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

hostilities between Poland and Russia. The biggest uprising was in

1768. Haydamaks, led by Maxym Zaliznyak and Ivan Honta, captured Umanj

and killed many Polish oppressors and their Jewish collaborators. They

expected help from their Orthodox "brothers" from Russia. However

Russians made peace with Poland, captured Zaliznyak, Honta and many

other Haydamaks handed them over to Poles. Those, who were not

immediately tortured and executed, were tried in Kodno and sentenced, in

most cases, to death.

The Transcarpathian Ukraine (areas around Uzhhorod and Mukachiv)

was under Hungarian rule. Overwhelmingly rural in character

Transcarpathia had a Ukrainian - Ruthenian peasantry, a powerful

Hungarian nobility and a substantial number of urban and rural Jews.

Ukrainian population there did not display much enthusiasm for

independence but managed to retain their language, customs and religion.

Cancellation of Hetmanate was decided by tsarina Catering II, who

ruled Russia from 1762, after short reign of her husband Peter III.

Hetman Rozumovskyi resigned and, in his place, on November 1764, tsarina

re installed "Little Russian Collegiate", under presidency of Graf

Rumyantsev.

Rumyantsev's policy was to eliminate all remaining traces of

Ukrainian autonomy and separatism, to introduce serfdom of peasants and

to integrate Ukraine with Russia. This was resisted by Cossacks and

population at large.

In 1767 tsarina ordered election of deputies from all parts of

Russian Empire in order to be informed what kind of government people

want. The deputies from Ukraine declared their desire for Hetmanate

autonomy. This angered Rumyantsev and he sent out his officers to

persuade electors to elect deputies supporting his government; people

who resisted were jailed. However in spite of all efforts of Russian

authorities, the popular sentiment for return of Hetmanate system