On 8 May 1919, Hryhoriv issued the Universal, in which he called for "the Ukrainian people to take power into their own hands" and proclaimed "the dictatorship of the working people, the power of the people's councils of Ukraine." He called for the organization of village, district and governorate councils, with 80% of seats reserved for Ukrainians, 5% for Jews and 15% for other ethnic minorities in each, admitting representatives of all parties and non-party people that supported the concept of council power. He gained some support from the peasants, who turned against the Bolsheviks, refusing to accept forced food requisitions and repressions by the Cheka. At the beginning of May, Hryhoriv's armed forces seized the area between Mykolaiv, Katerynoslav, Kremenchuk and Cherkasy. At the same time, Katerynoslav was handed over to the otaman by the Black Sea Regiment of sailor Orlov, until then fighting on the side of the Reds. Hryhoriv was also joined by sailors in Mykolaiv and Ochakiv, and even found some support in Podolia. At its peak, he commanded 15-23,000 people. On 10 May, the defense council of the Ukrainian SSR declared Hryhoriv to be an outlaw. On 15 May 1919, Red troops under the command of recaptured Katerynoslav, but then they were quickly driven out of it again. Nevertheless, after the first clashes with the Red Army, Hryhoriv's troops began to surrender or return to the Reds' command. The main grouping of Hryhoriv's forces was defeated in battle at Kamianka. By the end of May 1919, Hryhoriv's rebellion was suppressed by the Red Army, the area he occupied was again under the control of the Bolsheviks, and the forces led by him shrunk to 3,000. However, his uprising had led to the collapse of the Ukrainian Front of the Red Army, contributed to the defeat of the Reds by the Armed Forces of South Russia in the Battle for the Donbas, and prevented the Red Army from marching further towards Bessarabia in support of the Hungarian Soviet Republic. Hryhoriv's supporters managed to hold on to Beryslav, Kakhovka and Nikopol for some time, attacking military transports going to Crimea and raiding towards Oleksandriia. In June 1919, Nestor Makhno met with Hryhoriv, proposing a joint fight against both the Red and White armies. Both commanders decided to join forces, but their agreement quickly collapsed. Hryhoriv considered going over to the side of the Whites and subordinating himself