All-Russian Cossack Society
A Russian government-sponsored umbrella organization coordinating registered and non-registered Cossack groups, with a focus on patriotic education, organizational coordination, and the preservation of Cossack traditions.
Last updated August 25, 2026
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Overview
The All-Russian Cossack Society is a Russian government-sponsored umbrella and advocacy organization intended to coordinate Cossack organizations across the Russian Federation. Its principal institutional role is to connect the country’s 11 registered Cossack hosts while also permitting participation by non-registered Cossack associations. The organization presents itself as a vehicle for maintaining Cossack historical customs, traditions, public identity, and patriotic education. The concept of a nationwide coordinating body was first proposed in 1994, but the organization was not formally established until the late 2010s. Cossack atamans and representatives created the society in October 2017, and delegates to its Constitutive Assembly voted on 27 November 2018 to establish the organization and adopt its statute. The society subsequently received support from the Presidential Council on Cossack Affairs, reflecting its close relationship with Russian state structures and the state’s broader policy of organizing and incorporating Cossack communities into officially recognized public and service institutions. The organization’s formal authority was strengthened in July 2019, when the State Duma approved rules giving the Russian president exclusive authority to appoint and dismiss the Society Ataman. The same framework required Cossack units to follow the procedures of the society. This arrangement places the organization within a centrally coordinated system rather than treating it solely as an independent cultural association. Nikolai Doluda, then vice governor of Krasnodar Krai and ataman of the Kuban Cossack Host, became the society’s first ataman. Russian President Vladimir Putin appointed him to the position on 4 November 2019, following his nomination and support from the Presidential Council on Cossack Affairs. Doluda resigned voluntarily in November 2023, stating that he wished to concentrate on legislative work. He was succeeded by Vitaly Kuznetsov, head of the Terek Cossack Society and a Cossack General. Public visibility is an important part of the society’s identity. Cossack formations have appeared in Russian national commemorations, including the Moscow Victory Day Parade. A Kuban Cossack contingent led by Doluda took part in the 2015 parade marking the seventieth anniversary of the end of the Second World War. In 2020, pandemic-related restrictions prevented the Kuban contingent from returning for the seventy-fifth anniversary event, but a Don Cossack contingent participated instead, representing the society and carrying a military flag presented by President Putin. The society also supports recurring regional ceremonial activity. Each year, generally in late April, it organizes a parade of the Kuban Cossack Army in Krasnodar connected with the anniversary of legislation on the rehabilitation of the Cossacks. The event typically includes a religious service, a procession along Krasnaya Street, equestrian groups, honor guards, and youth cadet corps. Its opening participants include drummers from the Novorossiysk Cossack Cadet Corps. These activities combine heritage preservation, public ceremony, youth education, and visible cooperation between Cossack organizations and Russian authorities. As an organizational brand, the All-Russian Cossack Society is defined less by commercial products than by institutional coordination and cultural representation. Its principal offering is a nationwide framework through which Cossack hosts and affiliated associations can conduct educational, ceremonial, patriotic, and tradition-preservation activities under a common structure. Its close links to presidential and parliamentary authority distinguish it from an ordinary cultural association and make it part of Russia’s official approach to the administration and public presentation of Cossack communities.
History
The idea of creating a nationwide coordinating institution for Russia’s Cossack communities dates to 1994. For more than two decades, the proposal remained unrealized while Cossack organizations continued to operate through individual hosts and associations. A formal unifying process began in October 2017, when Cossack atamans and representatives established the framework for the All-Russian Cossack Society. The organization received its formal constitutional basis at the Constitutive Assembly held on 27 November 2018. Delegates voted to establish the society and adopted its official statute. The resulting body was designed to coordinate the activities of the 11 registered Cossack hosts while allowing both registered and non-registered Cossack organizations to participate. Its stated spheres of work include patriotic education, preservation of Cossack history and customs, and the continued public practice of Cossack traditions. The society’s institutional relationship with the Russian state became particularly clear in 2019. In July, the State Duma approved provisions granting the president exclusive authority to appoint and dismiss the Society Ataman. The rules also required Cossack units to comply with the society’s procedures. On 4 November 2019, President Vladimir Putin appointed Nikolai Doluda to lead the organization. Doluda had served as vice governor of Krasnodar Krai and as ataman of the Kuban Cossack Host. His nomination had been supported by the Presidential Council on Cossack Affairs. Public ceremony and national commemoration have been prominent elements of the society’s outward profile. Cossacks had appeared in the 1945 Moscow Victory Parade, but modern Cossack participation at national scale was renewed when a Kuban Cossack contingent led by Doluda joined the 2015 parade commemorating the seventieth anniversary of Victory in the Second World War. The Kuban contingent could not participate in the 2020 seventy-fifth anniversary parade because of COVID-19 restrictions. A Don Cossack contingent took its place, representing the society and carrying a military flag handed over by President Putin. At the regional level, the society organizes an annual parade of the Kuban Cossack Army in Krasnodar, generally held in late April. The event is associated with the anniversary of legislation concerning the rehabilitation of the Cossacks. Its program commonly includes a religious service, a procession along Krasnaya Street, a gathering at the city square, equestrian formations, honor guards, and youth cadet corps. A platoon of drummers from the Novorossiysk Cossack Cadet Corps traditionally opens the parade. These events demonstrate how the organization combines historical memory, religious and ceremonial practice, youth involvement, and public representation. In November 2023, Doluda resigned voluntarily in order to concentrate on legislative work. Vitaly Kuznetsov, the head of the Terek Cossack Society and a Cossack General, was appointed as the new Society Ataman. Under Kuznetsov, the organization remains an active national coordinating framework for Russian Cossack hosts and affiliated associations. Its history reflects the gradual movement from a long-standing proposal for Cossack unity toward a formally established, state-recognized structure with defined leadership powers and a public role in patriotic and heritage-related activities.
- 2023
Vitaly Kuznetsov appointed Society Ataman
[1]Kuznetsov replaced Doluda after Doluda resigned to focus on legislative work.
- 2020
Don Cossack contingent represents the society at the Victory Day Parade
[1]A Don Cossack contingent participated in the Moscow parade after pandemic restrictions prevented the Kuban contingent from attending.
- 2019
Presidential authority over the Society Ataman established
[1]The State Duma approved a framework giving the president authority to appoint and remove the Society Ataman and requiring Cossack units to follow the society’s procedures.
- 2019
Nikolai Doluda becomes first Society Ataman
[1]President Vladimir Putin appointed Nikolai Doluda to lead the organization on 4 November.
- 2018
Constitutive Assembly adopts the statute
[1]Delegates voted to establish the society and adopted its official statute on 27 November.
- 2017
Cossack representatives create the organization
[1]Cossack atamans and representatives created the framework for the society in October.
- 1994
Nationwide Cossack society first proposed
[1]The idea of creating an all-Russian coordinating society for Cossack organizations was first proposed.
Products and positioning
A state-aligned national coordinating body for Russian Cossack organizations, positioned at the intersection of cultural heritage preservation, patriotic education, public ceremony, and official institutional administration.
Organizational service · 2018
National Cossack coordination
The society’s central function is to coordinate activities among Russia’s 11 registered Cossack hosts and provide a common framework in which registered and non-registered Cossack organizations can participate. This includes institutional representation, procedural coordination, and the organization of shared public activities.
Education and cultural programming · 2018
Patriotic education and heritage programs
The organization supports patriotic education and the preservation of Cossack history, customs, and traditions. Its public-facing activities include ceremonies, commemorations, youth participation, and events that connect Cossack identity with Russian historical and civic narratives.
Public events
Cossack parades and commemorative events
Parades and ceremonial appearances provide the society with a visible public role. Examples include participation by Cossack contingents in Moscow Victory Day parades and the annual Kuban Cossack Army parade in Krasnodar, featuring mounted groups, honor guards, drummers, and youth cadet corps.
Marketing campaigns
- 2020Don Cossack representation at the Moscow Victory Day Parade
Russia
Because COVID-19 restrictions prevented the Kuban Cossacks from returning for the seventy-fifth anniversary parade, a Don Cossack contingent represented the society instead.
Outcome. The society maintained a Cossack presence at the national commemoration despite restrictions on the originally expected contingent.
- 2015Kuban Cossack participation in the Moscow Victory Day Parade
Russia
A Kuban Cossack contingent led by Nikolai Doluda participated in the Moscow parade marking the seventieth anniversary of Victory in the Second World War, helping renew large-scale national ceremonial visibility for Cossack formations.
Outcome. The participation strengthened the public association between organized Cossack groups, national commemorations, and patriotic representation.
- Annual Krasnodar Kuban Cossack parade
Russia
The society organizes a recurring parade of the Kuban Cossack Army in Krasnodar, generally in late April, connected with the anniversary of legislation on Cossack rehabilitation. The program includes a prayer service, procession, equestrian groups, honor guards, and youth cadet corps.
Outcome. The event serves as a recurring public expression of Cossack heritage, ceremonial identity, and youth involvement.
Brand decisions
2023
Leadership transition from Nikolai Doluda to Vitaly KuznetsovOtherBackground
Nikolai Doluda resigned voluntarily to concentrate on legislative work after serving as Society Ataman since 2019.
Action taken
Vitaly Kuznetsov, head of the Terek Cossack Society, was appointed as the new Society Ataman.
Aftermath
The organization continued under the leadership of a senior representative of another registered Cossack host.
2019
Centralization of Society Ataman appointment authorityStrategyBackground
The Russian state sought a clearly defined chain of authority for the nationally coordinating Cossack organization.
Action taken
The State Duma approved rules reserving appointment and dismissal of the Society Ataman to the president and requiring Cossack units to follow the society’s procedures.
Aftermath
The society’s leadership structure became more closely integrated with Russian presidential and state administration.
2018
Adoption of the society’s founding statuteStrategyBackground
The organization required a formal legal and organizational framework to coordinate registered and non-registered Cossack groups across Russia.
Action taken
Delegates at the Constitutive Assembly voted to establish the society and adopted its official statute on 27 November.
Aftermath
The vote created the formal basis for a nationwide Cossack coordinating institution.
Recent events
- 2023
Vitaly Kuznetsov succeeds Nikolai Doluda[1]
Leadership change
Nikolai Doluda resigned voluntarily to focus on legislative work, and Vitaly Kuznetsov, head of the Terek Cossack Society, was appointed as his successor.
- 2020
Cossack contingent participates in the 2020 Moscow Victory Day Parade[1]
Other
A Don Cossack contingent represented the society at the seventy-fifth anniversary Victory Day Parade after COVID-19 restrictions prevented the Kuban Cossacks from participating.
- 2019
State Duma grants the president authority over the Society Ataman[1]
Regulation · Leadership change
Russian legislation gave the president exclusive authority to appoint and remove the Society Ataman and required Cossack units to follow the society’s procedures.
- 2019
Nikolai Doluda appointed Society Ataman[1]
Leadership change
President Vladimir Putin appointed Nikolai Doluda, the Kuban Cossack Host ataman and a Krasnodar Krai vice governor, as head of the All-Russian Cossack Society.
Sources1 sources
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