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The Ukrainian Weekly, 2018 INSIDE: l Reaction to Russia’s attack on Ukraine’s naval vessels – page 3 l Ukrainian Technological Society Ukrainian of the Year – page 5 l Marking the Holodomor on its 85th anniversary – pages 8-9 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXVI No. 48 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 $2.00 Russia attacks Ukraine at sea, Kyiv imposes martial law by Mark Raczkiewycz KYIV – Tensions between the Kremlin and Kyiv further escalated during an open act of war on November 25 when Russian forces attacked three Ukrainian navy vessels in shared waters and took them into custody along with two dozen Ukrainian servicemen. In turn, Ukraine three days later imposed martial law for one month in 10 regions that border Russia, coastal areas and the unrecognized pro-Russian break- away region of Transnistria, that President Petro Poroshenko said the move will give the army more flexibility in military plan- ning and operations. Russia that same day announced it is add- ing more of its modern S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems to the Crimean peninsula that it annexed in February 2014. It’s also Ukrainian Military Portal sending the Vice-Admiral Zakharin mine- The artillery boat Berdyansk was fired upon Euromaidan Press sweeper to the Azov Sea from the Black Sea. by Russian forces on November 25 near the Reddish shaded areas show the 10 oblasts where martial law is in effect through After the maritime attack, Ukraine’s mili- Kerch Strait. December 26. tary was put on full alert and combat readi- ness. Meanwhile, the Border Guard Service “Russia broke international law and Skibitsky of the Defense Ministry’s intelli- with Russia is in its fifth year in the eastern- starting denying entry to Russians in made an act of aggression,” Mr. Poroshenko gence directorate. most regions of Luhansk and Donetsk unusually high numbers. On November told CNN on November 27. He added that “Since 2013, the Russian Federation has where more than 10,400 people have been 26-27, more than 150 Russians were Russia has built up significant forces again been modernizing its entire airfield net- killed and more than 1.6 million displaced. denied entry at two Kyiv airports. Normally, at Ukraine’s border that is creating the work along the Ukrainian border, upgrading The naval attack occurred in neutral 20 to 30 Russians are denied entry daily, “threat” of “full-scale war,” citing both the fleet of combat aircraft and expanding waters off the southern coast of Crimea as the Border Guard Service said. Ukraine’s Ukrainian and NATO intelligence sources. the capabilities of army aviation,” he said. the Ukrainian ships were approaching a first wartime president said he would make Specifically, about 500 Russian combat In terms of ground troops, Mr. Skibitsky chokepoint that links the Black and Azov a “final decision” in the near future on limit- aircraft and up to 340 helicopters are at said there are 25 Russian battalion tactical seas. Two Ukrainian gunboats and one tug- ing the ability of Russians to enter the Ukraine’s border and their flight radius groups “capable of carrying out combat mis- country for the duration of martial law. could cover the entire country, said Vadym sions on our territory.” A hot ground war (Continued on page 18) Fire destroys St. Mary Catholic Church in Carteret, N.J. Chicagoans protest Russian aggression against Ukraine PARSIPPANY, N.J. – A three-alarm fire on November 27 destroyed St. by Marta Farion Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church in CHICAGO – Members of the Ukrainian Carteret, N.J. The 64-year-old church, American community came out in large located on Roosevelt Avenue, was numbers on November 26 to protest the deemed a “total loss” by the Carteret Russian military attack on Ukrainian naval Fire Department on its Facebook page. vessels that occurred on November 25 near The cause of the fire, which began the Kerch Strait. They braved the bitter cold around 10:30 p.m. and was under con- after a snowstorm that cancelled over trol approximately within an hour, 1,500 flights in and out of Chicago and left remains under investigation (with many areas without electrical power, assistance from the Carteret Fire Bishop Benedict Aleksiychuk and other Department, Middlesex County spiritual leaders led prayers for peace and Prosecutor’s Arson investigators and for Ukraine’s leaders, and for the heroes Middlesex County Fire Marshal). No who defend their country. Consul General one was injured as a result of the fire, of Ukraine Larysa Gerasko made a strong and no one was inside the church at the statement of condemnation of the acts of time. Sixty to 70 firefighters from area attack on Ukraine by the Russian fire companies (Carteret, Hopelawn, Federation, in total violation of internation- Protesters in Chicago condemn the latest Russian act of aggression against Ukraine. Perth Amboy, Sayerville, Colonia and al laws. Edison) responded to the blaze. A statement was read demanding the Vladimir Putin to attend the G-20 Summit tough sanctions as punishments for This church building was opened in release of all Ukrainian prisoners of war in Buenos Aires on November 30. The Russia’s aggression. 1954 and is part of the Archeparchy of and the 70 political prisoners illegally held statement also called on the world’s lead- The protest was organized by the Illinois (Continued on page 5) in Russian prisons and the withdrawal of ers and the United Nations Security Council Division of the Ukrainian Congress the invitation to Russian President to condemn Russian actions and institute Committee of America. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 2, 2018 No. 48 ANALYSIS In serious escalation, Russia attacks Russia attacks Ukrainian Navy ships “aggressive nature and complete disregard for the norms of international law.” It The Ukrainian Navy said Russian forces added, “The ships of the Ukrainian Navy Ukrainian vessels in Azov region opened fire on a group of its ships in the continue to perform tasks in compliance Black Sea off the coast of the Crimean pen- nies would be likely to refuse servicing with all norms of international law. All ille- by Maryna Vorotnyuk insula late on November 25, striking two gal actions are recorded by the crews of the Eurasia Daily Monitor Ukrainian ports (Channel 5, June 27). warships and wounding two crew mem- Such Russian activities have targeted not ships and the command of Ukraine’s Navy bers before seizing the vessels along with a and will be handed over to the respective On November 25, the Russian Coast only Ukraine but other countries as well. Ukrainian Navy tugboat. The Ukrainian Guard ship Don rammed a Ukrainian tug- Notably, around 120 European Union international bodies.” After that incident, Navy announced the incident on a day of Russian authorities closed passage by civil- boat, damaging the latter vessel’s main member-state vessels have been subjected heightened tension after Russia reportedly engine. The attack occurred while two to Russia’s inspection procedures in the ian ships through the Kerch Strait. Russian blocked the three Ukrainian Navy ships authorities cited a local port authority to Ukrainian small-sized armored artillery Sea of Azov between April and October. In from passing from the Black Sea into the justify the closure on grounds of heightened boats, the Berdyansk and Nikopol, and the response, the European Parliament adopt- Sea of Azov via the Kerch Strait. Russian security concerns. In Brussels, the tugboat Yany Kapu were being transferred ed a resolution condemning Russian Foreign Affairs Ministry spokeswoman European Union late on November 25 from the Ukrainian Black Sea port of Odesa actions and calling them “another dimen- Maria Zakharova late on November 25 called upon Russia “to restore freedom of to Mariupol, in the Azov Sea, according to sion of Russia’s hybrid warfare.” The reso- accused Ukrainian authorities of using passage”’ in the Kerch Strait. Meanwhile, the Ukrainian Navy (Kyiv Post, November lution adds, “Russia’s actions have led to “gangster tactics” in the Kerch Strait – first a NATO spokeswoman Oana Lungescu said 25). further deterioration of the security situa- provocation, then pressure and finally accu- the alliance was “closely monitoring devel- Subsequently, Russia blocked the pas- tion in the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov sations of aggression. Russia’s Federal opments” in the Sea of Azov and the Kerch sage through the Kerch Strait beneath the and have significant implications for the Security Service (FSB), which oversees the Strait and was in contact with the Ukrainian newly built Kerch Bridge, and the Russian ongoing war in eastern Ukraine” (Europarl. country’s border-guard service, said its authorities. “We call for restraint and de- Coast Guard fired on a group of Ukrainian europa.eu, October 22). forces fired weapons at the Ukrainian Navy escalation,” she said. “NATO fully supports Navy ships as they were leaving the strait, According to expert Paul Goble, Russia’s ships to get them to stop after they had ille- Ukraine’s sovereignty and its territorial wounding at least six sailors (UNIAN, show of force in and around the Azov Sea gally entered Russia’s territorial waters. But integrity, including its navigational rights in Facebook.com/navy.mil.gov.ua, November is, at the very least, intended to intimidate the Ukrainian Navy says its vessels – includ- its territorial waters,” Ms. Lungescu said. 25). Reportedly, Russia forcibly seized sev- the Ukrainian military against possible ing two small-sized artillery boats – were “We call on Russia to ensure unhindered eral of the Ukrainian vessels in the strait, attempts to liberate any of the occupied attacked by Russian coast-guard ships as access to Ukrainian ports in the Azov Sea, in leading to tense protests in Kyiv (Kyiv Post, territories in the east.
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