However, facing the refusal of viceroy Karl Georg Huyn to surrender without the permission of Emperor Charles I, it was determined instead to launch a revolt and establish an independent state.

Originally planned for 3 November 1918, the Liquidation Committee's announcement that it intended to move its base of operations to Lemberg greatly hastened matters, with Vitovsky emotionally declaring before the council on 31 October 1918, "If we do not take Lviv tonight, then the Poles will take it tomorrow.

As no flag had been sewn before the uprising, Mariia Lazorko, Vitovsky's wife, made one from fabrics found in the trades building.

Representing the Austro-Hungarians was Volodymyr Detsykevych [uk],[4] as Huyn stepped down from his position so as to avoid working without the orders of Emperor Charles.

Other cities throughout eastern Galicia, such as Stanislaviv, voluntarily chose to come under the control of the Ukrainian National Council at this time.

In the city's Rome Coffee Shop, located on 25 Academic Street [uk], a Ukrainian soldier was beaten to near-death by Poles.