Born: 9 January 1897, Ukraine
Died: 23 March 1978
Country most active: Ukraine
Also known as: Галина Андріївна Кузьменко, Agafya Andriivna Kuzmenko
The following bio was written by Emma Rosen, author of On This Day She Made History: 366 Days With Women Who Shaped the World and This Day In Human Ingenuity & Discovery: 366 Days of Scientific Milestones with Women in the Spotlight, and has been republished with permission.
Halyna Kuzmenko, a Ukrainian teacher and anarcho-feminist revolutionary, was known for her significant role in the Makhnovshchina movement, which aimed to establish a libertarian communist society in southern Ukraine. After she graduated from the Women Teachers Seminary in Dobrovelychkivka, Kuzmenko taught Ukrainian history and language in Huliaipole, actively promoting Ukrainian culture.
In 1919, she met Nestor Makhno and eventually became his wife, playing a vital role in the Makhnovist movement, fighting within the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine as a machine gun operator. Kuzmenko passionately advocated for women’s rights, education, and Ukrainization. She led educational initiatives, worked to increase the use of the Ukrainian language in Makhnovist publications, and supported Ukrainian nationalism.
Due to political repression in Ukraine, Kuzmenko and Makhno fled into exile in 1921, settling in Paris after a tumultuous journey. Their relationship eventually soured, leading to their divorce. During World War II, they were captured by the Nazis and later the Soviets, enduring forced labor and imprisonment.
Halyna Kuzmenko spent her later years in Kazakhstan, passing away on March 23, 1978.