ХРИСТОС НАРОДИВСЯ! CHRIST IS BORN!

Thepublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXXIV-LXXXV No. 52-1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 – SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 $2.00 Sviatoslav Karavansky, Report calls Russian artillery attacks against prominent Soviet-era in 2014 ‘acts of war,’ as fi ghting in Donbas escalates political prisoner, dies by Mark Raczkiewycz – extensively used cross- border artillery fire against Ukrainian mili- tary targets in July-September 2014 in what are considered “acts of war,” accord- ing to a new report by Bellingcat, a group of citizen journalists who use open-source investigation tools and techniques, that was released on December 21. Numbering in the “thousands,” the report says, the cross-border projectiles were the “first and strongest evidence of a direct Russian participation in the fighting.” Although they were already proven to have occurred by Ukrainian officials and the U.S. Ihor Dlaboha government, the new report analyzed the Sviatoslav Karavansky at the Ukrainian extent to which they were used in the sum- National Association in 1980. mer of 2014, when they largely contributed UUARC to stemming a Ukrainian counterattack to Serhiy Yermakov retake the border areas near Russia, and Wounded soldiers get evacuated some 800 meters from the frontline near PHILADELPHIA – Sviatoslav cut off and surround the occupied Donbas Luhanske, a village situated along what is known as the Rostov-on-Don highway, not Karavansky, a prominent Ukrainian capitals of and Luhansk. far from occupied , on December 18. anti-Soviet dissident, twice impris- In total, at least 279 separate artillery oned in Soviet concentration camps attacks likely were fired inside Russia, tar- direct attribution of responsibility to the The open-source investigative group for a total of 31 years, died at the age geting 408 Ukrainian military sites in the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation.” found that Russia’s artillery barrages “esca- of 95 on December 17 at a hospital in “entire border area of the conflict zone.” Despite mounting evidence, Moscow lated” in “magnitude” the more Ukraine’s Baltimore. He had been living in the Using recent additions of satellite imag- authorities have consistently denied direct offensive in summer 2014 succeeded to lib- U.S. since 1980, soon after being ery to Google Earth, Yandex and Bing map involvement in the Donbas war that has erate occupied territory. In spite of the released with his wife, Dr. Nina services, Bellingcat said it found evidence killed nearly 10,000 people and uprooted cross-border shelling, Russia was forced to Strokata, likewise an inmate of Soviet of Russian artillery fire in 2014 “to a much more than 1.7 million from their homes invade with ground troops and armor in prisons, who was arrested for protest- fuller extent.” It found that weapons such as since April 2014. Instead, the Kremlin has late August of that year to prevent Luhansk ing her husband’s incarceration. howitzers and multiple rocket-launcher attempted to portray the war as a civil con- and Donetsk from being encircled and cut (Continued on page 24) systems were used and, based on other flict between Ukrainian government forces open-source evidence, said that “allows for and indigenous pro-Russian separatists. (Continued on page 3) Dutch court rules Crimean treasures must be returned to Ukraine RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service objects must be returned by the Russia sees “pure theft” treaties on cultural heritage, the treasures Netherlands to the institutions from which Russian Culture Minister Vladimir have to go back to Kyiv for as long as the A Dutch court has ruled that a priceless they were on loan. Medinsky had said earlier that a decision in is occupied territory.” collection of artifacts from Crimea that The treasures, popularly known as favor of Kyiv would be “pure theft.” Meanwhile, the culture minister in the were on loan to a Dutch museum when Scythian gold, are in the Netherlands Ukrainian President Russian-imposed government that admin- Russia occupied the peninsula must be because they were borrowed from the four welcomed the ruling in a post on his isters Crimea, Arina Novoselskaya, said on returned to Ukraine. museums in Crimea and one in Kyiv for an Facebook page. “The decision by the district December 14 that the museums will appeal The Amsterdam district court said on exhibition in early 2014 at Amsterdam’s court in Amsterdam means that not only the the court’s decision. December 14 that Crimea was not a sover- Allard Pierson Museum. Scythian gold is Ukrainian. Crimea is also The treasures are popularly known as eign country and so could not claim the “The court ruling is that the artifacts have Ukrainian, Crimea is ours, period,” he said. Scythian gold in reference to the semi- treasures as cultural heritage. to be brought back to the state of Ukraine as Kyiv had argued that the country of ori- nomadic tribes who lived in the region in The ruling drew a swift and angry reac- they form a part of the cultural heritage of gin is Ukraine, not Russia. ancient times. tion from Russia and praise from Ukraine, the state of Ukraine,” Illya Bilderbeek, a “Crimea is part of Ukraine [and] it is only The four Crimean museums have previ- whose president said it means that “Crimea spokesman for the Amsterdam district our national authorities that can decide to ously described the treasures as belonging is ours, period.” court, said. which museum [the artifacts] should to the people of Crimea. Kyiv and four museums in Crimea have Shortly after the court issued its ruling, return,” Ukrainian Deputy Minister of Andrei Malgin, director of the Tavrida been wrangling over the fate of the archeo- the Russian Culture Ministry said the deci- Culture Svitlana Fomenko told reporters at Central Museum, told Dutch television on logical treasures, which range from pots to a sion “violates the principles of international the courthouse on December 14. December 12 that “this is the cultural heri- Scythian helmet dating back more than exchanges between museums and the right “As you know, Crimea is occupied by tage of local tribes and peoples.” 2,000 years, ever since Russia seized control of the people of the Crimea to have access Russian Federation and we have no access The almost 600 artifacts, including pots, of the Ukrainian peninsula in March 2014. to their own cultural heritage.” to Crimea,” Ms. Fomenko said. “We cannot gold leaf and other objects, date back more The Ukrainian government claimed that, The ministry called the ruling an protect our cultural heritage in Crimea.” than 2,000 years. as state property, they could not be “extremely negative precedent” and said it In testimony on December 12, the law- Among the most valuable objects are a returned to territory outside its control, contradicted “the norms of international yer acting for Ukraine, Maarten Sanders, while the Crimean museums argued the law on the protection of cultural values.” told the court that “in terms of UNESCO (Continued on page 19) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 No. 52-1 EU lauds nationalization of Ukraine’s largest bank U.N. calls Russia ‘occupying power’ “realistic” and said it was needed to give momentum to economic reform. The bud- RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service was agreed upon with Mr. Kolomoyskiy and UNITED NATIONS – The U.N. General PrivatBank’s other main owner, Hennadiy Assembly has passed a resolution that rec- get projects economic growth of 3 percent next year, up from 1 percent in 2016. The KYIV – The European Union has praised Boholyubov, who control assets in a broad ognizes Crimea as “temporarily occupied” IMF said last month that to secure more Ukraine’s leadership for its decision to range of sectors, including media, oil, and by Russia and condemns the “abuses” and loans, Ukraine needed to pass a suitable nationalize the country’s biggest bank, call- chemicals. “discrimination” against Crimean Tatars, budget and step up efforts to fight corrup- ing it a “bold and courageous” move and a But Mr. Kolomoyskiy took to Facebook to ethnic Ukrainians, and other groups on the tion – including by jailing crooked officials. key component of broader reforms that the lash out at the government following the peninsula. The General Assembly vote on (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Reuters West is pressing Kyiv to carry out. statement. “This is not a nationalization. It’s December 19 was 70 in favor and 26 and TASS) EU foreign-policy chief Federica a classic illegal takeover,” he wrote. against the resolution, with 77 countries Mogherini spoke on December 19, a day He added that clients should not panic, abstaining. The resolution also calls on NATO, Moscow still at odds over Ukraine after President Petro Poroshenko’s Cabinet and that “everything would be fine” with Russia, as an “occupying power,” to end all said it would nationalize PrivatBank in an their . “Only the shareholders have abuses against people living in Crimea, BRUSSELS – NATO and Russia still “have profound disagreements on the crisis” in effort to avoid a financial collapse in the suffered. And the investment climate in the including arbitrary detentions, and Ukraine, NATO Secretary-General Jens former Soviet republic. country. Which, by the way, doesn’t exist other “cruel, inhumane, or degrading treat- Stoltenberg said after the NATO-Russia “Let me use this occasion to commend... anymore,” Mr. Kolomoyskiy wrote, promis- ment.” Serhiy Kyslytsya, Ukraine’s vice min- Council, their main forum for dialogue. The the prime minister’s, the president’s, the ing that there would be more details later ister of foreign affairs, said in a statement council held more than three hours of talks government’s efforts in these hours to on December 19. after the General Assembly’s vote that the in Brussels on December 19. It was only the restore confidence in the financial sector as Mr. Kolomoyskiy, one of Ukraine’s rich- human rights situation on Crimea had third such meeting of the council in 2016. we have seen through a bold and coura- est men, served briefly as head of “deteriorated sharply” since Russian forces NATO has suspended all practical coopera- geous decision to nationalize Privatbank,” Dnipropetrovsk and was credited took control of the Ukrainian territory in tion with Russia after Moscow’s seizure and Ms. Mogherini said at a December 19 meet- with preventing the spread of separatist February 2014 and illegally annexed it. Mr. annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea Peninsula in ing of the EU-Ukraine Council in Brussels. sentiment in the region following Russia’s Kyslytsya noted that the latest report on March 2014. Mr. Stoltenberg said NATO “This step should help ensure that all 2014 annexation of Ukraine’s Crimea terri- Crimea by the U.N.’s High Commissioner for allies “reiterated their strong support for banks in Ukraine are held to the same pru- tory and backing of armed separatists in Human Rights, released on December 8, Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integri- dential regulatory standards, making the the east of the country. described the situation since Russia took ty,” and insisted that they would never “rec- banking sector stronger and more resil- But President Poroshenko dismissed control as a “climate of repression against ognize Russia’s illegal and illegitimate ient,” she said. “It is also a vital component him in 2015, accusing him of setting up a dissenting voices.” The General Assembly annexation of Crimea.” The meeting also of larger reform efforts that the European private militia and trying to take over a resolution was first approved by the U.N.’s looked at ways to avoid incidents and acci- Union together with the international part- state-affiliated oil company. human rights committee on November 15. dents between Russian and NATO forces. ners supports strongly.” The region Mr. Kolomoyskiy governed, Russia had lobbied against the resolution, Russia has annoyed NATO with snap mili- Ukraine’s Cabinet of Minister said in a which is now called Dnipro Oblast, borders calling it “politically motivated” and “one- tary exercises or by buzzing the alliance’s statement late on December 18 that the the – one of two regions sided.” (RFE/RL) ships and aircraft with fighter jets, as well as government had decided to take 100 per- held in part by Russia-backed separatists passes 2017 budget what NATO sees as aggressive use of propa- whose conflict with Kyiv’s forces has killed cent control of PrivatBank, founded by a ganda. Douglas Lute, the U.S. ambassador to more than 9,750 people since April 2014 KYIV – Ukraine’s Parliament has billionaire former governor, Ihor NATO, told ABC News on December 18 that and continues despite a European- approved a budget for 2017, raising its Kolomoyskiy. “I don’t believe that anyone in Russia today The move follows months of rumors that brokered agreement to end the fighting and chances of securing more aid from the International Monetary Fund under a $17.5 intends to attack NATO.” But Mr. Lute added, the bank was troubled by bad debt. resolve the conflict. “I worry about attempts by Russia... to influ- The statement by the Cabinet said the The move to nationalize PrivatBank was billion loan package. The document approved by 274 to 226 on December 21 ence political campaigns, flooding allied takeover would rescue both PrivatBank praised also by the International Monetary capitals, the news media with misinforma- and Ukraine’s “entire banking system.” Fund (IMF), which has loaned Ukraine bil- keeps the budget deficit at 3 percent of gross domestic product (GDP), in line with tion or disinformation and all these with an On December 19, President Poroshenko lions to help prop up its battered economy. attempt to fragment internally our societies, said that, in the past few hours, “the IMF chief Christine Lagarde called it “a the IMF’s guidelines. Legislators had intend- ed to pass the budget weeks ago. Delays in perhaps distort our political processes, and National Security and Defense Council, the major step forward in the authorities’ to sow discontent and a lack of cohesion National Bank, the Cabinet and the Finance efforts to rehabilitate the banking system approving it have held up the disbursement of another $1.3 billion loan, causing foreign across the allies.” (RFE/RL, with reporting Ministry have adopted all [necessary] legal and safeguard financial stability.” by Rikard Jozwiak in Brussels, AP, and and formal decisions in order to transfer “The IMF will continue to support exchange reserves to fall below the ’s target. The IMF and other interna- Reuters) PrivatBank under the full state ownership.” Ukraine in its efforts to maintain macroeco- tional backers have propped up Ukraine’s “The situation is under control,” National nomic stability and advance reforms to EU extends sanctions against Russia economy since the country plunged into Bank of Ukraine chief Valeriya Hontareva achieve strong and sustainable economic turmoil in 2014 following Russia’s annexa- said at a news conferemce with Mr. growth,” she said in a statement. BRUSSELS – The European Union has tion of Crimea and the outbreak of a sepa- Poroshenko. She said the central bank extended sanctions against Russia for its ratist war in the east. Finance Minister would take steps to “ensure uninterrupted With reporting by AFP, the Financial called the new budget (Continued on page 10) services” to PrivatBank depositors, and Times, and the Kyiv Post. added: “We do not expect a sizeable out- Copyright 2016, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted flow of deposits from PrivatBank, and we with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ do not envisage it [will] make a substantial Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, impact on the market or the level Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see The Ukrainian Weekly FOUNDED 1933 of inflation.” http://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-nationaliz- The government said the transaction es-privat-bank/28183273.html). 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. Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. (ISSN — 0273-9348) U.S. adds more Russians to sanctions list The Weekly: UNA: Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 by Mike Eckel and Carl Schreck costs of its occupation of Crimea and dis- RFE/RL rupting the activities of those who support Postmaster, send address changes to: the violence and instability in Ukraine,” The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz WASHINGTON – The United States has John Smith, acting director of the 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas levied new sanctions against more Treasury’s Office of Foreign Assets Control, P.O. Box 280 Russians for Moscow’s actions in Ukraine, said in a statement. Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] hitting well-connected insiders, including The announcement triggered an angry The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com the man known as Russian President response from Moscow, where Deputy ’s chef. The updated list, Foreign Affairs Minister Sergei Ryabkov The Ukrainian Weekly, December 25, 2016 - announced on December 20 by the called the fresh sanctions a “hostile move” January 1, 2017, No. 52-1, Vol. LXXXIV-LXXXV Treasury Department, includes seven and warned that Russia would retaliate. Copyright © 2016 The Ukrainian Weekly Russians and more than three dozen com- “We will be expanding our lists, we will see panies in Russia and Crimea. how we can respond asymmetrically,” the The names added to the Specially state-run TASS news agency quoted Mr. Designated Nationals List include Yevgeny Ryabkov as saying. ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA Prigozhin, a St. Petersburg businessman Mr. Prigozhin has been dubbed “Putin’s Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 whose company has provided catering to chef” thanks to major state catering con- e-mail: [email protected] the Kremlin. tracts his firms have secured with the Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 “These targeted sanctions aim to main- e-mail: [email protected] tain pressure on Russia by sustaining the (Continued on page 19) No. 52-1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 3

NEWS ANALYSIS Are the Kremlin’s LNR and DNR about to unite or fight each other?

by Paul Goble On one hand, that fog reflects the internal problems of well as offer some ideas about the range of options Eurasia Daily Monitor the two self-proclaimed entities – problems that have only Moscow may choose from in the near future. been exacerbated by the uncertain future of Donbas. And In a commentary on Moscow’s Svobodnaya Pressa por- The Kremlin has deliberately obscured the so-called on the other hand, it reveals the Kremlin’s clear desire to tal, Russian analyst Dmitry Rodionov says that rumors are Donetsk People’s Republic (DPR) and the Luhansk keep as many of its options open as possible. Moscow swirling in the DPR and LPR that the two may soon join People’s Republic (LPR), in eastern Ukraine, under a fog of wants to continue destabilizing Ukraine, even while talking together to restart Vladimir Putin’s “” project confusion. As such, on a single day in mid-December, a peace. But it also particularly wants to avoid any actions (Svpressa.ru, December 8). Such a union would make the Russian analyst argued that the two self-styled republics that could lead to a violent reaction against the Kremlin by DPR the dominant local player and would likely set the are about to unite into one entity (Novorossiya), while at Russian nationalists in the Russian Federation. The two stage for more Russian aggression deeper into Ukraine. the same time a Ukrainian analyst saw signs that the two analysts’ sharply contrasting predictions as to what will The Moscow commentator suggests that there is more Moscow-sponsored statelets are almost at the point of happen next in eastern Ukraine, combined with the enthusiasm for this idea among DPR leaders than among declaring war on each other even though their Russian reports of a Moscow-ordered “cleansing” of the ranks of their counterparts in Luhansk; and he adds that the former curators are reportedly purging the most radical Russian the Russia-backed militants there, provide a remarkable nationalists in each. glimpse into developments on the ground in Donbas, as (Continued on page 20)

Magnitsky rights measure, U.S. Congress passes massive defense bill military assistance to Ukraine by Mike Eckel international rights groups say he was tortured and denied also part of legislation RFE/RL medical treatment. Most of the 39 Russians hit by the 2012 law were accused WASHINGTON – The U.S. Congress has backed legisla- of being connected either to Magnitsky’s death in 2009, or The Senate had passed a stand-alone version of the tion giving the president new, broader authority to impose the $230 million tax scam that he identified while working amendment last year, but its fate in the House was uncer- sanctions on human rights abusers worldwide, building on with the investment firm Hermitage Capital Management. tain. So its backers, led by Sen. Ben Cardin (D- Md.), an earlier law that has infuriated the Kremlin. Incensed by the U.S. law, the Kremlin retaliated in 2012 attached it to the defense bill as a back-up, according to one The measure, formally known as the Global Magnitsky by banning the adoption of Russian children by U.S. citi- congressional official familiar with the procedure. Human Rights Accountability Act, passed the Senate in a zens and barring some Americans from entering Russia. Because the larger defense policy bill, formally known as 92-7 vote on December 8 as part of a larger bill that sets the National Defense Authorization Act, is a must-pass piece “Gross rights violators” guidance for U.S. defense priorities for the coming year. of legislation – since it affects U.S. military operations world- The new measure is modeled after the Magnitsky Act, a wide – outgoing President Barack Obama is expected to sign law passed in 2012 that punishes Russians deemed by visa bans, to freeze financial assets, or apply other punitive it into law. The House passed the bill earlier this month. Washington to be rights violators by barring them from the measuresТhe new against legislation anyone authorizes who targetsthe president whistleblowers to impose “Gross violators of human rights and those who engage United States and freezing any assets they hold there. exposing corruption or citizens exercising basic rights like in serious acts of corruption cannot escape the conse- That law is named for Sergei Magnitsky, a whistle-blow- freedom of speech, religion or assembly. quences of their actions even when their home country ing Russian lawyer who helped uncover evidence of a mas- It also targets foreign government officials engaged in fails to act,” Sen. Cardin said in a statement. “Visiting the sive tax fraud. He was jailed and later died in a notorious “significant corruption,” such as illegally acquiring state Moscow jail. His supporters, Western governments and assets or hiding ill-gotten gains offshore. (Continued on page 8)

and 26 subsidiaries of the Russian Report calls... Agricultural Bank and Novatek to “counter attempts to circumvent these sanctions.” (Continued from page 1) “The United States remains steadfast in off from each other along main roadways. our commitment to maintain sanctions until Regular Russian forces invaded en Russia fully implements its commitments masse towards the Luhansk Airport, and under the Minsk agreements. This action and Novoazovsk in Donetsk Oblast. underscores the U.S. government’s opposi- Ukraine’s ensuing defeat at the battle of tion to Russia’s occupation of Crimea and Ilovaisk led to the first peace deal that was our firm refusal to recognize its attempted brokered in the Belarusian capital of Minsk annexation of the peninsula,” the Treasury in September 2014. Department said in a news release. The cross-border shelling also forced Ukraine’s defense spending Ukraine’s army to alter its strategy and to pull back hundreds of troops from the Defense spending in 2017 will be a “pri- Ukraine-Russia border with fighting con- ority,” Ukraine’s Finance Ministry said in a centrating in the “area of Marynivka, Savur- statement on December 21 after Mohyla and Amvrosiyivka [all in Donetsk Parliament passed next year’s state budget Oblast],” according to the report. at 4:52 a.m. the same day. Although the final version of the budget hasn’t been pub- Bloodiest battle in five months lished due to last-minute changes, defense The Bellingcat report’s release follows spending isn’t expected to be lower than 5 the bloodiest battle that Ukraine’s army has percent of gross domestic product (GDP) – faced in five months in Donetsk Oblast. the equivalent of this year’s spending – Combined Russian-separatist forces given that overt Russian military aggres- launched three attacks on Ukrainian posi- sion is not abating. tions at the Bulge on December Bellingcat’s map showing the origin of likely Russian cross-border artillery fire tar- Thus, based on Ukraine’s forecasted GDP 18, starting with intense artillery fire and geting Ukrainian military sites in July-September 2014. of $95.7 billion, defense spending shouldn’t culminating in ground attacks. be less than $4.8 billion. By comparison, Ukraine had five soldiers killed, 16 Russian origin, said Andriy Ishchyk, the In turn, about 50 troops from the com- NATO’s official guidelines stipulate that its wounded and one missing, according to press officer of the 54th Brigade, whose bined Russian-separatist forces were killed member states should spend at least 2 per- Ukraine’s envoy to the Organization for unit sustained the brunt of the attacks in and wounded on December 18-19, cent of their GDP on defense. Security and Cooperation in Europe, the Svitlodarsk. Ukraine’s military intelligence reported. GDP is expected to grow by 3 percent, body that is monitoring another truce that All told, the OSCE observed “about 2,900 and the minimum monthly wage doubled Sanctions extended, increased was brokered in February 2015 and which explosions between the evenings of to $118 amid a forecasted 3-percent GDP has never taken hold. December 18 and 19… The majority of Meanwhile, the European Union this week deficit. The International Monetary Fund, All three attacks were repelled and ceasefire violations were recorded in the extended a package of sanctions against with whom Ukraine has a $17.5 billion loan Ukrainian forces took up “new tactical posi- areas around Svitlodarsk, [occupied] Russia for another six months for its annexa- package, has yet to comment on the budget tions” after the fighting, said Lt. Gen. and Debaltseve.” There were about tion of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea and as of December 21. Oleksandr Sirskiy, chief of the joint opera- 1,000 explosions in the war zone the next its role in stoking war in the Donbas. In November, the Washington-based tions staff of Ukraine’s armed forces. day, the OSCE reported, and Ukraine’s mili- The U.S. Treasury Department on lender said Ukraine needed to pass a “suit- At least three Russian passports were tary said three more Ukrainian soldiers died December 20 broadened a separate set of able” budget and fight corruption more vig- found on the battlefield, as well as Russian- in battle and 14 more were wounded on restrictive measures towards Russia by orously to secure additional installments of made hardware and other documents of December 20-21. including seven individuals, eight entities, the bailout money. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 No. 52-1 No. 52-1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 5 UCCA welcomes two organizations into its ranks

UCCA over a dozen working and advisory com- cation of a Ukrainian-language medical their families, scholarships for college stu- mittees, which will guide the actions of the journal and an English-language newslet- dents who are descendants or relatives of NEW YORK – The Executive Board of the new UCCA Executive Board over the next ter, as well as through its member branches Ukrainian American veterans, and sharing Ukrainian Congress Committee of America four years, the delegates heard a brief throughout the U.S. and Canada. Ukrainian the story of Ukrainian American veterans (UCCA), the nation’s largest representation report from UCCA staff and leadership on medical professionals have a long history through an active registration project as of Ukrainians in America, announced on the work accomplished during the eight of leadership in the Ukrainian American well as the Library of Congress Veterans’ December 10 that the Ukrainian American weeks since the XXII Congress. community, having played a significant role History project. Veterans (UAV) and the Ukrainian Medical Setting an ambitious agenda to start off in the work of the UCCA in the past, begin- “We look forward to being an active and Association of North America (UMANA), his term, newly elected UCCA President ning with the IV UCCA Congress in 1949, as contributing member, representing over two longstanding organizations with a com- Andriy Futey summarized the UCCA’s work well as in the establishment in 1967 of the 500 members of the Ukrainian American bined century plus of community leader- in advance of and immediately following World Congress of Free Ukrainians (today Veterans,” stated former UAV National ship, now stand beside over 20 other the U.S. elections, the UCCA’s recent high- known as the Ukrainian World Congress). Commander Ihor Hron. national Ukrainian American organizations level meetings in Ukraine, as well as a very “We are enthusiastic that our united “I am extremely pleased to welcome the as official members of the UCCA National active period of work at the United Nations. efforts will help support Ukraine’s efforts Ukrainian American Veterans and the Council, the highest ruling body of the UCCA. The highlight of the gathering, however, to become prosperous and free of Russia’s Ukrainian Medical Association of North The National Council gathered on came when UCCA Executive Secretary aggression. Collaboratively we may contin- America as our two newest member orga- Saturday, December 10, for its first meeting Maria Duplak announced that the UCCA ue to demonstrate the ’s nizations. We look forward to their active following the XXII Congress of Ukrainians Membership Committee, which is autho- solidarity with Ukraine,” stated Borys involvement and to the many contributions in America, which had convened in rized and required to review each applica- Buniak, M.D., president of UMANA. they will make,” said UCCA President September. Newly re-elected Council Chair tion for membership, recommended mem- The announcement by the UAV marks a Andriy Futey. “As I emphasized during the Stefan Kaczaraj, the president of the bership approval to both the UAV and welcome return to the leadership of the UCCA Congress in September, I am commit- Ukrainian National Association, presided UMANA. Approval for both applications UCCA by veterans of the U.S. Armed Forces ted to unifying the community and call over a gathering of delegates representing was passed unanimously by the National of Ukrainian descent. Founded in 1948 by upon all organizations to unite.” Ukrainian Churches and religious associa- Council. American veterans of the first and second The outreach to non-member Ukrainian tions in the United States, Ukrainian Founded in 1950, the Ukrainian Medical world wars who shared a Ukrainian heri- American organizations was begun over a American educational institutions, national Association of North America (UMANA) tage, the UAV is both an American veterans’ year ago under the leadership of UCCA’s or central member organizations, and local unites health-care professionals of organization and an ethnic Ukrainian orga- then-president, Tamara Olexy. “I am grate- chapters of the UCCA. Ukrainian descent through its sponsorship nization. It focuses its activities on provid- ful to Tamara for her initiative and will con- In addition to nominating members to of regular medical conferences, and publi- ing financial assistance to veterans and tinue this effort,” concluded Mr. Futey. UCCA hails U.N. General Assembly’s Newly elected UCCA Executive Board resolution on occupied Crimea holds first meeting, sets plans for 2017

UCCA UCCA where Ukrainian Americans reside; and appropriately marking various important NEW YORK – The United Nations General Assembly voted 70 to 26 to NEW YORK – On Saturday, December historical anniversaries in the community. adopt a resolution condemning human rights abuses in Crimea and urging 10, at its first meeting following the XXII The UCCA Executive Board approved the Russia to allow U.N. monitors unimpeded access to the Ukrainian peninsula. Congress of Ukrainians in America, the following important anniversaries to mark The resolution passed on December 19 marked the first time that the newly elected Executive Board of the in 2017: the 20th anniversary of the Russian Federation was named by the General Assembly as an occupying Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Congressional Ukraine Caucus; the 50th power and the Autonomous and the of as discussed various projects for the upcom- anniversary of the founding of the “temporarily occupied territory.” Out of the 193 member states of the United ing year and approved an ambitious plan Ukrainian World Congress (originally Nations, 70 voted in favor, 26 voted against and 77 abstained. for 2017. known as the World Congress of Free Adoption of the resolution, in which the United Nations reaffirmed the Andriy Futey, newly elected president of Ukrainians); and the 40th anniversary of sovereignty, political independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine the UCCA, presided over the meeting and the founding of the Ukrainian National within its internationally recognized borders, was welcomed by the welcomed the new leadership, urging Information Service (UNIS), the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, the largest representation of everyone to earnestly work together to Washington bureau of the UCCA. Americans of Ukrainian descent. promote the activities of the UCCA for the The issue of unity within the organized However, in welcoming the resolution’s passage, UCCA President Andriy greater good of the Ukrainian American Ukrainian American community was also Futey underscored that, “The 26 nay votes represent all the member states community and Ukraine. addressed by the UCCA Executive Board. of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) with the exception of Held at the national headquarters in Although the outreach to non-member Azerbaijan, Moldova and, of course, Ukraine, and thus the UCCA calls on the New York City, the board meeting dis- UCCA organizations began over a year ago to withdraw from the CIS.” cussed various issues, including the princi- under the previous leadership, the new Since 1993, Ukraine has been an associate member of the CIS, a regional pal topic of nominating members to the board actively took up the mantle, result- organization created by 12 former Soviet republics upon the dissolution of UCCA’s standing committees. In total, 11 ing in two organizations submitting their the . With legislation denouncing the CIS agreement languish- standing committees were proposed, respective documents for membership. As ing in Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada since being introduced in 2014, it is high namely: Organizational, Student-Youth, a result, and on the advice of the UCCA time that the largest nation in Europe formally cut ties with its neighboring Membership, Council on Aid to Ukrainians, Membership Committee, the Ukrainian oppressor, the UCCA commented. Ukraine never ratified the CIS charter in External Affairs, Financial, Scholarly, American Veterans and the Ukrainian 1993; it assumed a status whereby it belonged to the CIS Executive By-Laws, Real Estate; and two newly Medical Association of North America Committee as a founding member but did not participate in all CIS activities. formed committees – Public Relations and were unanimously approved as new mem- “We applaud President [Petro] Poroshenko terminating Ukraine’s partici- Media, and Corporate Governance. The ber organizations by the UCCA National pation in the CIS Executive Committee as well as those legislative reformers nominations of committee members were Council. looking to bring up establishing a bilateral visa regime with nations such as ratified at the National Council meeting The board meeting concluded with a Russia, which has committed numerous acts of terrorism against Ukraine that same afternoon. special report by Askold Lozynskyj, for- and the international community since the military takeover of Crimea Considerable focus was also placed on a mer UCCA president and current chair of began over 1,000 days ago,” Mr. Futey stated. strategic plan for the UCCA in 2017. the UCCA Film Committee. In providing a While U.N. General Assembly resolutions are non-binding as to their Programs and activities include: advocat- brief overview of the UCCA co-produced acceptance by member states, the resolution adopted on December 19 ing the Ukrainian American community’s feature film project titled “Secret Diary of requests the Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human concerns with the new incoming Trump Symon Petliura” with Oles Yanchuk and Rights to prepare a dedicated thematic report on the situation of human administration, as well meeting with and the Dovzhenko National Film Studio, Mr. rights in Crimea. establishing working relationships with Lozynskyj appealed for financial support, The UCCA commended the General Assembly’s condemnation of the abus- new members of Congress; conducting given that the film is to be released in es and discrimination against the residents of the temporarily occupied regional advocacy seminars; building upon 2017 to coincide with the 75th anniversa- Crimea, including the indigenous Crimean Tatars, as well as Ukrainians and cooperation with other ethnic, cultural and ry of the founding of the Ukrainian persons belonging to other ethnic and religious groups. Russia’s indiscrimi- advocacy organizations; developing a new Insurgent Army. Following the presenta- nate detention of Ukrainian citizens, as well as their decision to ban the Mejlis user-friendly website and other marketing tion, the UCCA Executive Board unani- of the Crimean Tatar People, should be reversed immediately per this request materials for the UCCA; and fund-raising. mously approved a donation in the sum of by the international community, the UCCA said. Discussions also included: revitalizing $5,000 to the film project and pledged to several of the UCCA’s branches and estab- continue fund-raising for this important lishing new branches in communities endeavor. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 No. 52-1

CHRISTMAS PASTORAL LETTER The Ukrainian Weekly Good news at the end of the year May the joy of the Feast of the Nativity So here is it, the end of one year and the beginning of the next – so fittingly repre- sented by this double issue dated December 25, 2016/January 1, 2017. Yes, dear lead us to one another in God’s Love readers, in your hands you are simultaneously holding the last issue of the year, and 2017 Epistle of the Permanent Conference tion. We are the beneficiaries of that Love the first issue of the next year. of Ukrainian Orthodox Bishops Beyond the and we must share it at every moment of It’s nice, at this point on the calendar, to have some good news to report about Borders of Ukraine to the faithful entrusted our lives for all mankind. We must proclaim Ukraine after what was yet another tumultuous year. We are referring to the to our spiritual care at the Holy Feast of the with the angels, witnessed by the multitude European Commission’s report on Ukraine (a story about that appeared on the front Nativity of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. of the Heavenly host, as they did to the page of our previous issue), which cited “intense and unprecedented reforms.” shepherds in the field outside Bethlehem – The joint report released on December 13 by the European External Action Service Dearly Beloved Clergy, Monastics and as St. John Chrysostom describes above: and the European Commission, took a look at Ukraine’s implementation of the asso- Faithful Brothers and Sisters: “Glory to God on High, on earth peace, good ciation agenda agreed upon by Ukraine and the EU. Christ is born! Let us glorify Him! will toward men.” (Luke 2:14) St. Paul The summary to the report states: “In 2015 and 2016, Ukraine has undertaken “Behold a new and wondrous mystery. explains in his letter to the Ephesians, that intense and unprecedented reforms across a number of sectors of the economy and My ears resound to the Shepherd’s song, Christ Himself is our Peace, who has come society, while its democratic institutions have been further revitalized. Ukraine is piping no soft melody, but chanting full to earth and in Him man is no longer committed to the protection and promotion of common fundamental values of forth a heavenly hymn. The Angels sing. estranged from God. We are enabled to democracy, human rights and the rule of law. The illegal annexation of Crimea and The Archangels blend their voice in harmo- Sevastopol by the Russian Federation and the conflict in the east of the country pro- truly live in Christ, Who is always among us! ny. The Cherubim hymn their joyful praise. Today Christ, as an Infant, allows us to voked by Russia’s destabilizing actions pose significant challenges to Ukraine’s The Seraphim exalt His glory. All join to reform process from a political and economic perspective, in addition to causing sig- initially experience God Incarnate with awe praise this holy feast, beholding the and joy. The Son of God enters into the his- nificant human suffering. Ukraine is actively seeking peaceful legal and political solu- Godhead here on earth, and man in heaven. tions in this area.” tory of mankind and allows us to partici- He Who is above, now for our redemption It underscores that Ukraine’s authorities “have committed to the reform agenda,” pate in the timeless reality of the Holy dwells here below; and he that was lowly is explaining that, “The practice of consultation with a particularly vibrant civil society Trinity – God the Father, Son and Holy and professional organizations in Ukraine has also gained ground. Across many by divine mercy raised.” (St. John Spirit. May we love Him all the days of our reform areas, implementation is well advanced, while in others, legislation has been Chrysostom at the Nativity of our Lord life – always, at every moment with all our adopted and institutions put in place, with actual implementation still pending.” Jesus Christ) heart, our soul, our mind and our strength. The report also comments on Ukraine’s battle against corruption: “Ukraine has St. John reminds us clearly about what We pray for all of you who have been set up new anti-corruption institutions and adopted legislation on anti-corruption, the Feast of the Nativity is all about – the entrusted to our spiritual care that your which it is starting to implement. It is mainstreaming an innovative public procure- Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, the only real and primary goal in life will ment system (ProZorro)… Ukraine has diminished the space for corruption through Son of God – becoming one of us so that we always be to grow into unity with God, reforms of the banking and energy sector... Constitutional amendments as well as might experience His Divinity – that we which can be accomplished only by con- new legislation on the judiciary have been adopted in order to strengthen judicial might comprehend that God is Love. As we scious prayer, compassion and mercy for independence and to reorganize the court system… A civil service law and a strategy celebrate this mystery of the Incarnation in the other in our lives. We beseech your on reforming the public administration, in line with European standards, are in our parish churches, we must humble our- prayers especially for our unworthy selves place. A new National Police has been set up.” selves enough to worship the Infant in the – that God will give us the daily strength to As well, the document reports on moves toward decentralization, progress in manger of a dark stable within a cave in live according to our own preaching in the social/health policy, stabilization of the economy, and good governance initiatives. Bethlehem and we must come to know Name of our Lord. To be sure, the EU report also cites negatives, such as the ongoing conflict in Him for Who He truly is, rather than what Christ is born! Let us glorify Him! Ukraine, as a result of which “the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine remains the world – and sometimes we ourselves in of serious concern, mainly in the non-government-controlled areas where humani- our human imperfection – want Him to be. In His All-Encompassing Love, tarian activities are restricted,” and the illegal annexation of Crimea, where “a new It is all too easy for us to diminish our series of violations of human rights and of international humanitarian law” have human dignity – a gift from God – when we + Yurij occurred. “The human rights situation of Crimean Tatars remains a particular con- attempt to make the “vices” of the world Metropolitan, Ukrainian Orthodox Church cern in this regard,” the report states. Also noted is the Ukrainian government’s “lack into something, or somehow, acceptable to of Canada of progress so far in the investigation of crimes committed during Maidan in Kyiv God. We exhibit our inability to compre- + Antony (2013-14) and in Odesa (2 May 2014), persisting instances of torture and illegal hend the Truth of the Incarnation, that God Metropolitan, Ukrainian Orthodox Church detention, violations of freedom of expression and media (the safety of journalists), is Love and wants to lift us up to share in of the U.S.A. and the Diaspora cases of socio-economic exclusion, discrimination based on different grounds and His divine Will, when we attempt to define insufficient protection of vulnerable groups.” that Love in simple human terms and in + Jeremiah Other topics covered in the detailed report include foreign and security policy, simple human behavior that in no way Archbishop, Ukrainian Orthodox Eparchy economic development and market opportunities, energy efficiency and the envi- reflect our desire to be lifted up. Our prayer of South America ronment, and education and research. Besides the over-all progress reported in various areas covered by the report, is that the joy of the Feast of the Nativity + Daniel there is also good news in that, as EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and will elevate our behavior, lead us to one Archbishop-elect, Ukrainian Orthodox Security Policy/European Commission Vice-President Federica Mogherini said, another in God’s Love and bring us to the Church of the U.S.A. sure knowledge that God’s Will prevails “Ukraine can count on the European Union’s support moving forward.” Her words + Ilarion over any vice mankind can conjure up! were seconded by Commissioner for European Neighborhood Policy and Bishop, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of The Feast of the Nativity was the new Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn, who said, “The European Union will con- Canada tinue to support Ukraine in these efforts, both politically and financially.” Thus, as we beginning for mankind and God’s creation. enter 2017, we can certainly hope for more advancements in Ukraine. It reminds anew each year that God’s Love + Andriy consists of not only the Incarnation, but Bishop, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of leads to His ultimate sacrifice for our salva- Canada Jan. Turning the pages back...

Seven years ago, on January 1, 2009, the Russian state-owned gas monopoly Gazprom decreased the volume of gas shipped to 1 Ukraine (90 million cubic meters per day as contracted in 2008). 2009 On January 2, gas shipments to European customers via Ukraine (up to 300 million cubic meters of gas per day), including Hungary, Bulgaria and Poland, reported drops in pressure and slight disruptions in supply as a result of the gas shut off by Russia. reported gas decreases of 30 to 40 percent. Gazprom claimed in November 2008 that Ukraine was in violation of its gas agree- ments, citing late payment penalties totaling $614 million and an outstanding balance of $2.1 billion. A contract for 2009 was not signed as a result of the dispute, and deliveries by Gazprom to Ukraine were halted. Naftohaz Ukrayiny claimed that the money that was paid in full was owed to RosUkrEnergo, a Swiss-based shady intermediary that was co-owned by Gazprom and Ukrainian businessman Dimitry Firtash prior to its dissolution (RosUkrEnergo had been part of the pricing scheme since 2002 and prior had been known as Eural Trans Gas). Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who called RosUkrEnergo a “criminal scheme,” vowed to force it out of the Ukrainian market, and she did. Gazprom proposed that Ukraine pay $450 per thousand cubic meters in 2009, then offered $250 per thousand cubic meters. Ukraine rejected both offers, making a counterof- “Ukrainian Christmas,” painting by Kateryna Krychevsky-Rosandich, as reproduced (Continued on page 24) on a card published by Chwyli Dnistra. No. 52-1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 7

NEWS AND VIEWS Speaking of charitable projects during the Church’s Year of Mercy Every year, Ukrainian Catholic bishops from all over the world gather together for a weeklong synod. The 2016 synod was held in the town of Briukhovychi, not far from . Every synod has a main theme that guides the discussions and this year, because this is the Year of Mercy, the bishops chose to focus on the ministry of the Church. The bish- ops addressed many angles of this ministry, but they also wanted to hear about the char- itable ventures of a Ukrainian beyond the boundaries of Ukraine. St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Newark, N.J., runs numerous charitable projects and the bishops asked Ksenia Hapij to speak to the synod about what the parish does and how it accomplishes its work. Following is the text of her presentation. Father Andriy Nahirniak by Ksenia Hapij Ksenia Hapij speaks before Ukrainian Catholic bishops at their synod in Briukhovychi, Ukraine, on September 5. My name is Ksenia Hapij. My parents American perspective. I would like to begin a small group of people that strongly wanes. It is wise to constantly change the brought me to the United States as an by saying that, although there are very many believes in helping our neighbor. We roll up direction of your work. 11-month-old baby, and all my life I have poor people in the United States, a large per- our sleeves, we earn people’s trust and Next, we initiated a project of supplying belonged to St. John’s Ukrainian Catholic centage of the population lives comfortably engage the entire community in acts of the blind in Ukraine with talking watches. Church in Newark, N.J. – a church of the and has enough to share with others. mercy. It’s actually a very simple thing to At first we bought Russian-speaking watch- Philadelphia eparchy. For the last 28 years, I Our work consists of three categories: do, and it can be done by anyone. es in New York City. Then we found that it have worked for this parish and have run We help our own parishioners. We help the First of all, we visit our parishioners – would be less expensive to purchase these the parish office. Please allow me to share people who reside in our parish’s city. We the sick, the elderly, people who have been watches in Kyiv (also Russian-speaking, my experiences of charitable work at a help the needy in Ukraine. widowed – all of whom crave human kind- since there were no Ukrainian-speaking Ukrainian Catholic Church from an I have said “our.” Who are “we?” We are ness. To some we bring home-cooked watches available in Ukraine). One day, we meals every two weeks. We visit others on received a call from Father Roman Syrotych the Feast of St. Nicholas, on St. Valentine’s of Caritas in Kyiv, with whom we have been LETTER TO THE EDITOR Day, or simply to say hello. We try to visit at working closely for a number of years. He least 50 to 60 homes every time. informed us that he had contacted a watch Our church has been in the city of factory in China. They said that if we would A Christmas memory found in Miami Newark – a city that houses many poor and be willing to order 5,000 watches, they needy people – for over 109 years. A would manufacture Ukrainian-speaking Roman Catholic parish in the center of the watches for us. To date, our church com- city runs a soup kitchen for the poor, and munity has bought, and with the help of we often supply this soup kitchen with Father Roman, distributed approximately donations of food and help them financially. 7,000 watches for the blind. As for helping the people in Ukraine, the Soon after the excitement of the speak- most important question one faces is ing watches began to wane, we were whom to trust and with whom to work. We approached by an American scout, whose are in a more fortunate position than oth- grandfather was of Ukrainian descent. He ers, since we have close contact with lay- offered to organize a shoe drive in his com- people, nuns, priests and bishops in whom munity for the needy in Ukraine. We fol- we have complete trust. Though we are lowed his example and organized a shoe Ukrainians in spirit, we were raised in the United States, and there are times when drive in our own church community. our approach to problems differs from that Ultimately, our joint effort brought in 2,000 of people in Ukraine. Through our work pairs of shoes, as well as 2,000 pairs of with the people in Ukraine, we found that it socks. is not enough to want to help the needy; we When war broke out in eastern Ukraine, must also strive to understand the people we were all very upset, and remain deeply who are in need of help. Very often, even concerned about this tragic war. Therefore, when we were approached by volunteers Zorianna Romankiv with the best of intentions, it is very easy to offend someone – and this would be in total in Ukraine with a request to help buy tour- A view of the Christmas concert at Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian niquets and hemostatic bandages for the Catholic Church in Miami. contrast to our objective. We have various contacts in Ukraine wounded, within a couple of months we Dear Editor: Christ and Mary and the saints. A simplicity and, through our correspondence with purchased and shipped over 700 tourni- of architecture – nothing overpowering, quets and packages of bandages to Ukraine. When I was a child growing up in Ohio, them, we learned that there is a great need but perfectly created in its message of ado- for clothing and shoes among the poor. The All of this cost approximately $16,000. the Christmas Eve service at my mother’s ration of the Divine. As was the music – the Every year before the feast of St. church was always the best part of Redemptorist Fathers of our parish are purity of the voice as the only instrument very supportive, and several years ago they Nicholas, we send gifts to the children of Christmas – I loved the Christmas Carols. that lifts us higher and higher. allotted us a room in the church basement incarcerated mothers and to other needy Ever since then I have searched every year I have always loved Oksana Piaseckyj’s where people bring all of their donations. children in Ukraine. And I should mention for a special choir to bring back that child- beautiful soprano – the clarity of her voice In the last six years, we sent approximately that we often ship diapers to invalid chil- hood memory. I think I have found that and the expression of emotion from her 600 packages (about 40 pounds each) to dren and to the elderly in Ukraine. We memory once more in the choir at the heart. She sang my favorite carol, “O Holy various regions in Ukraine. receive all of these diapers as donations. Ukrainian Catholic Church, Assumption of .” I loved the song in English and in At one point, we received word that there People in the United States have a tradi- the Blessed Virgin Mary, in Miami. Ukrainian, for her song filled me with the is a great need for wheelchairs in Ukraine. tion of donating money for charitable It doesn’t matter if I don’t speak true meaning of Christmas. Our first goal was to find used wheelchairs causes in lieu of flowers at funerals. Ukrainian – the beauty of the a cappella har- And so I thank the Choir with its excellent in our community. One day, one of our Through donations at funerals, we helped monies was so uplifting that I didn’t need to choir director, Donna Maksymowich- parishioners offered to purchase 100 new fund a summer camp for the children of the understand all of the words. The sweet Waskiewicz, the parish priest, Father Andrij wheelchairs and asked that the people in streets of Kyiv; we helped the hungry in the soprano of the ladies contrasting with the Romankiv, and the Ukrainian Church for giv- our community match each of his chairs city of Newark in our own United States; resonant bass and baritone of the men, the ing me once more that special memory of with yet another one. He set a wonderful we helped the homeless in Kyiv; we helped blending of voices, the powerful swelling of my childhood – be it in English or Ukrainian example for others and received great sup- alcoholics who live in the alcohol abuse meaningful moments, the softness of the – the gift of Christmas carols and the love port from the people in our parish commu- center in Drohobych; we helped the spiritual – it was all so spellbinding to me. and fellowship this special evening created. nity. To date, we have sent over 450 wheel- Bohdan Society near , whose And I love the little church. It is very Old Kristin Elise Lindley chairs and hundreds of walkers and com- members include over 300 physically and World. I felt as if I had stepped back into Miami modes to the needy in Ukraine. Throughout mentally handicapped children; we helped another era, another continent, a world all of this we learned an important lesson: hospitals in eastern Ukraine, that treat sculpted by hand and painted in an artist’s The letter writer is a teacher of English at People will become excited about new proj- hue of celestial blue and vibrant images of Miami Dade College. ects, but as time goes by, this excitement (Continued on page 20) 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 No. 52-1

HREC Valentina Kuryliw (HREC, Canada) with symposium participants during the master Minister of Education and Science of Ukraine Liliya Hrynevych (center), Valentina class “Teaching Students about the in the 21st Century, ‘The Historian’s Kuryliw, HREC Canada (right), and Liudmyla Hrynevych, HREC in Ukraine (left), Craft.’” sign memorandum of agreement in Kyiv on September 10. HREC director of education shares methodologies on teaching the Holodomor

by Anastasia Leshchyshyn to consider how the topic should be taught (HREC, Canadian Institute of Ukrainian her methodology, Ms. Kuryliw tasked the in the 21st century classroom. Studies, University of Alberta, Canada) and master class participants with analyzing TORONTO – Valentina Kuryliw, director “The symposium was the first of its Hulnara Bekirova (representative of the various primary sources, including govern- of education of the Holodomor Research kind,” remarked Ms. Kuryliw, “where teach- Special Commission of the Kurultai for the ment documents, witness testimonials, and Education Consortium (HREC), ers, methodologists and researchers gath- teaching of the genocide committed against newspaper articles, photographs, letters, University of Alberta, traveled to Ukraine ered to exchange ideas on how the the Crimean Tatar people). quotations of contemporaries and scholars, this past September to deliver master class- Holodomor and other genocides can be Ms. Kuryliw, who has developed teach- and political caricatures. Working in es for educators as part of a symposium on incorporated and taught in a multi-disci- ing methodologies in the social sciences groups, they analyzed the assigned materi- new methodologies for teaching the plinary framework.” and humanities for more than a decade, als, created narratives about what each Holodomor. The symposium “The New Among the topics addressed at the sym- delivered a master class titled “Teaching source reveals about the Holodomor and Ukrainian School: Teaching about the posium were teaching methodologies, Students about the Holodomor in the 21st then presented their findings to the class. Holodomor and other Genocides” took place developments in research on the Century, ‘The Historian’s Craft.’” The ses- “The ‘Historian’s Craft’ lesson encourages in Kyiv on September 9-10, and was attend- Holodomor, the deportation of the Crimean sion encouraged educators to embrace top- students to work as young researchers and ed by teachers from throughout Ukraine. Tatars and other genocides. ics related to human rights in their teaching detectives, where they analyze and synthe- Among those present was Ukraine’s reform- Presenters included Stanislav Kulchytsky of the Holodomor as a means of broaden- size primary source materials, and are ist minister of education, Liliya Hrynevych. (Institute of the , National ing the Holodomor’s applicability across encouraged to question what can be gleaned While research on the Holodomor has Academy of Sciences of Ukraine), disciplines, including history, law, politics, from such sources,” Ms. Kuryliw explained. increased in recent years, the Famine has Oleksander Hladun and Natalia Levchuk literature, civics and media studies. At the symposium’s conclusion, a memo- yet to be integrated into curricula at all lev- (M.V. Ptukha Institute of Demography and According to Ms. Kuryliw, the use of pri- randum of agreement was signed by els of , and many Social Research, National Academy of mary sources is central to this multi-disci- Ukrainian teachers are only now beginning Sciences of Ukraine), Valentina Kuryliw plinary approach. As a demonstration of (Continued on page 9)

approach toward Russia, and has shown little interest U.S. Congress... publicly in global human rights issues. (Continued from page 3) Ukraine military assistance An increase to $350 million United States and using our financial institutions are The defense bill contains other provisions likely to irri- in security assistance privileges that should not be extended to the worst tate the Kremlin, including a ban on funds for military-to- actors in the international system.” military contact between the Pentagon and the Russian to Ukraine Defense Ministry – a response to Russia’s annexation of Vigorous lobbying Crimea and its involvement in the conflict in eastern Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S. The new measure does not single out Russians for spe- Ukraine. cial scrutiny, but as it made its way through congressional A related spending measure earmarks $350 million in WASHINGTON – According to the National Defense committees, it faced what Magnitsky’s family and allies military and security assistance for Ukraine, but half of Authorization Act (NDAA) for fiscal year 2017, which said was a vigorous lobbying campaign, quietly backed by those funds are contingent on Ukraine doing more to was passed on December 8, the amount authorized to the Kremlin, to undermine the widely accepted narrative clean up corruption and waste in its armed forces. The be provided for security assistance to Ukraine, includ- surrounding the tax fraud and Magnitsky’s death. measure also authorizes the supply of lethal weaponry, ing lethal assistance, is up to $350 million. That is a The legislation, either as a stand-alone bill or as which Ukraine has demanded for months to help its $50 million increase from the amount authorized in amendment to the defense bill, encountered little oppo- forces battling Russia-backed fighters in eastern regions. the NDAA of 2016. sition. The Obama administration has repeatedly rebuffed Security assistance and intelligence support for The most prominent skeptic in Congress has been calls in Congress, and elsewhere, to supply lethal weap- Ukraine has been expanded to include equipment and technical assistance to the State Border Guard Service Rep. Dana Rohrabacher (R-Calif.), who has traveled to onry, which would include anti-tank missile systems, of Ukraine for the purpose of developing a compre- Moscow and reportedly met with representatives of the fearing that it would provoke Russia and escalate the hensive border surveillance network, as well as train- Russian prosecutor general’s office, and with a close ally fighting in eastern Ukraine further. ing for staff officers and senior leadership of the mili- of President Vladimir Putin. The legislation also withholds funding from the tary. At a House Foreign Affairs subcommittee hearing Defense Department for matters related to Russian sur- The defense bill now awaits signing by the presi- held a day before the vote, rep. Rohrabacher repeated veillance flights over the United States. Those flights are dent. his argument that such human rights legislation should authorized under a 2002 agreement known as the Open The Embassy of Ukraine in the United States noted: not bear Magnitsky’s name, suggesting that might need- Skies Treaty, but some officials in Washington voiced “We appreciate the bicameral and bipartisan support lessly offend or provoke Russia. fear that the Russian flights were using a high-tech cam- in the U.S. Congress for Ukraine in our fight against “I think the Russians were mistreated in the era with sensors to significantly boost surveillance capa- the ongoing Russian aggression.” Magnitsky case because that title of that bill is maybe bilities. suggesting that something was done that has not been The bill requires defense officials to report to proven yet,” he told the subcommittee on Europe, Congress that the Russian flights wouldn’t violate the Eurasia and Emerging Threats, of which he is the chair- treaty before funding is released. OUR NEXT ISSUE man. If the measure does make it into law, it is also unclear Copyright 2016, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted with the per- This week’s issue of The Ukrainian Weekly is a whether President Obama’s successor, Donald Trump, mission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 double issue dated December 25, 2016/January 1, will use the authority once he assumes office on January Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036; www.rferl. 2017. Our next issue will have a publication date of 20. org (see http://www.rferl.org/a/congress-russia-flobal- January 8, 2017. Mr. Trump has signaled he wants a more conciliatory magnitsky-bill-passed/28164350.html). No. 52-1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 9 Ukrainian Embassy recognizes UMANA Foundation by George Hrycelak UMANA members and the public. As a result, the foundation, with the help of Dr. WASHINGTON – The Embassy of Ukraine Roxolana Horbowyj of WFUMA-U.S. and Dr. and the Office of the Defense Attaché hon- Yarko Maryniuk of CAAU, was able to pro- ored the Foundation of the Ukrainian vide medical centers in Ukraine with nearly Medical Association of North America 20 manikins with accompanying educa- (UMANA Foundation) among others at an tional materials for training purposes. awards ceremony on December 15 for orga- The courses, endorsed by the American nizations that provide assistance in the College of Surgeons, are certified by the training of Ukrainian medical personnel National Association of Emergency Medical and volunteers who care for wounded sol- Technicians (NAEMT). During 2016, over diers. 350 medical and support personnel partici- The UMANA Foundation, the non-profit pated in over 25 classes held in educational and scientific arm of UMANA, throughout Ukraine. These classes are partnered with the World Federation of becoming self-sustaining, expanding the Ukrainian Medical Associations (WFUMA- knowledge base on an ongoing basis. U.S.) and the California Association to Aid UMANA plans to continue supporting such Ukraine (CAAU) to raise funds enabling the courses in the future. teaching of Prehospital Trauma Life Support Dr. Maria Hrycelak, president of the (PHTLS) as well as U.S. Department of Defense UMANA Foundation, received the award on Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) behalf of the foundation, thanking courses to medical personnel in Ukraine. Ambassador Valeriy Chaly and Military A key component of this training Attaché Maj. Gen. Volodymyr Havrylov for includes expensive sophisticated technical Embassy of Ukraine the recognition, and expressing gratitude to manikins used for realistic training of the many members of UMANA and the pub- UMANA Foundation President Dr. Maria Hrycelak receives an award for the founda- responses to trauma. These manikins tion from Ukraine’s Ambassador Valeriy Chaly, with Military Attaché Maj. Gen. lic who financially supported this worth- include total body simulators, as well as Volodymyr Havrylov at the podium. while educational effort. Said Dr. Hrycelak, specialized anatomical units for injured “We are pleased that Ukrainian medical extremities, blood pumping systems and utante ball’s fund-raising proceeds were long successful campaign to raise funds for personnel can now learn with state-of-the airway management. earmarked to provide the Ukrainian medi- “UMANIKINS” via the RAZOO website art equipment using our diaspora’s In 2015, the UMANA Illinois Branch deb- cal community with such manikins. A year- resulted in an outpouring of support from UMANIKINS as modern training aids.”

(“In the words of teachers”). The lab will it on the Holodomor at the Ukrainian representatives, community members and HREC director... support teachers in adopting and further Museum of Jewish Memory and the religious leaders, Ms. Kuryliw gave a public developing innovative methodologies for Holocaust. The exhibit was organized by lecture on the importance of teaching the (Continued from page 8) teaching the Holodomor and other complex Ihor Shchupak, director of Tkuma Holodomor in Ukrainian schools. Education Minister Hrynevych, Ms. Kuryliw topics, including genocide. for Holocaust Studies, The symposium and events at the exhib- (HREC, Canada), and Liudmyla Hrynevych, Following the symposium, Ms. Kuryliw and created in collaboration with Liudmyla it’s unveiling were widely covered in the (HREC in Ukraine). The agreement commit- traveled to the city of Dnipro, where on Hrynevych (HREC, Ukraine). and public media as signifi- ted the three partners to the development September 11 she took part in a historic At the event, which was attended by cant developments in the field of education of a methodology lab called Verba Magistri event – the unveiling of a permanent exhib- educators, academics, local government in Ukraine. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 No. 52-1

both industrial and military means. Last measures, as well as opposition to the sanc- have evidence regarding violations of U.S. NEWSBRIEFS week, German Chancellor Angela Merkel tions in some other countries and uncer- law. But the mere fact of such a meeting is and French President Francois Hollande tainty about the U.S. stance after President- not an indication that such violations have (Continued from page 2) voiced support for prolonging the sanc- elect Donald Trump – who has vowed to occurred or that the individual’s informa- actions in Ukraine for another six months. tions. They faulted Moscow for failing to do seek to improve relations with Russia – tion is considered to be accurate. Mr. The European Council formally approved its part in implementing the Minsk accords. takes office in January. Meanwhile, French Onyshchenko, who fled Ukraine before the extension on December 19 after EU While agreement on the extension was voters appear likely to elect a president being stripped of his parliamentary immu- leaders agreed to the move at a summit last reached with little trouble by the 28-mem- who is less critical of Russia than Mr. nity from prosecution last summer, is being week. “The council prolonged the economic ber EU, supporters of the sanctions fear it Hollande in an election in the spring. (RFE/ investigated by Ukrainian authorities for sanctions targeting specific sectors of the could be far harder to prolong them again RL, with reporting by RFE/RL’s Brussels allegedly stealing $64 million from a state Russian economy until July 31, 2017,” the next summer, even if there is little progress correspondent Rikard Jozwiak) gas producer. The Security Service of council said in a statement. The sanctions toward implementation of the Minsk Ukraine (SBU) has accused Mr. FBI cuts ties with Poroshenko accuser target the financial, energy and defense accords. That is in part due to the impend- Onyshchenko of spying for Russia. His cur- sectors, and material that can be used for ing exit of Britain, which has supported the KYIV – The U.S. Justice Department has rent whereabouts are unknown, although cut ties with a fugitive Ukrainian member of he has spent much of his time in London Parliament who said he had turned over since leaving Ukraine. Mr. Poroshenko’s damning evidence proving the corruption of office, which dismissed the Onyshchenko NOTIFICATION OF SHAREHOLDERS MEETING Ukraine’s president, a spokesman told RFE/ accusations as “the expedient fiction of the RL on December 16. The disclosure con- suspect” in a statement to RFE/RL on firms for the first time that the department December 7, has gone on the offensive and Attention Shareholders had held talks with the lawmaker. even threatened to sue some journalists Oleksandr Onyshchenko, the runaway law- who report on the lawmaker’s claims. maker, said on December 1 that he had (Christopher Miller of RFE/RL) The Annual Shareholders Meeting handed FBI agents audio recordings he made of Ukrainian President Petro Biden hopes for hostage swap of the Poroshenko and members of his inner circle WASHINGTON – U.S. Vice-President Ukrainian National Home discussing schemes to steal money from Joseph Biden supports the decision by the state and private companies and buy votes Ukrainian side to turn over 15 prisoners 140 2nd Ave, New York, NY 10003 in parliament – charges the president’s from a list of representatives of various dis- administration vehemently denies. Since tricts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions and then, Mr. Onyshchenko has gone on a media hopes Russia and pro-Russia militants will will take place blitz, discussing the allegations – which react to the goodwill gesture. “The VP included a complex scheme to drive down expressed his support for the decision of Tuesday, January 10, 2017, at 7: 00 p.m. the approval ratings of the former prime Ukrainian officials to unilaterally free 15 minister, , to make way individuals… with the hope Russia and pro- in the Main Auditorium for a Poroshenko ally – contacting Ukrainian Russia militants will respond in kind… It is a and international media as well as RFE/RL. gesture of goodwill and will give an impulse Meeting will include Annual Reports, amendments to the The scandal has caused an uproar in to the exchange of prisoners foreseen in the Ukraine, where the public is becoming Minsk agreements,” the U.S. White House by-laws and election of a new Board of Directors increasingly frustrated by the slow progress said on Friday following talks between Mr. Phone: (212) 529-6287 of anticorruption reforms. But despite hav- Biden and Ukrainian President Petro ing met with Mr. Onyshchenko, the Justice Poroshenko. According to the White House, Department said it would not be contacting the interlocutors confirmed resolute sup- Attendance limited to registered shareholders him again and gave no indication that it port for the full implementation of the would pursue the allegations. “While the Minsk agreements and underlined the Department of Justice does not usually com- necessity of a full ceasefire and ensuring the ment on such meetings, in light of Mr. complete access of observers from the Onyshchenko’s decision to speak publicly in Organization for Security and Cooperation this regard, we can state that the U.S. in Europe (OSCE) for monitoring the with- Department of Justice has no plans to have drawal of forces along the disengagement further meetings or communications with line. The leaders agreed that sanctions Mr. Onyshchenko,” Justice Department against Russia must remain in place until spokesman Peter Carr told RFE/RL by Russia fully complies with its obligations e-mail without saying when, where, or how under the Minsk agreements. In addition, many times the department met with him. Vice-President Biden expressed the hope Mr. Carr declined to say what specifically – if that the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement anything – Mr. Onyshchenko had handed will be ratified in the near future and over to U.S. law enforcement. As a general Ukrainians will soon receive visa-free status matter, Mr. Carr explained, the Department in Europe. (Interfax-Ukraine) of Justice and U.S. law enforcement agents will meet with individuals who claim to (Continued on page 11)

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request for an interview in the first call, channel, which is controlled by the media Russian troops are on Ukrainian territory, NEWSBRIEFS they called a second time and presented arm of Russian natural gas giant Gazprom, Russia must fully implement the Minsk themselves as RFE/RL correspondents, she has targeted Kremlin opponents in docu- agreements on resolution of the conflict in (Continued from page 10) said. She said she agreed, believing they mentaries and reports that subjects and Ukraine’s east, where Russia-backed sepa- Netherlands, EU reach deal on Ukraine were RFE/RL, and invited them to inter- their supporters say have been falsified. ratists control some districts. If elected, Mr. view her at her Moscow apartment. When (RFE/RL’s Russian Service) Navalny said, he would initiate “a normal BRUSSELS – European Union leaders the journalists were leaving the apartment referendum” in Crimea to legally define the Navalny slams Kremlin on Ukraine have reached an agreement about a demand after the interview, Ms. Alekseyeva said, her status of the peninsula. Russia seized con- from the Netherlands on a deal that would assistant noticed the NTV logo on their MOSCOW – Russia has turned close trol of Crimea in March 2014 after flooding establish closer ties between the EU and equipment cases. A brief excerpt aired on neighbor Ukraine into a “hostile state” the peninsula with troops and staging a ref- Ukraine. The EU’s Association Agreement NTV on December 18 showed her appear- through its aggression, Kremlin foe Aleksei erendum denounced as illegitimate by with Ukraine is vital to Kyiv’s efforts to ing to comment on footage of a man – iden- Navalny has said in an interview. Mr. Ukraine, the United States, and a total of 100 establish closer ties with the West since tified by NTV as a migrant – pushing a Navalny, an anti-corruption crusader and United Nations member states. Mr. Navalny mass protests toppled pro-Russian woman on a subway staircase in Berlin. It opposition leader who announced last week predicted that recent and upcoming elec- Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in showed Ms. Alekseyeva calling the man “a that he plans to run for president in 2018, tions in the United States and European early 2014. The Netherlands is the only scoundrel.” German media reported that spoke to RFE/RL’s Russian Service on Union countries will have little long-term country that has not ratified the deal, with the man in the footage was an EU citizen December 20. Mr. Navalny cited the level of effect on their relations with Russia, in part Dutch voters rejecting it in a referendum in from Bulgaria. On Facebook, NTV spokes- animosity in Ukraine toward Russia, which because election cycles mean leaders in the April. The Dutch government had asked the woman Maria Bezborodova did not com- seized Crimea from Ukraine in March 2014 West can frequently be replaced. U.S. EU for additional guarantees to ensure that ment directly on the phone calls but said and has backed separatists in a war that has President-elect Donald Trump has said he ratification of the Association Agreement the journalists had told Ms. Alekseyeva that killed more than 9,750 people in eastern will seek to improve ties with Russia, which does not lead to EU membership for they were from NTV, and called it a “strange Ukraine since that April. “We just see that are badly strained by Russia’s actions in Ukraine. On December 15, EU leaders meet- situation.” In NTV footage from the end of with our own hands we have created a hos- Ukraine and Syria, among other things. But, ing in Brussels agreed to issue a special the interview, one of the journalists can be tile state where... people hate Russia en Mr. Navalny said, “Trump is supported by statement saying Ukraine’s Association heard telling Ms. Alekseyeva when the masse,” Mr. Navalny said. He said that “a Republicans, and Republicans are very bel- Agreement “does not confer on Ukraine the material will air and adding, “on NTV,” but couple of generations” will have to pass ligerent on [Russia-related] issues.” status of a candidate country for accession it is unclear whether she hears that. Ms. before ties with “the culturally and linguisti- (Abridged from a story written by Merhat to the Union, nor does it constitute a com- Alekseyeva said she would not have know- cally” close neighbor can return to normal. Sharipzhan based on an interview by RFE/ mitment to confer such status to Ukraine in ingly agreed to be interviewed by NTV. The He also said that to make sure that no RL’s Russian Service) the future.” The statement also says the pact “does not contain an obligation for the union or its member states to provide col- lective security guarantees or other military aid or assistance to Ukraine.” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte will now take the pro- posal to the Dutch parliament for a vote on whether to override the April referendum results. Mr. Rutte said the next day that he is confident the Dutch Parliament will approve the compromise he secured from other European Union leaders on an EU-Ukraine pact, and his government on December 16 prepared legislation clearing the way for Parliament to approve the EU-Ukraine Association Agreement. (RFE/RL, with reporting by RFE/RL Correspondent Rikard Jozwiak, DPA, AFP, Reuters and AP) AI on Crimean Tatars’ persecution LONDON – has decried what it called Russia’s “systematic persecution” of the Crimean Tatars since “the occupation and illegal annexation of Crimea by the Russian Federation” in 2014. In a December 15 report, the London- based rights group said Russian authorities use “repressive tactics... against the Crimean Tatar community and other dis- senting voices.” The report also said that “Russia imposed its legislation wholesale on the Crimean territory – in breach of international law – which has enabled the authorities to pursue key figures in the Tatar community” on trumped-up charges. It criticized steps Moscow has taken against the Crimean Tatars’ self-governing body, the Mejlis. Russian authorities have barred the Mejlis from operating in Crimea, labeling it as an “extremist organization” and criminalizing any association with it. “All restrictions on the Mejlis must be lifted, and criminal proceedings designed to harass and intimidate its members and others that peacefully oppose the Russian occupation and annexation should cease,” said John Dalhuisen, director of Amnesty International’s Europe and Central Asia Program. (RFE/RL) Rights activist tricked into interview MOSCOW – Prominent Russian human rights campaigner Lyudmila Alekseyeva says journalists from pro-Kremlin NTV television tricked her into giving an inter- view by claiming they were with RFE/RL. The 89-year-old head of the Moscow Helsinki Group also said that NTV took her comments out of context when it aired excerpts from the interview, and paired them with footage in a way that made her appear to criticize migrants. Ms. Alekseyeva told RFE/RL’s Russian Service that NTV journalists phoned her twice sev- eral days ago. After she rejected their 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 No. 52-1

The Executive Committee of the Ukrainian National Association and its newspapers, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly,

extend best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to the leaders of Ukrainian Churches; Ukrainian organizations; the UNA General Assembly, District Committees, Branches and members; readers of the UNA’s publications; as well as Ukrainian communities in the diaspora and Ukraine.

Christ is Born! Let’s Glorify Him! No. 52-1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 13

Радісних Свят Merry Christmas Різдва Христового і and Щасливого Нового Року a Happy New Year

родині, приятелям, знайомим, to family and friends, Головному Урядові УНСоюзу, members of the UNA General Assembly, працівникам та всім секретарям Відділів Branch Secretaries, and all UNA employees. щиро бажають Yuriy and Nataliya СТЕФАН і СВЯТОСЛАВА Symczyk КАЧАРАЇ з родиною

Нехай мир наповнить Ваш дім, нехай радість наповнить Ваші серця а Божа любов нехай виповнить Ваше життя в цей Різдвяний час.

May peace ˆ ll your home, may joy ˆ ll your heart, вітають родину, приятелів і знайомих and my God’s love ˆ ll your life this Christmas. ЗЕНОН, ДОЗЯ і ВІКА КРІСЛАТІ та засилають Wishing you a Merry Christmas наищиріші святочні побажання всій родині and a Healthy and Happy New Year. на рідній Батьківщині та всім ближчим і дальшим друзям. ХРИСТОС РОЖДАЄТЬСЯ! СЛАВІТЕ ЙОГО! John and Olya Czerkas Клівленд, Огайо Cleveland, Ohio

З Різдвом Христовим і Новим Роком Warmest Wishes пересилаю сердечні поздоровлення усім моїм друзям, приятелям та знайомим, for a Joyous Christmas усьому дорогому українському народові and a в Україні та у всьому світі. Happy & Healthy New Year Бажаю кріпкого здоров’я, щастя, сили та to all our Members, their Families and our Friends Божого благословення у праці на добро from the Board of Directors of the і процвітання рідної України. Ukrainian Institute of America

2 East 79th Street, New York, NY 10075 МИРОСЛАВА МИРОШНИЧЕНКО 212-288-8660 ∙ [email protected] www.ukrainianinstitute.org

СТАНИЧНА СТАРШИНА KРАЙОВА УПРАВА СПІЛКИ УКРАЇНСЬКОЇ МОЛОДІ В АМЕРИЦІ ПЛАСТОВОЇ СТАНИЦІ бажає В НЬЮ-ЙОРКУ Ієрархам Українських Церков, Президентові України Петрові Порошенкові, бажає Світовій Управі СУМ, всім Управам Осередків та Булавам Відділів Юнацтва СУМ, членам УКРАЇНСЬКІЙ ГРОМАДІ, ПЛАСТОВІЙ ФУНДАЦІЇ, і прихильникам та Українському СВОЇМ ЖЕРТВОДАВЦЯМ ТА УСІМ ПЛАСТУНАМ І Народові в Україні і в діяспорі мирних і радісних свят ПРИЯТЕЛЯМ ПЛАСТУ РІЗДВА ХРИСТОВОГО та ЩАСЛИВОГО НОВОГО РОКУ ВЕСЕЛИХ СВЯТ ХРИСТОС РОЖДАЄТЬСЯ! СЛАВІМ ЙОГО!

ТА За Крайову Управу СУМ, ЩАСЛИВОГО НОВОГО РОКУ Юрій Микитин - голова 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 No. 52-1 REVIEW: Numismatic and philatelic exhibitions at The Ukrainian Museum by Vsevolod Onyshkevych NEW YORK – From September 11 to November 27, honoring the 25th anniver- sary of Ukrainian independence, The Ukrainian Museum hosted not one, but two, complementary exhibitions of collect- able pieces of official history issued by independent governments of free Ukraine. The larger exhibition, “In Metal, On Paper: Coins, and Postage Stamps of Independent Ukraine, 1991- 2016,” was curated by Dr. Yuri Savchuk, The Ukrainian Museum senior research associate at the Institute of History of Ukraine at the National Academy Some of the items on display as part of the numismatic and philatelic exhibitions presented recently at The Ukrainian Museum in New York. of Sciences of Ukraine (NANU). The exhibit peregrinating through Ukraine; the coins coupon issues from 1991-1996 and the of the Central Rada in 1917 (a quadrilingual itself was organized by The Ukrainian and original hryvnia (essentially ingots) of privatization certificates from 1992-1995. in Ukrainian, Russian, Polish and Museum, along with the National Bank of Kyivan Rus’, as well as the Kingdom of The banknote section of the 1991-2016 ), the State Treasury Notes, the Ukraine, Ukrainian State Enterprise of -Volhynia and regions; coinage of the exhibit starts with currency reform and the emergency Postage Stamp Currency, Posts (“Ukrposhta”) and the Institute of and Crimean Khanate; coin- issuance of the new hryvnia, which, though Circulating Bond Certificates and interest History of Ukraine at NANU. age and currency of Poland and Russia dur- conceived and initially printed by the coupons, State Notes, State Treasury The parallel exhibition, “Money, ing the Hetmanate and occupations; the Canadian Bank Note Company in 1992, was Notes and State Notes. Sovereignty and Power: The Paper philately, coinage and banknotes, including released September 1996, and the opening Each of the banknotes, coins, stamps and Currency of Revolutionary Ukraine, 1917- of the exhibition was timed to coincide with souvenir sheets is, in itself, a designed min- 1920,” focused on paper money only, and various local issues, from Ukrainian territo- ries during Austro-Hungarian and Russian the 20th anniversary of the hryvnia. The iature work of art, and provides some was based on a traveling exhibition curated philately and coinage includes issues from reflection on Ukraine’s culture, its history, by Bohdan Kordan, professor and director Empires; the local stamps issued by the 1991-1996 denominated in kopecks and notable individuals and events, its heraldry, of the Prairie Center for the Study of “Zemstvos” during the ; the karbovantsi. Perhaps future exhibitions can its national symbols. Collecting such mate- Ukrainian Heritage (PCUH) at St. Thomas philately of Carpatho-Ukraine and Western add to and expand upon the wonderful foun- rial opens a very interesting window into More College, University of Saskatchewan, Ukraine; the philatelic and numismatic dation established by these two exhibits. the zeitgeist of Ukraine throughout these and organized by the PCUH, along with the issues of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist As with all projects at The Ukrainian two seminal eras. The works of art repre- Ukrainian Museum of Canada. Republic, 1919-1922; local currency issues Museum, the displays, mounting and sig- sent the oeuvre of at least 50 artists who Together, these two exhibitions show- from the collective farm scrip throughout nage were laid out in a highly professional designed the coins, stamps and banknotes. cased monetary and philatelic instruments the Soviet era and later; stamps and mone- manner, rivaling that of any top museum in Among the notable artists are Volodymyr from two prominent periods of indepen- tary issues under the occupation of Hitler’s the world. The lighting was also very well Taran, who not only designed several of the dence throughout Ukraine’s history. They National Socialists; non-postal philately; done – a challenge given the high albedo of coins and stamps exhibited, but was also a are part of a history spanning several mil- issues in Ukrainian displaced persons and shiny silver and gold coinage. chief designer and co-author of the project, lennia, which also includes: the coins pro- POW camps; Ukrainian themes on foreign duced in Greek and Roman colonies along stamps, coins and banknotes; postal statio- The exhibits are not geared to the and Heorhiy Narbut (1886-1920), Ukraine’s the , including the appealing nery, “pattern” coins, medals, tokens, etc. advanced specialist, but to anyone interest- most prominent graphic designer. Olbian “dolphin money”; Cimmerian and Also out of scope are the ruble control ed in the history, symbology and semiotics There is a catalogue published for each Scythian “arrow money”; coinage of the coupon issues from 1990 through January of these official government creations dur- of the two exhibitions. The 1917-1920 Celts, Goths, and other tribes 1992, the National Bank of Ukraine control ing these two periods. They present a exhibit is documented in a 58-page bilin- broad survey of the banknotes, and in the gual color pamphlet “Money, Sovereignty case of the 1991-2016 exhibition also the and Power: The Paper Currency of coins and stamps issued during these two Revolutionary Ukraine, 1917-1920,” pub- periods. To a novice or intermediate collec- lished by Heritage Press and available from tor with patience, virtually every item dis- The Ukrainian Museum bookstore for $10. played is one which could be found on the It includes the bulk of the exhibit, except for market; there are no outright rarities, certain items added (notably, some local “proof” or “specimen” notes, essays, unis- currency issues including one overprinted sued items, errors, “pattern” coins or other by Makhno in Huliaypole, a unique moment items that might be unattainable. in history where an “anarchist republic” The displayed collections are quite exten- had a monetary instrument). The 1991- sive and comprehensive. The banknotes 2016 exhibit is thoroughly documented in a represented in both exhibits constitute large-format 224-page lavishly illustrated more than half of all the different basic full-color paperback, priced at $50. issues from 1917-1920 and 24 out of the 50 For those who were unable to see these distinct issues from 1996-2016. A total of two wonderful exhibitions, there is a hope 212 of the 700 coins issued from 1996 to that they will travel to further venues, or mid-2016 and 50 of the over 1,500 stamps engage with active Ukrainian philatelists and related philatelic issues by Ukrposhta and numismatists to give you a personal are represented in the 1991-1996 exhibi- tour of their collections, with the assistance tion. The 1917-1920 exhibition spans the of the two abovementioned catalogues, output of the Ukrainian National Republic, obtainable from The Ukrainian Museum gift the Skoropadsky Hetmanate and the shop (telephone 212-288-0110 or online at Petliura Directorate, represented by issues http://www.ukrainianmuseum.org/shop/).

Traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve Supper Традиційна Свята Вечеря Friday, January 6, 2017 beginning at 6 pm $35 per person, $15 for children age 5-10 For room and / or meal reservations please call Soyuzivka 216 Foordmore Road • Kerhonkson NY 12446 845-626-5641 • www.Soyuzivka.com No. 52-1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 15

Anatoliy Mushtuk The Women’s Ensemble with the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus during their joint performance in Detroit. Women’s Bandura Ensemble of North America makes a historic debut by Anatoliy Teranskyj A new star emerged on the horizon of the Ukrainian dia- sporan cultural stage as the newly formed Women’s Bandura Ensemble of North America (WBENA) presented its first concerts in Detroit and Cleveland, at Wesleyan University in Middletown, Conn., and at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Whippany, N.J., between October and November. The ensemble of 21 female vocalists and bandura play- ers received rousing applause and standing ovations in all four venues where they appeared, firmly establishing themselves as an exciting new group on par with other renowned bandura ensembles. On October 29-30, the WBE performed in a joint concert with the famed Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus in Detroit and Cleveland, presenting its own all-female repertoire as well as several selections with combined male and female cho- ruses. At Wesleyan and Whippany, the WBE performed an exclusively all-female program and dazzled the audiences with its versatility and professionalism. Each concert began with an a cappella outburst of the popular folk song “Oi Na Hori L’on” (“On the hillside, the flax Anatoliy Mushtuk grows”) with soloists Alina Kytasty Kuzma and Roxolyana The Women’s Bandura Ensemble of North America at its concert at Wesleyan University. Shepko. Next, the ensemble sang the sacred hymn “Pid Tvoyu Mylist” (Beneath the Mantle of Thy Mercy) by students and professional musicians from Connecticut, tion from a cycle of lush and boisterous ritual songs from Dmytro Bortniansky, arranged by one of their own, soloist New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Ohio, Pennsylvania, the summer solstice festival of Ivan Kupalo, featuring violin Lesya Klimchenko. Opening with these two contrasting Massachusetts and Ontario began to rehearse in regional and drum by sisters Roxolyana and Zoya Shepko. selections perfectly highlighted the group’s vocal abilities clusters, sharing beloved repertoire, and then meeting for Each performance drew large and enthusiastic crowds. and artistry. combined rehearsals. The concert at Wesleyan University’s Memorial Chapel on This ambitious new initiative was launched through the In their four debut concerts, the WBENA demonstrated November 19 attracted faculty and students, as well as a efforts of Irene Kytasty-Kuzma, a long-time instructor at a remarkably rich choral blend and dynamic range and large contingent of visitors from as far away as Stamford, the Kobzarska Sich music camp at the All Saints Ukrainian powerful harmonies, as well as delicate instrumental Conn., New York City, Long Island and Rhode Island. Orthodox campground in Emlenton, Pa. Nearly two genera- nuances. Their program alternated seamlessly between Wesleyan has developed a strong program in ethnomusi- tions of women have received instruction at the camp, as passionate laments such as “Vyrostesh Ty Synu” (“When cology and World Music, making this a perfect setting for well as similar programs in London, Ontario, and the you grow and leave home, my son”), to Myroslav Skoryk’s presenting the bandura to a wider, more eclectic audience. Bobriwka campground in Colebrook, Conn., or at work- evocative instrumental “Melody” and lighthearted folk On the following day, November 20, the New Jersey con- shops around North America. songs such as “Whatever you do, daughter, do not marry a cert tapped into the beautiful acoustics of St. John’s However, unlike their male counterparts, who could musician!” The ensemble also impressed its listeners with Ukrainian Catholic Church in Whippany. aspire to join the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus or the intricate instrumental arrangements of Simon and Concert-goers hailed the ensemble as a major develop- Canadian Bandurist Capella, women instrumentalists had Garfunkel’s “Scarborough Fair” and Hryhory Kytasty’s ment on the North American Ukrainian music scene: few opportunities to cultivate their skills or to perform in a haunting “Echo of the Steppes.” “It didn’t even sound like voices and instruments,” said larger ensemble. In 2015, the WBE began to take shape In addition to their large ensemble pieces, women from Dr. Katja Kolcio, professor of dance and environmental under the direction of professional choral directors Oksana the East Coast, Toronto and Chicago were able to perform studies at Wesleyan: “It sounded like water floating Rodak of Chicago and Oksana Zelinska, director of the selections in quartets or smaller ensembles, lending a rich through the air. It was the most heavenly sound that I could Zoloti Struny ensemble in Toronto. diversity to the program. Each concert ended with Oleh ever imagine… It’s a historic event ...with what’s happening Accomplished bandurystky, including talented college Mahlay’s brilliant arrangement of “Vohon” (Fire) – a selec- in Ukraine and with what’s happening in U.S., it couldn’t have happened at a more important moment in history.” Another concertgoer, Mykola Chudoba raved: “This was truly amazing and awe-inspiring. I had heard ‘Homin Stepiv’ performed before, but this rendition sent chills up my spine.” In Whippany, parishioner Helena Mazur said: “Their voices blended so beautifully, the sound was just really out- standing, you could stay forever and listen to them. Everybody should do themselves a favor, that is if you find that they are in your area – go, because you are doing something good for yourself!” The implementation of such an ambitious new musical collective requires the generous support of sponsors and kindred spirits. The WBENA expressed deep appreciation to the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus for their encourage- ment and cooperation, as well as to several financial spon- sors that helped cover the costs of travel and publicity. The WBE is next scheduled to perform a concert in Philadelphia on February 26 at Manor College. For further information, or to hear excerpts from these concerts, read- ers may visit the WBENA website, www.banduristka.org. Orest Chornomaz More information is available also by e-mailing bandurist- The ensemble performs at St. John the Baptist Ukainian Catholic Church in Whippany, N.J. [email protected]. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 No. 52-1

Головна Управа „Самопоміч“ Об’єднання Українців в Америці Ukrainian World Congress Christmas Greetings вітає e Ukrainian World Congress extends sincere greetings to the Hierarchs and clergy of Ukrainian Churches, the President, Prime Minister, Відділи і все членство Chairperson of the Parliament and , Presidents of Ukrainian World Congress member organizations and Ukrainians з наступаючими Святами around the world on the occasion of one of the greatest Christian Holy Days – Christmas! і бажає Over two thousand years ago the rays of the Christmas star shone with the Веселих Свят light of truth, peace and love, heralding the joy of the birth of Jesus Christ who brought to Earth the light of God’s truth and blessed mankind with a new Різдва Xристового Christian life, the guarantor of happiness in a future eternal life. For yet another year the celebration of the Birth of Christ is being та overshadowed by the troubling events in Ukraine, the sons and daughters щасливого і повного успіхів of which are withstanding the unrelenting aggression of the Russian Federation and continue to sacri ce their lives defending the territorial Нового Року integrity of Ukraine, and thereby stopping the advance of Russian imperialism to the West. On this Holy Day, the Ukrainian World Congress calls upon Ukrainians worldwide to praise Jesus Christ, thank Him for all bestowed gi s and ХРИСТОС РОЖДАЄТЬСЯ! say a Christmas prayer for Ukraine to assume its rightful place among independent, democratic and successful European nations. За дирекцію ОУА, Christ is Born! Let us praise Him! Eugene Czolij Олег Лопатинський, голова President Володимир Сафіян, касир UKRAINIAN WORLD CONGRESS

‰ e Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) is the international coordinating body for Ukrainian communities in the diaspora representing the interests of over 20 million Ukrainians. ‰ e UWC has a network of member organizations and ties with Ukrainians in 53 countries. Founded in 1967, the UWC was recognized in 2003 by the United Nations Economic and Social Council as a non-governmental organization with special consultative status.

TORONTO – KYIV – BRUSSELS Head O ce: 145 Evans Avenue, Suite 207, Toronto, Ontario M8Z 5X8 Canada Tel: 416.323.3020 E-mail: [email protected] Website: www.ukrainianworldcongress.org

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Ukrainian Selfreliance New England Federal Credit Union wishes you a Merry Christmas

and a New Year † lled ФЕДЕРАЛЬНА КРЕДИТОВА КООПЕРАТИВА „САМОПОМІЧ“ with peace and happiness! у Клівленді, Огайо CSFCU з радістю вітає Український народ у вільній Україні, Ієрархію і Духовенство Українських Церков, Проводи українських організацій в Україні та в діяспорі, Українську світову Кооперативну Раду та Централю Українських Кооператив Америки, всіх своїх членів, їхні родини та все українське громадянство З РІЗДВОМ ХРИСТОВИМ І НОВИМ РОКОМ ХРИСТОС РОЖДАЄТЬСЯ! Cleveland Selfreliance FCU WESTFIELD BRANCH •103 NORTH ELM STREET, WESTFIELD, MA 01085 • PHONE 413-568-4948 FAX 413-568-4747 6108 State Road, Parma, Ohio 44134 (440) 884-9111 NEW BRITAIN BRANCH • 270 BROAD STREET, NEW BRITAIN, CT 06053 • PHONE 860-801-6095 FAX 860-801-6120 3010 Charleston Ave., Loraion, Ohio 44055 (440) 277-1901 VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT: WWW.USNEFCU.COM 5553 Whipple Ave., # F, N. Canton, Ohio 44720 (330) 305-0989 No. 52-1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 17 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 No. 52-1 No. 52-1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 19

Romans in the west, and , Huns Dutch court... and Tatars in the east. The treasures unearthed in Crimea are (Continued from page 1) popularly referred to as Scythian in refer- Федеральна Кредитова Кооператива 2,400-year-old Scythian helmet, Han ence to the tribes of various ethnicities СУМА в Йонкерсі, Н. Й. Dynasty lacquer boxes from the Silk Road which shared a semi-nomadic lifestyle and and a gilded scabbard. for centuries dominated a broad swath of разом зі своїми філіями Eurasia extending from the edge of western Crimea is “sacred” to Russia Europe to the eastern frontier of China. вітає The treasures from the four Crimean Russia seized Crimea from Ukraine in museums, which were displayed in an exhi- March 2014 after flooding the peninsula Всіх своїх шановних членів, приятелів та українську громаду bition titled “The Crimea: Gold and Secrets with troops to secure key facilities, taking в Йонкерсі, Н. Й., Спрінґ Валі, Н. Й., Стемфорді, Кон., from the Black Sea,” have been in safe stor- control of the regional legislature, and stag- Ню-Гейвені, Кон. та околицях age at the Dutch museum while awaiting ing a referendum denounced as illegitimate the court’s decision. by Ukraine, the United States and a total of The German DPA news agency reports 100 United Nations member states. З Радісним Святом that the court on December 14 ordered In an address in December 2014, Kyiv to pay 111,000 euros for the storage Russian President Vladimir Putin said the and security costs of the treasures. peninsula was “sacred” to Russia. РІЗДВА ХРИСТОВОГО If the Dutch legal system accepts appeals in the case, the treasures could remain in With reporting by Reuters, TASS and DPA. і з НОВИМ РОКОМ storage for months more pending a final Copyright 2016, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted decision. with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ Бажаємо усім доброго здоров’я, миру і спокою, Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, The museum has already returned the успіхів у житті та праці на добро українського народу. pieces which belonged to a museum in Kyiv. Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see In ancient history, Crimea was a cross- http://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-crimea- gold-dutch-court/28175712.html). roads for trade between Greeks and ХРИСТОС РОДИВСЯ! СЛАВІМ ЙОГО!

group was spotted at an exclusive Kremlin Члени Дирекції, комісії та працівники Федеральної U.S. adds... awards ceremony – a clear indication, many observers said, of Moscow’s embrace Кредитової Кооперативи СУМА. (Continued from page 2) of such groups. Kremlin and elsewhere. He has also been Other newly sanctioned individuals linked to a notorious “troll factory” that paid include executives with current or previous SUMA (YONKERS) FEDERAL CREDIT UNION Russians to post anonymous comments to ties to Bank Rossiya, which the Treasury 125 Corporate Blvd. news sites, social media networks, and blogs Department previously sanctioned and Yonkers, NY 10701 in an effort to bolster Kremlin policies. called the “personal bank for senior offi- The Treasury announcement said Mr. cials of the Russian Federation.” The cur- 914-220-4900 Prigozhin had provided financial, material rent chairman of the bank’s board, Dmitry www.sumafcu.org and technological support for senior Lebedev, is among those included on the Russian defense officials, and has had new list. extensive business with the Defense “These targeted sanctions aim to main- Ministry. That includes a company linked to tain pressure on Russia by sustaining the him that has a contract to build a military costs of its occupation of Crimea and dis- base near the Russian border with Ukraine, rupting the activities of those who support the department said. “Russia has been the violence and instability in Ukraine,” Mr. building additional military bases near the Smith of the Treasury’s Office of Foreign Ukrainian border and has used these bases Assets Control, said in a statement. as staging points for deploying soldiers into Several subsidiaries of natural gas giant Ukraine,” the announcement said. Novatek were added to the sanctions list. Veselka Restaurant News reports have also linked Mr. The parent company itself, which is Prigozhin’s employees to a shadowy pri- Russia’s largest independent gas producer, Wishes all its patrons vate military contractor called ChVK was included in the original sanctions list Vagner. Mercenary groups like Vagner and issued by the United States in 2014. other private contractors are believed to Fourteen other companies added are sub- Merry Christmas have played an increasingly important role in Russian foreign policy in recent years, ernment-owned bank whose president is and a Happy New Year particularly in Ukraine and Syria. Dmitrysidiaries ofPatrushev. Russian Agricultural His father, Bank, Nikolai а gov- The groups operate in close coordination Patrushev, is the head of Putin’s Security with formal Russian military units, such as Council. Russian Agricultural Bank was also the country’s lead military intelligence orga- included in the original sanctions list in 2014. nization, known as GRU. But because they are not formally part of the Russian armed Copyright 2016, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted forces, it has been harder for reporters, with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ investigators, and analysts to track casual- Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, ties, financial flows, and other details. Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see Earlier this month, the Russian believed http://www.rferl.org/a/russia-more-sanc- to be the head of the Vagner mercenary tions-putin-chef-ukraine/28187565.html).

Щиросердечні побажання

РАДІСНИХ СВЯТ For 60 years we have treated our guests to the most delicious РІЗДВА ХРИСТОВОГО traditional . If you cannot visit Ukraine, visit us in New York’s East Village, sample our dishes, and та enjoy the past and present of our neighborhood. ЩАСЛИВОГО НОВОГО РОКУ We are awaiting you! для української громади Traditional Ukrainian dishes з а с и л а є in the center of the East Village

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may show the needy in Ukraine that there Speaking... are people in this world who care. Our volunteers are of various ages: (Continued from page 7) young children who wrote letters to wounded soldiers; and we helped the char- Ukrainian soldiers on the frontlines; stu- itable ventures of the Redemptorist parish dents who acted on the example of the of Perpetual Help in Ivano-Frankivsk. adults in their community and through their Another good way to raise money for own initiative organized a clothing drive in charitable projects is to organize breakfasts their school for the needy in Ukraine; young in the church hall after Sunday services. people who organized a food drive for the Parishioners who buy these breakfasts needy in the United States; adults who have an opportunity to learn what causes spend many hours sorting and packing their donations will be supporting on that clothes, wheelchairs, walkers, etc. There is particular Sunday. In our church hall there also a 94-year-old woman who can no lon- is a permanent exhibit of photographs and ger hear very well or see very well, and yet thank-you letters from those whom we wanted to join us in our charitable ventures. have helped. We feel it is important that So she started a charitable project of her our donors know exactly whom they are own – she crochets hats for needy children supporting and why. in Ukraine. To date, she has made 3,678 2016 is the Year of Mercy, and we have hats! This woman is my mother. set a new goal for people in our community. What we have done and continue to do Ksenia Hapij We would like to give a gift of $10 to 2,016 in our parish community is but a small Bohdan Tokar and his mother, Halya, of the Bohdan Society for invalid children in needy people in Ukraine. We hung a poster brick in the huge structure of mercy. But the area of Chernivtsi. at the entrance to the church and drew a although there is no limit to human misfor- thermometer that shows how much money tune, we strongly believe there is also no stances of their lives. command them, but will follow our example! we have collected. We are proud to say that limit to mercy – it simply needs to be con- We can speak much and often, but whoev- As Ralph Waldo Emerson said: “What we have already filled our first thermome- stantly reignited. Not everyone among us er we are – whether we are a simple person you do screams so loudly that I can’t hear ter and are now working on reaching our is in the position to give gifts of wheel- like myself, a nun, a priest or a bishop – none your words!” next goal of helping an additional 2,016 chairs and other expensive necessities, but of us have the right to be content simply with * * * needy people in Ukraine. We know that the we can all embrace a person in need in one words. We must all serve, not only with To support the parish’s charitable proj- sum of $10 will not solve anyone’s financial way or another. Everyone is in the position words, but also by examples of generosity, ects, readers may contact St. John Ukrainian problems, but this one-time aid may pro- to offer moral support, no matter how old because people throughout the world, no Catholic Church at 719 Sanford Ave., vide a small token of moral support, and they are, and no matter what the circum- matter where they live, will not do as we Newark, NJ 07106.

and the desire of the DPR to dominate the Ukraine. But on the other hand, precisely there. But now that the situation has Are the Kremlin’s... situation (Apostrophe.ua, December 8). because Mr. Konstantinov’s words echo in dragged on, the Russian government is less On the one hand, of course, this may part those of Mr. Rodionov, they may repre- happy about such people, both because they (Continued from page 3) simply be a case of wishful thinking in Kyiv sent something more: the descent of these are less subject to discipline and because, may be prepared to use a show of force to – a sense that the two Russian entities have two Moscow efforts into a kind of “ataman- on returning to Russia, they are a problem secure such an outcome. That possibility been weakened by desertions, incessant shchina”, of which Ukrainians had their fill for the authorities – people with military opened the way for Ukrainian analyst fighting, shortages and the Ukrainian spe- at the dawn of Soviet times. experience and angry about Moscow’s fail- Aleksey Konstantinov to draw the conclu- cial operations. Indeed, far too often The word “atamanshchina” refers to the ure to advance further into Ukraine. sion that the two Russian-supported state- Ukrainian outlets have reported develop- rule of the “atamans,” formal or often infor- Moscow clearly wants to rid itself of lets may be on the brink of an open military ments that, if true, should have proven the mal Cossack leaders who ruled by force these people in order to strengthen its con- conflict – a reflection of both the weakness death knell of Mr. Putin’s broader project in and violence, and served their own inter- trol of the situation, but the Russian ests rather than any broader political or authorities do not want them to come back ideological agenda. Some of them fought home. Combining the DPR and LPR is one for a time on the side of the , and way to do that because it eliminates some others on the side of the anti-Bolshevik of the positions Moscow has to ensure are White Russians. But at all times, they staffed. But having the two fight it out is fought for themselves and represented a even better, as there is a good chance that danger to anyone trying to impose state some of these Russian nationalist radicals order on them. Indeed, it took the brutality would be killed – and that others would see of the and the Cheka some years the fight as evidence of Moscow’s willing- to wipe them out across the Soviet Union. ness to renew the battle for Novorossiya. And that makes the third report, about Consequently, these three reports taken Russian efforts to purge the most commit- together point to a conclusion that must be ted and radical Russian nationalists from worrisome to Ukraine and all who care about the ranks of leaders in the DPR and LPR its future: Moscow is hunkering down in especially significant. Leaders of such Donbas for the long term and is working to groups, including Aleksandr Khodakovsky create the kind of disciplined force it would of the so-called Patriotic Forces of Donbas, use to expand its aggression into Ukraine. ВЕСЕЛИХ СВЯТ are complaining loudly about this (Patriot- Donetsk.ru, December 7; Evrazia.org, The article above is reprinted from та December 10). When Moscow invaded Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from Ukraine, the Kremlin was only too pleased its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, ЩАСЛИВОГО НОВОГО РОКУ to have Russian nationalists as volunteers www.jamestown.org.

бажають ХРИСТОС РОЖДАЄТЬСЯ! ДАНИЛО БУЗЕТА – директор Веселих Свят та Родина ДМИТРИК та Щасливого Нового Року б а ж а є PETER JAREMA УКРАЇНСЬКОМУ ГРОМАДЯНСТВУ Funeral Home ЛИТВИН І ЛИТВИН УКРАЇНСЬКЕ ПОХОРОННЕ ЗАВЕДЕННЯ 129 EAST 7th STREET – NEW YORK, NY UNION FUNERAL HOME (Between 1st & Ave. “A“) 212 674-2568 1600 Stuyvesant Ave. (corner Stanley Terr.), Union, NJ 07083 МОДЕРНI Й ОХОЛОДЖУВАНІ КАПЛИЦІ (908) 964-4222 No. 52-1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 21 Worldwide conference of Plast Ukrainian Scouting held in Kyiv

Delegates at the worldwide Conference of Ukrainian Plast Organizations meeting in Kyiv.

by Oleh Klymchuk Also participating in the briefing were Also elected at separate sessions of the dance, including Ambassador Waschuk and Oksana Mykytchak of Plast in Germany and conference were the following directors: for Plast’s new chaplain in Ukraine, Father KYIV – The Conference of Ukrainian Roma Zubenko, a member of the World cub scouts – Yulia Zhdanovych (Ukraine); Oleksa Medyk. During dinner, delegates Plast Organizations (known by its Plast Executive. for scouts – Katrusia Doliszny (Canada); for and guests enjoyed wonderful performanc- Ukrainian-based acronym as KUPO), the The next day, August 23, marked the older scouts (starshi plastuny) – Nataliya es by bard Taras Kompanichenko and sing- body uniting Plast groups worldwide, met beginning of deliberations of the Conference Zelinka (Ukraine); and for senior scouts er Oksana Mukha. in the Ukrainian capital on the occasion of of Ukrainian Plast Organizations, which (seniory) – Ms. Zubenko (Germany). During the course of their four-days in the 25th anniversary of the country’s re- were held through August 26 at the The conference heard a report by Borys Kyiv, delegates had an opportunity to visit establishment of independence. In atten- Bratislava Hotel on Kyiv’s left bank. Frankewycz about plans for the 2017 the Ukrainian Catholic Patriarchal dance were more than 100 delegates and Greetings to the delegates were offered International Plast Jamboree to be held in Cathedral, located on the banks of the guests from Australia, Argentina, Canada, by special guests, among them Canada’s Germany to mark the 70th anniversary of Dnipro River, where they were treated to a Germany, Poland, the United Kingdom, the Ambassador to Ukraine Roman Waschuk, the first such jamboree, which was held in barbecue and a bonfire. On August 24, all United States and Ukraine, which boasted who is a member of Plast; and the presi- Mittenwald. headed into the city center of Kyiv for the the largest delegation. dent of the Ukrainian World Congress, A banquet was held to mark the close of Ukrainian Independence Day parade held Discussions at the 19th conference of Eugene Czolij. Written messages were sent deliberations with special guests in atten- on the Khreschatyk. the international body focused on a plan of by former Chief Scout Lubomyr Romankiw, action for the next three-year term of the Ukraine’s Minister of Youth and Sports Ihor World Plast Executive, whose members Zhdanov; and the president of the World were elected during the conclave. Among Executive of the Ukrainian Youth the topics covered: changes to the by-laws Association, Andriy Bihun. of KUPO, the next International Plast That evening, delegates had a chance to Jamboree scheduled for 2017 in Germany, engage in a discussion on the development and the development of Plast in more coun- of Ukrainian society with an expert in stra- tries where Ukrainians now reside. tegic planning, Yevhen Hlibovytsky, who is On the eve of the KUPO gathering, Plast a member of the advisory council of Plast in leaders appeared at a news briefing at the Ukraine. Also present and addressing the Ukraine Crisis Media Center to speak about Plast members during dinner was Cardinal the organization’s world conference and and Major Archbishop emeritus Lubomyr the goals of the Ukrainian scouting group. Husar, a fellow Plast scout. Marta Kuzmowycz, chief executive offi- The conference sessions heard reports by cer of the World Plast Executive, under- World Plast Executive leaders and adopted scored that the organization is adapting to amendments to the KUPO by-laws, including new circumstances in the countries where provisions governing how new Plast groups it is active, while staying true to its ideals being organized in the Ukrainian diaspora and its primary purpose of educating can become members of the Conference of future leaders in a Ukrainian spirit. Ukrainian Plast Organizations and how the Stanislav Andriychuk of Plast in Ukraine World Plast Executive should assist them in The world leadership of Plast. reported that there are currently some their development. Also approved were 7,000 members in Ukraine. The national changes to procedures governing the elec- leadership of the organization, which was tion of Plast’s chief scout, a position that is reborn in Ukraine 25 years ago, hopes to currently vacant. reach a membership that would encom- Special committees met during the con- pass 10 percent of the youth of Ukraine by ference to focus on such matters as Plast the year 2035. publications, finances and resolutions to guide the organization’s work; separate sessions brougth together counselors and educators who work with Plast cub scouts (novatstvo) and scouts (yunatstvo). Saint Demetrius Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Carteret, NJ On the final day of the conference, dele- presents gates voted on a new World Plast Executive, re-electing Ms. Kuzmowycz of the United Різдво Разом – Rizdvo Razom States as CEO; Myron Spolsky (Ukraine) as deputy CEO; Lesia Fedorenko (Ukraine) as a traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve general secretary; Bohdan Sawycky (U.S.) bene tting the Armed Forces of Ukraine as financial officer; Serhiy Yuzyk (Ukraine) featuring the traditional 12 dishes of as director of publications and communica- tion; Rostyslav Dobosh (Ukraine) as direc- Свята Вечера – Holy Supper tor of development; and Andrey Genyk- Berezowsky of Canada as special projects Friday, January 6, 2017, 6PM director. Volodymyr Bazarko (U.S.) was elected to St. Demetrius Community Center chair the World Plast Supervisory Board, 691 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, NJ 07008 which also includes: Bohdan Hasiuk (Ukraine), vice-chair; Chrystia Kolos Donation: Adults - $25. Students - $15. (Canada), secretary; and Roman Hryciw For tickets and information, please contact Maria Decibus: 732-802-9707 (U.S.) and Ksenia Baluk (Argentina), mem- bers; Yuriy Fedyshyn (Australia) and Vitaliy Rizdvo Razom is presented in memory of Marion A. Moroz-Jendras. Vichnaya Pamyat’. Marta Kuzmowycz, world leader of Plast. Trots (Ukraine), alternates. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 No. 52-1

NOTES ON PEOPLE about the fight to introduce reforms and eradicate . American Professor from Odesa assistance and sometimes pressure are needed to help Ukraine to move along this in Texas on Fulbright road. by Chrystiya Wynnyk Wilson He will teach a senior seminar course in global studies and political science at St. AUSTIN, Texas – Dr. Volodymyr Dubovyk, Edward’s University this coming spring. an associate professor of international rela- “Ukraine: Contemporary Issues and tions and director of the Center for Challenges.” The course will cover not only International Studies at Odesa National the challenges that Ukraine has faced in the University in Odesa, Ukraine, is spending past two and a half to three years, but also the 2016-2017 academic year in Austin, the evolution of Ukraine since 1991 – its Texas, on a Fulbright Scholarship. foreign, security and defense policies; its St. Edward’s University and the economic life and struggles; and its political University of Texas at Austin jointly invited development. In general, the professor said the scholar. At St. Edwards Dr. Dubovyk is he wants his students to get a more com- hosted by the Kozmetsky Center and its prehensive picture of Ukraine. director, Dr. Sharyl Cross, while at UT Austin He also has plans to attend conferences he is affiliated with the Center for Russian, during his Fulbright year in the U.S. and East European and Eurasian Studies and its says he receives many invitations to do so. director, Dr. Mary Neuberger. Dr. Volodymyr Dubovyk at the University of Texas at Austin. He has just recently returned from a confer- Both institutions expect to raise their ence in Washington, one hosted by the profile in the fields of post-Soviet/Eurasian war with Russia and its proxies, and facing tion from people who had heard about Program on New Approaches to Research studies by having him around. By choosing some challenges to its economic and politi- what was going on in and around Ukraine and Security in Eurasia (PONARS Eurasia), to come to Austin, Dr. Dubovyk says he cal life. Exposure leads to assistance, which and wanted to find out more. of which he has been a member since 2002. wanted to reach outside of the usual circle Ukraine needs badly these days. So, that is At his October 3 lecture at the University At the moment it looks like he will have of institutions on both coasts and get to why, in addition to his own research project of Texas at Austin, “An Insider’s Perspective guest lectures in Kansas, Georgia, Indiana work in America’s heartland. Austin is a on Ukraine-U.S. relations, Dr. Dubovyk is on the Crisis in Ukraine,” Dr. Dubovyk said and other venues. major academic center in the region. It is a also doing a lot of outreach, going places, he wanted to show the main dynamics of Dr. Dubovyk has already met some nice city with character, and Austinites are meeting people and giving public talks. the situation in and around Ukraine, and members of the Ukrainian community in known as kind people. For example, his talk on “Ukraine’s explain where the crisis over Ukraine is Austin, and he plans to meet Ukrainians in Dr. Dubovyk’s goal is to make Ukraine Political and Economic Challenges: National going. He feels that it is important for peo- other places in Texas, including Dallas, San better known in the United States. He feels and International Prospects” at St. Edward’s ple in the U.S. to realize that the conflict in Antonio and Houston. He has already done that there has been progress over the years University on September 12 was very well Donbas is very much ongoing and that meetings and public talks with Ukrainian in terms of what Americans know about attended and well received. He said he was Ukraine pays a heavy price for Russian community activists in other parts of the Ukraine, but there is still more work to be surprised by the number of people who aggression. At the same time he stressed U.S. and plans to do so as well while in done – especially now, when Ukraine is at attended and about the very positive reac- that it is critical for people to know more Texas.

for the home. Various scenes from Scythian warfare and daily life are often quite realis- Scholar brings Scythians tically rendered. Mr. Bryttan studied numerous artifacts to the Catskills before sketching his own final version, and TANNERSVILLE, N.Y. – Students at two then carved them out of clay. He often mod- local schools in upstate New York, Hunter- ified the designs, expanding what was min- Tannersville Middle/High School and iature jewelry into wall-hanging center- Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School, pieces; other times he altered the original recently had a unique opportunity. They elements to make them more ornate. His were treated to a special preview by Adrian huge fish, for example, is based on the Bryttan of his “Gold of the Scythians” presen- “Vettersfelder Fish,” a shield ornament tation at the Mountain Top Library in embedded with whimsical smaller animals, Tannersville on October 8. Local art teachers now on display at the Collection of Classical had invited him to bring the gold-leafed Antiquities in Berlin. Mr. Bryttan recreated sculptures he had created and to demon- the missing sections and extrapolated the strate how he molded them. At the same time design to make it look like it might possibly he explained the history of the Scythians. have appeared when new. A second exam- Arts Alive, the magazine published by ple - his large kneeling stag now has addi- the Greene County Council on the Arts, tional decorations in the nine antlers (a praised Mr. Bryttan’s outreach: “This was sacred number for the Scythians), as well an extraordinary experience for the school as a curved tail, different from the original. students, teachers and young artists. Mr. In total, he created 20 different designs. Bryttan shared his passion for his art form Adrian Bryttan with students from the Windham-Ashland-Jewett Central School. After baking his clay sculptures, Mr. rich in history and from a culture half way Bryttan created his own rubber molds to cast around the world, making a connection rel- evant to the lives of young people in the Danube, Dnister and lake Donuzlav (the a limited run for each sculpture. Gold-leaf modern-day classroom. This experience is deepest in Crimea) probably also belong to was applied in the manner of traditional sure to be remembered and perhaps may the same word-group, Mr. Bryttan notes. icon-painters. At obvious insertion points, become a creative catalyst for many stu- But this warrior society also enjoyed Mr. Bryttan created his own faux turquoise dents.” (“Gold of the Scythians finds its way beauty in many forms. At first they commis- gems to decorate the sculptures. Once sealed, to the local classroom,” November- sioned Greek craftsmen through trading an antiquing patina was worked into the December 2016) settlements around the Black Sea to create recesses. The sculptures were finally mount- Mr. Bryttan is a professional violinist/ gold metal artworks for them. A world- ed on black velvet in enclosed shadow boxes opera conductor who was a Fulbright renowned Scythian treasure is the superbly for display. Each individual piece is signed International Scholar. While in Ukraine, he detailed “Golden Pectoral” unearthed from and numbered in a limited-number edition. took the opportunity to spend many hours a 60-foot-high burial mound, the “Tovsta examining the original artifacts showcased Mohyla” (Rich Mound) in 1971. Other relics in museums which led to the inspiration include gold swords, shields and helmets, behind his work. as well as decorative household and per- The Scythians were the fierce nomadic sonal items – goblets, vases, intricate peoples who ruled the steppes of Ukraine in brooches and combs. the first millennium before Christ. In his The style of these works displays a blend “Histories,” Herodotus detailed their colorful of sophisticated anatomy with a formal fan- life and customs, especially their wild funeral tasy that is unique in the world, Mr. Bryttan celebrations. But readers might not be aware related. Animal themes are affectionately how many current names from the portrayed: elegant stags, fierce panthers, A large stag created by Adrian Bryttan Ukrainian steppes have Scythian links. For lions and other wild and domesticated crea- features additional decorations in the example, the name of the river Don is associ- tures. Scythian mythology is a recurring nine antlers (a sacred number for the ated with the Scythian word “danu” (water, theme – especially griffins, locked in mortal A small deer created in Scythian style by Scythians). river). The river names Donets, Dnipro, combat with other animals or as talismans Adrian Bryttan. No. 52-1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 23

NOTES ON PEOPLE photodocumentary project about the peo- ple of a village in the Hutsul region of Two priests celebrate Photographer chronicles Ukraine – a project she has conducted for 24 years. 40th anniversaries life in Hutsul village “Portrait of a Village: The People of STAMFORD, Conn. – Two Ukrainian NEW YORK – The evocative photogra- Kryvorivnya Ukraine, 1992-Present” is American clergymen recently celebrated phy of Lida Suchy was featured in The New ongoing. The blog reported that she took the 40th anniversaries of their priestly York Times blog about photography, video new photos in the village this summer, with ordinations with celebrations in Kyiv and and visual journalism called “Lens.” the support of a Guggenheim Fellowship. Rudno, near Lviv. “Life, Up Close, in a Ukrainian Village,” Prior to that she had a Fulbright, as well The Very Rev. Mitred Archpriest Roman written by Jonathan Blaustein, told readers as other grants and fellowships that sup- Mirchuk of the Ukrainian Catholic about a unique project by Ms. Suchy, who ported her creative work on various proj- Archeparchy of Philadelphia, who currently hails from Syracuse, N.Y. ects. resides in Mykolayiv, Ukraine, and the Rt. The December 5 article begins: Ms. Suchy received an M.F.A. from the Rev. Mitred Archpriest Msgr. John Terlecky, “Growing up, Lida Suchy listened to her Yale University School of Art. She has a pastor of the Ukrainian Catholic Church’s parents’ tales of the Ukrainian homeland, taught workshops in the United States, Stamford Eparchy, visited the Three Holy which they fled because of Soviet persecu- Ukraine and Italy, and given visiting artist Hierarchs Ukrainian Greek-Catholic tion during World War II. At night, her presentations at Harvard, Syracuse Seminary in Kyiv on September 27. father, Zenon, told her bedtime stories University, the University of Toledo and It was a notable visit as the two priests about Baba Yaga, the Ukrainian witch, but Yale. She has had exhibits in the United from the United States were the first also tales from his summers spent among States, Czechoslovakia and Slovakia. Her administrators in the rebirth of Holy Spirit the Hutsul culture, deep in the Carpathian photographs are in public collections in Ukrainian Catholic Seminary in Lviv-Rudno Mountains of . …” New York, Paris, San Francisco and in 1991-1998. The guests were in Kyiv to Fathers Roman Mirchuk (left) and John “These stories had a magical place in my Kryvorivnya. celebrate together with some 15 priests- Terlecky. mind,” said Ms. Suchy, who was born in To read the story about Ms. Suchy’s proj- students who studied under them in the 1960 and raised in North Dakota and ect and see Ms. Suchy’s photos, go to Archbishop Ihor Vozniak of Lviv, who was Lviv seminary and now are working in the upstate New York. “I was really interested http://lens.blogs.nytimes.com/2016/ Kyiv Archeparchy. the main celebrant of a pontifical divine lit- in confronting the reality of what was there 12/05/life-close-up-in-a-ukrainian-vil- The jubilarians were formally greeted by urgy, together with the jubilarians and with myths he had created in my head lage/. (Readers may have seen The the seminary’s rector, the Very Rev. Petro about 110 priests, former students of about what home was like.” Ukrainian Weekly’s post about the blog on Zhuk, and the entire student body of the Father Terlecky (1991-1994) and Father Ms. Suchy was able to visit her father’s Facebook. At last count, The Weekly’s post Kyivan Seminary at a divine liturgy in the Mirchuk (1994-1998) during their respec- hometown, Kolomyia, after the fall of com- reached 3,255 people and was shared 28 Seminary Chapel on September 28. Father tive tenures as vice-rectors of academic munism. That visit led her to a long-term times.) Zhuk presented gifts to the jubilarians and studies at the seminary. acknowledged their contributions towards Metropolitan Vozniak presented each the renewal of a seminary system for the priest with a gilded certificate of apprecia- Canadian immigration policy or a historical Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church. tion for his valuable ministry in preparing analysis of Canadian immigration related to On September 29, Fathers Mirchuk and candidates for the priesthood in the early Doctoral candidate specific places, events, or communities. Terlecky celebrated their anniversaries in years of the seminary’s existence and res- Ms. Luciuk’s essay was chosen from a the chapel of the former Holy Spirit urrection. The priests-students presented wins Gunn Award very strong field of candidates. Titled, Seminary in Rudno. The celebration was each jubilarian with a enamel pectoral by Jennifer Evans “ ‘There is only one Ukrainian People’: graced by the presence of Metropolitan- cross. Ukrainian Canadians, symbols of self, and TORONTO – Kassandra Luciuk, a Ph.D. the negotiation of legitimacy in candidate in the Department of History at Canada,” the essay explores how Taras ers about Mr. Yonkovig’s life; the death of the University of Toronto, was awarded the Shevchenko, the best known 19th century his dear brother, Danny, who was killed Gunn Award for her research paper on Ukrainian poet and nationalist, became a Veteran profiled while training to be a pilot; and Mr. Ukrainians living in Cold War Canada. symbol for the two Ukrainian Canadian Yonkovig’s missions in the military, as a in Lehigh U. magazine The Gunn Award (which carried a cash organizations competing for support dur- result of which, his son, psychologist prize of $1,000) is presented jointly by the BETHLEHEM, Pa. – Ninety-one-year-old ing the Cold War years – one socialist and Michael J. Yonkovig, believes he suffered Canadian Immigration Historical Society Michael M. (Mickey) Yonkovig, a Ukrainian Communist and the other anti-Communist from post-traumatic stress disorder (CIHS) and the International Migration American veteran from Kulpmont, Pa., was and nationalist. (PTSD). Research Center (IMRC) at Wilfrid Laurier profiled in December by Lehigh The award presentation took place on Many years after dropping out of Lehigh, University. The award recognizes the best University’s alumni magazine. October 20 in Ottawa at the 30th annual Mr. Yonkovig still felt he had to set things fourth-year or graduate-level research Mr. Yonkovig had enrolled at Lehigh in general meeting of the Canadian right, to finish what he had started. paper on the historical evolution of Immigration Historical Society. the spring semester of 1946 and “life Then, in July 2013, his son wrote to then seemed full of promise,” wrote Kurt Pfitzer. Lehigh President Alice P. Gast to ask if But he had to drop out after two and a half Lehigh could help his father “reconnect years. with Lehigh University in a new way,” Mr. The article, posted online on December Pfitzer related. “ ‘My father,’ Michael wrote, 9, went on to explain: ‘always talked to me positively about the “Yonkovig had just received an honorary university yet always felt a loss, a pang of discharge from the United States Army Air regret, about his time there. Any gesture Corps after flying 23 missions in the Pacific would be appreciated.’ Gast wrote back Theater of World War II. Three years earli- expressing gratitude for Mickey Yonkovig’s er, he had graduated seventh in his class at military service. She asked Robert W. Shamokin High School in eastern Wolfenden, former associate vice-presi- Pennsylvania. He was president of his dent for alumni relations in the office of senior class, drum major and clarinetist in advancement, to present Yonkovig with a the marching band, and the only member Lehigh University Alumni Association cer- of the basketball team recommended by tificate.” his coach to attend Lehigh. On November 13, 2013, at a ceremony “Now a 20-year-old Lehigh freshman, in Packer Memorial Church, Dr. Gast pre- Yonkovig took up residence in Richards sented a Certificate of Attendance to Mr. House, set his sights on an engineering Yonkovig, with two dozen of his proud fam- degree and began attending classes. But he ily members in attendance. struggled horribly. For the first time in his But the story doesn’t end there. life, he could not focus or remember Last summer, Mr. Yonkovig visited his At the Gunn Award presentation (from left) are: Canadian Immigration Historical details. Even the names of his closest old dorm for the first time in more than 65 Society jury member Dr. Gerard Van Kessel, Kassandra Luciuk and Michael Molloy, friends eluded him. After two and a half years. “I’ve got a lot of history,” he told the CIHS president. years, Yonkovig dropped out of Lehigh. He Lehigh magazine. “I try to look at every- took a job in a meat-packing plant, married thing in a positive way, to stay as positive as and had three children. He held a series of possible and don’t get stressed. To me, to “Notes on people” is a feature geared toward reporting on the achievements of members jobs until, in 1963, he became a partner have this tie once again with Lehigh of the Ukrainian community and the Ukrainian National Association. All submissions and part-owner of Shamokin Packing Co. University, it means more than I can say.” should be concise due to space limitations and must include the person’s UNA branch He retired in 1986.” (To read the full article, go to http:// number (if applicable). Items will be published as soon as possible after their receipt. The Lehigh magazine article told read- www1.lehigh.edu/news/life-interrupted.) 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 No. 52-1

Implementation of the Helsinki Accords Sviatoslav Karavansky... (Ukrainian Helsinki Group), of which his wife was a founding member. (Continued from page 1) In the 1970s numerous appeals were Born December 24, 1920, in Odesa, made from the West to release Mr. Ukraine, Mr. Karavansky studied philology Karavansky and allow him and his wife to Academic story of Gareth Jones and literature at the local university at the emigrate. In 1979 Soviet authorities same time as he participated in the activi- allowed the couple to leave the Soviet “Gareth Jones: Eyewitness to the ties of student groups linked to the Union. The Karavanskys lived in Denton, Holodomor,” by Ray Gamache. Cardiff, Wales: Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists Md. The couple never ceased their activities Welsh Academic Press, 2016. Paperback, (OUN) underground. Arrested by the Soviet on behalf of persecuted Ukrainian national ISBN: 978-1-86057-122-0. 241p. $49.99; security police in 1944, he refused to resistance and human rights activists. Dr. hardcover, ISBN 978-1860570568, $57.84. become a secret informer to report on fel- Strokata died in 1998. low students and consequently was given a Mr. Karavansky devoted his time in the Originally published in hardcover in 25-year sentence. U.S. to writing books on linguistics, compil- 2013, this paperback release of “Gareth He served his prison term in various ing various dictionaries, articles and blogs Jones: Eyewitness to the Holodomor,” is an Siberian hard-labor camps. where he was on political and social developments in academic story of Gareth Jones – one of the subjected to 12-hour work days, laboring in Ukraine. He also published several books of first journalists to reveal the horror of the mines, felling trees or building roads, poetry and essays. His final book on Stalin’s Soviet-manipulated Famine-Genocide of enduring constant undernourishment and Russification of the is 1932-1933, known as the Holodomor. harsh subarctic winters – the characteristic due to come out by the end of the year. His The book traces Jones’ life as a foreign form of torture in Soviet camps. erudite articles on Ukrainian linguistics affairs advisor to David Lloyd George and After being released under a post-Stalin- won him a place as a leading expert on the Ivy Lee, two of the most influential people at ist amnesty in 1960, Mr. Karavansky Ukrainian language. He was a harbinger of that time. As a fluent Russian-speaker, Jones returned to Odesa, where for the next sever- the resurgence of Russian neo-imperialism. investigated by visiting the affected regions al years he scraped by, doing translations of Mr. Karavansky authored four collec- and the Ukrainian people. The Soviet gov- classic world authors, writing articles on lin- tions of poems: “Sutychka z Taifunom” ernment had denied his reports that their guistic issues for newspapers and at one (Encounter with a Typhoon), 1980; “Moye Five-Year Plan had led to mass starvation. point working as a computer mechanic. He Remeslo” (My Craft), 1981; “Yaryna z Jones published his articles in the United became very active in efforts to revive the use Horodu Khomy Chereshni” (Vegetables Kingdom (Evening Standard, Daily Express of the Ukrainian language in those parts of from the Garden of Khoma Chereshnia), and Western Mail). In the U.S., stories about Ukraine where schools and public life were 1981; “Humorystychnyi Samvydav” Jones’ work in covering the Holodomor Nashua, N.H., he has authored numerous being subjected to intense Russification. (Humorous Samvydav), (1982). were carried by the New York Evening Post books and articles related to fiction, sport He wrote two books aimed at guarding He compiled several dictionaries: the and Chicago Daily News. Immediately, media, journalism history and poetry. the Ukrainian language against govern- very popular “Practical Dictionary of Jones’ credibility and integrity were The original book launch was on June ment efforts to bring it closer to the Synonyms in the Ukrainian Language” attacked and denigrated by the Soviet gov- 20, 2013, at the Association of Ukrainians Russian language (which in later years he (published in Kyiv 1993 and 2000, and in Lviv 2008 and 2012); “Russian-Ukrainian ernment and sympathizers such as Walter in Great Britain in London. In attendance would identify as a form of linguicide): a Dictionary of Words Difficult to Translate,” Duranty of The New York Times. were Dr. Gamache, Nigel Colley who is the thesaurus and a glossary of rhymes for 1998; and the 1,000-page “Dictionary of Jones was killed under suspicious cir- great-nephew of Gareth Jones, as well as 60,000 Ukrainian words. Alarmed at the pace at which Ukrainian Ukrainian Rhymes,” (which he began com- cumstances in Japanese-controlled China Ashley Drake and Helen Drake of Welsh was being pushed out of schools in Ukraine, piling during his incarceration). in 1933. Many experts assert that Jones Academic Press. he wrote several articles in the form of His main work in the field of linguistics was killed by the Soviets in revenge for his Readers may obtain copies of the book appeals to state prosecutors, with numerous is “Secrets of the Ukrainian Language” eyewitness reporting of the Holodomor. at local booksellers, online retailers or by references to the Soviet Constitution and (Kyiv, 1994; Lviv, 2009). It is considered a Dr. Gamache is a semi-retired journalism contacting the publisher via e-mail, post@ Lenin’s writings, detailing and protesting the leading study of the unique characteristics professor from the University of Maryland welsh-academic-press.com, or www.welsh- Russification that was inundating all levels of the Ukrainian language which the Soviet who is assistant professor of journalism at academic-press.com. Additional informa- of education. Mr. Karavansky’s articles were government took steps to eradicate in its King’s College in Wilkes-Barre, Pa. Born in tion can be found at www.garethjones.org. published in the underground press, the efforts to draw the Ukrainian language samvydav, and this led to his arrest in 1965 closer to Russian. Other important works in and the revocation, without a court trial, of this field were: “Ukrainian Word Search or War reporter’s stories from Ukraine his 1960 release from prison. the Struggle for the National ‘I’ ” (Kyiv, Even as he served his second term in the 2001); “The Idiotic Use of ‘the Stalinist “In Wartime: Stories From Ukraine,” by infamous Vladimir Prison, colloquially Yaryzhka’ [unique letters in the Russian Tim Judah, New York: Tim Duggan Books, known as “Vladimirsky Central,” Mr. alphabet] in the State Language of Ukraine” 2016. ISBN: 978-0451495471. $27 (hard- Karavansky continued to expose violations (to be published posthumously); “Whence cover) or ISBN: 9780451495495 $13.99 of human rights in the USSR. He wrote peti- Did the Muscovite [Russian] Language Originate, or the Truth Cannot be Hidden” (kindle/e-book) tions dealing with the discrimination against ; the mass World War II depor- (Lviv, 2012). The ongoing disinformation war and mil- tations of entire ethnic groups, such as the Mr. Karavansky also took to semi-philo- itary war that Russia has escalated since its Chechens and the Crimean Tatars; and the sophical reflections on the ordeals of writ- 2014 annexation of the Crimean peninsula cruel punishments inflicted on participants ers in such works as: “Through Hardships of Ukraine are the subject of author Tim and supporters of the Ukrainian and Baltic to the Stars, or I Want to be an Editor” (Lviv, Judah’s “In Wartime: Stories from Ukraine.” nations’ liberation movements. In prison he 2008); “Book-Magazine of a Single Author” Using his experience as a war reporter, collected testimonies from witnesses to the (Lviv, 2010); and “Letter to a Hero of the the author begins his journey in Ukraine, 1940 mass execution of Polish officers in Pen – Maria Matios” (2013). near the Polish border, and goes on to Lviv. Katyn by the NKVD, which official Soviet Funeral services were held on December Eastward from there, he travels to Kyiv and history ascribed to the Nazis. 22 at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox to the eastern front near the Russian bor- He succeeded in having some of those Church in South Bound Brook, N.J. der. Along the way, Mr. Judah talks with articles smuggled out of prison and pub- Interment followed at St. Andrew Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery. Memorial donations mothers, soldiers, poets, businessmen, pol- lished in the West. In 1970 he was made to stand trial and given an additional eight- may be made to the United Ukrainian iticians and historians. year sentence for engaging in these activi- American Relief Committee (UUARC), for In Donetsk, civilians who cheered ties. In 1979 Mr. Karavansky joined the either the fund to cover funeral costs or the President Vladimir Putin find their hope Ukrainian Public Group to Promote the fund to aid Ukraine’s soldiers. crushed in the face of resource shortages and an unending war. The stories of these people are interwoven by Mr. Judah to lar reasons) and shook confidence in show a tragic portrait of a country fighting about war but instead teaches us how: with Turning... Russia as a reliable energy supplier to a war of independence from Russia 25 courage, humility, attention to human Europe. The dispute was also seen as a years after the collapse of the USSR. detail and admirable historical intuition.” (Continued from page 6) Kremlin attempt at destabilization, manip- Prof. Timothy Snyder, author of “Black Mr. Judah is a reporter for The Economist fer of $208. Gazprom CEO Alexei Miller said ulation of the Yushchenko-Tynoshenko gov- Earth” about the Holodomor, noted of Mr. and a contributor to The New York Review that because Ukraine had rejected the offer ernment tensions, as well as painting Kyiv Judah’s work: “The war in Ukraine was of Books. A graduate of the London School at $250, Ukraine would have to pay $418. as an unreliable customer and accusing it of fought at the height of post-modernity, and of Economics and of the Fletcher School of Russia also rejected offers from Ukraine stealing Russian gas. at first images trumped words and propa- Law and Diplomacy at Tufts University, he for a lower upfront price, but Ukraine Since 2015 Ukraine has not purchased ganda overwhelmed reality. Yet with time worked for the BBC before covering the would be allowed to increase transit fees any gas from Russia, opting instead to buy there were few journalists, the handful of Balkan war for The Times of London and from $1.70 per thousand cubic meters to gas from Europe and avoiding Kremlin women and men who were willing to trav- other publications. He lives in London with $1.80. President and attempts to weaponize Russia’s role as an el, learn and report, who transformed the his wife and five children. Prime Minister Tymoshenko in a public energy supplier. two dimensions of the screen into the three Readers may obtain copies at local book- statement upped the proposed transit fee Source: “Gazprom stops gas deliveries to of life, the clichés of governments into the sellers and online retailers, as well as by con- to “not less than $2.” Ukraine – What next?” by Roman Kupchinsky faces of people. Tim Judah, one of the best tacting the publisher, Tim Duggan Books, The 2009 gas row between Ukraine and (Eurasia Daily Monitor), The Ukrainian of them, does not tell us what to think www.timdugganbooks.com or 212-572-2537. Russia was the second since 2006 (for simi- Weekly, January 11, 2009. No. 52-1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 25 26 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 No. 52-1

There’s no place like home for the holidays!

From the UIA Family to your family, We wish you all of the joys of this holiday season! No. 52-1 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 27

December 30 Presentation by Valentyna Vochkovska, “Ukrainian January 14 Malanka, Zorepad Ensemble, The Century Chicago Book Treasures,” Ukrainian National Museum, Latham, NY House, 518-496-4071 or 518-495-1084 (advance only) 312-421-8020 or www.ukrainiannationalmuseum.org January 14 Malanka, with music by Zvook, Ukrainian American December 31 New Year’s Eve Party, Ukrainian Homestead, Jenkintown, PA Youth Association, Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Lehighton, PA www.ukrhomestead.com or 610-377-4621 Center, 267-415-6580 or [email protected]

December 31 New Year’s Eve celebration, Soyuzivka Heritage Center, January 14 Malanka celebration, St. Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Kerhonkson, NY www.soyuzivka.com Dunmore, PA Church, La Buona Vita, 570-489-1256

December 31 New Year’s Eve Speakeasy party, with music by January 14 Malanka celebration, with music by Pavuk Bros, Dnipro New York DJ Eyzopen, Ukrainian Institute of America, Buffalo, NY Ukrainian Cultural Center, 716-435-7391 www.ukrainianinstitute.org or 212-288-8660 January 14 Malanka celebration, Ukrainian American Society of December 31 New Year’s Eve party, with music by Anna-Maria, Dallas/Fort Worth Texas, Hyatt Regency Hotel, www.uast.org Whippany, NJ Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey, www.uaccnj.org or 201-213-4321 January 21 Presentation of Debutantes, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Whippany, NJ Organization – Newark Branch, Hanover Marriott, 2017 973-809-7580 or 800-228-9290 January 6 Traditional Ukrainian Christmas Eve Supper, Kerhonkson, NY Soyuzivka Heritage Center, www.soyuzivka.com or 845-626-5641 January 27-29 Ukraine booth at The New York Times Travel Show, New York U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, Jacob K. Javits Center, January 7 Radio broadcast of Christmas divine liturgy, WMJO [email protected] or 202-524-6551 Parma, OH 1300 AM, St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, www.praisecleveland.com or www.stvladimirs.org February 4-5 Presentation of Debutantes banquet and ball, with Philadelphia music by Hrim, Ukrainian Engineers’ Society of America, January 7 Community Ukrainian Christmas celebration “Rizdvo,” Hyatt Regency Hotel, [email protected] Austin, TX Austin Texas Ukrainians, Blackhawk Amenity Center, facebook.com/events/634180873452717/?notif_t=pla February 4 Performance, Ensemble Extasis, “Let’s Tango,” n_user_associated¬if_id=1479667590734636 New York Ukrainian and Argentinean tangos, Ukrainian Institute of America, 212-288-8660 January 13 Pub Night, with music by The Gilbride Tait Duo, Ukrainian Philadelphia American Citizens Association, [email protected] Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events January 13- Art exhibit, “Harmony,” by Volodymyr Ilchyshyn, advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions February 3 Ukrainian National Museum, 312-421-8020 or from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Chicago www.ukrainiannationalmuseum.org and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 28 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 25, 2016 - SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2017 No. 52-1

a yeAr’S SubScription PREVIEW OF EVENTS to our print eDition Saturday, January 7 * for only $70 PARMA, Ohio: St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral will sponsor its 29th annual Christmas radio program for its sick and Add $5 And receive both print And online subscriptions elderly shut-in parishioners and the entire Ukrainian community. The Christmas divine liturgy will be broadcast live from 9 a.m. to 11 subscribe TO a.m. over radio station WJMO, 1300 AM. It can also be heard online across the United States and Canada at praisecleveland.com. Go to the radio station website for Praise 1300 AM, click on “listen live” Or svObOda on the right hand side or go to the parish website at http://www.st. vladimirs.org at the above mentioned time. The liturgy will be cele- The ukrainian Weekly brated by the cathedral’s clergy, with responses sung by the Ukrainian and English choirs of the cathedral. (Also at St. Vladimir’s, Great Compline and matins will be celebrated at 7:30 p.m. on Christmas Eve, Friday, January 6.)

PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES Preview of Events is a listing of Ukrainian community events open to the public. It is a service provided at minimal cost ($20 per list- ing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian community. To have an event listed in Preview of Events please send informa- tion, 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 am Monday morning). 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 * This limiTed-Time offer is valid for new subscripTions only number of a person who may be contacted by The Weekly during Through January 13, 2017. daytime hours, as well as their complete mailing address.

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