The primary purpose of those militia formations was to provide security and civil order for the local population.

The consolidation process of various smaller units started sometime in April near the town of Zvenyhorodka, Kiev Governorate during the local assembly of the Free Cossacks which created the Zvenyhorodka Kosh (battalion).

The congress elected the Hetman of All Ukraine, who became General Pavlo Skoropadskyi.

The Free Cossacks units distinguished themselves during the Ukrainian–Soviet War (particularly from December 1917 to April 1918) and were disbanded around May and June 1918.

In January-April 1918 the Ukrainian government tried to create the Free Registered Cossack Troops for county security, but after the April coup-d'etat led by Pavlo Skoropadsky all Free Cossacks formations were officially dissolved.