Decline of Ukrainian statehood and culture (1712-1783), Детальна інформація

Slobidshchyna meaning free (from serfdom) lands also referred to as

Sloboda Ukraine. They included Izyum, Balakleya, Akhtyrka, Sumy and,

presently Russian areas around Bilhorod, Ostrohozhsk and Sudza.

Originally these lands were settled by adventurous people, who tried to

establish themselves free from Polish and Russian domination. They

formed Cossack regiments for protection from Tatars and for some time

were able to lead an independent life, because they served as a buffer

from Turks and Tatars. However later they fell under direct Russian

rule; the autonomy of Loboda Ukraine was abolished under Catherine II

in 1765.

To ensure lasting domination over these two parts of Ukraine,

Russians tried to suppress Ukrainian culture. They disallowed Ukrainian

language in books, schools and theaters. The church and government were

controlled by Moscow and the only way for a person to advance was to

speak Russian and to be loyal to Moscow.

While Ukraine on the east side of Dnipro (Left Bank) was being

russianized, the western Ukraine consisting of Galicia Wolhynia and

Bukovyna (areas around Lviv, Ternopil Lutsk and Chernivtsi) was under

Polish influence. Polish authorities were preventing not only national,

but also economic development of Ukrainians. The Orthodox Church was

being gradually taken over by Polish dominated Catholic Church.

Between western Ukraine and, Russian dominated, parts on east side

of Dnipro was a large territory on Right Bank, partly de-populated by

recent wars involving Cossacks, Poles, Russians, Turks and Tatars.

Gradually, Polish nobility began to return, reclaimed their landholdings

and started to exploit Ukrainian peasants as serfs. The resistance to

this, at first, was in the form of outlaw gangs, said to have robbed the

rich to help the poor. Some of the gang leaders were even considered as

folk heroes, such as Olexa Dowbush, who operated between 1738 and 1745.

There were also uprisings by so called Haydamaks, generally during