[8] This eventually resulted in an agreement between the two, which reaffirmed the purview of the VRS as being in "administrative, economic, and financial matters", while the insurgent army itself would concentrate on "military affairs.

[13] However, this Congress would never take place, as a Red Army attack against Dibrivka [uk] on 11 June resulted in the capture and execution of a number of VRS members by the Cheka.

[15] With the only crucial tactical decisions having been made before its establishment, the second VRS was constituted while on the retreat to Uman and its role was largely confined to propaganda work.

[22] Alexandre Skirda wrote that "[t]his practice on the part of the insurgents is a good illustration of their approach; they took the lead in eliminating state power used by Whites, Reds or any other hegemony-seeking faction, before inviting workers to get on with self-organization.

"[23] The third VRS also edited the Makhnovists' official organ The Road to Freedom and published their Draft Declaration of the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine,[24] which elaborated on the "free soviets" as the basis of a "transitional period" towards libertarian communism.

[25] The VRS envisaged the "free soviets" as laying the groundwork for an eventual "All-Ukrainian Labour Congress", which would result from the self-determination of Ukrainian workers.

[27] In July and August 1920, the fourth VRS attempted to propose a ceasefire and military alliance with the Red Army, but they received no reply, leaving the Makhnovshchina to effectively fall under the control of the White movement.