The Development of Ukrainian-Russian relations from Ivan Mazepa’s ‟transition” to the Battle of Poltava in the light of Peter I’s correspondence

Abstract

The study presents views on the changes in the relations between the Russian Empire and the Hetmanate from Octo-ber 1708 to the battle of Poltava on 27 June 1709. Beside using the literature, I mainly focused on source-centricity, and I examined the correspondence of Peter I by using the volumes of Письма и Бумаги императора Петра Великого. The main objective of the study is to present, how the Tsar reacted to the “transition” of Ivan Mazepa; what changes took place in the Ukrainian-Russian relations after October 1708, and how Peter I’s attitude to Ukrainian territories changed after the Russian victory.