[en] Complete text of publication follows. The effect of high-energy irradiation on cotton cellulose was studied both in inert atmosphere and in the presence of oxygen. The radiation-induced changes were followed by FTIR spectroscopy and by measurement of crease recovery of cellulosic fabric and degree of polymerization (DP), respectively. Pictures were taken by scanning electron microscope. After irradiation with doses up to 50 kGy (dose rate of 10 kGy/h) of Co⁶⁰-γ in nitrogen atmosphere an increase in the absorbance at both of the bands at 1170 cm^-1 and at 1430 cm^-1 was observed. The slight increase of crease recovery angle found might be the consequence of the structural changes, namely crosslinks between cellulose fibrils. In the FTIR spectra of samples irradiated in the presence of oxygen the appearance of the absorbance of carboxyl groups (band at 1730-1740 cm^-1) was found and is suggested to be a consequence of the oxidative degradation. With the increasing radiation dose a shift was observed in the broad maximum of absorbance of OH groups (3400 cm^-1) to the frequency region corresponding to free hydroxyl groups. This finding points to the decrease in the number of hydrogen bonds. A decrease in (DP) from 1200 to 330 was measured after irradiation with a dose of 15 kGy (dose rate 100 Gy/h) and further decrease in DP was measured when the dose was increased up to 100 kGy. The degradation of the fibers was also detected by scanning electron microscope: cracking on the surface of the filaments was observed