich showed that out of 4.5 million he only had one hundred and five thousand rubles left. Having made a report, Comrade Lashkevich invited us all to his place to eat a new Greek dish, chir-chiri, or pasties. Me and Fenya went. Nestor went to bed early and refused. Our boys also refused. We arrived and found the Old Man and Budanov there. We met the owner, a very nice Greek. We drank a glass, tried chir-chiri, which we really liked, and went our separate ways. Lashkevich accompanied us home and carried a plate of pasties for dad. At our house we played “the fool” again and went our separate ways.

March 19. Today the boys went to Lashkevich for the remaining money and immediately wanted to arrest him. However, he seemed so pitiful to them that they decided not to touch him for now.
Nestor, Budanov, Petrenko and the rest went to the village. Hold a rally at the time, which is nearby. It was clear and warm outside. We all went outside. Soon Lashkevich also arrived. He went straight to the boys. They greeted him coldly and reluctantly answered his questions. He crossed over to this side of the street, towards us. I said hello. He asked where the boys were. He promised to get me a document and help me find an apartment right there in Yanisel. I agreed and gave him instructions, knowing that this man would be shot in half an hour or an hour. He politely apologized and walked away from us. I was getting ready to go home. Vasilevsky called him, took him by the arm, and led him. He was arrested and the patrol was moved. Soon dad and the others arrived. People gathered in the center. Lashkevich’s hands were tied and taken to the square to be shot. Gavrik, having told him why, took aim and cocked the gun. Misfire. The second time was also a misfire. Lashkevich started to run away. The rebels standing right there fired a second salvo at him. He is running. Then Lepetchenko chased after him and shot him down with bullets from a revolver. When he fell, and Lepetchenko came up to put the last bullet in his head, he looked at him and said: “But he lived…”
A few minutes later they brought in another rebel, who quickly became rich, and was immediately shot in the street. After this, a meeting was held, where they explained about the execution of these two. The villagers were satisfied. Some of the villagers spoke out: “It’s clear that there is a law here, but don’t touch someone else’s…” In the evening I said goodbye to the boys and moved to the village. Temporarily, where I think I’ll stay for a while.

20th of March. Today in a new apartment. We begin a settled life with Fenya. We clean, wash, patch up all day. Before lunch we went for a walk. Let's go to the river. I was terribly drawn to my own people. The thought flashed that they were still in Yanisel. My soul felt somehow sad and heavy...
We returned home. Suddenly we look - from under last year’s leaves a blue flower has broken through and blossomed, and there is a second, a third. We began to collect these first spring flowers (we call them brandushes) - harbingers of imminent warmth and sunshine. Immediately my soul felt lighter and my heart more cheerful. We picked flowers and returned home... Today seemed like a very long day.

21 March. We got up late. It's bad weather outside: wind and rain all day. We read a little, wrote a little, then talked for an hour with the owners. It turns out that the villagers know that I stayed here.

March 22. Bad weather. My soul is empty and sad. Quiet, gray, monotonous days have come for me. Complete peace of mind and body, just as I wanted.

March 23. Good weather. The sun is shining and is already warming up a little. It would have been quite warm if the terrible wind had not been blowing. Before lunch we went for a run along the shore and took a walk. We picked flowers again.
The owner where we live is very worried - today he heard that there are communists in Pavlovka who are taking bread and other things from the villagers. The residents of Yanisel and Veremeyev are very alarmed and frightened by this news. Not today - tomorrow we need to wait here for terrible guests who will come to rob the peasants' property obtained through hard work. The Pavlovians sent two men in pursuit of Old Man Makhno, so that he would come with his detachment and help the villagers drive away the Russian robbers and rapists.
Considering that Yanisel, Veremeevka and Neskuchnoye know that I stayed here, and that the communists could quickly be here, the owner advises us to leave here. We postponed this matter until tomorrow morning.

March 24.This morning we left the village in one cart, outside the village we transferred to another cart in the direction of Kremenchik, and along the way we decided to go to Uspenovka, and then to the Shiroky farm to see teacher Lisa. And so they did. There were two horses in the cart, and they were thin and small, like foals. They barely pulled us along. But the road is difficult, and not close - it will be 40 miles. Our driver stopped by to visit a farmer, an acquaintance of his, harnessed the third horse, and we drove off slowly. It was cloudy and looked like it was going to rain. A cold breeze was blowing. We drove for more than six hours. Wrapped in tents, dressed in white peasant jackets, we felt warm and cheerful on the way. It was fun because we had lost our fearful owner, who was afraid for us and especially at night made himself and us so panicky that sleep completely fled from our eyes, and the night turned into endless torture, the torture of fear of the coming of the communists. It was fun because we so well hid the traces of the direction where we went, it was fun because our horses ran so poorly, and because the harness of the harness horse broke, and because in our casings we were so We looked like peasant aunts that probably even our own people wouldn’t have recognized us - in a word, we had fun with everything, and we laughed almost the whole way. And our driver was a cheerful guy, and as soon as we fell silent, he would definitely throw something out and make us laugh again. We had fun with everything, and we laughed almost the whole way. And our driver was a cheerful guy, and as soon as we fell silent, he would definitely throw something out and make us laugh again. We had fun with everything, and we laughed almost the whole way. And our driver was a cheerful guy, and as soon as we fell silent, he would definitely throw something out and make us laugh again.
Just outside the village of Shirokiy we met Lisa, who was on her way to Uspenovka. She switched to our cart and we arrived at school. Her apartment was in terrible chaos and cold. All three of us immediately set about putting things in order. This one sweeps, that one washes, this one drowns... Well, I began to have fun, and I began to jump around like a child. In the evening, Lisa begged the peasant women for pillows and a mattress, we had dinner, lay down on the floor and lay down. They talked until 12 at night. Some people dozed off when Fene gets up and resolutely declares that there is a fire in the house and that she has a severe headache. I also got up and felt that not everything was all right with my head. We all got up, opened the window and the door, and went out into the yard. After walking in the yard for about an hour and airing the room, we settled down again.

March 25. Everyone got up at ten o'clock healthy. Only our room was very cold. Lisa went to Uspenovka, and Fenya and I began to manage. After lunch Lisa arrived. In Uspenovka they say that there are Makhnovists in Gulyai-Polye and that in Zherebka the communists drove the villagers out to dig trenches. We waited the whole evening for Pavlusha Lepetchetnko, who promised to come in the evening, but he was not there.

26 March. Yesterday we talked for a long time and woke up today at about 8. There are clouds outside, it’s pouring rain, I don’t want to get up. We stayed in bed until 10. After lunch it started to rain. Fenya and I cleaned up the house, and Liza kept running around the farm begging the villagers for bread, a water bucket, or straw... In the evening we read and talked...

March 27. Today we also got up a bit late. They distributed the housework among themselves. Lisa is with us mainly for food matters. Fenya tidies up the rooms, and I light the stove. After breakfast, Lisa and I went for a walk. We went outside and saw an estate on the hills. They came, and everyone looked around, broke green branches in the garden, found a couple of pigeon nests in one barn, visited all the attics, examined all the rooms, cellars, gardens, in a word, everything that was there. We came home tired and hungry. We found Fenya with three young women and talked about this and that. We laughed a little with them, I told one of them a fortune on a card, warning that I would lie. We had lunch like that. After lunch I had a severe headache. She stayed there until evening. In the evening, girls and boys gathered near the school. I really regretted that I couldn’t go out to them.

March 28. Sunday. Today is Sunday. We were still in bed when some boy brought us breakfast. We got up. It is typical that all the villagers eat fast, but for us, knowing that we eat modestly, some housewife baked modest pancakes with eggs, boiled some eggs and sent them over. We sat down to have breakfast when one young woman brought us fresh bagels. After having breakfast and cleaning up everywhere, we went out to the gate. Guys and men approached us. We talked to them about this and that. One man was traveling to Uspenovka, and Lisa sat with him. The men and I walked for about two hours, got cold and went to the hut.”