Ivan Bohun

Ivan Bohun (Ruthenian: Іванъ Богун; ; died 1664) was a Zaporozhian Cossack colonel. A close associate and friend of Bohdan Khmelnytsky, he opposed both the pacts with the Polish–Lithuanian Commonwealth (Treaty of Hadiach of 1658) and with the Tsardom of Russia (Pereiaslav Agreement of 1654).

Biography

Bohun was born into a Cossack-Ruthenian noble family. In 1637, he captured the Azov Fortress in a joint campaign with Don Cossacks and later took part in the subsequent Azov sitting. After being arrested by Polish authorities following an unsanctioned raid against Muscovite forces on the Don river in 1647, Bohun was sentenced to death on demand of the tsar. However, in 1648 he was able to escape from his cell in the Kodak Fortress In June 1651 he was elected colonel of Vinnytsia Regiment and took part in the Battle of Berestechko against Polish troops led by King John II Casimir Vasa, taking command over Cossack forces in the absence of hetman Khmelnytsky.

Ivan Bohun Military High School in Kyiv bears his name.