| Cossacks were the core of Ukrainian army. They were formed at the time when Ukraine was under the rule of Poland. In
XVII-XVIII centuries, the Ukrainian Cossacks comprised several parts. First of all there was Hetman's Army of Ukraine. Then the army of Zaporizhzhya
(the Sich Cossacks); regional Cossack regiments (in regions of Sumy, Kharkiv, Ochtyr, Izyum, and Ostrog), and regiments of the right-bank Ukraine (which
was a part of Poland).
The base of Hetman's Army was formed of register Cossack regiments - Kiev, Mirgorod, Priluki, Pereyasliv, Nizhyn, Hadyatch, Lubyan, Starodub and
Chernihiv regiments. There were also mercenary regiments. The strength of each regiment was different (from 400 to 700 units). Regiments were divided
into hundreds commanded by a hundred master and the hundred starshina (his staff with a yessaul, an obozny, and a cornet). A hundred comprised several
kurens with kuren ataman in command. Cossacks were armed with varied weapons - scimitars, muskets, pistols, bows, daggers, maces, and six-blade-maces.
They used both oriental and Western European weapons, but mainly no armor. |
