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How did the 1917 Revolution in Ukraine turn into a properly Ukrainian revolution? Ruling out explanations that stress only the strength of local nationalism and the impetus granted by the period’s revolutionary rhythm, this article shall explain how the outlying territories of the former Russian Empire gradually distanced themselves from the centre. We shall instead focus on the Provisional Government’s repeated refusals to accommodate the cultural and political autonomy of Ukraine, which thus forced Ukrainian revolutionaries to become opponents rather than partners. At the same time, this article underscores the limits of this separation : land distribution remained incomplete, the country still had to shoulder the burden of the Army, the rights of minorities were not fully guaranteed, and Bolshevik subversion remained an issue.