In 1676, the Sultan of the Ottoman Empire, Mehmed IV, sent a haughty ultimatum to the Ukrainian Kozaks, commanding them to submit. The proud Kozaks, defenders of the Ukrainian land, composed a famous reply, full of defiance, fierce independence and scathing humor, ridiculing the Sultan and his demands. They addressed him as “damned Devil’s kin, secretary to Lucifer, swineherd of Egypt, pig of Armenia, goat-fucker of Alexandria…” and finally, called the Sultan to “kiss our arse”.In 2014, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the Kozaks posted a similar email to today’s evil despot:  Vladimir Putin…

Adrian Bryttan – author/composer, rapper and violinist