Some facts about history of my Land

Краткий экскурс в историю гетьманов, написанный для моих англоязычных друзей.

Let me tell you about Ukrainian Hetmans. Hetman (don't be confused with Batman!) in Ukraine is the top commander of Army and head of State. Hetmans ruled the land, formed alliances with neighbors and protected Ukraine in case of external invasion. Lets take a glance at these Hetmans, alliances and invasions.

Boring list below, but I tried to make it very short and simple.

Hetman Dmytro Vyshnevetsky (1516-1563)
Liberation war against Ottoman Empire in alliance with Lithuania and Russia.
Results: After few successful companies was captured by Ottomans and tortured to death.

Hetman Petro Sahaidachny (1582-1622)
Liberation war against Ottoman Empire in alliance with Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Later liberation war against Russia in alliance with Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.

Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky (1595-1657)
Liberation war against Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth in alliance with Ottoman Empire and Tsardom of Russia.
Results: Creation of a Ukrainian Cossack state.

Hetman Petro Doroshenko (1627-1698)
Liberation war against Poland and Russia in alliance with Ottoman Empire.

Hetman Ivan Mazepa (1639-1709)
Participated in war against Swedish Empire during Great Northern War in alliance with Tsardom of Russia.
As Russian tzar failed to keep promises about protection and independence, Ivan Mazepa changed sides and joined King Karl against Russia.
New ally: Swedish Empire.
New enemy: Tsardom of Russia.
Results: Battle of Poltava was lost, Mazepa died in exile.

Hetman Pylyp Orlyk (1708–1742)
Liberation war against Ottoman Empire, in aliance with Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth.
Later, liberation war against Russia, in aliance with Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth and Ottoman Empire.
Results: unsuccessful campaign against Russia, Ukraine divided between Poland and Russia.

The list above is oversimplified and not complete, and all these events are really more complex and contradictory, but you can clearly see where it goes to. You might say, it is very normal for any medieval European land. True, but since medieval times for most European lands things has changed and all neighbors are bound by religious and economic ties. But not for Ukraine.

Conclusions:
1. Ukraine was (and currently is) surrounded by powerful forces:
- Europe from the West, land of Napoleon and Martin Luther;
- Turks from the South, land of Oil and Islam;
- Russia from the East, land of Vodka and Bears.

2. Eventually one of these sides became stronger than others, and tried to conquer more lands, invading Ukraine. Ukrainian people formed alliance with the rest of the neighbors, and more or less successfully fought for freedom. As time passed, sides switched, and former ally grows bigger, trying to invade Ukraine and consequently becoming a new enemy. Former enemies became an allies.

3. The same was during WW2, Ukraine in alliance with Russia fought powerful western neighbor. The same is today, Ukraine in alliance with western neighbors and Crimean Tatars fighting powerful Russian invaders. We really should not be surprised if on next loop of history Ukraine will become ally with Russia and NATO to stand against powerful ISIS. No politics really, all this is just about geographical location of my land.

The history is a really fun thing to learn.