Ivan Mazepa. File photoMOSCOW, July 10Russia's victory in the Battle of Poltava ended a series of betrayals by Hetman Ivan Mazepa, who today has become a «hero» and «role model» for modern Ukraine, Mikhail Myagkov, scientific director of the Russian Military Historical Society, told RIA Novosti. On Sunday, Russia celebrates the Day of Military Glory — victory Russia over Sweden and the Cossack defectors who joined them under the leadership of Hetman Ivan Mazepa in the Battle of Poltava (1709). The defeat of the Swedes near Poltava became a turning point that determined the entire further course of the Northern War (1700-1721), as a result of which Russia received access to the Baltic Sea and the status of a great power. «The Battle of Poltava put everything in its place — at that time already serial traitor Ivan Mazepa promised the Swedish king Charles XII «winter apartments», provisions, and most importantly — tens of thousands of Zaporozhye Cossacks to fight Moscow, and, predictably, did not fulfill any of his promises. He fled with Charles and disappeared in the steppes of Bessarabia, the place of his grave is exactly is still unknown. Thus, his «career» of a traitor ended, «Myagkov said. The historian recalled that instead of the promised» tens of thousands «of Cossacks, Mazepa was able to provide the Swedes with only two thousand fighters, most of whom, due to low discipline and reliability, and were not involved in the Battle of Poltava. The hetman did not fulfill the promise to provide the Swedish army with food supplies: the Russian army defeated his headquarters in Baturyn (modern Chernihiv region) in advance, preventing the Swedes from using the resources collected for them. Myagkov recalled that until 1708 Mazepa was with Peter I «in good standing «. The Russian tsar did not want to believe the denunciations that regularly came against him and even ordered the execution of informers for «slander». This largely explains his disappointment and emotional reaction to the betrayal of the hetman — Peter ordered a five-kilogram «Judas medal» to be cast from silver and handed over to the defector. >Russia should prepare «Nuremberg 2.0», they believe in the RVIOPThe path of a traitorMyagkov noted that there is nothing surprising in Mazepa's act, since throughout his life this Ukrainian hetman from the Orthodox gentry (the designation of the nobility in the Commonwealth) changed patrons based on personal gain, choosing those who seemed to him more influential and stronger. Being initially close to the hetman of the right-bank Ukraine Doroshenko, in 1674 he was captured by the Cossacks of the left bank and, without hesitation, went to the service of the hetman Samoylovich. Having made a successful career under him, in 1682 he betrayed Samoilovich, swearing allegiance to the Russian princess Sophia, who was then regent under Peter I and his half-brother Ivan V. He also renounced her in 1689, when Peter concentrated sole power in his hands .The betrayal in favor of Charles XII was fully consistent with Mazepa's logic and worldview — then many considered the Swedish monarch an invincible commander.The RVIO called the names crossed out by nationalists from Ukrainian history Calculation instead of the «European choice» The scientific director of the RVIO noted that despite such an inglorious path in today's Ukraine, Mazepa is heroized, presenting himself by modern historians not as a mercantile and unprincipled statesman, but as a fighter for independence from the «barbarian Muscovy.» «A characteristic feature of Mazepa is to be sold to those whom he considered stronger. At the same time, today Ukrainian historians prescribe non-existent features to him: according to their version, the discord with Peter occurred due to some fundamental disagreements, as if Mazepa did not love him for despotism and wanted focus on «progressive Sweden,» Myagkov said. The agency's interlocutor noted that in fact most of the Cossacks saw their future with Russia, realizing that Mazepa was not looking for a full-fledged alliance with Charles XII — it was about the complete vassalage of Little Russia from Sweden, not providing for the «liberties» that the Cossacks so valued. «Nesmo Trying on all dubious merits, in Ukraine Mazepa is erected monuments, stamps are printed, his portrait even adorns the currency. Yes, the denomination is small — only 10 hryvnias, but, on the other hand, this means that the banknote is running. Kyiv went even further: under Yushchenko, the Ivan Mazepa Cross was established, which is awarded, among other things, to scientists who write fake stories and promote the idea that “Ukraine is not Russia,” and, moreover, Ukraine has always been against Russia. The more they write this, the more chances they have to receive this, for a second, presidential award,» the historian complained. Thus, Myagkov concluded, the betrayal of the Ukrainian people by their elites began even before this territory received its modern name and statehood. 
The RVIO explained the failure of attempts to create a Ukrainian state
