In recent years, in the Urals as well as throughout Russia, the Cossack movement has been growing and getting stronger. The Cossacks are united into social organizations, which according to the old tradition are referred to as «khutors» and «stanitsas.»

This spring, the Ural State Mining University, the most multinational institution, has become the first higher educational establishment in the country with the stanitsa of the same name. On March 26, the Constituent Assembly of the «Ural Mining University» stanitsa elected the rector of the Mining University Nikolai Kosarev as its ataman and the First Pro-Rector of the University Mikhail Nosyrev as the assistant ataman.

On September 29 the «Ural Mining University» stanitsa made a spectacular presentation to the Commission for the state support and development of original Cossack culture of the Council under the President of the Russian Federation. The commission consisted of the ministers of culture of some country regions, as well as prominent figures of science and culture. Those who also came to see the stanitsa’s presentation were the vice-president, director of presidential programs of the Russian Cultural Fund Elena Chavchavadze, the ataman of «Irkutsk Cossack Army» Nikolai Shakhov, the artistic director of the State science and art institution of the Krasnodar Territory “Kuban Cossack Choir" Victor Zakharchenko, the general director of the State Republican Center for Russian Folklore Anatoliy Kargin, the editor in chief of the TV channel «Culture», the director of the branch of the All-Russian State Television and Radio Broadcasting Company «Culture» Sergei Shumakov. High-ranking honored guests were met in the «Temple of Russian miners», and then accompanied to the Ural Geological Museum where each of them received a personal gift from the Mistress of the Copper Mountain. Carnelian, jasper, rock crystal – the mineral wealth of the Urals — captivated the delegation already at the very entrance to the museum.

The apotheosis of the ceremony was a solemn meeting of the Commission in the first academic building of the university. To the sounds of the song «Slavsya (Be glorious)» performed by the choir and orchestra of the Mining University the guests were accompanied to the gemstone icon of the founder of the University the Tsar-martyr Nicholas II and later offered to raise the Sikhote-Alin meteorite. On the second floor the visitors could see a unique photo exhibition devoted to the royal family and called «With love for Russia». It was organized by a simple parishioner of Yekaterinburg Eparchy from Zarechniy settlement Irina Krylova. And in the foyer of the Tsar Hall the ensemble of a Cossack song «Bagrenye» together with a dancing bear gave bread-and-salt welcome to the ataman of the Orenburg Military Cossack Society and the guests and by means of a «living brook» (Russian folk dance) accompanied each guest to his place.

The choir and folk dance ensemble «Chameleon» of the «Ural Mining University» stanitsa, ensemble «Bagrenye» and the stanitsa’s brass band conducted by the Honored Man of Art Alexandr Pavlov won the commission members’ hearts. The latter ones were encored twice, and the artistic director of the State science and art institution «Kuban Cossack Choir» Victor Zakharchenko even said that there, at the Mining University, he felt that the Cossacks were the brotherhood of men united by a special state of mind and consciousness, ethics, and morality. He also noted ensemble «Bagrenye» saying "… it is a powerful ensemble, it feels and deeply understands Russian traditions, takes the Fatherland destiny to heart. I really enjoyed its performance".

No less emotionally did Elena Chavchavadze speak of the concert, «The Cossacks are a unique phenomenon of the Russian culture. I am very pleased that the Ural Mining University was able to pick up the fallen banner of the Cossack culture and takes an active part in the revival of the Cossack traditions. The Center of the Cossack Culture at the Ural State Mining University helps to understand the history through songs and poetry. Here – as in a bouquet – there is both a true story of the Cossacks and a multi-national song culture of Russia. Your performances show not only enthusiasm and optimism but also heroism, faith, and love for the Fatherland».

In the «Ural Mining University» stanitsa it is believed that the most important aspect is the unity of young people because the Cossacks are the brotherhood of people united by a special state of mind and consciousness, ethics, and morality. For such people social needs have always been above personal ones, and the Cossacks have always served their native land. Reviving the Cossack culture, we are reviving Russia.