President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko has compared the Baturyn tragedy (Sack of Baturyn) with the current actions of Russia against the Ukrainian state.

"Today, like centuries ago, Russia continues to use its "proven methods" - insidious aggression and cruelty. And Ukraine remains a shield that protects the borders of Europe from the Kremlin's painful plans," the president wrote on Facebook on Friday in connection with 310th anniversary of the Baturyn tragedy.

He stressed that in 1708 Moscow troops "massacred the inhabitants of Baturyn, ransacked and burned the capital of Hetman Mazepa only for the desire to be free from the Moscow tsar," and this shocked the whole of Europe.

"About 15,000 people became victims of the massacre in Baturyn - the Moscow horde did not take pity on the elderly, women or children. Memories of thousands of innocently torn lives will forever remain in our memory, in the memory of the whole people," Poroshenko noted.

On November 2, 1708, Moscow troops captured and destroyed the capital of Hetman Ivan Mazepa, Baturyn, and all local residents were massacred (according to various estimates, between 11,000 and 15,000 people were killed).