Oleksa was an 18th century Ukrainian national hero from the Carpathian Mountains who robbed from the rich and helped the poor serfs, similar to Robin Hood. Many folk songs and legends from the Prykarpattya region portray him as a local hero fighting against the oppression of Polish magnates. Despite an expedition of 2,000 soldiers being sent after him, Oleksa evaded capture until he was betrayed and killed by Stepan Dzvinchuck, who worked with the Polish magnates.