Cossacks: News

News Feed

Our readers' questions about the war, answered. Vol. 12

Editor's note: We asked members of the Kyiv Independent community to share their questions about Russia's war on Ukraine. Here's what they asked and how we answered. Join our community to ask a question in the next round. Question: The Trump-Putin agreement on diesel exports doesn't seem like good news for Ukraine, but 125,000 barrels a day doesn't seem like a big win for Russia either. Will these funds actually help Russia's economy and its war machine? Is it mostly propaganda ahead of the U.

A woman and child walk past a damaged kindergarten in Kyiv, Ukraine, on Nov. 7, 2026.

About Cossacks

Cossacks were semi-nomadic military groups that emerged in the 15th century across the steppes of what is now Ukraine. The Cossack Hetmanate existed as an independent state from 1648 to 1764, before Russian imperial authorities abolished Cossack autonomy and suppressed their cultural identity. Modern Ukraine recognizes Cossack heritage as a foundational element of national identity and resistance against foreign domination.

Read more

News Feed