Sich Riflemen songs arose among the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen (USS) — the legion that fought in 1914–1918 for Ukrainian statehood. Unlike anonymous folklore, many of them have authors — rifleman-poets and composers (Mykhailo Haivoronsky, Roman Kupchynsky, Levko Lepky).
These songs combined folk melody with marching energy and poignant lyricism. “Oi u luzi chervona kalyna,” “Chuyesh, brate miy,” “Hey, tam na hori Sich ide” (a 1902 song by Kyrylo Trylovsky, adopted by the Riflemen), “Zazhurylys halychanky” — they sang of fidelity to the homeland, of parting, heroism, and sacrifice. The Riflemen's song became a powerful symbol of Ukrainian national consciousness; “Chervona Kalyna” again rang out as an anthem of resilience during the full-scale war, uniting generations of fighters for freedom.
