The Ruin 1654–1687
The Russian Tsar accepted the invitation with glee. It was exactly the opportunity he needed to consolidate and expand his western borders. Russian school history textbooks say that the Ukrainians accepted the sovereignty of the Tsar in exchange for protection.
Ukrainian school history textbooks, in contrast, say that instead of helping Ukraine achieve sovereignty, the Tsar reneged on his word and subjected Ukraine to Russian rule.His troops swept into the area—and stayed. Khmelnytsky died. Ukraine was filled with fighting between the Cossack officers (who rapidly became their own hereditary ruling class). Poland and Russia faced off over Ukrainian territories. Then the Turks of the Ottoman Empire suddenly emerged as players from the south. Soon, there was nothing left of Ukraine worth invading, except its rich black soil. It is a period that is known in Ukrainian history books simply as “The Ruin.”
Out-manouvered by the machinations of the powerful, Ukrainians’ last hope of self-determinacy lay with the remnants of the Hetmanate. Cossack leaders were the most likely to care about the land itself.