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So here is an interesting question I haven't seen discussed here before: what if Russian empress Catherine the Great never abolishes the Zaporozhian Hetmonate and its control over the Sich territory? What if the territory remains a mostly-autonomous part of the Russian Empire like the Grand Dutch of Finland was?

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaporozhian_Cossacks
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zaporizhian_Sich

I guess the question is really 2-part:

1) if this were to occur how would it impact the history & development of the region?
2) how could this occur in the 1st place (that is to say what would persuade Russian rulers not to get rid of this institution)?
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