High in the mountains: Hutsuls have played an outsized role in Ukrainian history despite their small numbers

A wedding couple in traditional Hutsul clothing. Photo: Viktoria Kuzmenko / Shuterstock

For centuries, the Carpathian mountain range has been home to numerous linguistic and ethnic groups. One of these groups is the Hutsuls. Despite being concentrated in a relatively small area, this group has played an outsized role in Ukrainian history and its national identity. Long evoking a sense of awe and mystery, this group now faces a series of problems as it tries to preserve its uniqueness in the modern world.

When the Carpathian Mountains are described, their beauty and picturesque valleys and foothills are often brought up. For centuries, but especially since the 1800s, writers and travellers have waxed poetically about not only the landscape, but also a group of people who inhabit the region and have also captured many imaginations – the Hutsuls. With their distinctive garb, folksongs, and dances, this group has captivated not only the hearts of travellers and explorers, but also of Ukraine itself.

The region of the south-eastern Carpathians that the Hutsuls inhabit is known as the Hutsulshchyna and encompasses parts of western Ukraine and eastern Romania. Humans have lived in the region for tens of thousands of years. However, the etymology of the word Hutsul is not known for certain. Over time it has been theorized that the term is derived from the word kochul (nomad) and referred to either citizens of Kievan Rus’ fleeing the advancing Mongols or Turks fleeing the incoming Horde. Currently, the most accepted theory is that the word derives from the Romanian term hoţul/hoţ.

The region has seen a number of ruling entities over the centuries. The Poles, Austrians, Czechoslovaks, Hungarians, Romanians, Soviets, and finally Ukrainians have all ruled over the lands of the Hutsulshchyna. For a moment in 1919, the region did identify as an independent country – the Hutsul Republic. However, this was short-lived and the nascent republic was incorporated into Czechoslovakia. The region only joined Ukraine (as part of the local Soviet republic) in 1945 after the end of the Second World War.

A storied region and people

It is hard to overstate the impact this ethnic group has had on Ukraine and the concept of “Ukrainian-ness”. For some, the group represents the idea of a “uncorrupted” version of Ukraine that has escaped Russian influence and language. The Hutsuls are portrayed as “wild” and freedom loving. This perception is bolstered by numerous peasant uprisings occurring in the area with one leader, Lukian Kobylutsia, gaining local fame for the raids he led in the 19th century.

While the Hutsuls are seen as a key component of Ukrainian history and identity, they still have their own unique culture and traditions. One can see this in their unique and colourful outfits. These days they are worn on rare and special occasions. Amongst these garbs are the black or red serdak coat and the sheepskin jacket known as a kozhushyna (or kyptar). These sleeveless jackets typically are accompanied by embroidery and mirrored inlays, among other items.

Another prominent aspect of Hutsul culture is folk songs. The kolomyka style of music and troisti muzyky performers are two trademarks of this genre. Wood carvings and other hand-made objects are also a trademark of the region and its people. There are three major groups of design in Hutsul art – geometric, floral, and zoomorphic. Each has its own set of rules and regulations with regards to design.

Orientalism in the Carpathians

Of course, as with many minority groups, appreciation for their culture and way of life can quickly descend into exoticism. One notable instance of this phenomenon can be seen when the Soviet Union moved into the region after their invasion of Poland in 1939 and annexation of Moldova and Bukovina in 1940. After these new territories were incorporated into the USSR, two Soviet filmmakers, Oleksandr Dovzhenko and Iuliia Solntseva, arrived to discover under-developed regions that exhibited “pre-modern” communism.

The two films that the directors created both included the Hutsulshchyna. Dovzhenko’s The Liberation looked to portray the poverty of the region and the inhabitants’ acceptance of their new rulers. Meanwhile, Solntseva’s Bukovina looked to showcase the sufferings of the Hutsuls under the rule of Romania.

Both films, while focusing on the picturesque scene of the natural surroundings and the unique dress of the Hutsuls, were decidedly colonial in their presentation. While Solntseva made the effort to focus on the ethnic group and have them actively participate in the film, there still existed the overarching idea of an advanced state educating the local community. Dovzhenko’s film was even more extreme in that the Hutsuls were largely shown simply listening to, and accepting, Soviet apparatchiks and their messages.

A language at risk

The language that is spoken by the Hutsul has been described as either a dialect of Ukrainian or as its own unique language. Regardless of its official designation, the unique speech is so distinct that it is often unintelligible to those who only speak standard Ukrainian. Unfortunately, its degradation and potential erasure is a serious threat in the region.

Currently, in present-day Ukraine, there is no official policy that targets the Hutsul language or prevents its usage in everyday life. However, it is still under pressure and risks being lost. Instead of a directed policy, this is the result of standard Ukrainian being the language of commerce and education. This phenomenon has been noted by Erin Coyne in their PhD thesis. She writes that the Hutsul language has faced increased contact with standard Ukrainian over the years and that this, combined with people leaving the region for work and further education, has caused the usage of the language to decrease. As is often the case, the most prominent use of the language can be found in folk songs and other cultural displays.

The problem of war

In addition to the aforementioned issues, Hutsuls now must contend with Russia’s full-scale invasion. While far away from the historical Hutsulshchyna, the war is still impacting the region and its people. Since the full-scale invasion began, Hutsuls have been fighting, and dying, in the Ukrainian army. While the exact number of those killed while fighting against Russia’s invasion is unknown, a report by the Guardian in 2024 illustrates that there are a number of fighters from this population who have been killed on the frontlines.

The second way in which the war has affected the number of Hutsuls is via immigration and refugees. In one village, Richka, locals estimate that around half of the population left once the full-scale invasion began. This loss of life has also impacted the ability for Hutsuls to preserve their culture. The ornate and intricate vests and jackets that are synonymous with the image of the Hutsulshchyna are becoming harder to make because of the lack of herders to tend to the necessary sheep. “If they mobilize me, these sheep will be packed immediately for the slaughterhouse. Nobody will take care of them,” remarked the herder Mikhailo Bilak.

Unexpected exports

While the Hutsuls face a number of obstacles in preserving their identity and culture in the face of a modern world and Russia’s invasion, there are still a number of highlights that illustrate continued interest in the region and the desire to preserve this unique culture. One instance can be seen in the Hutsul Theatre. Originally conceived in the early 20th century, this institution toured Ukraine in an effort to share the region’s culture. Despite the hardships and various occupations faced by the region in the 20th century, the theatre survived and continues to perform to this day.

Another more unexpected example illustrates that the region and its customs appeal to an international audience. In 2024, a boardgame based on Hutsul folktale and legend raised over 130,000 US dollars to be translated, produced, and shipped to an international audience. The game, named Aridnyk, takes its inspiration from a Ukrainian comic book. “The story is based on the tales collected by Volodymyr Shukhevych in his ethnographic collection “Hutsulshchyna”,” reads the summary of the comic book. As one of the boardgame studio’s executives put it, “It turns out that the game is our little cultural diplomacy.”

While these efforts are key to presenting Hutsul culture to a wide national and international audience, what really is needed to preserve and promote the culture and way of life are the young. As stated previously, capitalism naturally encourages youth to move towards far-away cities that are often concentrations of capital and education. Additionally, the central government, even before the war, has done little to encourage the preservation and growth of Hutsul culture. Thankfully, young people at the local and community level appear to be taking up an interest in their history and culture. It is these grassroots efforts that will ensure a stable and long-lasting preservation of this little-known yet influential culture.

Daniel Jarosak is a freelance writer who focuses on Central and Eastern Europe. He is the Ukraine regional editor for Lossi 36 and a contributing editor for New Eastern Europe.

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Carpathian mountains, Hutsuls, minorities, Ukraine, Ukrainian history, Ukrainian society