A revival of the Cossacks is taking place in Russia

2024 Author: Seth Attwood | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-16 15:55

The Cossacks have always been an integral part of the Russian state, in fact, it began to form just in the era of the formation of Russia, under the Tsars Ivan. Later, the Cossacks became a service class, taking shape in a special ethnic group. Over the centuries, the Cossacks have established themselves as free people with their own code of honor, ready to defend the borders of the state with arms in hand.

They did it masterly, it is not without reason that many foreign rulers dreamed of having Cossacks in their service as the most unsurpassed warriors of the era. The revolution swept away the Cossacks, destroying the Cossack estate and depriving them of privileges, physically exterminating many. But, despite the repression and emigration, the Cossacks remained and their descendants too.

Decorating

After the collapse of the USSR and the rehabilitation of the Cossacks, already in the new Russia, power took course for the revival of the Cossacks … Several federal laws were issued regarding the position and role of the Cossacks in the new state. But the question is, why revive the Cossacks in a new era?Times have changed, society has changed, in modern Russia there are no estates (well, at least officially), there is no tsar for a long time. To fight with checkers and whips on horseback is no longer relevant. Is there a place for the Cossacks in modern realities and will there be a revival of the Cossacks a political surrogate and a bunch of "disguised" roleplayers?

photo of the Ermolovsky Cossack regiment, 1996.

In post-Soviet Russia, the Cossacks began to manifest themselves, demonstrating the preservation of the traditions and spirit of the Cossacks. Back in the 90sWhen the war raged on the borders of the new country, the Cossacks were able to organize and oppose the Chechen gangs. The famous Ermolovsky battalion consisted exclusively of volunteers of the Kuban and Terek Cossacks. The history of the battalion consisted of only a few months, but these were months of continuous fighting. And the Cossacks went to fight not for some material interests, but protecting their native villages and the Slavic population … The Cossacks, as before (in tsarist times), again showed themselves as a threat to the Caucasians, having entered Grozny, rumors immediately spread about hordes of dangerous Cossacks. The Cossack battalion was withdrawn from Grozny two weeks later to as a concession to the local population.

After the Chechen war, the southern borders of Russia were restless. Interethnic conflicts arose imperceptibly, cases of oppression of the local population, especially in the Stavropol Territory. In order to "cool down" conflict situations and smooth over sharp corners for the benefit of a peaceful life of the civilian population, again remembered the Cossacks. The participation of the Cossacks and mounted patrols helped to stabilize the situation and ensure a peaceful sleep of citizens. Even after so many years after decossackization, the Cossacks showed themselves as defenders of peaceful life.

Don Cossacks at the parade in Moscow, 2015

In addition, the Cossacks play an important historical and cultural role within the framework of the modern vector for the revival of national identity and patriotism. Cossack valor and the image of the defenders of the Slavic peoples can be an excellent example for the younger generation, all the more, the Cossacks, with their tendency to self-organization and traditionalism, can become an important support for Russians in the context of globalization and the erosion of landmarks in our time.

Cossacks successfully serve in the troops (even in the Airborne Forces, Air Defense Forces and armored ones), the Cossack uniform was restored, the whip returned as an important attribute of the Cossacks. In kurens all over Russia, the Cossack way of life, art is reviving, they are actively engaged in patriotic work with the younger generation.

Kuban whip.

Of course, things are not so simple with the Cossacks., more than once in the network there were videos where the representatives of the Cossacks "exceeded their powers" and behaved defiantly, but such "characters" are always in the minority.

“The main thing is that both the Cossacks and the state should not forget that their main goal is still to protect the rights and freedoms of all citizens of Russia without exception, and not just those who are among the elite, worthy of special attention. I would like to believe that in this regard the state and modern Cossacks are unanimous."

In modern post-industrial society, the Cossacks may well find an important place from the state, especially since similar traditions (like the traditions of a free army) have quite successfully taken root in Switzerland, Israel, and Japan. Therefore, the Cossacks are reviving, even if there are contradictions, but if this force retains its devotion not to the tsar (since he has been gone for a long time), but to the people and interests of the country, the Cossacks will become an important support for Russians in the modern world.