Anya

I was so confused about the COSSACK clue guys... so here are some facts about Cossacks from a Ukrainian history student. The origins of Cossacks likely stem from the desire of the south-eastern regions of the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth (which were just recently Rus' or "Kyivan Rus'") to differentiate themselves from other populations. And frankly, they were quite different, since not only did they have different laws (the Statutes of Lithuania), they also lived a drastically different life. The south-east of the Commonwealth was a dangerous place called "The Wild Steppe", as it was a constant target of Crimean ravaging campaigns. Because of this, the local nobility were experienced warriors, creating their own warrior community. And the community needed a name as well as a different identity from that of other nobility. The etymology of the word "cossack" is a debated one, so we won't go there. Cossacks thought of themselves as people of a different descent from the peasants and other nobility. So while the Polish nobility hailed themselves as "Sarmatians", the Cossacks coined the "Khazarian" roots. So you see, while Cossacks did not originate in russia, a series of agreements made them a part of the empire, with varying degrees of autonomy. With time, russia, as all empires do, absorbed and assimilated the Cossack identity. And that's why the "russian Cossacks" is a popular belief Hope it wasn't too hard to read. It's a peaceful afternoon in Kyiv. Have a great one!

imagine my shock solving the crossword in the bomb shelter and reading the 7A drone's sound and 7D hypothetical global conflict clues :) aced it