A painting showing some Ukrainian Cossacks. Painted by Ilya Repin from 1880 to 1891.
The Cossacks (Ukrainian: Козакиcode: uk is deprecated ) (from Cumancosac, meaning "free man") were a group of nomadic East SlavicOrthodox Christian warrior people originating in the steppes of Ukraine. They are famous for their sense of being free. They are also well known for their military skill, mostly as cavalry swordsmen and archers.