The fate of our compatriots in the first half of the last century was tragic, and the events of those years are still shrouded in mystifications. One of the darkest pages in history was the destruction of Yaroslavl by the Red Army in July 1918. Today, this has started to be discussed, and a film titled "Revolt" has even been made, but the full truth has yet to be revealed.

The Yaroslavl Uprising began in early July and was organized by the combat group "Union for the Defense of the Motherland and Freedom" under the leadership of former Socialist Revolutionary Boris Savinkov. It was planned that power would be seized simultaneously in other cities of Upper Volga, with particular hopes for success in Rybinsk, Murom, and Kostroma, where there were also cells of the "Union." In Yaroslavl, the "Union" had only 105 members, and the chances of success were slim, despite the skilled command of Colonel Alexander Petrovich Perkhurov, who became the military leader of the uprising. Interestingly, ideological differences did not hinder former Socialist Revolutionary Savinkov and the officers of Perkhurov, who were mostly monarchists. Everyone was striving for the success of the common cause.

On the night of July 6, Colonel Perkhurov's detachment of 106 men, armed with only 12 revolvers, captured the arms depot and the Cheka building without resistance. No one engaged in battle except for the Special Communist detachment; Lieutenant Supotin's armored division and local militiamen led by their commander switched sides to the rebels, while the 1st Soviet Infantry Regiment declared neutrality.

By noon on July 6, Yaroslavl was almost entirely under the control of the insurgents. Local residents dealt with the Bolshevik leaders David Solomonovich Zakgeym and Semyon Mikhailovich Nakhimson, known for their cruelty. Upon learning of these executions, Colonel Perkhurov prohibited reprisals against prisoners and stated the necessity of respecting personal inviolability. He also issued an order to create the Northern Volunteer Army and took command of the troops, which were to submit to General Alexeyev after victory.

Thus began one of the most famous uprisings of the Civil War, which ended in tragedy, about which even today one can only speak with horror.