Ivan Mazepa became a true symbol of Ukrainian resistance to Russia - President in Baturyn

During the events dedicated to the 350th anniversary of the establishment of the hetman residence in Baturyn, President Petro Poroshenko congratulated the residents of Chernihiv on this remarkable event and reminded the role of the glorious Hetman Ivan Mazepa in the history of Ukraine.

The Head of State reminded that it was in Baturyn that Ivan Mazepa had been creating the state of Ukraine: "This was supposed to be a beautiful European state. That is why the Hetman made so much efforts to build temples, develop culture, art and education".

“Let us not forget: when Peter I has been hacking the window to Europe, Ukraine in times of Mazepa has been going there through the doors,” Petro Poroshenko said.

"There was no Hetman from Bohdan to Ivan. With this proverb Ukrainians determined the historical scale of his figure,” the President noted.

“The empire spared no black paint to distort his image. But this even helped Ivan Mazepa become a true symbol of Ukrainian resistance to Russia, which is still in the hearts of a true Ukrainian,” the Head of State stressed.

"Ivan Mazepa was the son of his time, a living person and a statesman with his virtues and disadvantages, mistakes and sins. But at the crucial moment when it was necessary to choose between loyalty to a foreign monarch or his Homeland, between personal comfort and risk for the future of the country, his choice, Ivan Mazepa's choice was in favor of Ukraine," he said, adding that even "the enemies recognized the figure and fortitude of Mazepa".

The Head of State compared the figure of the Hetman with George Washington, Simon Bolivar and Mahatma Gandhi. “For the empires that conquered their people, they were “traitors”, but for their people, they were fighters for freedom and independence, although they were struggling for it in different ways. They are heroes for their people,” Petro Poroshenko said.

At the same time, Petro Poroshenko urged everyone to draw conclusions from the history of the first hetman capital: “Baturyn is a warning. It is a lesson we should learn well. The strife of the leaders costed too much for the whole nation and Baturyn paid the most dreadful price”.

“The lack of unity has repeatedly been fatal for Ukraine. Ukraine was beaten only when the enemy managed to ruin our unity,” Petro Poroshenko noted.

The Head of State emphasized: “I repeat once again, for all Ukrainian politicians to hear me now in Baturyn. Some of them are so overwhelmed by the internal struggle that they do not want to know anything about the situation at our north-east and east border. The war doesn’t exist for them. Just as it didn’t exist in 1918-1920. They were fighting each other and surrendered Ukraine to Russians. We will not repeat this mistake,” Petro Poroshenko noted and thanked the Ukrainian warriors who rebuff the enemy in the east of Ukraine.