Maidan People's Union

The All-Ukrainian Union "Maidan" (Ukrainian: Всеукраїнське об'єднання «Майдан») was a short-lived civic and political alliance formed during the Euromaidan protests in Ukraine. Established on 22 December 2013, it aimed to coordinate opposition efforts against the government of President Viktor Yanukovych. The organization became largely inactive after the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution and was formally dissolved later that year.^[2]

By creating a new Ukrainian constitution, and removing corrupt judges and prosecutors.^[1][3] It also aimed to organize opposition to the former regime led by the now disposed president Viktor Yanukovych and to coordinate a protest movement in all regions of the country.^[4] In practice, this means broadening support for the goals of the organization in the pro-government and pro-presidential heartland Eastern Ukraine.^[5]

During Euromaidan, the organization aimed to recruit millions of Ukrainians as members.^[6] According to co-head of the organization Arseniy Yatsenyuk, "it will be a little bit like the Solidarity movement in Poland".^[6]

On 30 November 2013, the opposition parties Batkivshchyna, UDAR , and Svoboda set up the National Resistance Headquarters.^[7][8] At the time, they controlled 168 seats of the 450 in the Verkhovna Rada (Ukraine's national parliament).^[9]

On 22 December 2013, the fifth ongoing week of the Euromaidan-protests (100,000 rallied in Kyiv^[10]), major opposition parties and non-partisans established a nationwide political movement called Maidan.^[1][3] "Maidan" refers to/is the nickname of Maidan Nezalezhnosti, where the Euromaidan-protests are centered.^[5][11] The movement has the aim of broadening support for Euromaidan in Eastern Ukraine where the support for the second Azarov government and President Viktor Yanukovych is centred.^[5] (At the first day of the movement) opposition leader Arseniy Yatsenyuk stated "Every person who wants a fair and honest future must be in favour of this movement".^[5] Since 24 December 2013 the organization started to accept membership.^[12]

Following the ousting of President Viktor Yanukovych in February 2014, the All-Ukrainian Union "Maidan" effectively ceased operations. Many of its members joined government positions, civic organizations, or new reform movements. Arseniy Yatsenyuk became Prime Minister of Ukraine, while Vitali Klitschko was elected Mayor of Kyiv in May 2014. The organization’s activities were informally absorbed into broader post-revolutionary political initiatives. ^[13]

Although short-lived, the All-Ukrainian Union "Maidan" played a pivotal role in uniting Ukraine’s opposition during the Euromaidan movement. Its structure inspired later civic movements such as Reanimation Package of Reforms and regional volunteer networks formed after the 2014 conflict in Eastern Ukraine. ^[14]

The organization set several goals:

• the formation of a new Constitution of Ukraine "that should make the Ukrainian people feel that they run the country"^[12]
• the formation of an action plan for Ukraine by forming groups for each policy sector, ranging from economical to foreign policy^[12]
• the formation of groups that provide legal, financial and organizational support to Euromaidan^[12] activists who are persecuted for participating in protests, particularly in Kharkiv and Odesa^[12]
• "participation and protection" of the 2014 Ukrainian presidential election^[12]
• establishing its branches in 20 regions^{[15][nb 1]}
• a strategy of Ukraine's development until 2025^[15]

Co-heads of the organization are Yulia Tymoshenko and Arseniy Yatsenyuk of Batkivshchyna, Vitali Klitschko of UDAR, Oleh Tyahnybok of Svoboda, President of National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy Serhiy Kvit, leader of the organization Third Ukrainian Republic Yuriy Lutsenko and singer Ruslana^[1]

The council of the organization includes Taras Boiko, Oleksiy Haran, Vasyl Hatsko, Ihor Zhdanov, Andriy Illyenko, Irena Karpa, Serhiy Kvit, Vyacheslav Kyrylenko, Ihor Koliushko, Vitali Klitschko, Ruslan Koshulynskyi, Ivan Krulko, Ruslana, Ihor Lutsenko, Yuriy Lutsenko, Maria Matios, Andriy Mokhnyk, Valeriy Patskan, Oleh Osukhovskyi, Oleksandr Polozhynskyi, Petro Poroshenko, Vitaly Portnikov, Serhiy Rakhmanin, Yehor Soboliev, Serhiy Sobolyev, Oleksandr Sushko, Viktoria Siumar, Borys Tarasyuk, Yulia Tymoshenko, Oleksandr Turchynov, Oleh Tyahnybok, Valeriy Chaly, Refat Chubarov, Viktor Chumak, Zorian Shkiriak, Yelyzaveta Schepetylnykova, and Arseniy Yatsenyuk.^[1]

• Official website (in Ukrainian)