KUBAN REGION: FROM UKRAINIAN COLONIZATION TO ITS RUSSIFICATION. ATTEMPT OF IMPARTIAL ANALYSIS

The first part of the article deals with the processes of colonization of Kuban by Ukrainians (Cossacks and peasants) from the late 18th century to the early 20th century, and socioeconomic and sociopolitical circumstances that determined the resettlement policy of Russian tsarism.
The task is to provide an objective analysis of exploration of Kuban by the Ukrainian settlers, its positive and negative sides, the policy of using the Ukrainian factor in imperial interests, as well as the difficult way of preserving Ukrainian identity using comparativehistorical, historical-typological and historical systematic research methods.
The period from 1775 until the end of the Caucasian War in 1864 was the time of resettlement of hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian Cossacks and peasants to the North Caucasus, and, in particular, to the Kuban, which was organized by the Tsarist Government.
However, this was also the desire of the Cossacks to assert their right to exist, and therefore they asked Catherine II to give them the lands of Kuban for lifetime use. And this request was approved with the imperial letter as of June 30, 1792.
The first waves of Cossack settlers were not massive. However, the settlement of Kuban and some parts of the North Caucasus by Ukrainians has gradually become extensive. In total, almost 159 thousand people, among whom were Cossacks as part of military formations, former registered Cossacks and peasants, were resettled from Ukraine to Kuban during the years 1792-1865. And before the Revolution of 1917, according to some scholars, population of Ukrainians in Kuban made up 60% of the total population – 1791000 people.
One of the main reasons for the resettlement of Ukrainian Cossacks and peasants to Kuban was the colonization and aggressive policy of the Russian Empire. The Ukrainian Cossacks also had their motivation, so the attempts of the Tsarist Government to russify the Black Sea Cossack did not have significant consequences. Among them, Ukrainian culture prevailed. The Ukrainian language was perceived by the Cossacks as a certain sign of their class origin and identity.