Cossacks were mainly East Slavs, especially Russian and Ukrainian people. In the 15th century, the term originally described semi-independent Tatar groups which lived on the Dniepr River, which flows through Ukraine, Russia and Belarus.

Where did the Cossacks originate from?

Modern Cossacks trace their heritage to the self-ruled communities of horsemen who appeared in the 14th century in what is now southern Russia and Ukraine. The two of the largest groups consolidated into the Zaporojie and Don Cossack groups by the 16th century.

Are there still Cossacks in Russia?

In the 2002 Russian Census, 140,028 people reported their ethnicity as Cossack. There are Cossack organizations in Russia, Kazakhstan, Ukraine, Belarus, and the United States.