Ivan Ivanovych Iskra () (died July, 14, 1708) was a renegade

colonel Colonel ( ; abbreviated as Col., Col, or COL) is a senior military Officer (armed forces), officer rank used in many countries. It is also used in some police forces and paramilitary organizations. In the 17th, 18th, and 19th centuries, a colon ...

Poltava Poltava (, ; , ) is a city located on the Vorskla, Vorskla River in Central Ukraine, Central Ukraine. It serves as the administrative center of Poltava Oblast as well as Poltava Raion within the oblast. It also hosts the administration of Po ...

regiment of

Ukrainian cossacks The Zaporozhian Cossacks (in Latin ''Cossacorum Zaporoviensis''), also known as the Zaporozhian Cossack Army or the Zaporozhian Host (), were Cossacks who lived beyond (that is, downstream from) the Dnieper Rapids. Along with Registered Cossa ...

(1696–1703). Iskra belonged to the anti- Hetmanate coalition led by Vasily Kochubey. In late 1707, Kochubey and Iskra delivered a denunciation letter to the Tsar's court that accused

Ivan Mazepa Ivan Stepanovych Mazepa (; ; ) was the Hetman of the Zaporozhian Host and the Left-bank Ukraine in 1687–1708. The historical events of Mazepa's life have inspired Cultural legacy of Mazeppa, many literary, artistic and musical works. He was ...

of initiating talks with Stanislaus Leszczynski of Poland and

Charles XII of Sweden Charles XII, sometimes Carl XII () or Carolus Rex (17 June 1682 – 30 November 1718 Old Style and New Style dates, O.S.), was King of Sweden from 1697 to 1718. He belonged to the House of Palatinate-Zweibrücken, a branch line of the House of ...

. Peter I did not believe the letter and beheaded them both. Later, when the Tsar realized that they were correct, they were reburied near the Refectory Church in

Kiev Pechersk Monastery The Kyiv Pechersk Lavra or Kyievo-Pecherska Lavra (), also known as the Kyiv Monastery of the Caves, is a historic lavra or large monastery of Eastern Christianity that gave its name to the Pecherskyi District where it is located in Kyiv. Sinc ...

.Entsyklopediya Kyiv; Іскра Іван

References

Politicians from the Russian Empire Colonels of the Cossack Hetmanate Year of birth missing 1708 deaths 18th-century executions by Russia People executed by Russia by decapitation 18th-century Ukrainian people Burials at the Refectory Church, Kyiv Pechersk Lavra {{Ukraine-mil-bio-stub