cossacks

This article is devoted to the formation of the Kalmyk National District on the Don and the problem of determining its administrative center at the turn of the 1920–1930s. The author, noting the positive phenomena that occurred in the life of the Don Kalmyks as part of the national district (education, preservation of national identity), draws attention to the artificial nature of the creation of this national district in the absence of compact residence of the Don Kalmyks.

The article highlights political confrontation between the Hetmanate and the Zapoorozhian Sich and an important role of Russian diplomacy, which sought to limit the autonomy of Ukraine. The author shows that political orientation of the hetmans could vary depending on the political environment. The Russian government skillfully used contra- dictions between different political forces and Moscow diplomats in order to eliminate the Hetmanate autonomy.