“The Oath of a Soldier of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army” is a legislative document of the Ukrainian underground during World War II prepared by the OUN and the Main Command of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The oath was taken by UPA soldiers.
The text of the document was approved at the constituent Great Assembly of the Ukrainian Main Liberation Council on July 11–15, 1944 near the village of Spryna (Lviv region) and published in the magazine “Povstanets” in November 1944. The oath came into force according to the order of the Main Military Headquarters of the UPA of July 19, 1944. The order was accompanied by instructions on the procedure for drawing up the oath and holding relevant festive events.
The oath was first taken by soldiers of three companies (sotnia): “Zmii”, “Bulava” and “Levy”. The event took place on August 5, 1944 with the participation of representatives of the UPA top leadership and the clergy. The ceremony was conducted by the chief of the Main Military Staff of the UPA. Soldiers could take the oath only after completing their training. The ceremony took place on a wide clearing. The soldiers of the company (sotnia) lined up in a square (an open quadrangle). After the oath was taken a priest conducted a Divine Service, a prayer service or a memorial service for the fallen insurgents and a choir sang. The ceremony ended with the performance of the hymn "Shche ne vmerla Ukrainy". The soldiers who took the oath signed a sheet with the text of this document.
On a rectangular sheet of paper one-sided printed text in black. At the top there is a Tryzub (Trident) and the title: "The Oath of a Soldier of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army". In the upper right corner, there is an inscription in pencil "233". On the back there are traces of restoration.