This monument became the first monument to Hetman Ivan Mazepa. It is located on Val (Rampart), near the Chernihiv College. Hetman supported one of the oldest educational institutions on the Left Bank of Ukraine. He was also one of most generous patrons of Chernihiv.

The bust was opened only 10 years after the sculptor Henadyi Ershov installed it. The revelation was constantly rescheduled for fear of the provocations of the left and the pro-Soviet ones. After all, the figure of Mazepa remained ambiguous in history, especially in the history of Russia.

In order to prevent clashes with left-wing organizations that promised to disrupt the opening, Bronze Mazepa was consecrated secretly in the evening. At the same time, the monument was officially recognized as a monument of architecture.