This striking historical photograph captures two insurgents from the Revolutionary Insurgent Army of Ukraine (led by the famous anarchist commander Nestor Makhno) holding their unit's black banner during the Ukrainian War of Independence (1917–1921).  
The banner features a prominent Totenkopf ("Adam's Head") symbol and a radical message written in Ukrainian.  
The inscription translates to:  
*"Death to all who stand in the way of freedom for the working people."*  
**Key Historical Details:**  


* **The Black Flag:** In political iconography, the black color represents **anarchism** and the rejection of all state authorities, whether Red (Bolsheviks) or White (Monarchists).
* **The Skull and Crossbones:** Far from being a pirate flag, in this context, the skull symbolized a vow of absolute defiance — a commitment to fight to the death for their autonomy and the total destruction of oppressors.
* **The Language:** The text is written with regional, period-specific Ukrainian spelling (using "пиришкоді" instead of the modern "перешкоді"), which highlights the grassroots, peasant origins of the movement.

Today, this specific image remains one of the most recognizable and raw visual symbols of anti-authoritarian rebellion and radical freedom from that era. 

A rare photo of Ukrainian Makhnovist anarchists holding their iconic banner 1919-1920.