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Russian Cossacks have been actively participating in the war against Ukraine since 2014. Why did this happen? What are the historical and political reasons behind this phenomenon? Learn more about the Cossacks’ role in modern Russian aggression, their history, Kremlin support, and influence on the war in Ukraine.
Russian Cossacks originated in the 15th century as a community of independent warriors and hunters who settled on the borderlands of the Moscow Principality. Their ranks included various ethnic groups, including Slavs and Turks who sought freedom from feudalism.
From the 16th century, the Cossacks became an important force for the protection of Moscow’s borders against the attacks of the Tatars and other enemies. It was during this period that the first mentions of the Don Cossack army appear.
At the beginning of the 17th century, the Muscovite kingdom began to actively recruit Cossacks into its army, granting them land and privileges in exchange for service.
In the 17th century, Peter I brutally suppressed all Cossack uprisings, strengthening state control over them. Under his leadership, the Cossacks became an important military force, helping to conquer new territories.
In the 18th century, Catherine II liquidated the Ukrainian Cossacks who moved to the Kuban and together with others created the Kuban Cossack Army.
In the 19th century, the Cossacks became part of the imperial system, having a certain autonomy, but fulfilling the emperor’s orders and actively participating in wars.
The 20th century brought a revolution, after which the Cossacks split. Many Cossacks supported the White Army, but after the victory of the Bolsheviks, they suffered repression.
The Second World War became tragic for the Cossacks. They fought as part of the Red Army, but some of them collaborated with the Germans, which led to even greater repression.
After the collapse of the USSR in 1991, the Cossacks were revived, receiving support from the state and becoming an important element in various areas, including patrolling and maintaining order.
The Ukrainian Cossacks began to be mentioned at the beginning of the 15th century as a response to threats from the Crimean Tatars and the weakness of local governments. The Cossacks were organized into autonomous military communities south of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, in the so-called “Wild Field”.
Zaporizhia Sich, founded in the middle of the 16th century, became a symbol of Cossack strength and independence.
In the 17th century, Cossackism reached its peak during the liberation struggle led by Bohdan Khmelnitsky, which led to the creation of an independent Ukrainian state – the Hetmanship.
In the same century, the Pereyaslav Agreement was signed between the Ukrainian Hetmanate and Muscovy, which eventually led to the loss of Ukrainian independence.
In the 18th century, under the influence of Moscow, the Ukrainian Cossacks lost their autonomy. During the reign of Peter I and Catherine II, the Cossack autonomy disintegrated, and part of the Cossacks moved to the Kuban, where, although they assimilated with the local inhabitants, they preserved some of their traditions. They became an important military force on the southern borders of the Russian Empire.
Transdanubian Sich: Cossacks who moved to the territory of the Ottoman Empire founded Transdanubian Sich. They continued their military traditions and from time to time participated in military campaigns on the side of the Ottoman Empire. In 1828, part of the Cossacks, led by Kosh chieftain Yosyp Hladky, passed under the banner of the Russian Empire, which led to the liquidation of Transdanubian Sich.
Those Cossacks who moved to the Russian Empire were integrated into the newly created Azov Cossack Army and later moved to the Kuban.
Renaissance of Cossacks in the 19th century: In the second half of the 19th century, on the wave of national revival, various organizations began to appear in Ukraine, which tried to restore Cossack traditions. However, these movements were mainly cultural and symbolic in nature and did not affect the political or military situation.
Period of Soviet power (1917-1991): Soviet power initially had a negative attitude towards Cossack traditions, which were associated with nationalism and anti-Soviet sentiments. During the Civil War, many Cossacks supported the anti-Bolshevik forces, which increased the mistrust of the Soviet authorities.
In the 1920s and 1930s, the Soviet authorities carried out mass repressions and collectivization, which seriously affected the Cossack population. Many Cossack families suffered from repression, and their traditions and culture were threatened with extinction.
Geography and territorial organization:
Ukrainian Cossacks: Focused on the territory of modern Ukraine, especially in Zaporizhzhia, where the Zaporizhia Sich existed.
Russian Cossacks: They were located on the border territories of the Muscovite Kingdom, later the Russian Empire, such as the Don, Urals, Terek and others.
Socio-political system:
Ukrainian Cossacks: Had a democratic organization, with elected leaders (hetmans) and people’s assemblies (Councils).
Russian Cossacks: Although they had self-government, they gradually came under the control of the central government, retaining some autonomy within the state system.
Role in the state:
Ukrainian Cossacks: They fought for independence and autonomy from Poland, Lithuania and other states that controlled Ukrainian lands. There was a part of registered Cossacks who were involved in military operations on the side of other countries.
Russian Cossacks: Played an important role in expanding and protecting the borders of the Russian Empire, gradually integrating into its military structure.
After the collapse of the USSR, Russian Cossacks took an important position in state propaganda and military campaigns. They are used to raise patriotic sentiments, support official policies, and participate in conflicts, including the war against Ukraine. Cossacks became a tool that combines historical traditions with modern political and military strategies of Russia, and is actively promoted among the youth to strengthen military potential through historical heritage.
After the start of the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Russian Cossack units are actively involved in military operations. They took part in combat operations in Crimea and in the occupied territories of Donetsk and Luhansk regions, captured since 2014.
Since the beginning of the 1990s, the Russian Cossacks, under the control of the Kremlin, have become increasingly intertwined in the state military system. New units are created based on Cossack organizations, which receive funding and support from the state and local self-government bodies.
Russian Cossacks are actively involved by the authorities of the Russian Federation in the creation of propaganda historical narratives about the military power of the Russian Empire. But the maintenance of the Cossack historical myth, despite the repression of the Russian Cossacks during the time of Peter I.
Before the First and Second World Wars, the Cossack peoples were also subjected to significant pressure from the authorities, and during the military conflicts themselves, they were actively involved as combat units of the Russian army. The situation has not changed in the modern war between Russia and Ukraine, where Cossack units again play an important role in military operations.
a Russian propaganda publication reports: “Since the beginning of the SVO in Ukraine, 27 thousand Cossacks have taken part in hostilities, of which 6,300 are now on the frontline.”
The All-Russian Cossack Society (VsKT) unites all military and separate district Cossack societies into a single system. The statute of VsKT is approved by the President of Russia. The total number of registered Cossacks is about 200,000. The largest registered troops are the Kuban Cossack Army, which has more than 56,000 Cossacks, and the All-Great Don Army, which has more than 36,000 people.
Full legal name: All-Russian Cossack Society
Head: ATAMAN OF THE ALL-RUSSIAN KAZAKH SOCIETY Kuznetsov Vitaly Volodymyrovych
TIN / KPP: 7708364030 / 770801001
OKPO: 42168653
OGRN: 1197700016425
Number of founders: 11
Date of registration: 14.11.2019
Status: Active
Contact information:
Legal address: 107078, M. MOSCOW, Street NOVA BASMANNA, D. 9
E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]
Vitaly Volodymyrovych Kuznetsov
chieftain of the All-Russian Cossack Society, Cossack general
Date of birth: 19.05.1980 (44 years old)
Place of residence: Stavropol, Tukhachevsky, 20/4, quarter 29
Passport: 0708170201 SNILS: 13441149225
Phone number: 79624501518, 79280098636
E-mail: [email protected] , [email protected]
Probable names: Aleksey, Vitaly, 946026 K., Ksenia, Vitaly, V V, Vitaly-Kazachestvo Obchestvo, Ksyukha-Vitalyk, Vitaly Vladimirovich Ataman Kazakov Skfo, Vitaly Kuznetsov, Vitaly Kuznetsov, Vitaly Kuznetsov, Kuznetsov Appp, Kuznetsov Vetos, Vitaly Kuznetsov , Kuznetsov Vitaly Vladimirovich Ataman Skfo, Kuznetsov Vitaly Vladimirovich, Kazak
In 2020, at the reporting and election circle of the Tersk Military Cossack Society, he was elected its chieftain by the majority of votes. And the following year, he became an assistant to the plenipotentiary representative of the President of the Russian Federation in the SCFD Yuriy Chaika.
From 2001 to 2006, he served in various positions in the army aviation units of the North Caucasus Military District.
From 2012 to 2020, he served in various positions in law enforcement agencies.
“If earlier we had a Cossack freewoman in our country, today this area is under the strict control of the Presidential Administration” – this is how the Head of the Center of Applied Sociology of the Russian Federation Gennady Podlesny commented on the appointment of the new commander of the All-Russian Cossack Army.
The political position of the All-Russian Cossack Society in the war against Ukraine:
Mykhailo Zorin, First Deputy Chief of the All-Russian Cossack Society, took part in the meeting of the Working Group on Cossack Affairs at the Governor of the Kherson Region. Issues were put on the agenda, in particular, the adoption of acts necessary for the creation of Cossack societies in Donetsk, Luhansk, Zaporizhzhya and Kherson regions.
Anton Siluanov – Minister of Finance of the Russian Federation. It directly approves the allocation of funds between defense and other budget items
Belousov Andriy Removich – Minister of Defense of the Russian Federation. Coordinates the distribution of funds for the needs of the armed forces, including Cossack units.
Valery Gerasimov – Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. Responsible for strategic planning and allocation of funding for specific military tasks
FSB of the Russian Federation / Russian Guard
Oleksandr Bortnikov – Head of the FSB of the Russian Federation. Engages in financing and support of special operations and paramilitary groups.
Viktor Zolotov – Director of the Russian Guard. Responsible for logistical support and financial support of Cossack units.
Since 2023, the annual subsidy to the All-Russian Cossack Society has been increased by more than a third.
Currently, the All-Russian Cossack Society includes 12 registered military Cossack societies and two district Cossack societies.
Military Cossack Society “All-Great Don’s Army”; Bodryakov S.N.
Military Cossack Society “Central Cossack Army”; Mironov I.K.
Military Cossack Society “Black Sea Cossack Army”; Syrotkin A.V.
Volga Military Cossack Society; Ivanov Yu.E.
Yenisei Military Cossack Society; Artamonov P.P.
Trans-Baikal Military Cossack Society; Bobrov S.G.
Irkutsk Military Cossack Society; Nikitin A.N.
Kuban Military Cossack Society; Vlasov A.I.
Orenburg Military Cossack Society; Romanov V.I.
Siberian Military Cossack Society; Tymoshenko A.S.
Tersk Military Cossack Society; Savchenko V.O
Ussuri Military Cossack Society; Agibalov A.A.
District Military Cossack Society “Baltic Separate Cossack District – Baltic Cossack Union of Kaliningrad Region”; Dudarev M.M
District Military Cossack Society “Cossack District of St. Petersburg”. Shatalov R.I.
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