Every year in October, Ukraine celebrates the Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks (Ukrainian). Day of Ukrainian Kozatsva) — is a holiday dedicated to the Day of the Intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary (since the Mother of God is considered the protector and patroness of the Cossacks) and established by Decree of the President of Ukraine №966/99 of August 7, 1999, taking into account the historical significance and services of the Cossacks to the Fatherland in establishing Ukrainian statehood and its significant contribution to the modern process of creation and development of independent Ukraine. It was originally celebrated on October 14, but starting in 2023, the date of the holiday was postponed to October 1 due to the reform of the church calendar in Ukraine, on which the president of the country signed a corresponding decree on July 28, 2023.
The origin and formation of the Ukrainian people occurred in the 12th-15th centuries on the basis of the southwestern part of the East Slavic population, which was previously part of Kievan Rus (9th-12th centuries). On the basis of the ancient Russian nationality, three East Slavic peoples were formed — Ukrainian, Russian and Belarusian.
Beginning in the 13th century, Ukrainians were subjected to Hungarian, Lithuanian, Polish, and Moldavian conquests. Since the end of the 15th century, raids by Tatar khans established in the Northern Black Sea region began, accompanied by mass captivity and theft of Ukrainians.
In the 16th and 17th centuries, during the struggle against foreign conquerors, the Ukrainian nationality was significantly consolidated. The most important role was played by the emergence of special military formations of the — Cossacks (15th century), which created a state (16th century) with a unique republican system of the — Zaporozhye Sich, which became a political stronghold of Ukrainians.
But in August 1775, by decree of Empress Catherine II, the Zaporozhye Sich was liquidated.
It is difficult to overestimate the role of the Cossacks in the history of the Ukrainian people. Since the beginning of the revival of the Cossacks in Ukraine at the end of the 20th century, the President of Ukraine signed Decrees: «On the Coordination Council of the Ukrainian Cossacks», «On the national program for the development of the Ukrainian Cossacks» and, of course, «On the Day of the Ukrainian Cossacks».