The term "Makhnovist" refers to the followers of Nestor Makhno, a Ukrainian anarchist and revolutionary leader during the Ukrainian War of Independence (1917-1921). Makhno led a peasant army known as the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine, which fought against both the Bolsheviks and the White Army in the context of the Russian Civil War. The Makhnovists advocated for a stateless society based on anarchist principles, emphasizing self-governance and communal ownership. Makhnovism is characterized by its commitment to agrarian socialism and anti-authoritarianism. The movement sought to establish free soviets, or councils, where local communities could make decisions without centralized control. Despite their initial successes, the Makhnovists faced significant challenges, including betrayal by former allies, leading to the eventual suppression of their movement by the Bolsheviks.