THE KHODORIV GROUP was formed in 1958 in the village of Verbytsia, Khodoriv Raion (now Zhydachiv Raion) of Lviv Oblast. Its main objective was to promote the idea of national independence. At night, group members would hang national flags in villages and distribute leaflets. They were arrested on December 7–8, 1961. The investigation accused them of terrorist intentions.
On May 7, 1962, a court sentenced Fedir Protsiv, a former soldier of the UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army), to death. Fedir Dron (the group's leader) and Mykhailo Protsiv each received 15-year prison sentences, with 5 of those years to be served in a high-security prison, followed by a 5-year ban on residing in Ukraine after their release. Yosyp Nehrebny and Mykhailo Khanas were sentenced to 12 years each, Ivan Shcherbytsky to 10 years, and Volodymyr Kapitonenko to 8 years.
Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group