Ukrainian Peasant

Ukrainian Peasant is a support infantry unit in Cossacks 3, available at the Town Hall. They are exclusive to the nation of Ukraine.

Background
All their lives peasants were working for their masters - cultivating the land, extracting resources, and multiplying the prosperity of their lords. At wartime, peasants were recruited to militia squads. Indeed this was the least battle-worthy part of an army.

The morale of these fighters was rather low, too. Although people are capable of self-sacrificing feats when they protect their families, it is very difficult to control such an army. Moreover, insufficient fighting training resulted in unwarrantably heavy casualties.

However, the militia was of great numbers and low value. These soldiers did well in performing ancillary functions, waging guerrilla wars and building fortifications. Commanders often resorted to the militia when the main army resources had already been exhausted.

It is hard to describe their weapons or equipment, because it was too diverse or lacking at all. Militia men mainly fought with their own tools (axes, smoothbore hunting guns, etc). Militia men also got some pikes and guns from military storage. Peasants mainly used their own clothes instead of uniforms. The militia were only summoned for combat operations; after a battle, people returned to their usual work.

Strategies
Ukranian Peasants powers lies within their ability to not be captured, except when inside a mine. (Change this in the Characteristics-tab, please).

This power can be exploited both defensively and offensively. The Ukranian power lies within long peacetime games, since they require high amounts of ressources and macromanagement to excel later in the game.

The Defensive Strategy: Games without Ukranian preffered peacetimes (+45 minutes) can be taken easily, since the citizen are not prone to early Cossack or Hussar rushes. This makes your macro a lot easier. Moreover, they got 15 more hp than the average worker.

The Offensive Strategy: Veteran Ukranian players often make the "Serdiuk Meat Shield" tactic on their final game pushes, which usually ends up in the enemy losing in 99% of the games this tactic is used. Since the Ukranian Peasant cannot be captured, all available Ukranian Peasants must go in front of the Serdiuks, before issuing a "Walk-attack"-command. This will ensure that the enemy will automatically focus down the Ukranian Peasants, while being mowed down by the Serdiuks by their long range and damage. When this strategy is used, you will often have +600 peasants or more, which can deal some serious damage.

NOTE: This is ONLY useful in the last push, and is a all-or-nothing move, however if played right, will most certainly go in your favor all the time.