Editing Cossacks (section)

====In Ukraine====

Similarly to the events in imperial Cossack hosts, a revival of Cossack self-organization also took place in Ukraine, inspired by the traditions of the Zaporozhian Sich and Cossack Hetmanate. In April 1917 a congress in [[Zvenyhorodka]], [[Kyiv Governorate]], established [[Free Cossacks]] as a volunteer militia in order "to defend the liberties of the Ukrainian people" and maintain civil order. 

The revived Cossack structure in Ukraine was organized according to the territorial principle, with villages providing companies of volunteers, which were grouped into a [[kurin]] (battalion) on the [[volost]] level, subordinate to a regiment led by [[polkovnyk]], which was itself part of a ''kish'' (division) led by an Ottoman. All officers of Free Cossacks were elected, and funds were provided from taxation. Most volunteers the organization were peasants, but industrial workers did also enlist themselves, especially in cities. 

During 1917 the Free Cossack movement spread around Kyiv, [[Volhynia]], [[Kherson Governorate|Kherson]], [[Poltava Governorate|Poltava]] and [[Chernigov Gubernia|Chernihiv]] governorates. At the All-Ukrainian Congress of Free Cossacks in [[Chyhyryn]] on 16-20 October 1917 [[Pavlo Skoropadskyi]] was elected otaman of the movement.<ref>{{cite web |title=Free Cossacks |url=https://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/pages/F/R/FreeCossacks.htm}}</ref>