In search of Ukrainian Kuban

Russian President Putin chose thesis "protection of Russian people" from "fascist plague and ethnic cleansing" as a pretext for aggression against Ukraine. Of course, as we know, this pretext was more than contrived. But the Ukrainian authorities, in turn, mentions about the protection of Ukrainians living abroad only if it is profitable in electoral plane. Even when repressions are threatens for Ukrainian community in any country of the world.


Ukrainian population conditions in Russia is quite bad during the last years. On the borderlands mostly, Russian border territory, where Ukrainians live during centuries. Kuban is one of that territories, this land colonized by Zaporozhian Cossacks at 18th century. Later Russification machine used here more than all: national-identity destruction, repressions, artificial famine, Ukrainian surnames rewritten to Russian style.

Hopes for Ukrainian future 

Mention on genocide 
of native Ukrainian population
 of Kuban, Soviet Communists crimes

Renaissance of Ukrainian spirit in Kuban started after the fall of the Soviet Union there until the late 90's, when the local governor, an ethnic Ukrainian Kondratenko decided to "play" in autonomism and scare this game Kremlin to gain political preferences.  Cossack autonomist organizations were in Krasnodar region at this time , groups pro-Ukrainian content, such as the Company "Kruglik" headed by Ivan Adzyer.Ukrainian historical-cultural organisation "Prosvita" affiliates started to open in Kuban. Native Ukrainian folklore started to reborn on this lands, Ukrainian songs start sounded on local radio and television and in some schools and universities optionally taught Ukrainian language. Ukrainian newspaper issued started, even some Ukrainian political parties tried to create their cells on this area, including the Ukrainian National Assembly. However, this was done on the initiative of local Ukrainian, Ukrainian government did not provide any real help - our policy was so busy by "privatization" and theft of state property than. The situation then was very similar to the 1917-1918 years, when the background of the revolution in Imperial Russia Ukrainian life started to reborn in Kuban. But then the UPR in no hurry to give a hand of help for "younger sister" - Universal Central Council expressed no claim to the Kuban territory then.Even The Declaration on association of the Kuban People's Republic with the UPR, adopted in February 1918, shortly before the occupation of land by Bolsheviks just remained a declaration due to lack of political will of Hrushevsky to provide assistance for Kuban brothers. This lands becomes under control of Denikin`s army, as result.

"Kuban with Ukraine" committee

After Putin come to power and his protege Alexander Tkachev coming to the post of Kuban`s governor - Ukrainian life is under the threat. Officially, not so many educational organizations works normally still, Ukrainian cultural-educational centre in the Lazarev near Sochi is one of them. Such centres headed by ethnic Ukrainian, who moved to Kuban in the last 50 years and still have not lost their national identity. As for ethnic Ukrainian, including descendants of the Cossacks, whose ancestors lived on this lands over a hundred years, Russian assimilation machine changed them to the fullest. In fact, after the Holodomor extinct villages of Kuban settled mostly by immigrants from Central Russia. Stalin wanted to assimilate the people of these land to Ukrainian spirit leave this area forever. However, knowing the example of my relatives from the village Krylov, mostly Russian newcomers were subjected to assimilation processes here. For example - my aunt, Russian, took over local traditions, customs and start to use Ukrainian language in communication when she moved to the Kuban and married with my uncle, Cossack.

However, the proces started by Stalin are continued by Putin - Ukrainian national identity in Kuban murdered by local governors-Ukrainephobes. Ukrainian culture on this area was replaced by title "Cossack identity", Ukrainian language was called here as "Kuban dialect".

By the help of public and journalists Kuban was not fully forgotten by official Ukraine. In 2006 regalia of Zaporizhzhya Sich, brought before in US by political emigrants from the Kuban was stolen in Hoeveel. American Cossack community said that the abduction was organized by the Russian special services. Then it turned out that really regalia were stolen and transferred to Russia "on balance" of "Cossacks troops of Kuban". This fact was published in Ukraine by through the efforts of editor of "Museum of Ukraine" magazine - Viktor Trigub, "Kuban with Ukraine" committee creator.

At that time, I was just a student of the Kyiv National University of Shevchenko, I began to get involved in activities of committee, then I find unknown before materials about the Kuban Cossack Insurgent Army, which was coordinated by Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN). Soon this article circulated in the media, which aroused great interest in the online community of Krasnodar region. Then Russian media even started talking about the "Ukrainian separatism in Kuban".

We are people of the Rus`, not Russians.

"For the Motherland",
 written in Ukrainian language,
 banner of FC Kuban Ultras

Kuban separatism level actually was exaggerated by Russian propaganda. Although FSB started to tightly control local autonomists. Even more control than in any other region of Russia. Russian media incited hysteria even where there was no justification. For example, in 2012, after the flood in Krimske (Kuban region) the local press called for "refuse the humanitarian aid from Ukraine" because it will increase pro-Ukrainian positions among local population.

But one can not say that pro-Kuban pro-Ukrainian autonomism is absolutely disappear here. Cossack autonomist groups appear en masse in social networks, through which true bit of local history comes to internet community, history, that so zealous hided by Stalin and Putin from Kuban peoples. Banner of the FC "Kuban" ultras, that was posted during the match, written Ukrainian language "За Батьківщину" (For the Motherland) become a real problem for local pro-Russian government. Kuban Ultras leaders was forced by local officials to make statement on "Russian position of the FC Kuban Fan-club".

By the way, even self identification of Kabun locals is not 100% "Russian". From my communication with the people there I concluded that they calls itself Cossacks, or "locally" or "Kubanians". This older people say that we are "Rusines" (Peoples of the Rus, editor's note), but not "Russians". The younger generation occasionally remarked that it would be right to officially recognize the existence of a "Cossack nation". Thus, during the last census of Kuban citizens in 2002 for 2% locals recorded themselves as representatives of the "Cossacks" nation.

Kuban perspectives

Russian occupation of the Crimea and invading the Donbass raised question of the oppression of Ukrainians Kuban and Ukrainian origin of half the population of the land. In addition, we have great support from local autonomists, whos tried to make march for Kuban federalization not so long time ago. As a result, two activists of Kuban - Martynov and Lyubchenkov - fleeing from persecution by the Russian authorities, forced to escape to Ukraine.

Ukrainians are activated too. Thus, "Kuban is Ukraine" exhibition was opened in one of the Kyiv museums and announced the reactivation of the Committee "Kuban with Ukraine." The exhibition demonstrates propaganda posters of recent years, developed in the wilds of Kuban online communities.


I hope the same action a little draw the Government's attention to the problem of Kuban Ukrainians at least make use this factor in information war with Russia. However, authorities still "silent".

It would seem that Kuban is lost forever. But ... Nikolaev, Dnepropetrovsk, Zaporozhye, Odessa were considered "pro-Russian regions" before. Now the level of Ukrainian patriotism in this regions is more than in Kiev. So who knows - according to political experts, the term collapse of Russia - 10 years. Historical justice has ever triumph.