Welcome back to History with Dad! In Episode 2, we dive into the turbulent 18th and 19th centuries, when the independent Ukrainian Cossack Hetmanate vanished under pressure from Russian imperial rule. We’ll explore how Catherine the Great pulled a political disappearing act on the Hetmans, how life in Ukraine was dramatically different under the Russian Empire versus the Austro-Hungarian Empire, and how serfdom shaped everyday life for millions. And of course, no story of Ukraine’s cultural awakening is complete without the legendary Taras Shevchenko – poet, rebel, and national icon.

It’s a century of empires, uprisings, and unexpected moustache power moves. So grab your history snacks and let’s ride through one of the most complex chapters in Ukraine’s past!