Who were the Cossacks?

[quasimodo1]

The Cossacks are a somewhat military group, something of a throwback to Czarist days. Apparently they are notoriously independent and difficult to get on board regarding overall state security. When involved, though, they can really make a difference. PBS has a special on them...check their archives. Quite illuminating. RJs

[Anatoliy]

what you all are talking about?..... cossacks were real ukrainians, but the word is of turkish origin. they were people, who defended the borders of the great country, which later has become ukraine, russia and byelorus. even now some ukrainians, who are patriots, call themselves cossacks. and during the last census a few thousands of them called themselves not ukrainians, but cossacks (in this way they showed their respect to those, who secured long time ago the borders of their native country).