Empires Exploited Ukraine’s Strength: Why Ukrainians Are Called History’s ‘Steel Jaws’

Discussion on Ukrainians as an Expansive Nation

According to ХВИЛЯ: Political psychologist Vsevolod Zelenin and political scientist Yuriy Romanenko explored the role of Ukrainians as an expansive people whose military capabilities were harnessed by various empires to guard borders. They highlighted how Russian historiography has appropriated the Cossack heritage, addressed the severe population shortages between the 15th and 18th centuries that led to serfdom and migration, and pointed to the existence of Ukrainian enclaves in Kuban and the Grey Wedge (Siry Klyn). Both experts stressed the need to redirect Ukrainian energy toward its own expansion.

Historical Issues and Cultural Identity

Zelenin noted that neighboring states try to claim Ukraine’s Cossack legacy. He cited the example of Cossack Yermak conquering Siberia, emphasizing that the Kuban Cossacks and the Grey Wedge are Ukrainian.

“We must not forget... When history textbooks-even Russian ones-tell me that Cossack Yermak conquered Siberia. A Cossack. How could Muscovy have had Cossacks? Why did they have Cossacks? Where from? They didn’t exist there as a class. Because the Kuban Cossacks are definitely ours. The Grey Wedge is also definitely ours,” Zelenin stated.

Romanenko explained that empires created their own versions of service people to defend borders due to a lack of human resources. He emphasized that in the 15th, 16th, and 17th centuries, the key problem was a shortage of people, which led to harsh serfdom in Ukraine. In the 17th and 18th centuries, serfdom became even more widespread. Romanenko described Sloboda Ukraine as a periphery of the Muscovite Tsardom, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth, and the Wild Fields, and mentioned modern territories such as Kharkiv, Belgorod, and part of Sumy Oblast, which fell under Muscovite rule.

According to Romanenko, the Muscovite tsar recruited and lured people to defend the periphery, similar to what the Poles and Turks did. He also noted that due to the Cossack wars, part of the population from ‘Polish Ukraine’ fled eastward, leading to the founding of Kharkiv. In the context of Ukrainian culture, Romanenko observed that the Cossacks emerged as border guards for the Poles, Muscovites, and Turks, and that Cossacks from the Sich also served the Turks, particularly along the Danube.

Zelenin reminded the audience about Ukrainian cultural centers in the Grey Wedge and the Southern Urals, noting that in the 1990s and 2000s, 80% of the population in Kuban spoke Ukrainian. Romanenko added that the resettlement of Ukrainians to Kuban in the 18th century was part of imperial strategies to defend the border during Russia’s expansion southward and into Central Asia.

“It’s understandable. Ukrainians consciously moved to Kuban, again, to protect the border,” Romanenko noted.

Concluding the discussion, Zelenin raised the question of the nation’s ability to act independently on a global scale, asking whether Ukrainians can be expansive on their own or only under foreign guidance.

“So, can we be expansive ourselves, or only under someone else’s wise leadership?” Zelenin asked.

Romanenko also emphasized that Ukrainians have significant potential for expansion, but their energy must be directed toward constructive goals rather than internal conflicts:

“Yes, we are truly ‘history’s steel jaws’ because we are a very strong expansive people,” he added.

The discussion concluded with a call to rethink Ukrainian history and the nation’s potential, highlighting the need for a conscious approach to self-development and cultural identity.

This conversation underscores the importance of recognizing Ukraine’s historical legacy and its impact on modern cultural identity. It is worth noting that in an era of globalization and contemporary challenges, Ukraine must not only preserve its history but also actively shape its place in the international context. Understanding its own historical experience can be a key factor in developing Ukrainian society and its potential for expansion, which, according to the experts, can only be achieved through a constructive approach to national identity and cultural development.

As the discussion around Ukraine's historical significance continues, it is crucial to recognize the ongoing evolution of its military capabilities. Recent developments reveal how Ukraine is not only preserving its heritage but also actively sharing its technological advancements with global partners. This is evident in the collaboration on military technology with the Middle East, prompting analysts to reassess the implications for NATO and the EU.