Prime Minister Boris Johnson became a Cossack Boris Chuprina

Ukrania Terra Cosaccorum - Ukraine Cossack Land. This is the name of Ukraine on many European maps of the XVII - early XVIII centuries. Ukraine and the Cossacks are two inseparable concepts of the national organism, which could not and cannot exist without each other. It is not surprising, that for a long time after the destruction of the Ukrainian Cossack state, the Cossacks themselves were shrouded in almost sacred legends.

The tradition of dedication to the Cossacks originated with the emergence of the Cossacks in Ukraine. Requirements for candidates and rituals were constantly changing, and sometimes adapted to a specific person. Foreigners were also admitted to the Cossack society. As an example, Cossack Paul Jones became the founder of the US Navy, Admiral John Paul Jones.

23 May 2022 year Cossack community of Chernihiv military church of St.. Catherine and the Free Cossacks, according to the ancient customs and traditions of the Ukrainian Cossacks, noted the contribution of the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom Boris Johnson in protecting the rights and freedoms of Ukrainians, in defending our honor and dignity in the struggle for Ukraine's independence against Russian military aggression. By the decision of the community, Boris Johnson was ordained a Cossack and named Boris Chuprina. New times introduce new traditions. The dedication took place in absentia, but for the Great Supporter of Ukraine, such an exception can be made.

When asked why Boris Johnson was named Chuprina, the answer is obvious. Cossacks usually gave nicknames to their brethren based on quality and appearance. Later, these nicknames were transformed into surnames, як-от: Krivonis, Not drinkable, Zaliznyak, etc.. Hairstyle of Boris Johnson, which cannot be overlooked, and which characterizes him sometimes rebellious, free spirit and gave impetus to the name - Boris Chuprina.

The idea to put the image of the Cossack Boris Chuprin on the canvas belongs to Andriy Lisov - the head of the Cossack community, Deputy Director of the Chernihiv Historical Museum named after Vasyl Tarnovsky. It was embodied by Kyiv artists Daria Dobryakova and Yuri Kutilov. The plot of the picture, which was first presented 7 June 2022 in the Chernihiv Historical Museum named after Vasyl Tarnovsky, echoes the famous plot of Ukrainian folk painting "Kozak Mamai". The image conveys the color of the folk painting, combining it with the person of Boris Johnson and the symbols of Chernihiv. And this is no accident. The image of the Cossack Mamaia is a generalized symbol of Ukrainian history; it showed the nationwide love of Ukrainians for the Cossacks and their exceptional role, which it played in the history and culture of Ukraine. As the outstanding Ukrainian art critic Platon Biletsky aptly put it: "Mother Cossacks were not worshiped or prayed as icons, but they were revered as a kind of monument to the heroic times of the Cossacks. ". It is probably difficult to overestimate the importance of that help, Ukraine receives from the UK and the personal role of Prime Minister Boris Johnson.

The presented picture will remain in the collection of the Chernihiv Historical Museum named after Vasyl Tarnovsky, and here is the author's list of it, work on which is currently being completed in a slightly different format (English-speaking) and the relevant letters will be handed over to the British Embassy in Ukraine.

The Cossack community hopes, that the Cossack Borys Chupryna will receive this gratitude from Chernihiv and Ukrainians and will continue to support us with Cossack perseverance, primarily in deeds and words, in our struggle for the Freedom and Independence of Ukraine, which is trying to enslave and destroy the Russian horde.

Director of the museum Serhiy Laevsky