FORMATION AND ACTIVITIES OF RUSIN-UKRAINIAN SOCIETIES IN THE KINGDOM OF SERBS, CROATS AND SLOVENES IN THE INTERWAR PERIOD

The article describes the formation and activities of Rusin-Ukrainian public organisations in the Kingdom of the Serbs, Croats and Slovenes in the interwar period, with a focus on the Rusin People's Society "Prosvita" (Novy Sad),"Domagoy" (Zagreb), the Ukrainian Student Community (Zagreb), the Ukrainian Community in Belgrade, etc. The author identifies the difficulties faced by the Rusin-Ukrainian organisations in their social life. The most common problem was the shortage of educated people, especially in rural areas.There were not so many members of the intelligentsia among immigrants: those educated people who emigrated to the Balkans settled in cities, where they usually worked in the local administration. Despite all the difficulties, the Rusin-Ukrainian social activites in the Yugoslav Kingdom lead to their image of a separate nation, seeking to restore their statehood, preserve their language and faith. The officials of the Kingdom began to form their stance on the so-called "Ukrainian question", they had not heard of or misunderstood before.The cultural work organized by the Rusin-Ukrainian organisations improved their financial situation, which always remained relevant for migrants.