He participated in the Polish-Turkish War of 1620-1621, and was held captive by the Turks in Constantinople for two years. Upon his return to Ukraine, he joined the registered Cossack army. He participated in the popular uprisings of 1637-1638; held the position of military clerk; later became the Chigirinsky centurion. In the mid-1640s, he began preparing an uprising against Polish rule in Ukraine. In 1647, Khmelnitsky was arrested, but soon released, fled to the Zaporozhian Sich. In January 1648, the Liberation War of the Ukrainian people of 1648-1654 began under the leadership of Khmelnitsky. On October 25, 1649, Khmelnitsky was proclaimed hetman and solemnly entered Kiev. During the war, Khmelnitsky acted simultaneously as a commander, diplomat and organizer of Ukrainian statehood.



In 1654, the reunification of Ukraine with Russia took place through the efforts of Bogdan Khmelnitsky.

Bogdan Khmelnitsky was at the head of the Hetman's council until his death on August 6, 1657.