Ukrainian Scouting-Plast was organized in the western part of Ukraine, in Galicia in 1911. Gradually, the Scout Movement spread to other parts of Ukraine. At the end of World War I, Ukraine was divided into four parts. The eastern two-thirds of the country became part of the Soviet Union. Most of western Ukraine (Galicia and Volyn’) were annexed by Poland. Ukrainian Bucovyna found itself part of Rumania, while the Transcarpathian lands became part of Czechoslovakia constituting the province of Carpatho-Ukraine.

The first Ukrainian Scouting-Plast unit in Transcarpathia was organized in 1921 in the town of Berehiv. Soon Plast units appeared in other towns and villages of Transcarpathia.

Ukrainian Scouting-Plast in Transcarpathia was part of the Czechoslovak Scout Movement. Every year Plast organized numerous summer camps. The first one was held in 1923, in the village of Bovtsary. In 1933, 60 "plastuny" (Scouts of Plast) took part in the World Scout Jamboree in Hungary.

The occupation of Transcarpathia by the Nazis in 1939 put an end to Ukrainian Scouting in that region. No Plast-Scouting (or any other form of Scouting) was permitted during the Soviet period (1945-1991).

For 80 years, Ukrainian Scouts were not able to participate were unable to participate officially in World Scout Jamborees, because Ukraine was not an independent country, but part of the Soviet Union which outlawed any Scouting organization or activity. However, Scouts of Ukraine did participate unofficially, mostly as members of delegations from other countries. Thus, at almost every World Scout Jamboree ever held, there were Scouts of Ukrainian Scouting Plast present, often in Plast uniform, carrying the blue-and-yellow flag of Ukraine.

A large delegation of Ukrainian Scouts took part in the first post-World-War-II Jamboree in Moisson, France, in 1947. They were part of the contingent of the so-called "Displaced-Persons" (D.P.) Scouts.

As soon as Ukraine became an independent country by proclaiming its independence on August 24, 1991, the original Ukrainian Scouting organization, Plast, was registered as an official Scouting organization of the country. Later, many other Scouting-type organizations were organized in various provinces of the country. Most of them are now working with Plast.

As an officially-registered "Scouting of Ukraine," Plast and its allied organizations have applied for membership in the brotherhood International Scouting, the World Organization of the Scout Movement (WOSM).

In 1995, Ukraine was officially invited, for the first time in history, to take part in a World Scout Jamboree, which was held in 1995 in the Netherlands. The Ukrainian delegation of 48 boy- and girl-Scouts included members of Plast, Skif, Crimean Scouts and other Scouting units in Ukraine.

Since that Jamboree, various Scouting organizations in Ukraine have organized a number of joint camps, leadership-training courses, and other events, in their plans to unite and form an All-Ukrainian Scouting Movement in Ukraine.

This year, the First All-Ukrainian Jamboree was held in Transcarpathia. It was organized by Plast as another joint Scouting event meant to further ties among the diverse Scouting organizations in present-day Ukraine. This diversity of Scouting organizations is a great strength of the Scouting Movement in Ukraine, because it provides opportunities for every child or young person, no matter what their race, religion, or ethnic background, to take part in Scouting activities. The Scout Movement is thus striving to promote unity and brotherhood among the citizens of Ukraine with its various religious ethnic groups.

LINKS TO UKRAINIAN SCOUTING-PLAST