Nil Chasevyč

Childhood and youth

Family of Khasevych (from left): Theodotia Khasevych, Fedir Khasevych, Nil Khasevych і Anton Khasevych. 1910th

Nil Khasevych was born November 25 (November 12 Old Style) 1905 in the village Dyuksyn (uk) in Volhynia, now Kostopil Raion, Rivne Oblast, Ukraine (by old administrative division — Rivne district (uk), Volhynian Governorate, Russian Empire) in a family of psalomnyk Anton Ivanovych Khasevych and his wife Theodotia Oleksiivna. Brothers Anatoly and Fedir also become priests, so no wonder that Nil also studied at seminary.

Besides talent for drawing, Khasevych has also a good voice.

In 1918, returning from Rivne, at the Derazhniansky railway crossing he with his mother fell under a train — mother died, and he lost a leg. As Neil could cut a variety of wood crafts, we had fashioned own prosthesis.

Education and creativity

With friends in the Warsaw studios. 1930th

After treatment, he attended a workshop of Vasyl Len in Rivne. In 1925 has made an external exam and received a certificate of Rivne Gymnasium. And from 1925 to 1926 worked as an assistant iconographer. Money received as compensation for the accident, used to study at the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts. The young man graduated from the graphic department, he studied painting with Professors Miłosz Kotarbiński (pl) and Mieczysław Kotarbiński (pl), and graphics — with Professor Władysław Skoczylas.

In Warsaw then worked a small circle of Ukrainian artists and students in the Academy, who founded the Society Calm (circle) (uk), which included N. Khasevych, P. Andrusiy, V. Vaskivskyy, S. Drychyk, V. Zvarych, Petro Holodny (uk), V. Havryliuk and Petro Mehyk (uk). From memories of the last about his countryman:

In 1930 he belonged to the student union "Zaporizhzhya". Defending a diploma work on theme "Saint Volodymyr", in 1935 Nil received a diploma of higher art education with the right of teaching in secondary schools. With the beginning of World War II he returned to his village. But even in 1931 his painting "Laundry" was awarded with "Vatican" prize, and next year — portrait of Hetman Ivan Mazepa — by Warsaw Academy diploma.

Reflecting on the specifics of art, Nil Khasevych will make a record on February 24, 1933:

In order to study this language, Neal Hasevych by hand with quill pen copied Peresopnytsia Gospel. In the process mastered the Cyrillic font.

Gradually moving from oil painting to graphics prints and begins to engage engravings, and rather — woodcut (derevorizamy). In the early 1930s, Neil Hasevych exhibited in art salons of Lviv, Prague, Berlin, Chicago, Los Angeles. In 1937 gets a third cash prize at the international exhibition of engravings on a wood in Warsaw. For two years there comes from printing art album "Book marks of Nil Khasevych". This year in the American city of Philadelphia was released art album «Ex libris of Nil Khasevych". However, the artist collaborates with the Ukrainian magazine "The Way" and "Volyn word". The artist tirelessly polished professional skills. His portraits of Prince Volodymyr the Great, bookplate of the president of UNR in exile Andriy Livytskyi, a series of works in the anthology "Woodcuts" was highly appreciated by experts. He is compared to Ivan Trush, Heorhiy Narbut, Vasyl Krychevsky.

Activity in OUN

Crosses of Merit, project № 1

Khasevych was a successful artist and could easily live with this. Nil Khasevych was an active public and political figure, member of Volhynia Ukrainian association (uk) (from 1935). He was a delegate to the Regional Congress of VUO in 1935 in Lutsk. He was personally acquainted with Stepan Bandera and other Ukrainian leaders of national movement. He was a member of central and regional OUN leadership, later joined Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council (UHVR). But the impending world war and the fate put him a choice. Along with the work he is engaged in social and political activities: take part of the Volhynia Ukrainian association, and later joined the OUN. Since April 1943, when groups of UPA was formed in mass, artist joined the underground work. He was elected to the central and regional leadership of OUN.

From that time began a nomadic life. Work in Kriivka (uk), constant change of location, the constant danger. He was known by pseudonyms Bay-Zot, Levko, Rybalka, 333, Stary, Dzhmil. Nil Antonovych was a talented propagandist who led insurgency printing house, worked as an artist and editor, preparing illustrations for satirical magazines of UPA «Ukrainian pepper» and «Horseradish», designed the pappus, leaflets, underground publication, released an album of caricatures. The artist also worked on projects of flags, seals, forms for insurgents. During 1943—1944  led politically-propagandists unit of UP "North" group, commanded by Klym Savur (Dmytro Klyachkivskyy). After the death of his friend and leader Khasevych remained on combat post for another seven years. Portfolio of war and post-war era — 150 woodcuts, which issued overseas in albums "Volhynia in the fight" and "Graphics in UPA bunkers" (1950—1952).

In 1941 he became a member of the labor union Lviv Ukrainian Fine Arts and works with Rivne Magazine "Volhynia" with Ulas Samchuk. In Nazi-occupied Lviv in 1942—1943 was held an exhibition of Ukrainian artists in which Nil Khasevych exhibited the work of patriotic themes "Sleep, guys, sleep".

In June 1948 Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council (UHVR) introduced awards for illegals, which earned them with a personal courage. In particular "Zot" created sketches of the Cross of Merit and Cross of Combat Merit and medal "For the fight in especially difficult circumstances". Subsequently, the author was awarded the Silver Cross of Merit and Medal and elected to UHVR from Ukrainian intelligentsia. Few know about who he really is, what he is doing and where he currently is. He was carried from hiding to hiding by bicycle.

Circumstances of death

And in 1951 from the capital of Soviet Union was sent an order — «to suppress anti-Soviet activities» (Russian: пресечь антисоветскую деятельность) of Khasevych, because the engraving from underground hit to the delegates of the United Nations General Assembly and foreign diplomats), and then were published in the aforementioned book "Graphics in UPA bunkers". To search for the artist was established inter oblast task force, led by GB Captain Borys Steklyar. It also included captain Markelov and Kudrytskyi. To the trail of "Zot" secret police came several times. Once in Lviv through citizen M., who hid in his place personal archive of Nil Khasevych (hid them in a glass jar and buried in the garden), "Organs" tried to lure and capture him, but no avail. Later, in one of the captured bunkers they found encrypted documents. When deciphered it, they read:

(from which printing cliches for producing cards and prints was made). Ciphering pointed an address: bunker on a farm near village Suhivtsi (Rivne region) (uk) (then Rivne Raion, Rivne Oblast, Ukrainian SSR, Soviet Union), which is 12 km from the town of Klevan Rivne Oblast. Khutir was surrounded.

Kryyivka was equipped at homesteading. The hidden entrance to the cave was located in a barn near the wood. The bunker itself was relatively spacious, had three quarters. Here took place last fight of Khasevych and two rebels who guarded him with gebists. From the book of Teodor Gladkov «With shield and sword» (Russian: Со щитом и мечом), which was published in 1988 in Lviv Publisher «Kameniar (publisher) (uk)», We know the details of death of artist and warrior.

According to other date, Nil Khasevych shot himself with personal weapons, along with his two bodyguards — Vyacheslav Antoniuk — «Matthew» and Anton Melnychuk — «Hnat», burning before all important documents.

From the memoirs of Dmytro Udod former UPA soldier:

After three days the rebels dead bodies were taken to an unknown destination.

Julius Holovatsky (uk), ukrainian writer, member of the national liberation movement for the independence of Ukraine and political prisoner, wrote an essay "Barrel" in 1956, which was published in parts in 1996—1998, which also described the death of Nil Khasevych:

World War II decimated virtually all his relatives: his father and younger brother Anatoly was killed, older Fedir died in a Soviet concentration camp Beloborodovo near Tomsk.

In 1947 died his beloved woman, who was a liaison in the Lutsk resistance. There are left her portraits, painted in April 1945.

During 1931–1944  participant of art exhibitions, including:

• 1931–1932 — exhibitions in Lviv, Prague, Berlin.
• 1932–1933 — exhibitions in Chicago and Los Angeles.

• Book marks of Nil Khasevych. — Warsaw, 1939.
• Ex libris of Nil Khasevych. — Philadelphia, 1939.
• Графіка в бункрах УПА. Альбом дереворитів виконаних в Україні в роках 1947—1950 мистця українського підпілля Ніла Хасевича—"Бей-Зота" та його учнів. — Филаделфія, 1952. (Ukrainian)
• Nil Khasevych (1905—1952). Album. — Lviv, 2010.

In 1931 Nil Khasevych was awarded the honorary award "Vatican" for the painting "Laundry", and in 1932 — Honorary Diploma of the Warsaw Academy of Fine Arts for a portrait "Mazepa".

In 1948 UHVR awarded him with the Silver Cross of Merit and the Medal "For the fight in especially difficult circumstances" (uk).

Nil Khasevych devoted his life to Ukraine, he never thought of himself, never asked anything for himself. UHVR offered him to cross to the West, but he refused. Where is his grave — is unknown.

There are Nil Khasevych Street (uk) in Kostopil, Lviv, Lutsk, Rivne, Kovel, Volodymyr-Volynskyi and Pervomaisk of Mykolaiv Oblast.

In 1992 on the death spot of Nil Khasevych in Suhsvtsy of Rivne Raion was installed a memorial sign (artist Valeriy Voytovych (uk)).

Also there is a monument to the Nil Khasevych in Rivne on the Directory Street (uk).

SBU in Volyn Oblast, in the early 1990s gave a selection of original woodcuts of Nil Khasevych preserved in the archives, to a regional ethnographic museum in Lutsk.

And December 26, 2008 the Security Service of Ukraine transferred to permanent storage at the memorial complex "The National Museum of Ukraine in World War II" 103 original prints of Nil Khasevych and wooden printing blocks for their production, which remained in the storages of the KGB.

The fate of the Nil Khasevych was filmed in the movie "Gain or not to be" (writer, director Mykhailo Tkachuk (uk)).

The official website of Kostopolsky RDA offers two tours related to the life and work of Nil Khasevych — «Nil Khasevych — artist-fighter» (introduces the birthplace of graphic artist) and «Ways of Ukrainian Insurgent Army» (introduces the rebel movement in Kostopil region, including his native village).

Resolution № 184-VIII of Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine from February 11, 2015 set celebration of 110 years since the birth of graphic artist at the state level.

In Rivne region was esteblished Award of Nil Khasevych. The first winner of it in 2016 became painter and graphic artist Yevhen Chorny.

• Ukrainian Underground Art
• Ніл Хасевич. Найживіша галузь мистецтва. Твори. — Рівне, Азалія, 2009. (Ukrainian)
• Галерея мистецтв — Хасевич Ніл (Ukrainian)
• «Український перець», Листопад 1943 (Ukrainian)
• «Український перець», Вересень 1944 (Ukrainian)
• «Український перець», Березень 1945 (Ukrainian)
• Агітація і пропаганда УПА: плакати, листівки та облігації (Ніл Хасевич) (Ukrainian)
• Гроші УПА — графічні шедеври Ніла Хасевича. (Ukrainian)

• Ніл Хасевич. Людина, яка створила візуальний образ УПА (Ukrainian)
• За повстанським художником Нілом Хасевичем радянські спецслужби полювали до березня 1952-го (Ukrainian)
• Сергій Гупало. Головний художник УПА (Ukrainian)
• Сергій Гупало. Лицар свободи (Ukrainian)
• Ігор Островський . Півтисячі кроків (Ukrainian)
• Графіка з бункера (Ukrainian)
• Сергій Шевченко, Дмитро Вєдєнєєв. Розвідник «Ярема» і підпільник «Зот» (Ukrainian)
• Василь Черняк. «Я б'юся різцем і долотом» (Ukrainian)

Borys Yukhymovych Steklyar (KGB colonel, in 1976 he retired from the post of Head of Department of the KGB of USSR in Rivne region then led the "Intourist" in Rivne region, Rivne branch chairman of the public association "Union of veterans of Ukraine"), involved in the deaths of many of the rebels, even in 2016, is an influential figure in the SBU. In an interview with Russian media said, in particular,:

Also filed a lawsuit to prohibit disclosing his personal file as NKVD and KGB officer and documents testifying to his participation in the elimination of UPA soldiers.

• Дмитрієнко М. Хасевич Ніл Антонович // Енциклопедія історії України : у 10 т. / редкол.: В. А. Смолій (голова) та ін. ; Інститут історії України НАН України. — К. : Наук. думка, 2013. — Т. 10 : Т — Я. — С. 362—363. — ISBN 978-966-00-1359-9. (Ukrainian)
• Енциклопедія українознавства : Словникова частина : [в 11 т.] / Наукове товариство імені Шевченка ; гол. ред. проф., д-р Володимир Кубійович. — Париж ; Нью-Йорк : Молоде життя ; Львів ; Київ : Глобус, 1955—2003. (Ukrainian)
• Малімон Н. Ніл Хасевич — повернення по-луцьки // Віче. — 2011. — 26 травн. — С. 3, 10. (Ukrainian)
• Ніл Хасевич (1905—1952 рр.): альбом / Упорядн. та авт. тексту Богуслав Любів. — Львів : Панорама, 2010. (Ukrainian)
• Ніл Хасевич. Воїн. Митець. Легенда: ілюстрований альбом / Упорядн. та авт. тексту Андрій Криштальський. — Луцьк : ВМА «Терен», 2011. — 100 с. (Ukrainian)
• Сердюк Валерій. Ніл Хасевич — художник і воїн // Урядовий кур'єр. — 2005. — 2 груд. (Ukrainian)
• Ткачук М. Документальний фільм «Здобути або не бути», 1992. (Ukrainian)
• Іван Андрусяк про Дмитра Туптала (святого Димитрія Ростовського), Григорія Квітку-Основ'яненка, Тараса Шевченка, Ніла Хасевича, Олексу Довбуша / І. Андрусяк. — К. : Грані-Т, 2008. — 96 с. — («Життя видатних дітей»). — ISBN 978-966-2923-77-3. (Ukrainian)
• Бычковская Л. Мы бросили внутрь бункера несколько гранат. Через некоторое время начали доставать оттуда тела и вещи… // Факты. — 2016. — № 164 (4623) (28 сент.). — С. 12. (Суд да дело) (Russian)
• Теодор Гладков. Со щитом и мечом. — Львів : Каменяр, 1988. (Ukrainian)
• Ніл Хасевич — провідник Зот // Dmytro Vyedyenyeyev (uk), Serhii Shevchenko Ukrainian Solovki (uk). — Київ : ЕксОб, 2001. — С. 191—199. — ISBN 966-7769-06-02 (Ukrainian)