Inside: l Report says Russian Buk 332 shot down MH17 – page 3 l Philadelphia holds “Pray for Ukraine” event – page 4 l Chornobyl: Tombstone of the reckless empire – page 9

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXXIV No. 19 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 $2.00 Bill links Russia sanctions relief Groysman acts to renew slipping Western support to Crimea’s return to Ukraine RFE/RL WASHINGTON – A new bill in the U.S. Congress would prevent the White House from lifting a raft of sanctions against Russia until Ukraine restores control over Crimea, which Moscow forcibly annexed in 2014, or settles the peninsula’s status to Kyiv’s satisfaction. The legislation, announced on April 29 by Reps. Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) and Adam Kinzinger (R-Ill.), aims to bol- ster U.S. support for Kyiv with measures that include tightened sanctions against Russia and a push for greater private investment in the Ukrainian economy. “We need to build on our sanctions regime against troublemakers in the Kremlin, while working to preserve transatlantic unity,” Rep. Engel, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said in a statement. “And we need to find ways of shoring up Ukraine and deterring [Russian President Vladimir] Putin that go beyond Web-Portal of Ukrainian Government just throwing more money at the problem,” he added. Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman chairs the May 5 meeting of the Cabinet of Ministers. President Barack Obama’s administration slapped sev- by Zenon Zawada to be serious about Minsk, they may find that in fact the eral rounds of sanctions on senior Russian officials and West has turned away,” former U.S. Ambassador to companies following Moscow’s military seizure of Crimea KYIV – The new Cabinet of Ministers that emerged in Ukraine Steven Pifer told the ninth annual Kyiv Security in March 2014 and an ensuing war between Russia- Ukraine in mid-April drew swift skepticism from Western Forum the day after the Cabinet was announced. backed separatists and Kyiv’s forces in eastern Ukraine. authorities as it was cleared of foreign-born reformers, That turning away has already begun to occur in plac- These measures and analogous ones taken by the among them Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko, who was es like the Netherlands, where a referendum rejected European Union have angered the Kremlin, which has being considered to lead a technocratic government. integration with Ukraine; France, where the National said it moved to take control over Crimea due to fears for Instead, insiders – many with shady pasts – took the reins. Assembly voted to end sanctions against Russia; and the people there after the ouster of Ukraine’s Moscow- “If the elites make the assumption that they could even in the U.S., where the likely Republican nominee has backed president, Viktor Yanukovych, amid protests that engage in political games as opposed to actually govern- Russia has cast as a U.S.-backed coup. ing, that they can go slow on reform, that they don’t have (Continued on page 18) Russia also denies backing armed separatists in the conflict in eastern Ukraine that has killed more than 9,300 since April 2014, despite significant evidence of such support. The bill would require that the U.S. president, prior to U.N. marks 30th anniversary lifting a raft of Ukraine-related sanctions, submit “certifi- cation” to Congress that Ukraine has restored “sovereign- ty” over Crimea or that the peninsula’s status has been of Chornobyl with special session resolved to the satisfaction “of a democratically elected government” in Kyiv. “As we have seen time and again, there is no stopping Vladimir Putin’s disrespect for global order, especially in regards to Ukraine,” Rep. Kinzinger said. “It’s time for the United States to stand up and reiterate that it will not tol- erate Russia’s aggression.” Called the Stability and Democracy for Ukraine Act [H.R. 5094], the legislation was introduced in the House of Representatives on April 28 by Reps. Engel and Kinzinger, and 14 other co-sponsors. The legislation would also codify the U.S. govern- ment’s policy of non-recognition of Russian authority over Crimea, mirroring Washington’s policy of refusing to recognize Soviet sovereignty over the Baltic nations of

Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania. Matthew Dubas It also directs the U.S. administration “to consult with A view of the photo exhibit “Chornobyl – 30 Years” on display in the Secretariat Building of the United Nations the government of Ukraine and seek to establish an inter- Headquarters in New York. It was organized by Ukraine’s Mission to the United Nations and the Ukrainian national consortium to drive private investment in Ukraine Congress Committee of America, and opened by Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko. by minimizing and pooling political risk to would-be pri- vate investors,” Rep. Engel’s office said in a statement. by Matthew Dubas representatives of Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, and Copyright 2016, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted with the permis- speakers representing other regions of the world. sion of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut UNITED NATIONS – The 30th anniversary of the Mr. Lykketoft said: “Many of us remember the horror Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see http:// Chornobyl nuclear disaster was commemorated during and the fear we felt 30 years ago, when the nuclear acci- www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-us-bill-sanctions/ the opening of the 92nd plenary meeting of the United dent happened at Chornobyl, in what is now Ukraine. The 27707600.html). Nations General Assembly on April 26 by Mogens Lykketoft of Denmark, president of the General Assembly, (Continued on page 14) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 No. 19

ANALYSIS

Ukraine’s new government EU, Ukraine postpone summit killed during the conflict in eastern Ukraine to 9,333 from 9,160 in March. U.N. Assistant BRUSSELS – The European Union says it Secretary-General for Political Affairs Taye- has postponed an EU-Ukraine Summit that Brook Zerihoun told the U.N. Security expected to continue reforms was scheduled for next month until Council that the total number of casualties to the IMF. The new minister of finance, September. A European Commission by Oleg Varfolomeyev now stands at 30,729, including 9,333 peo- Oleksandr Danylyuk, said in an interview spokeswoman said on April 27 that the Eurasia Daily Monitor ple killed and 21,396 injured. He said the immediately after his appointment that delay was agreed to in order to give the latest incident occurred on April 27, when new government in Kyiv the necessary time On April 14, Ukraine’s Parliament cooperation with the IMF would be his pri- shelling killed at least four civilians and to carry out political and financial reforms replaced the Cabinet of unpopular Prime ority number one (Gazeta.zn.ua, April 15). injured at least eight people in Olenivka in the country. The summit was to have Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk with one head- Mr. Groysman said the government would near the city of Donetsk. Mr. Zerihoun said been held in Brussels on May 19 and ed by Volodymyr Groysman, who had have to hike gas tariffs for households, that fighting has escalated in recent weeks attended by Ukrainian President Petro served as Parliament speaker since both because it had been agreed with the to levels not seen since August 2014, when Poroshenko. “In the meantime, the new November 2014. A former mayor of IMF and because artificially low tariffs are it was at its most intense. He called on all President Petro Poroshenko’s electoral and conducive to corruption (24tv.ua, April Ukrainian government will pursue work on delivering its reform commitments” under parties to cease hostilities. He criticized business stronghold of Vinnytsia, Mr. 20). Mr. Groysman’s first deputy, Stepan both sides for hindering access to an inter- Groysman has always been in Mr. Kubiv, said the government hoped to the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement, the spokeswoman said. “The rescheduling of national monitoring mission put in place Poroshenko’s political shadow. His political receive the $1.7 billion from the IMF by the summit should also allow for the under the February 2015 ceasefire agree- experience is no match to that of Mr. July (UNIAN, April 19). review of the IMF [International Monetary ment between Ukraine, Russia, France, and Yatsenyuk; and a new wafer-thin majority Presenting his Cabinet’s action plan to Fund] program to be concluded,” she Germany. But he said that restrictions on in Parliament would not have appointed the Parliament, Mr. Groysman pledged to added. The EU’s Association Agreement monitors were more common in areas held his Cabinet but for the votes, at the 11th continue adopting EU legislative and inter- with Ukraine was the main issue behind a by Russia-backed separatists. (RFE/RL, hour, from two factions reportedly linked national accounting standards as well as crisis in the country that led to the 2014 based on reporting by AP, AFP and DPA) to oligarchs (Tsn.ua, April 15). international management standards for ousting of pro-Moscow President Viktor Kyiv cites Easter ceasefire violations In short, the starting position is not state companies, ensure a transparent Yanukovych, who rejected the deal. (RFE/ impressive. But there are signs that the privatization, crack down on corruption at RL, based on reporting by AFP and DPA) KYIV – One Ukrainian soldier has been new Cabinet will further reforms. the fiscal service, approve a new tax code, killed and several troops wounded in Mr. Groysman’s is neither a technocratic and introduce a moratorium on changes to OSCE: Ceasefire violations a concern Ukraine’s east, the Ukrainian government Cabinet, which was wanted by U.S.-born it (Rbc.ua, April 14). All of this is required VIENNA – The Organization for Security said on May 1. Both Russia-backed separat- former Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko by both creditors and the provisions of the and Cooperation in Europe’s (OSCE) moni- ists and Kyiv’s forces in eastern Ukraine and some Western creditors, nor does it Ukraine-EU association and free trade toring mission in eastern Ukraine says that agreed to observe a ceasefire with the start represent a wide political spectrum. It is deal, which is yet to formally come into the number of violations of the ceasefire of the Julian calendar Easter and May Day dominated by politicians, career bureau- force. deal between Ukrainian forces and Russia- holidays. The ceasefire was supposed to go crats and former investment fund manag- There are no more expats among gov- backed separatists is at the highest level in into effect at midnight on April 30. Oleksandr ers from Mr. Poroshenko’s camp, and it ernment ministers, such as Ms. Jaresko or months. Ertugrul Apakan, the chief monitor Motuzyanyk, a spokesman for Ukraine’s includes several ministers from Mr. former Economy Minister Aivaras for the OSCE mission, said in Vienna that operation in the east, said that separatists Yatsenyuk’s party – the People’s Front – Abromavicius, from Lithuania, whose during the past few weeks, “armed violence shelled the army’s positions overnight at sev- which has formed a new coalition with the accusations of corruption against the in eastern Ukraine has once again reached eral locations, including the suburbs of Donetsk. The separatist mouthpiece Donetsk Poroshenko Bloc. Both camps were tainted Poroshenko team triggered the govern- worrying levels.” Meanwhile, at a security News Agency reported shelling by govern- by corruption allegations recently. ment crisis last February. But the new gov- conference in Moscow on April 28, OSCE ment forces prior to the midnight deadline. Nevertheless, as long as it needs foreign ernment continues to seek expertise from Secretary-General Lamberto Zannier spoke (RFE/RL, based on reporting by AP) assistance, the new government is likely to foreign economists and managers. out against the idea of giving weapons to the continue the reforms started by the previ- It has appointed Wojciech Balczun, who unarmed monitors. Mr. Zannier said arming Canada supports Chornobyl containment the OSCE monitors should only be done if ous one, under pressure from the creditors used to manage successful Polish state there is consensus and clear agreements are OTTAWA – On April 25, Canada’s Minister who, in exchange for reforms, pledged firms, to head the state railway company in place, and if their tasks are clearly under- of Foreign Affairs Stephane Dion announced some $30 billion in assistance in 2014, fol- Ukrzaliznytsia (112.ua, April 20). Three stood. He said that first and foremost, the that Canada will “continue to support inter- lowing the ouster of the kleptocratic gov- former executives of multinationals, warring sides should respect the ceasefire national efforts dealing with the contain- ernment of former President Viktor including BP and ConocoPhillips, were brokered as part of the February 2015 ment and safe storage of radioactive materi- Yanukovych. appointed to the five-member supervisory Minsk accords. (RFE/RL, based on reporting als resulting from the 1986 accident at the Although the economy bottomed out board of the state oil and gas behemoth, by AFP, Interfax and TASS) Chornobyl nuclear power plant, in Ukraine, recently, it remains weak, so support from Naftohaz Ukrainy (Naftogaz.com, April 22). with a contribution of $3.6 million.” Canada’s creditors – first and foremost the Ihor Smilyansky, who has worked for the U.N. puts death toll at 9,333 contribution to international efforts to International Monetary Fund (IMF), the KPMG consultancy in the U.S. for many UNITED NATIONS – The United Nations United States and the European Union – is years, will head the notoriously inefficient on April 28 raised its estimate of the total (Continued on page 12) essential. However, the IMF has been state postal company, Ukrposhta (24tv.ua, delaying the allocation of the third $1.7 bil- April 20). They had been selected by the lion tranche of its Extended Fund Facility Abromavicius team, but will work under loan since last fall, first because of differ- Mr. Groysman. FOUNDED 1933 ences with the government over tax poli- Finally, Mr. Poroshenko appointed The Ukrainian Weekly cies, later on because of uncertainty over Leszek Balcerowicz, the architect of the the ruling coalition and the government, successful Polish reforms in the 1990s, as An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. and most recently the IMF was disappoint- his representative in the Groysman Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. ed with the Yatsenyuk Cabinet’s failure to Cabinet. Mr. Balcerowicz will also co-chair, increase gas tariffs for households from with former Slovak Finance Minister Ivan Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. (ISSN — 0273-9348) April 1, as agreed with the IMF last year Miklos, the newly established group of (Epravda.com.ua, March 31). advisors to support reforms (President. The Weekly: UNA: U.S. Assistant Secretary of State Victoria gov.ua, April 22). Incidentally, Mr. Miklos Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 Nuland told Mr. Groysman during her visit was an adviser also to Ministers Jaresko to Kyiv on April 26 that Ukraine would and Abromavicius. It had long been Postmaster, send address changes to: The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz receive $1 billion in loan guarantees prom- rumored that Mr. Balcerowicz, who is 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas ised by Washington only when the laws greatly respected by pro-Western and pro– P.O. Box 280 needed to resume cooperation with the free market forces in Ukraine, would be Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] IMF are adopted (Zn.ua, April 27). The EU, invited to Kyiv. which suspended assistance recently, also Ukraine faces the formidable challenges The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com requires re-engagement with the IMF, vis- of withstanding the hybrid war waged by iting European Commissioner Johannes Russia and turning around the economy, The Ukrainian Weekly, May 8, 2016, No. 19, Vol. LXXXIV Hahn said (President.gov.ua, April 20). Mr. which is nowhere near its pre-2008 level. Copyright © 2016 The Ukrainian Weekly Poroshenko’s economy aide Dmytro For the time being, the country appears on Shymkiv noted that the Parliament would the right track, but the Groysman Cabinet need to pass 19 bills to meet IMF require- has yet to make sure that deeds match ments (Liga.net, April 19). This may be an words. ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA uphill struggle, given the thin majority Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 backing Mr. Groysman and the unpopulari- The article above is reprinted from and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 e-mail: [email protected] ty of the measures supported by the IMF. Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from Against the odds, the Groysman team its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 e-mail: [email protected] appears determined to meet its obligations www.jamestown.org. No. 19 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 3 NEWS ANALYSIS: Fortress Russia pushes foreigners away by Pavel Felgenhauer Western grants. Ukrainian authorities hope which is absolutely unacceptable.” Mr. Putin security is in tatters, and last week’s ses- Eurasia Daily Monitor the same facility may be used to store used announced: “We are ready to seek compro- sion of the NATO-Russia Council in Brussels rods from other Ukrainian nuclear power mises, we do not want anything from any- was a failure. “Old arms control agreements Last week marked the 30th anniversary plants long term, diminishing dependence one, but only what belongs to us.” are obsolete and are often misused by the of the April 26, 1986, Chornobyl reactor on Russia. Moscow, of course, does not Apparently, Crimea and the rest of Ukraine West,” continued Mr. Shoigu, “while a new meltdown – a nuclear disaster that saturat- want to lose either its influence or its pre- all “belong” to Russia. “They [the West],” security architecture of conventional arms ed northern Ukraine, southern Belarus and mier position in a nearby a nuclear services continued Putin, “in the last 15–20 years control in Europe is hard to build because parts of western Russia with radioactivity market (RIA Novosti, April 25). have forgotten what are our interests; and of acute lack of mutual trust.” Mr. Shoigu in the worst fallout in human history. But in Russia has used blunt military force, now when we are forcefully manifesting complained that Moscow is falsely accused the present atmosphere of acute anti-West- armed hybrid war subversion, acute propa- them, they are trying to push back” of threatening European countries while ern sentiment in Russia, even Chornobyl is ganda, trade sanctions, natural gas ship- (Kremlin.ru, April 25). the North Atlantic Alliance is considering being used by Moscow as a pretext to ment cuts and an overall trade armed deterrence. In fact, according to Mr. attack the Ukrainian government and the blockade to force Ukraine into Shoigu, “it is the other way round” – NATO United States. submission. Yet, none of it The Kremlin is sure that all is advancing its military infrastructure to Duma speaker Sergei Naryshkin pub- seems to have had a desired its failures are the result of Russia’s borders. “NATO must show lished an official Chornobyl anniversary effect for Moscow: Ukraine is Western (U.S.) plotting and Moscow respect, if it wants to restore rela- statement in which he accused the West of clearly in turmoil and disre- tions,” he announced (Interfax, April 27). ignoring the threat of Ukrainian nuclear pute, but still trying to break scheming to deprive Russia Arms control agreements that ended the power stations being badly managed and out of Moscow’s grip. Of course, of its self-declared right to Cold War are indeed turning dysfunctional. open to possible terrorist attacks. Mr. the Kremlin is sure that all its These agreements were primarily intended Naryshkin called on European countries to failures are the result of dominate Ukraine. to build mutual trust, which is now absent. discontinue following commands from Western (U.S.) plotting and Moscow left the 1989 Conventional Forces Washington and start pursuing their true scheming to deprive Russia of its self- Mr. Putin used the occasion to issue an in Europe (CFE) treaty in December 2007, vital interests: “The U.S. is across the ocean, declared right to dominate Ukraine. unequivocal warning: “This is the logic of as it was preparing for the August 2008 while a possible future nuclear disaster On April 25, speaking to a regional gath- fighting for interests, and we must not step war with Georgia. The Organization for could affect hundreds of millions of ering of activists of the All-Russian People’s over designated red lines, but we will not Security and Cooperation in Europe’s Europeans” (Duma.gov.ru, April 26). Front (ONF) in Yoshkar-Ola – the capital of allow others to step over our red lines – we (OSCE) Vienna document on building trust Moscow is annoyed by Ukrainian plans the Mari El Republic in the Volga region – demonstrated that recently.” Apparently Mr. is constantly violated by massive Russian to stop buying Russian nuclear fuel and President Vladimir Putin declared that Putin was referring to Russia’s use of mili- snap military exercises, held without prior replace it with U.S. sources, which, accord- Western diversions were the core reason of tary force in conflicts in Syria, Ukraine and warning or foreign observers. The Open ing to Mr. Naryshkin, may lead to disaster. Russia’s problems: “There is an information possibly Georgia. In an additional twist of Skies Treaty is faltering. Moscow does not At present, Russia supplies reactor fuel to standoff, initiated by Western opponents apparently growing xenophobia, Mr. Putin want Western prying as it prepares for pos- Ukraine and takes spent fuel rods back for jealous of Russia becoming strong.” told the ONF activists: “Some foreign foun- sible military action, and the West could storage and reprocessing. The newly According to Mr. Putin, “information dations are attempting to impose them- begin to respond in kind. Moscow has offi- appointed Ukrainian prime minister, attacks” against him, like the attempt to selves in our schools and kindergartens. We cially rejected any further nuclear arms Volodymyr Groysman, announced plans to link the Kremlin to the so-called “Panama are, of course, open to everything new, but control talks with Washington (Interfax, assess the possibility to produce and repro- Papers,” are in fact attacks aimed at Russia. this is very dangerous – our traditions and February 6). cess nuclear fuel within Ukraine, cutting “If we nodded and agreed with the West, culture may suffer” (Kremlin.ru, April 25). The defense ministry has published ties to Russia. A facility to store undamaged relations would have been good,” continued Mr. Putin’s subordinates follow the footage of the launch of long-range (450 fuel rods from the reactor that exploded in Mr. Putin, “But then we would have lost our chief’s lead without hesitation, and there kilometers), land-based cruise missiles 1986 is being built in Chornobyl, using standing and, after that, our sovereignty, seems to be something of a contest regard- using the Iskander-M missile launcher ing who can accuse the “treacherous West” (Tvzvezda, April 23). The range of the of worse crimes. Prosecutor General Yuri Iskander cruise missile apparently could be Chayka, speaking at a Federation Council easily increased, so the Intermediate-Range session, announced that the Panama Nuclear Forces (INF) Treaty seems in dan- New Bellingcat report says Papers exposé was a “special operation” – ger, as well. the work of an unnamed foreign intelli- In 1987, the INF, signed by Ronald Russian Buk 332 shot down MH17 gence service, under orders from an Reagan and Mikhail Gorbachev, signaled unnamed foreign state, as part of the infor- the beginning of the dismantling of the Cold RFE/RL The Bellingcat report says Buk 332 had all seven features and was the only possible mation war against Russia (Interfax, April War standoff. Now, all seems to be in freef- A team of open-source researchers candidate for identification that had even 27). all mode back to pre-Gorbachev times. investigating the downing of Malaysia one feature in common with the Russian The same day, at an international securi- Airlines Flight 17 says it has positively Buk photographed in eastern Ukraine just ty conference in Moscow, Defense Minister The article above is reprinted from identified a Russian Buk missile launcher before the plane was shot down. Sergei Shoigu denounced the West and its Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from “uncompromising information war against that shot down the plane. A Bellingcat report in February linked its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, Russia.” According to Mr. Shoigu, European A report released late on May 3 by higher-ups in Russia’s military chain of www.jamestown.org. Bellingcat, an independent team of British command to the missile attack that killed investigators, says MH17 was shot down on all 298 people on board the civilian passen- July 17, 2014, by Buk self-propelled missile ger plane. Quotable notes launcher 332 from Russia’s 53rd Antiaircraft Russia-backed militants in eastern Missile Brigade of Kursk. Ukraine responded to the latest Bellingcat “Russia’s annexation of Crimea was the first time that a European country had President Vladimir Putin’s spokesman, report by denying the presence of any taken part of another by force since World War II, and Russia continues to violently Dmitry Peskov, said he could not assess the Russian air-defense crews in territory under destabilize eastern Ukraine. ...Forty years ago, the Helsinki Final Act set out the prin- accuracy of the Bellingcat investigation their control at any time, including the time ciples for better relations between East and West: respect for the sovereignty of because he did not “possess any detailed the Malaysian jetliner was shot down. nations, the inviolability of borders and a commitment to settle differences through information about any identification num- The Kremlin also denies that it has sent peaceful means. These are principles that have underpinned peace and security in bers of Russian weapons.” any Russian military units into eastern Europe ever since – principles which the USSR and, later, the Russian Federation Mr. Peskov said detailed information Ukraine to support the separatists. It says swore to uphold; principles which Russia has now summarily dismissed. We will about the activities of Buk 332 was “an all Russian soldiers who have been killed or never accept Russia’s military occupation of Crimea. issue that concerns experts from the captured by Ukrainian government forces “...The effects of Russia’s occupation of Crimea have been disastrous. ...And the con- Defense Ministry.” there have been volunteers. ditions in Russian-occupied areas of eastern Ukraine are even worse, with crumbling Using photographs posted online since Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko infrastructure, rampant corruption and flagrant violations of human rights by the 2010 by members of Russia’s 53rd says Kyiv has evidence of Russian troops separatist leaders Moscow has installed. The people of free Ukraine have chosen a Antiaircraft Missile Brigade, Bellingcat and equipment crossing into eastern different path, aimed at building an open, prosperous and pluralistic society based experts matched seven unique characteris- Ukraine despite a shaky cease-fire deal bro- on European values. Russian aggression has made Ukraine even more determined to tics of the Russian Buk M1 self-propelled kered in Minsk. Kyiv also says Russian now strengthen its distinct national identity, and to consolidate its position as a modern missile launcher that was photographed in has more than 30,000 soldiers deployed in European state. ... separatist-controlled eastern Ukraine on eastern Ukraine to support Russia-backed “…Ukraine’s leaders have set an ambitious course towards Euro-Atlantic values July 17, 2014. separatists there. and standards; they must now deliver. But so must we. Allies will continue to support Those features included partially Ukraine, through NATO and bilaterally. And we will further improve our own coordi- obscured identification numbers, the font With reporting by BBC and Interfax. nation to make the most of the resources we have available for Ukraine. and exact spacing of the digits, wheel types, Copyright 2016, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted “...Until Russia implements its obligations under Minsk – and that includes the a dent in the left side panel, the arrange- with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ release of Nadiya Savchenko and other prisoners – sanctions and other pressure on ment of cable connections to the missile Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Moscow must be maintained. …” launcher, white marks on both sides of the Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see – NATO Deputy Secretary General Alexander Vershbow, speaking at the Kyiv Security vehicle, and the shape and size of oil and http://www.rferl.org/content/ukraine-bell- Forum on April 14. soot deposits near the exhaust. ingcat-mh17/27715129.html). 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 No. 19 Philadelphia cathedral hosts “Pray for Ukraine” event

by Ulana Baluch Mazurkevich the golden-domed Ukrainian Catholic CathedralPHILADELPHIA of the Immaculate – Оn Sunday, Conception April 17, in Philadelphia hosted the “Pray for Ukraine” event. The solemn commemorative concert and prayer service recalled the 30th anni- versary of Chornobyl and focused on the undeclared war being waged by Russia in the east of Ukraine. The event began with a solemn proces- sion of national flags, as well as organiza- tional flags of Ukrainian youth organiza- tions, followed by a wreath-laying ceremo- ny. Holding candles, children from the Ukrainian Heritage School completed the procession. The “Pray for Ukraine” event was opened by Ulana Mazurkevich, who stated, “We are gathered in solidarity to mark the tragedy of Chornobyl and to stand with the people of Ukraine in her hour of need.” The Olha Ivanova chair of the Commemorative Committee of The release of white doves of peace by the cathedral’s bell tower. the Ukrainian Community Committee, which encompasses over 24 local organizations, A call to action was delivered by Yurij melancholy sound of the bandura echoed in The keynote address was delivered by welcomed all the participants and extended Nakonechny, a representative of the United the cathedral, adding to the solemnity of Ambassador Chaly, who stated, “Chornobyl a special warm welcome to Valeriy Chaly, Ukrainian American Relief Committee the occasion. is very connected with the same kind of Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States (UUARC), which since its inception in 1944 The choir from Grace Ukrainian Baptist Soviet aggression we are seeing now, the and his wife Liudmyla Mazuka. has helped Ukrainian refugees, at first those Church under the artistic direction of Ivan Russian incursion into Ukraine comes from Students of the Ukrainian Heritage displaced by World War II and now the refu- Velenchuk sang prayers for Ukraine with the same Soviet style of thinking and cul- School Anastasia Dyak, Christine Biletsky, gees suffering from the war in the east of great emotion. Pastor Sergio Savchuk of the ture.” Natalia Babychuk, Volodymyr Falendysh, Ukraine. Mr. Nakonechny called for the com- Baptist Church offered prayers for Ukraine Ambassador Chaly spoke about the loss Peter Kryvdiuk and Alexander Hryckowian munity to come forward and help Ukraine and its people and beseeched God to bless of life in the undeclared war saying, “the delivered recitations on the tragedy of by participating in the many humanitarian the entire Ukrainian nation. conflict with Russia has killed 2,700 Chornobyl and the war in the east of programs that the UUARC runs in Ukraine. Ms. Stupin, accompanied on violin by Ukrainian soldiers, wounded more than Ukraine. The youngest children, members Bandurists Yulia Stupin and Halyna Ulyana Martynyk, and Lyubov Syerova- 9,000 and has caused 10,00 civilian casual- of the Soloveiky choir, accompanied on Bodnar raised their voices in prayer to the Umstead, accompanied on piano by Ms. ties.” He spoke about the need for financial piano by Luba Shchuyko, delighted the Mother of God, singing, “Through the fields Shchuylo, delivered a moving rendition of and medical donations to help cope with attendees with their singing. of Ukraine walks the Mother of God.” The Taras Petrynenko’s “Prayer for Ukraine.” the consequences of the current conflict. The ambassador expressed gratitude to the Ukrainian American community for its sup- port and solidarity with Ukraine. At the close of the commemorative con- cert, Archbishop Stefan Soroka, metropoli- tan of Ukrainian Catholics in the United States and honorary chair of the event, invit- ed everyone to join in a special outdoor cer- emony during which a multitude of doves was to be released. The doves, he said, “are our sign of hope for Ukraine, for peace in Ukraine, for God’s blessing upon the people of Ukraine.” He added, “let us be inspired to advocate for those suffering in Ukraine.” After the commemorative concert and prayer service, the congregation solemnly exited the cathedral and gathered by the cathedral bell tower, where the Ukrainian Baptist Choir led the faithful in song. Afterwards, to the pealing and tolling of the At the “Pray for Ukraine” event (from left) are: Pastor Sergio Savchuk, Metropolitan- Ambassador Valeriy Chaly addresses the cathedral bells, white doves were released Archbishop Stefan Soroka, Yurij Nakonechny and Ulana Mazurkevich. gathering. as a sign of hope for peace in Ukraine.

The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund: February 2016 Amount Name City State Tkaczyk Gregory St Catharines ON Maciborska Larissa Aurora CO $200.00 Nestor George & Irene Nanty Glo PA Wichar Nancy Rochester Hills MI Mesyk Sally Chicago IL $120.00 Peleschuk Stefan Stamford CT $20.00 Bilak Roman Kenosha WI Petryshyn Helen Sarasota FL $100.00 Bilaniuk Stefan Shrewsbury MA Hanchuk Platosh Damian Branford CT Dykyj Daria Forest Hills NY Walter G. & Renata M. Westfi eld NJ Sachno Joseph Flushing NY Kocylowska Lapichak M. Alpine NJ Hryb Basilius Hillside NJ Sagasz Eugene Mt Pocono PA Leshko Yaroslaw Northampton MA Kawac Michael Parma OH Strilbyckyj Alexander Fort Wayne IN Zubrycky Zenon & Vera Cupertino CA Lukomskyj Lubomyra Mt Prospect IL $5.00 Dmytriw A. Glendale CA $80.00 Pankiw Andrew Upper Arlington OH Lylak Eugene Rochester NY Oleszko Oksana Berkeley CA $60.00 Hron Ihor & Olya Osprey FL Maksimowich $50.00 Gojaniuk Zoryslava Hamilton NJ Roman & Victoria Warren MI TOTAL: $1,610.00 Zachar Daria Redondo Beach CA Pawliw-Mariani Anna Pt Charlotte FL $40.00 Kolcio Katja Higganum CT Tataryn Andrew Plymouth MN Sincere thanks to all contributors $30.00 Kowalysko Ihor Warren MI $15.00 Dziwak Walter Lake Hiawatha NJ to The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund. $25.00 Kucewicz Ihor Wheaton IL Nesterczuk G. Vienna VA Palylyk $10.00 Bencak Peter Chicago IL Jaroslaw & Alexandra Tuckahoe NY Kochan Stephen Camillus NY The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund is the only Pawlyk Oksana Chicago IL Kraynyk Bohdan Kenmore NY fund dedicated exclusively to supporting Szpiczka Klara North Port FL Kyrylenko Stefan Beloit WI the work of this publication. No. 19 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 5

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM New Haven branch sponsors 13th annual Easter egg hunt

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – Ukrainian National Association Branch 414 of New Haven held its 13th annual Easter egg hunt on Sunday, March 20, at St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church. Inside the parish hall, games were played and Easter cards were created for the parish shut-ins. Then everyone went outside onto the rectory’s lawn to collect plas- tic eggs. All participants received a UNA gift bag from UNA Advisor and Branch 414 Financial Secretary Gloria Horbaty. Winners of the games and Easter egg hunt received a large chocolate bunny. – Gloria Horbaty

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LETTERS TO THE EDITOR he krainian eekly T U W Savchenko Nadezhda Viktorovna Please write your return address in the Birthday cards language of your country of residence. Thirty years ago, and today Thank you! Slava Ukrayini! Heroyam April 26 marked the 30th anniversary of the deadly and fateful nuclear disaster at for Nadiya Savchenko slava! (#FreeSavchenko #FreeThe the Chornobyl nuclear power plant in Ukraine. Most of us who remember that day Dear Editor: and the days that followed also remember our helpless reactions to the enormity of Ukrainians #LetMyPeopleGo) the disaster. Today Ukraine’s “Joan of Arc,” pilot Chris Wynnyk Wilson The Soviet Union did not acknowledge that an accident had taken place, appar- Nadiya Savchenko, sits in a Russian jail in Austin, Texas ently the result of an experiment gone wrong at the nuclear plant. The Soviets were the Rostov region after being sentenced to compelled to admit that something was awry only after unusual levels of radiation 22 years in jail after being falsely accused were detected in Sweden. Thirty-six hours after the explosion at the plant, evacua- and unjustly convicted of directing artillery tions from the area began. Two days after, a terse official announcement told the fire that killed two Russian journalists in About Ukraine’s people of Ukraine: “An accident has taken place at the Chornobyl power station, and eastern Ukraine in June of 2014. one of the reactors was damaged. Measures are being taken to eliminate the conse- When the judge began to read out the Little League quences of the accident. Those affected by it are being given assistance. A govern- sentence for Ms. Savchenko, she started to ment commission has been set up.” Four days later, Soviet authorities claimed the sing Ukraine’s national anthem. The judge Dear Editor: situation around the Chornobyl plant had “stabilized.” had to stop the proceedings for at least five On May Day, parades went on as usual. In Kyiv, only about 60 miles away, march- The weather in Ukraine in April allows ers – among them many children – walked down the Khreshchatyk, unaware of the minutes. The hearing was later interrupted the many Little Leaguers in Ukraine to danger. Communist Party officials, meanwhile, had sent their own families to again after people in the crowd began to play their first games after spending many Moscow – far from the radioactive plume. On May 5, when a Ukrainian American sing the Ukrainian anthem. The pilot, con- months indoors. All our teams are sharp- delegation (including three community activists, Rep. Benjamin Gilman and The sidered a martyr in Ukraine and elected to ening their skills, and boys and girls hope Weekly’s editor) met with officials at the Ukrainian SSR’s Mission to the United Parliament there in absentia, has denied all that they get chosen to play on their Nations to discuss the possibility of humanitarian aid, we were told: “The main charges league’s all-star team. problems are solved… we don’t need any help.” On May 14 – or 18 days after the Ms. Savchenko has been on several hun- I am proud to announce that the city of Chornobyl accident – General Secretary Mikhail Gorbachev first spoke about it, stat- ger strikes during the past two years time. Kremenets and the Kremenets Internat ing that “The most serious consequences have been averted,” while noting that “the (The latest one was a dry hunger strike.) Little League will serve as hosts on May 29 level of radiation in the station’s zone and on the territory in the immediate vicinity On April 19, Ms. Savchenko agreed to stop to June 2 of the 17th Ukraine Little League still remains dangerous for human health.” her hunger strike after speaking over the Championship. The games will be played The USSR, concerned more about its image than the people’s welfare, was telling phone with Ukrainian President Petro on two fields, one on the grounds of the the world that everything was under control. But the truth was far different. The Poroshenko. internat (orphanage) and at the authorities’ deliberate concealment of the severity of the Chornobyl disaster Just recently Ms. Savchenko’s sister, Vira Kremenets city soccer stadium. I do revealed the Soviet system’s depravity and callousness. Glasnost turned out to be a Savchenko, was detained by Russian believe that this will be the first Little sham. Ultimately, the Chornobyl disaster contributed to the downfall of the USSR. authorities after her latest visit to her sis- Now, 30 years later, Chornobyl’s consequences continue. The 18-mile exclusion League (LL) championship in the world ter. They seized her passport, but eventual- ever to be held on the grounds of an zone around the stricken nuclear plant remains, and the land is uninhabitable. A ly returned it and allowed her to enter new containment structure – a 32,000 ton stainless-steel-covered arch – is being orphanage. Ukraine after direct intervention by the built around the destroyed fourth reactor at a cost of at least $1.7 billion to enclose The ages of team players range from 10 Ukrainian Consulate in Rostov. When its radioactive remnants and eliminate the risk of further contamination. It is being to 12. Each all-star team has one goal: to built to last 100 years. Next, 195 tons of radioactive fuel must be removed, by Nadiya Savchenko was told about this by win the 17th championship and then trav- remote-operated equipment, from inside that structure and then disposed of. one of her attorneys, her response was el to Kutno, Poland, to represent Ukraine Writing in the Science section of The New York Times, Henry Fountain points out: “It extreme outrage. at the European Regional Championship. A may take much more than another century before the mess started in a few seconds May 11 is Nadiya Savchenko’s 35th win in Kutno means you can punch a ticket 30 years ago is fully cleaned up.” birthday. Sadly, this is the second year in a to participate in the LL World Series in The United States has pledged an additional $10 million for the Chornobyl clean- row that I am asking Ukrainians and our Williamsport, Pa., in August. That is every up and containment (in addition to the $400 million previously committed); Canada supporters the world over to please join child’s dream, and it can happen. has promised $3.6 million (it has already provided $117 million). The G-7 and the the campaign to “Send Nadiya Savchenko a The ninth Ukraine LL Championships European Union are also contributing funds. Birthday Card.” (The event can be found on for children from internaty and newly The Embassy of Ukraine in the United States underlined: “It will take many more Facebook.) It makes Ms. Savchenko’s day to formed LLs will also be held in Kremenets. years and huge resources to finally overcome the effects of the Chornobyl disaster.” receive mail. She publicly thanked the The dates are September 18-22. This is an The Embassy provided these telling figures: 1,961,904 citizens of Ukraine have the world for the great volume of birthday invitational tournament. Four new teams status of victims of the Chornobyl disaster, including 108,530 disabled and 418,777 greetings she received last year. Let’s show have been formed in the city of Mykolayiv, children; more than 35,000 families receive benefits due to the loss of a breadwin- her that people from all parts of the world ner whose death is related to the Chornobyl disaster. and I look forward to seeing those children still care about her and have not forgotten compete in Kremenets. As we commemorate the 30th anniversary of the Chornobyl disaster, we remem- her. You can do so very easily by simply ber the first responders who sacrificed their lives, and all the people who suffered The year 2016 is quite significant for wishing her a happy birthday. Facebook me as it marks the 25th year that I have and continue to suffer from Chornobyl’s deadly fallout. At the same time, we hope users are asked to please post a photo of that the many lessons of Chornobyl will never be forgotten. traveled to Ukraine as a volunteer to help their cards on the event page (https:// develop a youth baseball program. Much www.facebook.com/events/100666782 has happened in those years; many have 2758710/). come and gone. I remain committed to As was the case last year, I have been helping the country of all my ancestors May Turning the pages back... informed that, in general, the Russian through sports. authorities do not allow any mail that is not I am looking for individuals and organi- written in Russian, and same goes for mail Thirty years ago, on May 14, 1986, Soviet leader Mikhail zations that want to help me make these containing Ukrainian symbols or colors. two championships a very special time for Gorbachev broke his 18-day silence on the Chornobyl nuclear The easiest thing to do is wish Ms. 14 accident. In his 25-minute speech broadcast on Soviet television, the children participating. In addition to Savchenko a happy birthday with the 1986 Mr. Gorbachev reported than nine persons had died as a result of baseball games, the schedule includes cul- the disaster and that 299 were hospitalized with radiation sick- tural trips, skill competitions and the ever- ness of varying severities. can also choose to just send a card with popular annual lottery full of goodies for Russian greeting “С Днем Рождения.” You “I don’t honestly believe” the official Soviet figures of “two, or three or six dead,” said an drawings or photos without the greeting in the children. unidentified U.S. State Department official, who spoke with The Ukrainian Weekly on con- Russian. Please note that any mail with If any readers know of a school or dition of anonymity. I “would add a couple of zeroes to those figures.” As time goes on, he non-Russian language, or the Ukrainian orphanage in Ukraine that wants to add said, more information will become available about the nuclear accident that began on language and symbols will not be delivered baseball to its school program, please con- April 26, 1986, nearly 60 miles from Kyiv. to Ms. Savchenko. The jail does not accept tact me. I can provide all the needed “The most serious consequences of the accident have been averted,” Mr. Gorbachev postcards. equipment and necessary training. All the added. “Of course, the end is not yet. It is not the time to rest. Extensive and long work still You should address your card to Nadiya school needs is a desire to play baseball. lies ahead. The level of radiation in the station’s zone and on the territory in the immedi- Savchenko as follows: There is no cost to the school. Please reach ate vicinity still remains dangerous for human health.” Russian Federation out to your contacts in Ukraine. Please The Soviets revealed that 92,000 persons had been evacuated from the Chornobyl area, contact me at [email protected] for with news reports of heroic efforts by workers to extinguish the fire at the plant, the evac- more information. uation of area residents and the entombment of the still-smoldering reactor. 346408, Ростовская область Let me once again thank the Self Dr. Robert Gale, an American specialist on bone marrow transplants who had been г. Новочеркасск, ул. Украинская Reliance New York Federal Credit Union treating accident victims in Moscow, said that there would be more casualties in the д.1 ФКУ СИЗО-3 ГУФСИН России по and the California Association to Aid weeks to come, noting that seven out of 35 patients under his care had died as a result of Ростовскойor области. Ukraine for being the major sponsors of radiation exposure. RussianСавченко Federation Надежде Викторовнe my work with the children in Ukraine. Soviet reprisals fell on A. Sicharenko, an engineer and local party official from Prypiat, 346408, Rostov Oblast and another party official, A. Shapoval, who Pravda reported had ignored their duties during Glory to Ukraine! g. Novocherkassk, ul. Ukrainskaya the evacuation of employees and residents. Mr. Shapoval was stripped of his Communist d. 1 FKU SIZO-3 Gufsin Russia in the Basil Tarasko (Continued on page 17) Rostov Oblast Bayside, N.Y. No. 19 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 7 COMMENTARY PERSPECTIVES

Back to appeasement? by Andrew Fedynsky by Askold S. Lozynskyj so difficult to address – immediate aggran- dizement versus long term development for In the course of World War II, Franklin D. a more prosperous future. Roosevelt – suffering from many ailments, An argument has been advanced that the as well as Soviet infiltration of his adminis- United Sates and Old Europe have no real Mama tration and the Department of State – interest in a democratic and independent sought a “modus vivendi” with Joseph Ukraine. Specious historical perspectives are Mama died 31 years ago. This past I’ve been lucky: the skills, values and Stalin. Having just experienced the results presented for a Russian sphere of influence March 31 she would have been 100 years education I got steered me during the Cold of a similar course by his British brothers buying into Russian disinformation and pur- old. She was there when I was born and War to work in the broad-based, global acting through Foreign Minister Neville ported concern for the Russians in Ukraine, there for my brothers and me as we were opposition to Soviet oppression in Ukraine Chamberlain in Munich in 1938 involving a including Crimea, and even the Baltic states. growing up. and elsewhere. That led to a career on different psychopath, Adolf Hitler, FDR nev- These perspectives conveniently ignore his- Among my earliest memories of Mama Capitol Hill, where fortuitously I worked ertheless failed to recognize the similarity tory’s genocides. Frankly, there would be no is our bedtime ritual where she jokingly for Cleveland’s congresswoman, which between Hitler and Stalin. The result was a significant Russian concentration in the east- ordered in Polish: “Renze dogury!” I’d obe- became particularly important when 45-year Cold War (only it wasn’t so cold in ern part of Ukraine (Donbas) or in Crimea diently raise my arms for her to slip off my Mama, by then a widow, was dying of can- Korea, Czechoslovakia, Cuba, Hungary, had it not been for genocides by starvation shirt and put on a pajama top. Sometimes cer and I spent time in the district office, Vietnam and Afghanistan – those conflicts of Ukrainians in 1932-1933 and by depor- she’d say it in German, “Hande hoch,” or including September 5, 1985, my birthday. resulted in significant loss of life). The eco- tation of the Crimean Tatars in 1944. Russian. It didn’t occur to me until years I was at Mama’s bedside at St. Augustine nomic loss resulting from an arms race was To the strictly business mind, a historical after she had died that she knew how to Hospice and asked her to tell me about the trillions of dollars. or moralistic approach does not matter. submit to military thugs in several different day I was born. Such was the result of appeasement. Well then, consider a long-term economic languages, later translating it into a game Oh, I was so happy, she said, but also ter- Today, the lineage of history’s international and strategic approach. Business does not with her infant son. ribly scared. I was puzzled. Scared? Why so? psychopaths includes Vladimir Putin. Yet in work well where access to markets is limit- Alexandra (Lesia) grew up in a bucolic, I was so afraid they would do away with you, Russia he is not an aberration. He is widely ed by authoritarianism and extreme pover- blood-soaked corner of Western Ukraine. she said and explained: When she became supported. Elections are irrelevant; they ty. That should speak to the self-interest of As a 20-some year-old mother, separated by pregnant, United Nations officials at the DP are simply staged. The opposition is cast in business. Do America and the Old Europe war from her husband, she endured Nazi camps pressured her to have an abortion. the Kremlin. Mr. Putin and Russia have have a significant strategic self-interest in a occupation starting in 1941. Decades later, You’re a refugee, they told her, with no cer- been flexing their muscles since Mr. Putin democratic and economically viable once I had become old enough to under- tain future. But you’re also young, they was first appointed prime minister under Ukraine? The answer: A secure New Europe stand and during the infrequent moments said, and can have another child once the President Boris Yeltsin. Chechnya was that includes Moldova, Georgia and Ukraine she felt moved to talk about it, she family establishes a stable life. cowed. Moldova watched as Russia froze is a much more attractive economic oppor- described seeing Nazis rounding up Jews in I was stunned. That evening, I poured a the conflict in Transnistria with Russian tunity than one that is fearful of Russian nearby villages and towns to be deported to beer and reflected. Mama, I realized, having troops standing guard. Then Mr. Putin took aggression. Besides, Mr. Putin’s Russia is the death camps. Under the NKVD after the endured Nazi, then Soviet atrocities and on Georgia, severing Abkhazia and South European Union’s bitterest enemy. Soviets came in the spring of 1944, she and living in refugee limbo, was not about to let Ossetia, once again stationing Russian Ukraine is unfortunate in that it neigh- fellow villagers were forced to watch a mass people she didn’t know poke a needle into bors Russia. On the other hand, Ukraine’s troops there. Still, these acts of aggression execution of young men who had taken up her baby. So she bribed the nurse, then were merely exercises before Mr. Putin geographic location is prime. It is the gate- arms against the Germans and then turned seven years later authorized the school to invaded Ukraine in February 2014. Russian way to Europe; in fact, Ukraine is located in them against the Soviets. They called out administer necessary immunizations. forces have been there ever since. the center of Europe. Ukraine’s population patriotic slogans just before nooses tight- Mama died 10 days after my 38th birthday. The West reacted appropriately. It con- consists of some 45 million people; 99 per- ened around their necks. I was with her when she passed. demned and imposed economic sanctions. cent of Ukraine’s population is educated. In the meantime, Ukraine began the Ukraine is or could be the breadbasket of In 1946 our father, Alexander (Liunyk), For this year’s Mothers’ Day, I reflect on laborious process of rebuilding after suffer- Europe even today. It is a large source of having survived the war in Vienna as a stu- the remarkable person who gave me life, ing a pro-Russian kleptocrat as president metal ore. There is a very good reason why dent (and later political prisoner of the then defended it and spent her every day for three years. The rebuilding consisted of Polish leaders have opined that without an Nazis), breached the East-West divide with working so her sons would become good, defending itself in armed conflict, while independent Ukraine there will be no forged papers to bring Mama and then decent, productive members of this amaz- rebuilding its military, reforming its econo- Poland and that in the long term Russia is 5-year-old son George to a displaced per- ing country. my and battling a system of corruption that more dangerous than ISIS. Similar expres- sons (DP) camp in Austria, where I was Reading this, many of you may recognize was inveterate to Soviet society for 70 sions have come from the Baltic countries. born a year later. Miraculously, we came to your own mother and father, aunts and years. In fact, Ukraine has adopted or draft- Does Old Europe need New Europe? America to a small town in Pennsylvania cousins, male relatives and grandparents ed laws and strategies establishing a civil We live in a global community. The Cold where our brother Peter was born, three who survived war, their stories no less dra- service that is depoliticized and indepen- War and spheres of influence are concepts years before we moved to Cleveland in matic and in many cases more so, than that dent, lowered its taxes, reduced regula- of a failed history. While we often repeat 1954 and I enrolled in the second grade, of my parents. So few of them have been tions, mandated financial transparency on fallacious clichés that history repeats itself, bringing home a form to certify my immu- told and indeed are now forever lost. But state assets, diversified food products, with the dynamics implemented by tech- nization history. not all. At the Ukrainian Museum-Archives, opened new markets, reduced dependence nology, history simply cannot repeat itself. You never had any, Mama said, and Marta Mudri organized an oral history proj- on Russian gas through alternative sources Appeasement of Russia is a remnant of signed the permission slip for the school to ect to preserve a few of those stories, many and conservation, increased the living wage old thinking. It was a dismal failure in the administer shots against diphtheria, teta- of them tragic beyond words. There’s the for its citizens and government employees past because it absorbed energies, lives and nus, etc. Shuddering at the pending trauma, mother who buried her infant son beside as an incentive in the struggle against cor- economics for a half century. Mr. Putin and I asked why. Because, Mama said, she had the railroad tracks, the train having stopped ruption, and formed several civil society bellicose Russia cannot be appeased. bribed the nurse at the United Nations DP just long enough for a grave to be dug and structures to monitor corruption. Concessions will simply whet their appe- camp not to give them to me. No further then moved on. Families were separated by The results have been mixed. The West tite. A weakened Russia, however, can be explanation. battle fronts and imprisonment; mothers could have been more helpful with military affected. Russia has to be confronted, neu- In the decades afterward, I pretty much were forced by circumstances to leave a technology and lethal arms, but Ukraine tralized and ultimately dragged or wel- forgot that episode, yet on a subliminal child behind; a 14-year-old girl, now in her comed into the civilized world. survived during these last two most trying level, I think I resented my mother as an 90s, was forced into slave labor by the Nazis Ukraine is the keystone to a global com- years and now possesses a quarter million- unsophisticated, superstitious peasant and ended up a mother and community munity – a civilized community that can strong standing military force, and the woman who rejected modernity. leader in Cleveland. protect its citizens, defeat terrorism and World Bank forecasts growth in Ukraine’s It’s impossible to describe what Mama We see similar horrific scenes today, GDP in 2016. secure a relatively peaceful world. With people fleeing wars in the Middle East; 2 foresight and perseverance on the part of meant to our family. She ran our daily Recently, the West – in particular impa- agenda, cooked and cleaned, taught us val- million internally displaced Ukrainians tient Western business interests largely the West, Mr. Putin will become an anomaly ues and, working night shifts at a garment escaping mayhem in the east. As it often motivated by greed – is feeling the need to even in a withdrawn and aberrant Russia. and later an electronics plant, contributed was before, Russia is at the center of these end the West’s isolation of Russia and move Ukraine is important not simply for its own to the family finances to help put my broth- crises, stoking conflict, deliberately creat- back to appeasement. This is not unusual sake, but more so because its successful ing refugees to destabilize Ukraine and the historically. Western banks and business future as a democratic, secure and econom- ers and me through college. She planted a bountiful garden on a small plot in the European Union. It’s urgent that we press continued to do business with Adolf Hitler ically sound state would be a model for oth- our leaders as well as candidates for office ers in the international community less for- backyard, located in the shadow of the fac- at the height of World War II. Introducing a to remain resolute in confronting Russia, tunate than the West. What’s in it for tory that employed our father. All summer moral component as a counterweight to even as we assist those in need. Mothers Western business? New vistas and expand- and fall, we enjoyed delicious fresh vegeta- greed for many seems naive. have always coped as best they could in the ing markets, not to mention, the moral fac- bles and fruit. Trying to stem their sons’ Economic sanctions are effective only in midst of heartbreaking circumstances. the long term. While economic sanctions tor. inexorable assimilation into America, our They need our help as much as ever. have proved relatively effective to date, they parents stressed Ukrainian language and must remain in place to accomplish their Askold S. Lozynskyj is an attorney at law culture, in the process shaping an identity ultimate purpose. Thus, ignoring the moral in New York City who served as president of between our two worlds which was not Andrew Fedynsky’s e-mail address is component, the apparent conundrum is not the Ukrainian World Congress in 1998-2008. always as seamless as it is now. [email protected]. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 No. 19 No. 19 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 9 Chornobyl: The tombstone of the reckless empire

by Serhii Plokhii ate reason for the accident. But its deeper European part of the USSR rather than in the European political leaders reacted differ- causes should be sought in two major flaws Urals or Siberia meant that it was much ently to the danger posed by the radioac- As the world marks the 30th anniversary of the Soviet system coming together. more difficult to hide the scope of the acci- tive fallout. If German leaders (under the of the worst nuclear disaster in its history – The first was the militarization of the dent. Indeed, within days after the pressure from the growing Green move- the explosion and partial meltdown of the country’s economy. The Chornobyl-type Chornobyl explosion, winds brought the ment) demanded the closure of nuclear nuclear reactor at the Chornobyl power sta- reactors were an adaptation of reactors radioactive plume beyond the borders of the reactors, the French government (which tion in Ukraine – there is a temptation to cel- created to produce nuclear bombs. Volatile Soviet Union. During the night of the acci- was heavily dependent on nuclear energy) ebrate that date as well. The half-life of cesi- under certain physical conditions, the dent, the wind was blowing in a northwest- refused to recognize that Chornobyl clouds um-137, one of the most harmful nuclides Chornobyl-type reactor was pronounced ern direction, carrying the radioactive plume brought heightened radiation levels to their released during the accident, is approxi- safe and was actively promoted by the lead- across Ukraine’s border to Belarus, then to country as well. mately 30 years. It is the longest “living” iso- ers of the Soviet military industrial com- Lithuania, and finally across the Baltic Sea to Hans Blix, head of the International tope of cesium that can affect the human plex, who then refused to take responsibili- the countries of northern Europe. Atomic Energy Agency, visited the accident body through external exposure and inges- ty for what happened in Chornobyl. site on May 8, 1986. Instead of travelling by tion. The other deadly isotopes present in Soviet secrecy and The second flaw was the violation of the international response car, in which case he would have detected the disaster have long passed their half-life procedures and safety rules on the part of the high levels of radiation, Mr. Blix took a stages: iodine-131 after eight days and cesi- the operational personnel, who inherited The first to notice the high radiation lev- helicopter and flew over the station. He um-134 after two years. Cesium-137 is the the reckless “we can do it no matter what” els caused by the Chornobyl explosion were assured the world that the situation was last of that deadly trio of isotopes. attitude that characterized the first decades nuclear experts in Sweden, 1,257 kilome- under control and that the rumors spread Currently, European tour operators offer of the Soviet nuclear program and resulted ters away from Chornobyl. At 7 a.m. on in the West about thousands of people trips to Chornobyl from Brussels, in numerous accidents. April 28, 1986, Cliff Robinson, a 29-year- killed by the nuclear explosion were Amsterdam or Berlin for a mere 479 Euros. The Chornobyl accident was not the first old chemist working at the Forsmark nucle- unfounded. Visitors are promised safety, comfort and major nuclear disaster in the Soviet Union. ar power plant near Upsala, went to brush As the head of the organization respon- excitement while visiting the place where on his teeth. In order to get from the wash- April 26, 1986, the explosion at reactor No. 4 The first took place in the fall of 1957 at the sible for promoting peaceful use of nuclear nuclear plant near the town of Kyshtym in room to the locker room, he had to pass energy, Mr. Blix was not interested in dig- ended one historical era and started another. through the radiation detector. The alarm This hastened the end not only of the early, the Urals. This plant was tasked with pro- ging deeper into what had happened or ducing plutonium for Soviet nuclear bombs. went off. Soon the Forsmark workers were what was going on in Chornobyl. He took often barbaric stage in nuclear energy devel- evacuated – it was originally assumed that opment, but also of the political and social The explosion of the nuclear waste tank the Soviets at their word. The Soviets strug- threw 160 tons of concrete lead into the air something was wrong with the plant. gled to overcome their culture of secrecy, system that turned out to be less economi- In a few hours it became clear that the and released 20 million curies of radioactive reinforced by fear that the truth about cally effective and more reckless with nucle- plant was not the cause of contamination. material, including cesium-137. At least Chornobyl would spread panic among the ar energy than its Cold War competitors. Because radioactivity was high at other 80,000 square kilometers were affected by population. They were also unable to free That system was called communism, nuclear power stations as well, officials the radioactive fallout, but because of the and the state that embodied it was known concluded that the radioactivity was com- themselves from the legacy of anti-Wester- as the Union of the Soviet Socialist secretive culture that surrounded the pro- ing from abroad. Calculations and wind nism that saturated the Soviet establish- Republics. The Chornobyl disaster marked gram, the evacuation of close to 10,000 civil- direction pointed to Soviet territory. ment during the Cold War. the beginning of the end of the world nucle- ians in the environs of the plant did not start The Soviets first broke their silence 14 It took Mr. Gorbachev a full 18 days to ar superpower – a little more than five until one week after the accident. hours after radiation was detected in address the distressed Soviet people and years later this superpower would fall The information on the disaster itself Sweden. Soviet TV aired a short announce- the world, and even then almost half of his apart, doomed by the inefficiency of its and its consequences was suppressed and ment about the Chornobyl accident as part address was dedicated to attacks on the managerial and economic system, as dem- hidden from the Soviet public and the of its evening news program. The alarm in West. Western media criticized the Soviet onstrated by the Chornobyl disaster and world. The suppression of Kyshtym acci- the West and the readiness of new Soviet regime for continuing to withhold vital the political and ethno-national move- dent information helped the Soviet military leader Mikhail Gorbachev, who had assumed information, without which it was difficult ments that disaster helped initiate. industrial complex to keep producing power in the Kremlin only one year earlier, to protect the population of Central and unsafe reactors and maintain the image of Western Europe from the Chornobyl fall- The 1986 nuclear disaster created the first hole in the Soviet system of an absolutely safe industry not only among secrecy surrounding its nuclear program. out. But the Chornobyl accident had broken The Chornobyl accident took place at the outsiders, but also among the personnel Still, the Soviets were reluctant to disclose all the Soviet regime’s monopoly on this infor- fourth reactor of the Chornobyl power sta- operating the reactors. the information they had at the time and mation. Moscow had to adjust to the new tion, which exploded as a result of a turbine One of the creators of the Chornobyl-type tried to hide the real state of affairs from circumstances. test that went wrong. That was the immedi- reactors, then-President of the Soviet their population and the world. That summer, Soviet scientist Valery Academy of Sciences Anatoly Aleksandrov, European leaders sounded the alarm. Legasov, who was in Chornobyl on the dan- Serhii Plokhii is the Mykhailo S. bragged that his reactors were so safe they Sweden registered gamma radiation at lev- gerous days following the accident and was Hrushevs’kyi Professor of Ukrainian History could be installed on Red Square in Moscow. els 30 to 40 percent higher than normal. In already suffering from radiation sickness, at Harvard University, and director of the Instead, the Soviet government put a reactor Oslo, radiation levels were 50 percent high- made a four-hour-long report at a confer- Ukrainian Research Institute at Harvard. 140 kilometers away from Kyiv and then er than normal, and in central and northern ence organized by Mr. Blix. Created against This article was originally published in denied reliable information about the acci- areas of Finland, six times the norm. But the objections of the Soviet military-indus- Spanish in the March/April 2016 issue of dent to the city’s 2 million citizens and the radiation levels had risen in other European trial complex leaders, this report demon- Política Exterior, under the title “La lápida population of the country as a whole. countries as well, Austria being close to the del imperio temerario.” But locating nuclear reactors in the top of the list. (Continued on page 16)

Events in Washington point to ‘sobering lessons’ of Chornobyl

by Yaro Bihun for human life and treated it badly,” she Valeriy Chaly, U.S. Undersecretary of State said. for Arms Control and International Security WASHINGTON – Those living in and visit- The resulting deaths and suffering Rose Gottemoeller and Oleh Bereziuk, a ing the nation’s capital marked the 30th remain an appalling instance of human his- member and faction leader of the Ukrainian anniversary of the April 26 Chornobyl tory that simply must not be repeated. “A Parliament. nuclear tragedy by remembering and pay- world lesson in what not to do,” Rep. Organized by the Ukrainian Embassy, the ing their respects to those who died and suf- Kaptur noted. Congressional Ukrainian Caucus and the fered and focusing on what the world has Rep. Kaptur pointed out that the U.S. Ukrainian National Information Service, that and should continue to learn from it. Department of Energy continues to be meeting concluded a number of Chornobyl “For me it’s a very sobering lesson,” was involved with Ukraine in dealing with the commemorative events in the capital area, how Rep. Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), who co- situation at Chornobyl, “an international among them two roundtable discussions: chairs the U.S. Congressional Ukrainian site that demands attention and a teaching one at the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation with Caucus, described it at a commemorative site for the rest of the world.” Ambassador Chaly and Ukrainian writer/ gathering at the Embassy of Ukraine. Rep. Kaptur also expressed her gratitude commentator Mykola Riabchuk, and anoth- “Chornobyl really is an international site to the many Ukrainian Americans in this er at the U.S.-Ukraine Business Council with that demands attention and a teaching site country who have devoted their lives to National Deputy Bereziuk and three of his for the rest of the world,” Rep. Kaptur told working for and helping Ukraine. Verkhovna Rada colleagues. the gathering that included U.S. govern- “I have a very hopeful attitude about Solemnly commemorated with a divine ment representatives, foreign diplomats, Ukraine that is directly related to your pas- liturgy, a “panakhyda” (memorial service) Ukrainian Americans, clergy and others. sion for it, and for a democratic Ukraine – Yaro Bihun and a candle-lighting ceremony at the one with sovereign borderland, one where Ukrainian National Shrine of the Holy “I think Ukraine teaches the world a les- U.S. Rep. Marcy Kaptur describes the son today, this week, on the 30th anniversa- people are respected under the law, and “very sobering lesson” she learned from Family, that historic tragedy was also the ry. And we thank the people of Ukraine for not mistreated, including by those in the the Chornobyl nuclear disaster during subject of two area film screenings: “The the great sacrifice they made for the world highest levels of government,” she said. the commemoration of its 30th anniver- Babushkas of Chernobyl” at George Mason and what was learned when they became Also addressing the Embassy gathering sary at the Embassy of Ukraine in University and “The Russian Woodpecker” victims of a Soviet system that did not care that evening was Ukraine’s Ambassador Washington. at the E Street Cinema. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 No. 19

July 8, 9, 10 www.soyuzivka.com Also performing FRIDAY Dumka Chorus - New York • Hurt Udych Evening Gala and many more acts to be announced benefit to Ukrainian Village Exhibit • Film Festival Support Varenyky Eating Contest • Delicious Food Dancing, Music, Song Ukraine Oksana Mukha Vasyl Popadiuk

MC Serhiy “Foma” Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Workshop Fomenko MC Lydia Kulbida No. 19 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 11 Understanding the Maidan: More than a place, more than a moment in time

by Kristina Conroy ments that have graced the Maidan to illustrate the way each iteration both reflects the past and conveys a new CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – “Maidan” is a word that is now message. synonymous with Ukraine’s latest self-organized move- Monuments through time ment and the values that inspired it. The name comes from the location where the protesters gathered – the Maidan When the City Duma building was in place, the square Nezalezhnosty (Independence Square) – which is a central had a statue of the Russian imperial Prime Minister Pyotr space in Kyiv and a place with a long history of civic and Stolypin, later replaced by a statue to Karl Marx, which political action. faced outward toward the square with its back to the Duma However, it wasn’t always the logical gathering place for balcony. This, Prof. Yekelchyk argued, seemed to speak on protests and political movements. Over the course of time, behalf of power, implying that what was behind the monu- the square’s physical and symbolic identities have shifted ment – the seat of power – was safe. and taken on new layers of meaning. What caused the Later, a giant statue of Lenin was constructed at the Maidan to become the go-to place where activists instinc- other end of the square. By now, both the Duma building tively flock? How does a geographical location acquire a and the Marx statue were physically gone, but their past momentum of its own, and what do its successive interpre- continued to maintain a presence. In fact, Lenin’s gaze rest- tations and manifestations signify? ed precisely on the spot where the now-absent Duma bal- In HURI’s latest Vasyl and Maria Petryshyn Memorial cony used to stand, giving Lenin control over the space of Lecture, Serhy Yekelchyk, professor of history and Germanic (former) political action. and Slavic studies at the University of Victoria, addressed Following the 2000 protest, at which point the Lenin these questions. In the March 7 presentation, he outlined statue had already been gone 10 years, the city’s recon- the Maidan’s recurring role as host for Ukraine’s pivotal struction of the square included adding the massive civic and political activities. Tracing the development and Column of Independence. This tall monument has the evolution of the square from its inception as a political Prof. Serhy Yekelchyk same orientation as the Lenin statue, both recalling the space in 1876 through to the recent plans to memorialize past and superseding it. the Euro-Maidan events, Prof. Yekelchyk argued that the Maidan, solidifying its association with democratic activity A global meeting point physical shape of a public space and its relation to history and national action. and action have a certain symbiosis that both evolves over “The protest space is created in relation to the seats of Starting with the Orange Revolution, and even more so time and continues to reflect back on itself. power, but it actually acquires its own logic, its own during the Euro-Maidan, the square became not just a cen- momentum, and after it exists the symbolic space stays tral point for Ukrainians to gather, but a virtual, global The seat of power and the people there – even if the seats of power are no longer around,” space, Prof. Yekelchyk explained. With television and the Initially, the Maidan (known as Khreshchatytska Prof. Yekelchyk said. Internet allowing the protesters to stay connected with the Ploshcha at the time) was an area of popular culture, host He identified a number of key moments when the broader community, people could be involved in the activi- to a fashionable boulevard, entertainment and low-brow Maidan played a key role in Ukraine’s trajectory, including ties even if they weren’t able to join the crowds. activities. The construction of the City Duma on the the student revolutions of 1905 and 1917, the Revolution What’s more, this media mobilization of the movement square’s borders in 1876 gave it a political identity – one on Granite in 1990, the 2000 protests, the Orange further contributed to the identity formation of the Maidan that would endure beyond the lifespan of the government Revolution in 2004 and the Euro-Maidan in 2013-2014. as a place and as a term. The Euro-Maidan, for instance, building. Throughout the years, Kyivans would gather in Concurrent with these repeated civic and political activi- was mobilized as a hashtag on Twitter. Now it’s reached a the space for parades, protests and revolutions. Despite the ties, which forged the square’s symbolic identity, the physi- point where the word “Maidan” may very well first bring to government’s attempt to redefine the square as commer- cal appearance of the space evolved and assumed layers of cial space in 2001, protesters continued to assemble on the meaning. Prof. Yekelchyk pointed to the statues and monu- (Continued on page 13) 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 No. 19

Reconstruction and Development, which miner. Larisa Airapetian, the top health offi- informed me that Vira Savchenko has NEWSBRIEFS manages this project on behalf of interna- cial of the Russia-backed separatist’s self- crossed the Ukrainian border and is now in tional donors, has advised that additional declared government in the Luhansk [her] homeland.” Dmytro Kuleba, Ukraine’s (Continued from page 2) funding of 105 million euros is required for region, said on May 4 that the gas explosion representative to the Council of Europe, said address nuclear safety at the Chornobyl site the safe and secure storage of spent nuclear at the Maloivanivska mine also had trapped earlier on April 28 that the younger is intended to help the Ukrainian people fuel, which is currently stored in an inade- nine miners underground. Ms. Airapetian Savchenko was taken to the Ukrainian deal with the devastating consequences of quate and deteriorating facility. (Ukrainian said four other miners were hospitalized Consulate in Rostov-on-Don after Ukraine’s the accident. The minister made the Canadian Congress) with burn injuries from the May 3 gas consul-general secured her release. Mr. announcement ahead of the 30th anniversa- explosion. Ms. Airapetian said efforts to res- Kuleba said Vitaly Moskalenko, Ukraine’s Mine blast in Luhansk region ry of the April 26, 1986, accident and as cue the nine trapped miners were under- consul-general in Rostov-on-Don, negotiated international donors meet in Kyiv to discuss LUHANSK – A blast at a mine in a sepa- way on May 4. Three districts of Ukraine’s Vira Savchenko’s release after “a heated the work to safely and securely store spent ratist-controlled part of eastern Ukraine’s Luhansk region have been under separat- debate with the Russians.” Mr. Moskalenko nuclear fuel. The European Bank for Luhansk region has killed at least one ists’ control since April 2014. (RFE/RL, was sent to the border by Kyiv to aid Vira based on reporting by TASS and Interfax) Savchenko. Vira Savchenko’s passport has been returned to her, Mr. Kuleba added. Vira Grenades found in Odesa Savchenko’s detention came hours after a ODESA – Police in Ukraine’s Black Sea defense lawyer for her sister, whose case has port city of Odesa say they found three outraged Ukrainians since she claims to have TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 hand grenades on May 2 ahead of a com- been abducted in eastern Ukraine and smug- or e-mail [email protected] memoration ceremony for the 48 people gled to Russia in mid-2014, said Nadiya who were killed in a 2014 clash between Savchenko had received official forms need- pro-Ukrainian and pro-Russian demonstra- ed for her extradition to Ukraine. The office SERVICES PROFESSIONALS tors. Odesa city police said the grenades of President Poroshenko said that border were found in an underpass near Kulikovo guards told Vira Savchenko she was on the СТЕФАН ВЕЛЬГАШ field and the Trade Unions building, where wanted list. Mr. Kuleba confirmed that “Vira Ліцензований Продавець 48 people were killed in the May 2, 2014, has indeed been put on a [Russian] federal Страхування Життя clashes. Police say they received an anony- wanted list for insulting a judge in STEPHAN J. WELHASCH mous phone call earlier on May 2 in which Chechnya.” Russia launched a criminal case Licensed Life Insurance Agent the caller warned that the area had been against Vira Savchenko in November, accus- Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. mined. The Odesa regional police chief, ing her of showing “disrespect” toward a 548 Snyder Ave., Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 Giorgi Lortkipanidze, said about 3,000 Russian judge, whom she called a “schmuck.” Tel.: 908-508-1728 • Fax: (973) 292-0900 police officers were at the site checking the (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, with reporting e-mail: [email protected] area after the grenades were discovered. by Interfax, Reuters and AP) Later, more than 500 people bearing flow- Ukraine energy firms turn to arbitrator ers and banners with pictures of the vic- tims massed outside metal detectors set up THE HAGUE – Two Ukrainian energy around the Odesa square where the clashes companies that lost control of assets in took place in 2014. They eventually Crimea when Russia seized the Ukrainian released black balloons and white doves peninsula have asked a United Nations arbi- after it became clear the police would not trator to award compensation. The case was let them approach the Trade Unions build- brought in June 2015 by the two companies, ing. Twenty residents of Odesa are current- Ukrnafta and Stabil, which alleged that ly on trial for their alleged involvement in Russia had violated its obligations under the the 2014 clash, which led to the deaths of Ukraine-Russia Bilateral Investment Treaty six people on the streets and an inferno at when it expropriated the firms’ investments SERVICES the Trade Union where 42 Kremlin sup- in petrol stations in the Black Sea peninsula. porters died. (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service The Permanent Court of Arbitration made with reporting by UNIAN) the case public on May 2. Russia says the court has no jurisdiction over the matter and U.S. defense secretary backs German plan has so far refused the Hague-based court’s STUTTGART, Germany – U.S. Defense invitations to participate in proceedings. Secretary Ash Carter has given his backing (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Reuters) to German plans to send troops to No wreath for ‘Hero City’ Kyiv Lithuania to reassure NATO’s Eastern European allies wary of a resurgent Russia. MOSCOW – Every year as Russia gears “I do think it is important. But that is a deci- up to commemorate Victory Day on May 9, HELP WANTED sion Germany will make in the context of flowers are laid outside the Kremlin walls NATO,” Mr. Carter said on May 3 in the at a memorial to the 12 “Hero Cities” whose southern German city of Stuttgart, shortly inhabitants’ outstanding heroism fighting Family in New York seeks live-in after overseeing the changeover of United Nazi Germany during World War II earned Ukrainian speaking nanny for twin States European Command’s (EUCOM) top them honorary Soviet titles. But bloggers girls, 7 months old. Long-term general. The German Defense Ministry has have latched onto an apparent omission position. Experience with small signaled its willingness to deploy a rotating this year at the site, part of Moscow’s Tomb children and references required. contingent of between 150 and 200 sol- of the Unknown Soldier memorial: No bas- Contact: [email protected] diers to Lithuania. They would lead a ket of flowers has been laid at the monu- broader alliance of soldiers with the inten- ment to Kyiv. The flower ensembles placed tion of strengthening combat capability in front of the other Hero Cities looked offi- along NATO’s eastern flank. “Russia contin- cial, although it was unclear if they had Collector interested in purchasing ues to violate the sovereignty and territori- been placed there by Kremlin groundskee- al integrity of Ukraine, Georgia, Moldova, pers, city workers or activists. Some specu- violins, violas, cellos and bows. and actually seeks to intimidate its Baltic lated the omission was a deliberate nod to neighbors,” Mr. Carter said. “We don’t seek hostile relations between Moscow and Kyiv, Please contact me if you are interested in selling. a cold – let alone a hot – war with Russia. with Russia-backed separatists continuing Instrument condition does not matter. We don’t seek to make Russia an enemy. to fight Kyiv’s forces in eastern Ukraine. By But make no mistake: We will defend our contrast, the memorial to the Ukrainian city Call 412-334-7555 or email: [email protected] allies,” he added. A decision regarding the of Odesa, also a Soviet Hero City, was fes- German deployment will be made at a tooned with flowers. In addition to the offi- NATO summit in Warsaw on June 8-9. cial-looking flower basket, the Odesa mon- (RFE/RL, based on reporting by DPA) ument displayed flowers laid by Russian Vira Savchenko back in Ukraine nationalists on May 2, marking two years since clashes in that city resulted in the KYIV – Ukrainian President Petro deaths of 48 people, most of them pro-Rus- Poroshenko says the sister of jailed sian activists who got trapped in a burning Ukrainian pilot Nadiya Savchenko, Vira building. A black ribbon on a funeral Savchenko, has returned to Ukraine after she wreath carried the message “to the Russian was prevented from leaving Russia at the martyrs.” The Moscow monument honors end of a visit related to her sister’s case. Vira 12 Hero Cities – Moscow, St. Petersburg Savchenko was reportedly stopped and (formerly Leningrad), Volgograd (formerly detained by Russian border guards who Stalingrad), Sevastopol, Odesa, Kyiv, Kerch, seized her passport as she was returning to Novorossiisk, Minsk, Tula, Murmansk, and Ukraine in a Ukrainian diplomatic car on Smolensk – along with one “Hero Fortress,” April 27. Mr. Poroshenko wrote on Twitter on April 28: “[Ukraine’s] consul-general just (Continued on page 13) No. 19 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 13

navy ships and cyberwarfare, as well as tary forces. The Treaty on Open Skies has chase one ticket from any JetBlue gateway NEWSBRIEFS more mundane matters like service mem- been used by both the United States and for through travel on both airlines to any bers’ salaries and health-care expenses. But Russia to gather information, but U.S. offi- UIA gateway. Passengers can check their bag (Continued from page 12) the bill also reflects foreign policy priorities, cials in February publicly complained about at their initial departure airport and collect Brest. The name of each is displayed in gold and the alarm that many lawmakers and a Russian request for a flight using advanced it upon arrival in Kyiv. “JetBlue is one of the on separate blocks of dark-red porphyry policy officials have voiced regarding digital cameras. “I cannot see why the leading airlines in the North America, pro- containing soil from that city. (Tom Russia’s stepped-up military actions in United States would allow Russia to fly a viding quality affordable air service for pas- Balmforth of RFE/RL) Ukraine, Syria, and elsewhere figures nota- surveillance plane with an advanced sensor sengers across the region,” said Gregg bly in the legislation. Lawmakers backed an over the United States to collect intelli- Truman, general manager and head of coun- Bill backs more defense spending administration proposal called the gence,” Mac Thornberry (Republican-Texas), try for UIA. He added, “To be able to work WASHINGTON – A key U.S. congressional - chairman of the House Armed Services with a quality airline and to provide easy committee has backed a substantial lion effort to increase the U.S. military pres- Committee, said in February. The bill passed connections through JFK to Kyiv, Lviv, increase in defense spending to reassure enceEuropean in Eastern Reassurance Europe. Initiative, The Pentagon а $3.4 bil is by the committee on April 28 aims to cut off Odessa and cities throughout our country is European allies jittery about Russian mili- planning to increase the number of combat funding for cooperation with Russia on U.S. a valuable asset for our travelers.” Tracy tary maneuvers. Lawmakers on the U.S. brigades rotating into Europe, as well as sta- overflights until intelligence officials say Bink, director, Alliances & Airline House Armed Services Committee also tion heavy weaponry and equipment in there is no threat from the flights. (Mike Partnerships for JetBlue, said: “UIA has been voted April 28 to allocate $150 million to some places. “I think the lack of debate Eckel of RFE/RL) flying for almost 25 years and offers non- about the European Reassurance Initiative stop service from JFK to Ukraine. Their route help train and equip Ukrainian government New Ukraine airline agreement forces in their fight against Russia-backed is a reflection that there is a pretty broad network, particularly, in Eastern Europe will separatists in the east of the country. But the consensus on what the administration has NEW YORK – Ukraine International add to the robust flight options JetBlue bill appears to stop short of heeding Kyiv’s proposed,” said Todd Harrison, director of Airlines announced a new international air offers its passengers traveling throughout repeated requests for weaponry other than defense budget analysis at the Center for agreement with JetBlue that makes it easier the world. We look forward to working the defense equipment Washington has Strategic and International Studies, a than ever for travelers from across the U.S., together and flying travelers through our been providing to date. At $610 billion, the Washington think tank. “If anything, there the Caribbean, Mexico and South America to hub at JFK to the exciting destinations legislation is one of the largest single annual may be people who want to add more fly into Ukraine, with easy onward connec- served by UIA throughout the world.” budget measures considered by Congress, money, not less.” Committee members also tions throughout Ukraine, Tel Aviv, Warsaw, Ukraine International Airlines (UIA) is a covering a sweeping range of U.S. defense took aim at a key treaty that authorizes Venice, Rome and other exciting destina- long-standing member of the U.S.-Ukraine policy. This year’s package authorizes more countries to conduct surveillance flights tions in Europe and the Middle East. The Business Council (USUBC), www.USUBC.org. money for more advanced fighter jets, new over one another’s territory to monitor mili- new relationship will allow travelers to pur- (U.S.-Ukraine Business Council)

both power and civic action remain. And to learn the results of the sacrifices and are Petryshyn in honor of his parents. The fund Understanding... despite intentional efforts to deny the pub- still observing how the square will be rei- supports a lecture each year by nationally or lic the political space, the people continue magined through memorials and recon- internationally distinguished scholars in the (Continued from page 11) to gather there, refusing to relinquish the struction. As such, the next layer of mean- field of Ukrainian studies. mind the movement, values and recent layers of meaning the square has earned ing and the rest of the narrative remain to Prof. Yekelchyk received a B.A. from Kyiv events, rather than a specific geographical throughout the years. be written, to say nothing of additional University, an M.A. from the Ukrainian place. Prof. Yekelchyk ended his overview with events that are sure to emerge in the time Academy of Sciences and a Ph.D. in Russian Given the Maidan’s long-standing history a reminder of the ever-present fluidity of to come. and Eastern European history at the as a place where the people of Ukraine take geographical spaces. Although its rich his- The lecture may be viewed in its entirety University of Alberta. His research interests the destiny of their country into their own tory and digital mobilization has given the on YouTube at https://www.youtube.com/ include the social and political history of hands, it’s no wonder that the Euro-Maidan square identity power globally, which watch?v=abOWVQktr_w. the Stalin period and the formation of a protesters intuitively assembled at the loca- translates into civic power, the efficacy of The Vasyl and Maria Petryshyn Memorial modern Ukrainian nation. Prof. Yekelchyk tion. Despite changes in the space’s build- this power for the current movement Lecture is made possible through the gener- recently published “The Conflict in Ukraine: ing and monuments, its association with remains theoretical at this point. We are yet ous endowed gift of Dr. Wolodymyr What Everyone Needs to Know.” 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 No. 19

ments and international institutions that thousands of Chornobyl liquidators who of Recovery and Sustainable Development U.N. marks... have contributed to the costs of this record- responded to the disaster. of Chornobyl-Affected Regions,” he said, breaking structure.” Ms. Roche called for the honor and rec- adding that there is a clear need for contin- (Continued from page 1) The United Nations, Mr. Mulet added, ognition that is due to the liquidators from uous efforts to keep post-Chornobyl recov- most severe accident in the history of continues to help the in the areas sur- the entire international community to be ery high on the inter-agency and interna- nuclear power industry. The accident rounding Chornobyl through emergency given via a global fund to pay for the liqui- tional agendas. “It is important to give a caused the huge release of radioactive par- and humanitarian assistance, as well as dators’ medical needs. She also called on stronger voice to the human dimension, of ticles into the atmosphere over large support for recovery and socio-economic the U.N to designate April 26 as U.N preparedness for and recovery from nucle- swathes of Belarus, the Russian Federation development. Lessons learned from Chornobyl Day, to recommit the interna- ar emergencies at the United Nations level, and Ukraine – devastated the region’s Chornobyl have been applied in the 2011 tional community’s efforts and for new ini- and to incorporate that knowledge and mostly rural economy and uprooted more Fukushima Daiichi nuclear emergency in tiatives to be considered each year “to alle- experience in the development of nuclear than 300,000 people. Livelihoods of those Japan and similar disasters. Mr. Mulet noted viate further the suffering of the people in programs worldwide. By all means, the people 30 years ago have yet to recover the heightened risk of natural events, com- the affected, stricken lands.” approach to study, mitigate and minimize fully, and many are still struggling to over- bining with chemical, biological, radiologi- The U.N., she continued, should use its the consequences of the Chornobyl disaster come poverty, exclusion and stigma of con- cal or nuclear crises. Chornobyl’s long-term influence to expedite the completion of the may serve as a guide in dealing with similar taminated regions.” recovery must be linked to the 2030 containment structure that is being con- emergencies in the future. The solutions He continued: “Today we remember the Sustainable Development Goals interna- structed over the Chornobyl reactor, as well can be applied and replicated in other human cost of the disaster. We remember tional initiative, he stated. as phase two of dismantling and removing nuclear disaster situations worldwide. those who sacrificed their own lives to pre- Adi Roche, founder of Chernobyl the reactor and the radioactive material. Therefore, the post-2016 international vent this disaster from becoming much Children International, spoke on behalf of She also requested funds for clean food and Chornobyl cooperation and news from the worse, take stock of the many problems the Belarus delegation. It was the first time food monitoring for residents of contami- United Nations General Assembly should that still linger, and we look ahead to solu- that a foreign citizen spoke on behalf of a nated areas in Belarus, Ukraine and Russia, include the goal of broader dissemination tions that hold promise for the affected delegation of another U.N. member state with regular check-ups, particularly for of knowledge and expertise for the sake of regions. We renew our commitment to a during the U.N. General Assembly. Ms. children and pregnant women, and that sustainable technological waste manage- safer future. Let us acknowledge the gov- Roche is from Ireland, and Belarus granted radioactive land be kept free of cultivation ment, disaster prevention, response and ernments of these three countries that the honor to her in order to demonstrate and repopulation. recovery.” were most affected by the Chornobyl catas- both the global nature of Chornobyl’s con- “The war waged since 1986 by Ukraine declared 2016 as a year of trophe – Ukraine, Belarus and the Russian sequences as well as the absence of bound- Chornobyl is a silent, invisible, but nonethe- remembrance of the liquidators and vic- Federation – for working to protect the aries for multinational cooperation to over- less deadly one. It has no smell, no taste, tims of Chornobyl nuclear disaster, he affected populations from the effects of come such disasters and assist the victims. nothing to forewarn you of danger,” she pointed out. “We believe that goal of inter- radiation, to mitigate the consequences of “A new word – Chornobyl – entered into said. “…It beats in the hearts of every inno- national cooperation of all government the Chornobyl accident, and to build a bet- the history of language, the history of world cent man, woman and child still living. It agencies, non-governmental and interna- ter future for the communities.” disasters and the history of the world with beats in their rivers, their towns, their tional organizations, will not only result in The General Assembly and the United deadly and frightful force,” Ms. Roche said. streams and their forests – the deadly radi- long-term solutions to complex problems Nations Development Program played an “I have visited and worked in the Chornobyl ation clicking endlessly, ferociously in gei- triggered by the Chornobyl accident, but important role in coordinating Chornobyl- area for 30 long years and I am still haunt- ger counters, into the silent numbness that will also apply the knowledge gained for related activities over the past decade. This ed by the stories from people I’ve met over is and always will be Chornobyl.” the common good, in order to prevent any year marked the final year of the Decade of that time. Women like Tanya, from a Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko, future nuclear disasters.” Recovery and Sustainable Development for demolished village in southern Belarus, Ukraine’s permanent representative to the Sergey B. Konuchenko, the deputy per- Chornobyl-Affected Regions, and the 30th called Lipa. I remember how she said she U.N., said, thanked all for attending the sol- manent representative (economic affairs) anniversary of the disaster was the subject was rooted to the earth like a tree, but now emn event, President Lykketoft for conven- from the Russian Federation, highlighted of a high-level conference in Minsk that she was withering away and dying, and ing the meeting, and the delegation of the work of the Russian Federation to alle- began on Monday, April 25, and a photo shaking her head in disbelief. She said: ‘We Belarus for presenting an emotional intro- viate the effects of Chornobyl, including exhibit titled “Chernobyl, Tragedy, Lessons, didn’t just lose our village, we lost life. duction. “The catastrophic nuclear accident monitoring background radiation levels, Hope,” that was on display in the Chornobyl is like a big stone in my heart, which we recall today, occurred on the 26th providing medical care and other efforts Secretariat Building of the U.N. headquar- always heavy, always present and now the of April 1986, at the Chornobyl nuclear related to agriculture and forests. The rep- ters in New York until April 29. song of this village has come to an end.’ power plant in the Ukrainian town of resentative echoed much from the previous Edmund Mulet, chief of the Cabinet of And there was Pavel, head of his family, Prypiat, which at that time was under the statements regarding the disaster’s health, the Executive Office of the United Nations who remained in that village. And when I direction of the central authorities of the social, economic and environmental conse- Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon, opened asked him why, he knelt on the ground and former Soviet Union. As this has proved quences, but underscored that he found it the statements made by various ambassa- picked up two fistfuls of earth and with now, the Chornobyl disaster was the worst offensive on the anniversary of Chornobyl dors and high representatives of the inter- tears running down his face he kissed that nuclear power plant accident in history, in that the “Ukrainian representative could national community. “…We are here to earth, and he said, ‘This earth is sacred, it is terms of cost and casualties.” not refrain from vile insinuations, which mark the 30th anniversary of the the earth of my ancestors. This earth is my “For Ukraine, in its modern history, the are in no way relevant to this very impor- Chornobyl disaster – the most serious soul. If you take me from the earth, you scale of the catastrophe could only be com- tant discussion on this subject.” nuclear accident in history. … The disaster take my soul.’ ” pared to the Famine of 1933 (Holodomor), Humanity had learned lessons from led to grave humanitarian, environment, “Now, 30 years on, Chornobyl may seem the second world war and Russian aggres- Chornobyl, and Fukushima had caused the social and economic consequences. It cast a like it no longer poses a threat to the world, sion in its occupation of Ukraine from 2014 world to evaluate them further, he said. radioactive plume across a wide area of but the reality is very, very different. to 2016,” Ambassador Yelchenko noted. While more cautious about the use of northeastern Europe. And its effects are Chornobyl is not from the past, Chornobyl “Humanity until that point had not known a nuclear energy, the world continues to rec- still being felt in the region and around the is sadly, forever. The impact of that single, catastrophe of such scope and complexity, ognize it as unique in terms of efficiency world. This anniversary offers an opportu- shocking nuclear accident cannot be with such long-term humanitarian, envi- and limited environmental impact, Mr. nity to take stock of lessons learned, reflect undone, its radioactive footprint is embed- ronmental, health, social and economic Kornuchenko noted. on the recovery process and to appreciate, ded in our world forever. And countless consequences.” A moment of silence was then observed He explained, “Advancing the impact of once again, the superhuman efforts of the millions of people are still being affected by by the General Assembly in memory of the the Chornobyl disaster is a matter of first-responders who rushed to the dam- its deadly legacy,” Ms. Roche underscored. victims of Chornobyl, after which the com- national significance for Ukraine. For 30 aged reactor on 26 April, 1986, and sacri- “Friends, we may never know the full memorative statements continued. years, my country has made every effort to ficed their health and in many cases their extent of the contamination. We may never Ambassador Richard Nduhura, the per- improve the well-being of affected commu- lives to save others.” be able to prove it as if it were a simple manent representative of Uganda, speaking nities and revive the afflicted area’s eco- “The tragedy of Chornobyl will always be geometry proposition, but the tragedy that for the Group of African States, offered a nomic potential.” linked to nuclear safety,” he noted. “The is Chornobyl, is very, very real. And three statement of solidarity with the regions Mr. Yelchenko said that more than 1 mil- accident led to a new awareness of safety weeks ago I returned to the highly contami- affected by the Chornobyl disaster and lion people had been affected by the issues and major improvements in the reg- nated zones of alienation, zones of exclu- spoke in support of strengthening interna- Chornobyl accident and that radiation safe- ulation of nuclear plants around the world. sion as they are called, that surround the tional cooperation to mitigate the conse- ty requirements need to be met. As part of The Chornobyl disaster also brought the Chornobyl plant and beyond. I was there on quences of the nuclear disaster. that process, Mr. Yelchenko noted the new international community together to sup- a fact-finding mission, and while I was Ambassador Gholamali Khoshroo, the containment structure’s construction. port the enormous efforts of local, regional there, I passed by some of the men, who permanent representative of Iran, who Significant progress has been made in the and national authorities. I particularly com- heroically fought for days and months to spoke on behalf of the Asia-Pacific Regional safe, long-term storage of radioactive mate- mend the governments of Belarus, the contain the spreading of that radioactive Group, noted the achievements in the last rials. “We are entering into the final stage of Russian Federation and Ukraine for their fire. The men who carried out the evacua- 30 years since the Chornobyl event, and its mitigating the consequences of the nuclear joint work. The most visible sign of current tions of towns and villages, the men who harmful and costly legacy. Important efforts disaster, namely the dismantling of unsta- international cooperation efforts may be had to demolish, and bury and burn 2,000 were under way to mitigate the accident’s ble structures, constructing the fuel-con- the new safe confinement structure, which towns and villages. And they asked me to consequences and rebuild the affected taining materials and converting them to is now nearing completion. And the nuclear bring to you their voices to this gathering.” areas by promoting socio-economic devel- make them safe.” Mr. Yelchenko under- reactor complex is to make the area stable Addressing the U.N., Ms. Roche wore a opment and stressing the importance of scored how Chornobyl’s effects are felt by and environmentally safe for the next 100 service medal of former Soviet Army officer continuing international support for those the nuclear industry, and have affected its years. We all owe gratitude to the govern- Valerii Zaytsyev, 64, one of hundreds of efforts, he said. As Chornobyl and safety, security practices and regulation Fukushima remind us that nuclear acci- standards. dents do not have borders, he urged “This year we have reached an impor- increased measures for nuclear safety. Visit our archive online: www.ukrweekly.com tant benchmark: the completion of the U.N Action Plan on Chornobyl and the Decade (Continued on page 15) No. 19 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 15 Chornobyl nuclear disaster is recalled with program at Wesleyan University

by Katja Kolcio characters represented real Chornobyl survivors, telling their stories around a kitchen table. The characters includ- MIDDLETOWN, Conn. – On Tuesday, April 26, students ed spouses of first responders, mothers whose children at Wesleyan University in Connecticut commemorated the had been born with severe birth defects, residents who 30th anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear tragedy in refused to leave, Soviet apologists and scientists. Each Ukraine with a performance of “Voices from Chernobyl.” explained the experience and tragic ramifications of being Adapted, produced and directed by Wesleyan history marked a contaminated Chornobyl-ite in the eyes of their major Rachel Santee, “Voices from Chernobyl” consisted of families, their country and the world. 10 monologues taken from the book of the same title by The performance was introduced by Alex Kuzma, chief Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich. development officer of Ukrainian Catholic Education Ms. Santee joined forces with Wesleyan student co-pro- Foundation and former executive director of the Children ducers Anya Weinstock and Misha Iakovenko, an interna- of Chornobyl Relief and Development Fund, who conveyed tional student from Ukraine who was instrumental in the magnitude, long-term impact and shocking political involving the local Ukrainian community. This is the first cover-up surrounding the Chornobyl tragedy. adaptation of the book into performance. Few people realize that “Chornobyl not only affected “I picked up the book in an airport and read the book in people in Ukraine, and Belarus… but radiation spread as one sitting while my flight was delayed,” Ms. Santee said. “It far west as Austria, as far east as Russia, as far north as really hit home… [All the stories] were all told to the Finland, Norway,” Mr. Kuzma noted. He explained that author, in their own homes, at their kitchen table… so I “Even 26 years later, there were prohibitions on intakes of started imagining it.” dairy products and meats in Norway, because these prod- Each of the 10 consecutive five-minute monologues was ucts were contaminated.” a moving and distinct performance by Wesleyan students “One of the most dangerous radioactive isotopes dis- who had been chosen through an audition process. The persed widely by Chornobyl was cesium-137 which has a half-life of 30 years. So, 30 years later, only half of this con- taminant has begun to deteriorate, and there are other radioactive materials with a half-life of a hundred and one thousand years. So this disaster will be with us for a long, long time,” Mr. Kuzma said. Accompanying the performance was a gallery exhibition titled “Chornobyl + 20: This is Our Land, We Still Live Here,” a series of photographs of towns surrounding Chornobyl, the collection of architectural historian, anthro- pologist and photographer Myron Stachiw and photogra- pher/cinematographer Serhiy Marchenko of Kyiv. The stunning collection of images was collected as part Myron Stachiw of Mr. Stachiw’s Fulbright Scholar Project (2004-2006) to study the process of cultural rescue undertaken by From the collection “Chornobyl + 20: This is Our Land, Ukrainian scholars within the territories of Ukraine that We Still Live Here.” The window of the home of Baba Nastia, who is the sole resident of the village of Velyki were heavily irradiated as a result of the Chornobyl nuclear Klishchi, once home to several thousand people. She power plant’s reactor explosion. The collection has been refused to leave her home and the place where her par- exhibited in Ukraine and United States, and is available for ents and grandparents were buried. The village was exhibition (contact [email protected]). evacuated in the early 1990s after it was determined to The event, held in Wesleyan’s historic Memorial Chapel be very irradiated despite being nearly 50 kilometers Ziran Cai and Zelnick Pavilion, was attended by over 100 Wesleyan from the striken reactor and a place to which some of Wesleyan student Anna Bisikalo as Arkady Filin, a liq- students and faculty, as well as members of the Ukrainian the early evacuees of the exclusion zone were relocated uidator, in “Voices from Chernobyl.” community in Connecticut. in 1986.

member states, NGOs and civil society have the legacy of medical and social conse- on future generations.” U.N. marks... contributed to this task. quences of the Chornobyl accident, and Ambassador Ana Silva Rodriguez “More than speeches, we need solutions also strive to ensure that accidents of such Abascal, deputy permanent representative (Continued from page 14) to global threats,” Ambassador Moritan nature are avoided.“ of Cuba to the U.N., offered its solidarity on Ambassador Andrei Dapkiunas, perma- said. “The best tribute we could give to the Ambassador Sarah Mendelson, U.S. rep- the 30th anniversary of Chornobyl. “[It] nent representative of Belarus to the U.N., victims of Chornobyl on this 70th session resentative on the Economic and Social changed the course of thousands of lives in speaking on behalf of the Group of Eastern [of the General Assembly] is to adopt an in- Council at the U.N., recalled how she was a Ukraine, Belarus and Russia.” Cuba, she European States, recalled Chornobyl as one depth, serious approach, one not contami- graduate student at Columbia University at pointed out, hosted more than 100 of the of the biggest man-made disasters ever to nated by mistrust or small-minded calcula- the time of the Chornobyl disaster and children affected by Chornobyl for medical affect the region. “It had also given rise to tions.” noted the first-responders, whose heroic treatment in the initial days. Since then, the one of the most remarkable examples Ambassador Christopher Grima, the per- sacrifice in the 30-kilometer exclusion zone Cuba has received more than 25,000 of comprehensive global cooperation and manent representative of Malta to the U.N., serve as a powerful reminder that the patients – mostly from Ukraine. A compre- changed the way in which countries viewed speaking for the Group of Western events of Chornobyl cannot be forgotten. hensive aid program was formed as a result nuclear power by improving safety and European and Other States, stated: “Thirty “We join with others as we renew commit- of Chornobyl, and all of the data collected security and creating a more cautious years later, people still do not realize the ments to the response of multi-national on the children affected by the nuclear acci- approach to technological progress. …The legacy of Chornobyl on the people and the efforts, and to secure and return to an envi- dent has taught Cuba much about radiation disaster had resulted in the allocation of affected regions and beyond. The global ronmentally safe and stable condition the exposure’s internal effects. This informa- huge domestic and international resources community, led by the United Nations, has site of the Chornobyl nuclear accident. … tion has been shared through major scien- for development, health care, environmen- given millions in the aftermath of the This 30th anniversary is an occasion for us tific events and has been used by the agen- tal protection and agriculture in the affect- Chornobyl disaster.” to consider how the international commu- cies of the U.N. ed regions.” “We cannot ignore the suffering and the nity can further strengthen its coordination Following the commemorative meeting “The global community,” he added, “had needs of those that have been affected and and cooperation and communication in of the General Assembly, Ambassador also gained unique knowledge and mas- welcome those donors that continue to responding effectively in the immediate and Yelchenko invited members and guests to tered best practices and experience in pre- fund initiatives to address the long-term long-term to complex humanitarian disas- attend the dedication of the photo exhibit venting, reacting and resolving the long- consequences of the accident, in achieving ters such as Chornobyl. The United States “Chornobyl – 30 Years” that was organized term consequences of man-made disasters.” the sustainable development of the con- remains steadfast in its commitment to by Ukraine’s Mission to the U.N. and with Ambassador Martin Garcia Moritan, per- taminated areas,” he continued. “In this overcoming the effects of Chornobyl among assistance from the Ukrainian Congress manent representative of Argentina to the regard, we welcome the work that has other measures, will continue to support Committee of America (UCCA), and noted U.N., speaking on behalf of the Group of already been taken by the United Nations critical containment efforts in the construc- that the exhibit would remain on display Latin American and Caribbean States, Development Program, the administrative- tion of the interim storage facility at the for 10 days at the U.N. Secretariat Building. noted that the Chornobyl disaster showed and United Nations-coordinated interna- Chornobyl site, consistent with the commit- Ambassador Yelchenko was joined by there is no guarantee for nuclear safety. The tional cooperation for Chornobyl, to define ments made by President [Barack] Obama, Ukrainian community and religious lead- main victims, he said, are remembered in a missions that utilize international coopera- and other senior U.S. officials,” she noted. ers, as well as scholars, school groups and photo exhibit on display in the U.N. halls. tion. Chornobyl has cast a long shadow on “The United States is committed to pro- journalists. He reminded his audience that The international community has demon- new generations and the daily lives of those vide significant contributions in addition to the aftereffects of Chornobyl will continue strated its ability to come together to assist in the affected areas. We should remain the more than $400 million the people of for at least a century and that global recog- the victims in the recovery and reconstruc- committed to continue to work to ensure the United States have already provided nition of April 26 as U.N. Chornobyl Day tion of communities, and humanitarian the success of efforts to restore the site, Ukraine over the years to ensure that the will aid in Ukraine’s long-term recovery assistance, he said, acknowledging that improve the environmental situation, and Chornobyl disaster no longer has an impact efforts in the exclusion zone and beyond. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 No. 19

Upcoming film “Julia Blue” subject of panel discussion in NYC

by Maya Lew NEW YORK – Filmmakers of “Julia Blue” held a panel discussion at St. George Academy in New York City on Sunday, April 3, to discuss the upcoming film. Co-Sponsored by Self Reliance New York Federal Credit Union and St. George Academy, the event featured an exclusive pre-release screening of the film’s promo video and a Q & A with the filmmakers moderated by Andrij Dobriansky from the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. Also included was a surprise Skype ses- sion with the lead actors, Polina Snisarenko from Kyiv and Dima Yaroshenko from Paris. Treats were provided by chef Olesia Lew. “Julia Blue” tells a classic story of star- crossed lovers Julia and English set against the unique and modern backdrop of con-

Julia and English in St. Sophia Square in a scene from “Julia Blue.” temporary war-torn Ukraine. The film was ing wartime is paramount to the sanity and shot entirely on location in Ukraine, utiliz- sanctity of the population. ing Ukrainian filmmaking crews and talent, Ms. Safinya explained: “Creative expres- thereby providing many local jobs. The film sion through film has the power to heal boasts breathtaking cinematography of emotions and nurture the soul. A film like both Kyiv and the Carpathian mountains. ‘Julia Blue’ can also provide a vehicle for ”Julia Blue” was written and directed by escapism for those most directly affected Roxy Toporowych, whose previous film by the turmoil and chaos, while also prick- was the Ukrainian dance documentary ing a global conscience.” “Folk!” She added: “We feel that film as a medi- The team wrapped production in late um can also be very effective as an educa- October 2015 and is currently in post-pro- tional tool and captivating springboard for duction in New York and actively fund-rais- the mitigation of existing attitudes of cul- ing towards completion of the film. The fin- tural bias or ignorance and the cultivation ished product will be submitted to top-tier of global empathy and understanding.” Sara Malekzadeh film festivals globally, with theatrical and For more information or to be a part of At a panel discussion about the forthcoming film “Julia Blue” (from left) are: Nilou streaming distribution to follow. telling this story by making a donation Safinya (producer), Roxy Toporowych (writer/director), Ben Kim (editor) and Ali Ms. Toporowych and producer Nilou towards the completion of the film, readers Kinsella (translator) Safinya both believe strongly that art dur- may visit JuliaBlueTheMovie.com.

developing Ukrainian economy. By the time 50 million curies of radiation into the atmo- republics, the Communist Party and the Chornobyl... the Chornobyl nuclear power station went sphere – the equivalent of 500 Hiroshima people, and fueling the first major public on line in 1977, Ukrainian intellectuals, bombs. In Ukraine alone, more than 50,000 debate in a society struggling to regain its (Continued from page 9) including one of the leading Ukrainian square kilometers of land were contaminat- voice after decades of Communist control. strated to the world that the Soviet govern- poets, Ivan Drach, were welcoming the ed – a territory larger than Belgium. The Ukrainian writer Yurii Shcherbak not only ment was finally ready to lift the veil of arrival of the nuclear age in their country. exclusion zone around the reactor alone wrote a book about the Chornobyl disaster secrecy over its nuclear program. For Mr. Drach and other Ukrainian patri- accounted for 2,600 square kilometers, that was exceptionally candid by the stan- ots, Chornobyl meant a step toward the from which more than 90,000 inhabitants dards of the time, but also organized an envi- Chornobyl’s impact: modernization of Ukraine. He and other were evacuated in the first weeks after the ronmental group one year after accident. Beyond the radiation enthusiasts of nuclearization failed to notice explosion. Most of them would never see This group evolved into the Green Party – General Secretary Gorbachev later that the project was run from Moscow. The their homes again. In Ukraine, 2,300 settle- Soviet Ukraine’s first legal political party claimed that Chornobyl had changed him. republic was getting electrical energy but ments and more than 3 million people were since the 1920s. The ecological movement, More importantly, it changed Soviet society had little control over what went on at the directly affected by the radiation fallout. which presented Ukraine as a victim of as a whole. The policy of glasnost, or open- plant. The plant itself and the accident that Close to 30 million people who relied on the Moscow’s activities, became one of the first ness, which gave the media and citizens the occurred there became known to the world Dnipro and other rivers for their water sup- forms of national mobilization in Ukraine right to discuss political and social prob- under the Russian spelling of the nearest ply were affected by the explosion. during the years of the Gorbachev reforms. lems and criticize the authorities, had its city – Chernobyl, not Chornobyl. The Chornobyl accident sharply Not only did the new man in the Kremlin origins in the post-Chornobyl days. During In the days following the Chornobyl acci- increased discontent with Moscow and its alienate the Ukrainian party leadership, he this time, the population demanded more dent, Ukrainian citizens suddenly realized policies across all party and social lines – also empowered democratically minded and more information from the govern- how little control they had over their own radiation affected everyone, from members intellectuals and the nationally conscious ment, and the government was slowly destiny and that of their republic. The lim- of the party leadership to ordinary citizens. intelligentsia to mobilize against that elite. changing its culture of secrecy. its of the republican authorities’ power As the Ukrainian party bosses mobilized the As things turned out, the two conflicting The Chornobyl disaster made the gov- over Ukraine became crystal-clear on the population to deal with the consequences of groups in Ukraine – the Communist estab- ernment recognize ecological concerns as a morning of May 1, 1986, when the winds the disaster and clean up the mess created lishment and the nascent democratic oppo- legitimate reason for Soviet citizens to cre- changed direction and, instead of blowing by the center, many asked themselves why sition – discovered a common interest in ate their own organizations and thereby northwest, turned south, bringing radioac- they were risking their own lives and those opposing Moscow in general and Mr. broke the monopoly of the Communist tive clouds to the capital of Ukraine. Given of their family members. Around their kitch- Gorbachev in particular. In December 1991, Party on political activity. The first Soviet the quickly changing radiological situation, en tables, they grumbled about the center’s when the Ukrainians went to the polls to mass organizations and political parties Ukrainian authorities tried to convince failed policies but shared their frustration vote for the independence of their country, began in the ecological movement, which Moscow to cancel a planned parade mark- only with people they trusted. they also assigned the mighty Soviet Union engulfed the heavily polluted industrial ing International Workers’ Day. They failed. The only group that would not remain to the dustbin of history – it was officially centers of the Soviet Union. “He told me: You will put your party card silent was that of the Ukrainian writers. In dissolved a few weeks after the Ukrainian While Belarus is by far the country most on the table if you bungle the parade,” said June 1986, at a meeting of the Ukrainian referendum. While it would be wrong to affected by the Chornobyl fallout, nowhere the distressed Ukrainian Communist Party Writers’ Union, many of those who had wel- explain the rise of glasnost in the Soviet else has the connection between Chornobyl boss Volodymyr Shcherbytsky to his aides, comed the arrival of nuclear power a decade Union, or the rise of the national movement and political activism been more obvious referring to the telephone conversation he earlier now condemned it as an instrument in Ukraine and other republics, to the than in Ukraine. The country was the sec- had had with Mr. Gorbachev. Despite the rap- of Moscow’s domination of their republic. Chornobyl accident alone, it is difficult to ond-largest Soviet republic in terms of pop- idly increasing radiation level, Mr. Gorbachev Among those leading the charge was Mr. overestimate the impact it had on those ulation and economic potential and was the ordered his Ukrainian underlings to carry on Drach, whose son, a student in a Kyiv medi- interrelated processes. site of the Chornobyl disaster. For Ukraine, as usual in order to show the country and cal school, had been sent to Chornobyl soon A monument to the past, the Chornobyl accident ended the love affair the world that the situation was under con- after the accident without proper instruc- a warning for the future with nuclear power that began in the 1960s. trol and that the Chornobyl explosion pre- tions or protective gear. He was now suffer- The idea of bringing nuclear energy to sented no danger to the health of the popula- ing from radiation poisoning. After the Maidan protests of 2013 and Ukraine belonged to Ukrainian Communist tion. The parade went on as scheduled. The Chornobyl disaster awakened 2014, the Ukrainian Parliament set up a Party leaders who wanted to create new The explosion and partial meltdown of Ukraine, raising fundamental questions sources of electrical energy for the rapidly Chornobyl’s fourth reactor released about about relations between the center and the (Continued on page 17) No. 19 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 17

Chornobyl... (Continued from page 16) NEW RELEASE: CD “Maryka’s Treasures” commission charged with the task of “Maryka’s Treasures: Interactive Songs for Children,” by News,” favorite Christmas carols in Ukrainian and English. She has removing the Communist leaders’ names Maryka Gulka-Chabluk. $17.95 CD; $24.95, CD and sing-along activi- also co-produced two CDs of her children and their friends, who from the names of Ukraine’s cities, towns, ty book. comprise a group called “Molodtsi.” All of Ms. Chabluk’s works are available through her website, villages and streets. The commission After recording several CDs as part of “Duet Maryna,” Maryka adopted recommendations with regard to www.marykastreasures.com. Some are also available through Gulka-Chabluk has released a solo CD of children’s music. The online retailers such as Yevshan.com and Amazon.com. the entire internationally recognized terri- songs combine English and Ukrainian lyrics; a coloring/activity tory of the country, including the rebel book containing all of the lyrics is also available. Many songs are regions in the east and the Crimean penin- meant to reinforce Christian values and remind the listener of sula that has been annexed by Russia. The God’s love. According to Ms. Chabluk’s website, the songs are only exception was the Chornobyl exclu- meant to “help children channel their incredible energy into hav- sion zone, which still today remains the ing fun, moving, participating and learning.” preserve of the Soviet past, captured by The “Maryka’s Treasures” CD was released at a concert involv- radiation and never released. ing 200 children, age 4-19, and musicians from three schools, three The city of Prypiat, which housed close to 50,000 construction workers and power dance groups and three choirs. A DVD of the concert is available on plant operational personnel, remains Ms. Chabluk’s website for $29.95. deserted even today – a modern-day Currently working as a music teacher, Ms. Chabluk has per- Pompeii memorializing what would formed in Japan, Australia, Italy, the United States and throughout become the last days of the Soviet Union. many parts of Canada as a solo artist, as a featured performer with Images of Vladimir Lenin and the builders the Tyrsa Choir and a dancer with Rusalka Ukrainian Dance of communism, along with slogans cele- Ensemble. One of the high points of her performing career was the brating the Communist Party, still remain opportunity to sing for Pope John Paul II, both at his summer cot- on the walls of Prypiat. The sarcophagus tage in Italy and when he visited Canada. that European visitors can see on their Under the name “Duet Maryna” with Iryna Holowczynsky- trips to the exclusion zone stands today as Wilson, Ms. Chabluk has previously released three CDs: “Songs of a monument to the failed ideology and our Pioneers,” celebrating 125 years of Ukrainians in Canada; “Do political system embodied in the Soviet Pobachennia – Until we Meet Again” with Lvivski Muzyky, a compi- Union. It is also a warning to leaders and lation of love songs and folk songs; and “Vesela Novyna – Joyful societies who put military or economic objectives above environmental and health concerns. While the 30-year anniversary of the disaster marks the half-life of one of the dead- liest isotopes released by Chornobyl, cesi- um-137, the harmful impact of the accident is still far from over. With tests revealing that the cesium-137 around Chornobyl isn’t decaying as quickly as predicted, scholars believe the isotope will keep harming the environment for at least 180 years – the time it will take for half of the cesium to be removed from the affected areas in Ukraine and beyond through the natural means, weathering and migration. Other radionu- clides will stay in the region almost forever. The half-life of plutonium-239, the traces of which were found as far away as Sweden, is 24,000 years.

Turning... (Continued from page 6) Party membership, while Mr. Sicharenko was given a “severe reprimand.” A third offi- cial, A. Gubsky, secretary of the local con- struction organization, was given an unspecified punishment for failing “to give a timely, principled assessment of what had occurred.” The Weekly’s editorial of May 18, 1986, commented: “…We fear the Soviets are con- ducting a cover-up much like the one that hid the awesome Ukrainian Famine of 1932- 1933 from the world’s view. We fear – though we sincerely hope such fears prove groundless – that the casualties of the Chornobyl disaster are much higher than the Kremlin admits. We fear the dead are buried and that a shroud of silence has been draped over Ukraine. …Western journalists … are being shown only what the Kremlin wants them to see: the Potemkin villages of 1986. We believe that the health of countless resi- dents of Ukraine has been jeopardized by Soviet attempts to manifest normalcy.” After 18 days of silence, the editorial noted, Mr. Gorbachev “acknowledges that nine are dead and 299 hospitalized, and then proceeds to use the situation for Soviet propaganda: to call for a nuclear test ban, to suggest that the International Atomic Energy Agency [the United Nations nuclear watchdog agency] be strengthened, and to condemn the Western media for sensation- alizing the Chornobyl accident.” Source: “Gorbachev speaks on Chornobyl accident; sources still question casualty fig- ures,” The Ukrainian Weekly, May 18, 1986. 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 No. 19

is also dependent on whom Ukrainian Center. They also include the failure to a project being pursued by David Groysman... President Petro Poroshenko will nominate prosecute corrupt judges, who are report- Sakvarelidze, the former deputy procurator as his new top prosecutor, as well as sys- edly earning recertification under sup- general who enjoys close ties to Mr. (Continued from page 1) temic reforms in the Procurator General’s posed lustration measures. Saakashvili. called for a new Russia reset and even scal- Office as a whole. Scandals involving top officials – such as Mr. Sakvarelidze wouldn’t confirm or ing down NATO. The president indicated that he was the February resignation of Economy deny in late April whether they’d be work- To reverse these trends, newly appoint- leaning towards Yuriy Lutsenko, the former Minister Aivaras Abromavicius after he ing together, but he told reporters that ed Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman internal affairs minister and head of his alleged corruption in the president’s entou- Cleansing Ukraine has run its course. swung into damage control after two parliamentary faction. Mr. Lutsenko is rage, as well as Mr. Poroshenko’s mention Meanwhile, polls show that any party asso- months of crisis that stalled reforms, taking widely seen as someone who could possi- in the Panama Papers – have begun to neg- ciated with Mr. Saakashvili would finish in immediate steps aimed at restoring the bly satisfy Western demands for a reformer, atively affect opinions of Ukraine’s Euro- the top three in a parliamentary vote, even Western confidence needed to maintain yet at the same time meet the president’s integration prospects in the West. higher than Mr. Poroshenko’s party. Ukraine’s financial stability. need for having someone under his control. The Dutch public rejected the Ukraine- The pro-Western opposition parties – The first step was his April 20 announce- But Mr. Lutsenko told reporters in late EU Association Agreement in an early April consisting of Samopomich, Batkivshchyna ment that he would execute the next hike in April that he has no interest in being a “dec- referendum, while the French Parliament’s and Oleh Liashko’s Radical Party – have natural gas rates, which was avoided by his orative prosecutor general.” Moreover, he lower house voted in late April for a resolu- also been pressuring the government and predecessor in March. The move was aimed pointed out that even if an independent tion calling on its Cabinet to end sanctions preparing for early elections, for which at impressing the IMF in particular, which prosecutor becomes approved, two newly against Russia. they are on track to make large gains and wanted evidence that the Groysman Cabinet created structures – the Qualifications- In the U.S., Republican Party candidate take over the Cabinet. would be committed to requirements to Disciplinary Commission and Prosecutors Donald Trump – who has called for the U.S. In the absence of a dynamic leader lead- gain the next $1.7 billion loan tranche. Council – will have the exclusive authority to reduce support for NATO and expressed ing necessary reforms, elections should be These increases are needed to bring to determine personnel appointments and his indifference towards Ukraine’s mem- held more often in times of crisis as in prices up to market rates, thereby eliminat- dismissals for all key posts. bership – has emerged as the party’s sole Ukraine currently, said Mr. Gaiday, echoing ing corruption through excessive govern- These two bodies are being stacked with candidate for the presidential nomination. the view of many political observers and ment subsidies that were often exploited prosecutors of the old guard who have In his remarks on April 15, Mr. Pifer, a comparing elections to metabolism of a for corruption and theft from the state bud- resisted reforms and prosecutions of key senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, society’s political system. get, according to the IMF’s logic. officials, said Vitaliy Kasko, a deputy procu- warned of re-emerging “Ukraine fatigue” in “If your metabolism simply works, your To offset the resentment of the further rator general who clashed with former the West, suggesting that the Cabinet’s first body has a chance to renew itself,” he said. hikes among the Ukrainian public, Mr. Procurator General Viktor Shokin over positive steps could avert that fatigue from “I’m asked, ‘What if worse people come to Groysman promised subsidies for those reforms, earning the endorsement of the setting in. power?’ And I say something unpleasant, who couldn’t afford them. U.S. government. “At some point, you run the risk that ‘One set of excrement is supposed to force He also claimed the Cabinet plans to “It’s understood that the goal of the cur- people will come to the conclusion that out the other excrement.’ If this process is submit legislation that would remove taxa- rent leadership of the Procurator General’s Ukraine can’t be fixed. If that happens, constant, there’s a chance that it will gradu- tion from pensions (thereby raising the Office is ‘controlled prosecutorial self-gov- what’s going to happen to support in ally, gradually remove the old politicians payments), as well as hike social payments ernance’ that will ruin the very idea of America and Europe for Ukraine?” he said. and they won’t be elected anymore.” by 10 percent in December instead of the reforming the procurator’s office,” Mr. To maintain a consistent path of reform Another approach the West ought to planned 6 percent. Kasko said. “And the new procurator gener- in the mid-term, the West will need to con- consider is investing in a counter-elite to A second maneuver aimed at impressing al, whoever he may be, will be controlled by tinue to rely on its current carrot-and-stick the Ukrainian oligarchy, consisting of pro- the IMF involved an April 27 Cabinet deci- the old prosecutorial system.” approach, rewarding the Ukrainian govern- fessionals committed to reform, Mr. Gaiday sion setting a single price for natural gas for Whether these bodies will act to ment with financial aid in exchange for said. Such individuals include Vitaliy both households and industrial consumers, obstruct reform will be demonstrated with decisions and reforms, said Serhiy Gaiday, a Shabunin, Dr. Olha Bohomolets and Yegor which took effect on May 1 along with price the new prosecutor general, who will have managing partner in the gaiday.com politi- Sobolyev, the deputy parliamentary faction hikes. his work cut out for him. Besides prosecut- cal consulting firm in Kyiv. head of the Self-Reliance party. “The dominant impression is that Prime ing crimes of the past (related to the Euro- Despite the bold declaration from newly He estimated that about 50 out of the Minister Groysman instantly showed that he Maidan and the May 2, 2015, Odesa trage- elected Verkhovna Rada Chair Andriy 450 current members of the Verkhovna was going to do what it takes to get the next dy), he will have to address the myriad cor- Parubiy that early elections won’t be held Rada could be considered part of the coun- IMF tranche,” said Dr. Anders Aslund, a resi- ruption scandals that have surfaced on a this year, parties are still preparing for that ter-elite. dent senior fellow at the Atlantic Council. weekly basis and involve the president and possibility given that, in the view of Mr. “There needs to be ways of financing While these fiscal maneuvers could be his entourage. Gaiday, many events in the country are their promotional activity and communica- enough for the next IMF tranche, Western They include Western-backed activists occurring beyond the government’s control. tions with the public, which is the most leaders expect far more reforms for further alleging government pressure, if not out- Among the potential reformist parties to valuable thing in politics,” he said. support, numerous experts said. right persecution, such as Mr. Kasko and emerge are Mikheil Saakashvili’s “Oligarchs have television and political ads, About $1 billion in U.S. loan guarantees Vitaliy Shabunin of the Anti-Corruption Movement for Cleansing Ukraine, as well as which people like Sobolyev don’t have.” President needn’t look far to combat corruption by Zenon Zawada wealthy, Mr. Poroshenko was elected to Administration backing the request. Mr. Zubyk is most famous for his alleged change the corrupt ways of top officials, During the Panama Papers scandal, the- ownership of Livela, a Ukrainian company KYIV – During a mid-April phone call, particularly in a time of war. guardian.com news site reported on the that allegedly imported oil products while Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko Creating the offshore accounts during alleged business ties between Messrs. evading hundreds of millions of dollars in received his latest exhortation from U.S. the Russian slaughter of more than 200 Poroshenko and Kononenko, citing their taxes and fees. In 2010 Livela accounted for Vice-President Joe Biden to combat corrup- Ukrainian fighters at Ilovaisk in late August shared stake in International Investment more than half of Ukraine’s imported gaso- tion in order to receive the latest U.S. finan- 2014 struck a particularly raw nerve Bank in Kyiv. line and diesel fuel. cial aid. among the public, which viewed that as The Guardian’s report also alleged the To this day, Messrs. Lutsenko and Zubyk Yet Mr. Poroshenko himself and his prioritizing his personal finances above the two are linked to Intraco Management Ltd., mutually control a telecommunications political associates are alleged to be nation’s defense. an offshore firm that was reported by the provider – formed in 2005 – through surro- involved in numerous corruption scandals Numerous activists and politicians, such liga.net news site of being involved in buy- gates that are confirmed to be trusted busi- that have been brewing in recent weeks. as Olena Shcherban of the Anti-Corruption ing airline fuel from a Gazprom subsidiary ness partners, the report said. The following is a snapshot of these scan- Action Center and Radical Party Head Oleh in October 2014, just as the Donbas war The telecommunications company has dals. Liashko, called for Mr. Poroshenko’s resig- was escalating. The evidence of their ties: its headquarters in office property owned • Offshore dealings as president: Mr. nation or impeachment. the firm transferred hard currency to Mr. by the Lutsenko family, the report said. The Poroshenko claimed in January that he • Poroshenko-Kononenko dealings: Kononenko’s daughter and it maintained a same building has an office for Iryna placed the assets of his Roshen confection- At the heart of the corruption allegations private jet that was used by Mr. Poroshen­ Lutsenko, Mr. Lutsenko’s wife and a ary empire into a blind trust, managed by a made by former Economy Minister Aivaras ko. Intraco’s Cyprus-based agent, Geoffrey Poroshenko Bloc deputy. foreign bank, which was beyond his influ- Abromavicius, an investment banker Magistrate, has been linked to Mr. Mr. Lutsenko is currently among the top ence. respected in the West, is that Ihor Poroshenk­o as well, theguardian.com candidates being considered by the presi- Yet the Panama Papers leak in early Kononen­ko, a deputy head of the Petro reported. dent to become Ukraine’s next procurator April exposed that claim to be false, reveal- Poroshenko Bloc’s parliamentary faction, Mr. Kononenko denied Mr. Abromavi­ general. Among the leading criminal sus- ing that the Ukrainian president instead lobbied his personal business interests cius’s accusations and denied any links to pects who could be targeted for prosecu- created offshore companies and corre- with the Presidential Administration’s sup- Intraco. tion is Mr. Zubyk. sponding bank accounts, illegal activity for port. • Lutsenko-Zubyk still in business: A • Poroshenko Bloc deputies evicted: a president. His lawyers claimed they were In particular, Mr. Abromavicius accused key member of the president’s entourage, Former Poroshenko Bloc National Deputies created to receive his Roshen assets ahead Mr. Kononenko of demanding appoint- Poroshenko Bloc parliamentary faction Mykola Tomenko and Egor Firsov had their of a potential sale. ments of loyal officials to state enterprises head Yuriy Lutsenko, was exposed by mandates confiscated by their faction lead- The other possible crime involved not and offices. As the straw that broke the Kyiv’s Novoye Vremia news magazine in ership in late March after they protested its declaring these offshore companies in his camel’s back, Mr. Abromavicius said Mr. March for maintaining business ties with politics. 2014 and 2015 financial disclosure state- Kononenko lobbied for a colleague to Volodymyr Zubyk, a notoriously corrupt Mr. Tomenko protested the 2016 budget ments. Although such offenses are become his deputy minister, and he report- businessman and member of the defunct extremely common among Ukraine’s ed getting a call from the Presidential Party of Regions. (Continued on page 19) No. 19 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 19

Through May 29 Art exhibit, “Chornobyl: Impact and Beyond” by Eden May 20 Accordion-fest sing-along, Ukrainian American Cultural Chicago Unluata and “Chornobyl: Artists Respond,” Ukrainian Whippany, NJ Center of New Jersey, www.uaccnj.org Institute of Modern Art, www.uima-chicago.org May 20 Literary evening with Joseph Mikolayash, featuring May 14 General Meeting, Shevchenko Scientific Society, Chicago works by Ivan Franko, Ukrainian National Museum, New York 212-254-5130 312-421-8020 or www.ukrainiannationalmuseum.org

May 14 Book presentation by Serhii Plokhy, “The Gates of May 20-22 Ukrainian Festival, St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church, Chicago Europe,” Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, New York www.facebook.com/stgeorgesukrainianfestival 773-227-5522 or www.uima-chicago.org May 20-22 USCAK Golf tournament, Ukrainian Sports Federation of May 14 Spring Concert, Cheremosh Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Kerhonkson, NY the U.S.A. and Canada, Unionvale Golf Course, Grossingers Minneapolis Ukrainian American Community Center, 612-379-1956 Golf Course, Lazy Swan Country Club, Soyuzivka Heritage or www.uaccmn.org Center, [email protected] or 646-354-0447

May 14 Film screening, “Freedom or Death” by Damian Kolodiy, May 20-22 Panel discussion with Iryna Kovel, Greg Butterfield and Shrewsbury, NJ Ukrainian National Women’s League of America, Monmouth New York Brice Gagnon, “Left Forum 2016 – The Situation in Ukraine,” County Library, 732-431-7220 or www.monmouthcountylib.org United National Antiwar Coalition, City University of New York, [email protected] or 212-817-2003 May 15 Concert with Kobzar-Lirnyk Vasyl Nechepa, Ukrainian San Francisco American Coordinating Council, St. Michael Ukrainian May 20-22 Conference, Ukrainian Journalists of North America, Orthodox Church, kobzar.eventbrite.com Kerhonkson, NY Soyuzivka Heritage Center, [email protected]

May 15 Fund-raiser to benefit the Ukrainian Catholic University, May 21 Concert, “Bandura Beyond Borders,” Bandura West Orange, NJ with Dr. Boris Lushniak and Prof. Yaroslav Hrytsak, The New York Downtown and The Ukrainian Museum, 212-228-0110 Manor, [email protected] or www.ucef.org or www.ukrainianmuseum.org

May 15 Charity dinner, “Ukrainian Night at the Races,” May 22 Concert with pianist Dmytro Sukhovienko, The Ottawa Ukrainian Self Reliance Association, Rideau Carleton Alexandria, VA Washington Group Cultural Fund Music Series, The Raceway, www.eventbrite.ca/e/ or 613-324-5409 Lyceum, [email protected]

May 19 Wine and cheese social, Ukrainian National Federation – Ottawa Ottawa-Gatineau, 613-596-8188 or [email protected] Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions May 20 Concert, featuring Dakha Brakha, Schimmel Center, from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors New York www.schimmel.pace.edu or 212-346-1715 and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected].

tion by Volodymyr Groysman, the Rada’s tors with the investigations of the Euro- Shabunin, the board chairman of the Anti- President... former chair. Both deputies filed court Maidan murders. Corruption Action Center. appeals in April against all the decisions. The prosecutor currently leading those In late March, a Kyiv district court gave (Continued from page 18) • Anti-corruption leaders targeted: investigations, Serhiy Horbatiuk, told the prosecutorial investigators the authority to cuts in late December 2015, while Mr. Reformers Vitaliy Kasko and Vitaliy pravda.com.ua news site in an April 18 arti- confiscate the center’s property and docu- Firsov protested the alleged corruption Shabunin have been targeted by the cle that his superiors “are persecuting ments, including banking transactions. within the faction during the scandals of Procurator General’s Office (PGO). those who are investigating the Maidan They claimed to be investigating stolen U.S. early February. Both deputies announced The PGO apparently isn’t satisfied with cases instead of investigating available funds that were allocated to reform the they were leaving the faction, yet they American-backed reformer Mr. Kasko hav- facts about such interference.” Procurator General’s Office. claimed to have retained the right to ing submitted his resignation as deputy More than two dozen civic organizations Mr. Shabunin denied receiving any U.S. remain members of the Verkhovna Rada, procurator general in February, judging signed an appeal calling for the Procurator funds to reform the PGO and he accused based on the law. from the treatment he’s gotten since. General’s Office to cease its political perse- prosecutors of political persecution related The Poroshenko Bloc leadership Late on the night of April 10, Mr. Kasko cution of Mr. Kasko, who has since been to the center’s criticism of Mr. Shokin and claimed a clause in the Constitution allows was approached by procuracy officials and appointed as a board member of his plans to keep his corrupt network in for depriving deputies of their mandates was served a notice that he’s a suspect in a Transparency International Ukraine. He place by appointing Yuriy Sevruk or Yuriy when they declare their departure from a criminal investigation into alleged fraud for has also been supported by National Police Stoliarchuk as his successor. faction. illegally privatizing a state-owned resi- Chief Khatia Dekanoidze and Internal In early April, Transparency International Yet the defenders of Messrs. Tomenko dence. The next day, he was issued another Affairs Minister Arsen Avakov. Ukraine called upon the president and and Firsov argue that the law for such a notice regarding an abuse of authority Another reformer alleged to have been Procurator General’s Office to cease the procedure – as cited by the Constitution – investigation. This came after former targeted by the Procurator General is Mr. political pressure against the center. doesn’t yet exist. So the faction’s decision Procurator General Viktor Shokin managed was illegal and motivated by political per- to seize Mr. Kasko’s apartment in March as secution, Poroshenko Bloc National Deputy one of his last acts before he resigned. Mustafa Nayyem claimed. A week after he was issued the notice, The faction’s ruling was backed by the Mr. Kasko was called in for questioning as a The third conference Central Election Commission and a resolu- witness in alleged interference by prosecu- of UKRAINIAN TO ALL MEMBERS OF UNA BRANCH 163 JOURNALISTS As of May 1, 2016, the Secretary's duties of Branch 163, were assumed by Andrij V.R. Szul, Esq., who was appointed Interim Branch Secretary, OF pending Branch Officer elections in Spring 2017. NORTH AMERICA We ask all members of this Branch to direct all correspondence regarding membership and insurance to the address listed below: will be held at the Cost: $350 per person, Andrij V.R. Szul, Esq. which includes 141 E. Main St., P.O. BOX 222 Soyuzivka conference fees, meals Silverdale, PA 18962-0222 Heritage Center and accommodations. tel.: (212) 677-4422 in Kerhonkson, NY fax: (212)898-9040 on To register your participation, email: [email protected] Friday-Sunday, ASzul@AndrijVRSzulEsq. com please e-mail website: www.AndrijVRSzulEsq.com May 20-22, 2016. [email protected]. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MAY 8, 2016 No. 19

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Saturday, May 14 soloist. After hearing Mr. Sukhovienko at the Biarritz Music Festival in 1998, Pierre-Petit NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific wrote in Le Figaro: “It is a name to remem- Society invites its members to participate in the society’s annual meeting with reports, ber.” Phillippe Entremont referred to him as which is scheduled for 3 p.m. Preceding the the most promising talent he has heard in the and its newly redesigned meeting, there will be lunch at noon, fol- last 30 years. Mr. Sukhovienko has recorded lowed by meetings of the society’s Scholarly five albums with works by Chopin, Kolessa, online edition at www.ukrweekly.com Sections at 1-2:30 p.m. The program will Prokofiev, Liszt, Schubert, Rachmaninoff, take place at the society’s building, 63 Schumann, Brahms and Mussorgsky. He has Fourth Ave. (between Ninth and 10th been applauded at prestigious concert halls and subscribe streets). For additional information call 212- in Europe, including the Concertgebouw in for $95 254-5130. Amsterdam, Bozar in Brussels, the Casino in for only $40 for $90 Bern, UNESCO in Paris and Musikverein in Sunday, May 22 Vienna. In June 2015, he joined young a year! ALEXANDRIA, Va.: In the final concert of its Ukrainian musicians in a special concert The Ukrainian Weekly, 2015-2016 season, The Washington Group held at the World Bank in Washington. The PRINT EDITION PRINT AND ONLINE founded in 1933, is published by Cultural Fund Music Series will present pia- concert will be held at 3 p.m. at The Lyceum, the Ukrainian National Association. nist Dmytro Sukhovienko. Mr. Sukhovienko 201 South Washington St., Alexandria, VA currently serves as artistic director of a 22314. A reception to meet the artist will series of classical concerts at the European follow the performance. Suggested dona- Subscribe to our Parliament and music director of the tion: $30; free admission for students; unre- International Cultural Association AIDA in served seating. For more information, e-mail ($80 if you are a UNA member). Monaco; he has earned critical acclaim as a [email protected]. Subscribe to The Weekly in ($85 for UNA’ers). Visit www.ukrweekly.com and click on the link for Subscriptions. PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a service provid- Or contact our Subscription Department at [email protected] ed at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian community. or 973-292-9800 ext. 3040. To have an event listed in Preview of Events please send information, in English, written in Preview format, i.e., in a brief paragraph that includes the date, place, type of event, sponsor, admission, full names of persons and/or organizations involved, and a phone number and/or e-mail address to be published for readers who may require additional information. Items must be no more than 100 words long. Preview items must be received no later than one week before the desired date of publication (i.e., they must be received by 9 a.m. Monday). Please include payment for each time the item is to appear and indicate date(s) of issue(s) in which the item is to be published. Also, senders are asked to include the phone number of a person who may be contacted by The Weekly during daytime hours, as well as their complete mailing address. Information should be sent to [email protected]. When e-mailing, please do not send items as attachments – simply type the text into the body of the e-mail message. Preview items and payments may be mailed to: Preview of Events, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054.