Part 1 of THE YEAR IN REVIEW pages 7-15 The Ukrainian Weekly Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association

Vol. LXXXIX No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 $2.00 New twist in Sheremet murder case as audio U.S. sanctions more suspected recording allegedly implicates Belarusian KGB of interfering in 2020 presidential election

by Mark Raczkiewycz repeated public statements to advance dis- information narratives that U.S. govern- – The U.S. Treasury Department on ment officials have engaged in corrupt January 11 sanctioned several Ukrainian dealings in .” individuals and entities linked to a Verkhovna In a separate statement, Secretary of Rada lawmaker that a Washington intelli- State Mike Pompeo said that Mr. Derkach gence agency says is a Russian agent who “has been an active Russian agent for more allegedly attempted to influence the 2020 than a decade, maintaining close connec- U.S. presidential election. tions with Russian intelligence services.” Joining lawmaker and suspected Russian A graduate of the ’s KGB agent Andriy Derkach, who does not belong academy, Mr. Derkach was sanctioned in to a political party, on the department’s August for “spreading claims about corrup- “Specially Designated Nationals List” is tion – including through publicising leaked Oleksandr Dubinsky, who leads the party phone calls – to undermine former Vice- Servant of the People. President Biden’s candidacy and the Mr. Dubinsky previously worked for bil- Democratic Party,” Director of the National

RFE/RL lionaire oligarch Ihor Kolomoisky’s 1+1 Counterintelligence and Security Center television channel, which provided favor- A sign asking “Who killed Pavlo?” in front of the new memorial to Pavlo Sheremet in (NCSC) William Evanina said in a news Kyiv. The case has yet to be solved. able coverage of Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s release at that time. successful presidential campaign in 2019. Mr. Derkach has rejected the sanctions Andriy Telizhenko, a former diplomat imposed on him as part of “Ukraine being by Roman Tymotsko with his subordinates to assassinate Mr. Sheremet. who briefly worked at the Ukrainian managed by foreign actors.” KYIV – Belarusian President Alyaksandr Also discussed on the recordings are the Embassy in Washington, was included on Four websites were also sanctioned and Lukashenka allegedly ordered the coun- slayings of three other in the list, as were former high-level prosecu- labeled “media front companies in Ukraine try’s security agency to plot the assassina- Germany on orders of the Belarusian tor Kostyantyn Kulyk and fugitive ex-law- that spread disinformation.” All are tied to tion of journalist Pavlo Sheremet with an authoritarian leader, whose re-election as maker Oleksandr Onyshchenko. Mr. Derkach. explosive device in 2012, according to president in 2020 has been disputed and The four allegedly “have publicly The remaining three sanctioned individ- audio recordings that a former Belarusian has led to protests that have continued to appeared or affiliated themselves with uals are Petro Zhuravel, who is a member spy chief released to a European news this day. Numerous Western countries have [Mr.] Derkach through the coordinated dis- of Mr. Derkach’s media team; Dmytro outlet. not recognized the legitimacy of Mr. semination and promotion of fraudulent Kovalchuk, who is a long-time supporter of Per those recordings, which were given Lukashenka’s election. and unsubstantiated allegations involving a Mr. Derkach; and Anton Simonenko, who to the EU Observer, Vadzim Zaytsau, who Mr. Sheremet, a Belarusian-born journal- U.S. political candidate,” the Treasury “served as [Mr.] Derkach’s assistant for headed the Belarusian State Security Department said in a news release. Committee in 2008-2012, discussed a plan (Continued on page 3) It further said that “they have made (Continued on page 18)

Ukrainian government adopts COVID-19 vaccination plan to combat pandemic

by Roman Tymotsko tions, local authorities, doctors, and the public,” Mr. Kuzin said. KYIV – Ukraine’s Ministry of Health The plan will be updated every two recently approved a plan to immunize the weeks in response to developments with country’s population against COVID-19. the pandemic in Ukraine. The purpose, tar- The program, developed by experts from get groups, logistics routes, medical train- the Public Health Center of Ukraine togeth- ing, communication, and deployment of er with experts from WHO and UNICEF, mobile teams are all part of the country’s will provide Ukrainians with a vaccination plan to fight the pandemic. funded by the state. The goal of the plan is According to the Public Health Center, to ensure that at least half of Ukraine’s pop- the plan will change only in the case of rad- ulation of about 42 million people receive a ically new information. However, the plan COVID-19 vaccine in 2021-2022. Per the will be continuously reassessed and updat- plan, the first vaccines are expected in ed based on any new information that Ukraine in February 2021. emerges during different stages of new “This plan will be flexible. It will be vaccine development. updated depending on the situation with “We are ready to receive the vaccine in COVID-19, updated data on vaccines, the the first quarter of 2021. Vaccination of availability of the vaccine itself,” said Ihor medical workers will be a priority, especial- Kuzin, the director general of the Public ly those who work in hospitals that provide Health Center. Cabinet of Ministers treatment for COVID-19,” said Mr. Kuzin, the “The success of plan’s implementation Ukrainian Prime Minister (fourth from the right) and Ambassadors director general of the Public Health Center. directly depends on partnership and close of the G-7 States and the met on December 22 to discuss the fight cooperation with regional health institu- against COVID-19. (Continued on page 19) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 No. 3

ANALYSIS

Stolen Childhood: Russian Propaganda Court will hear case on rights violations in Crimea sometimes states ignore them. (Reuters, with reporting by Pavel Polityuk and The European Court of Human Rights Osborn) and Militarization of Youth in Crimea (ECHR) will hear part of a case brought by Ukraine alleging Russian human rights vio- Darknet marketplace servers seized in Ukraine identity of children and deprives them of by Alla Hurska lations in the Crimea peninsula annexed by the opportunity to freely choose their iden- Eurasia Daily Monitor in 2014, the court said on January German authorities have shut down “the tity. Orphans and children from low-income 14. Abuses alleged by Ukraine – including world’s largest” illegal online marketplace On December 7, the General Assembly of families are particularly vulnerable. One of enforced disappearances, unlawful deten- as part of an international operation against the United Nations (UNGA) adopted the res- the examples of propaganda work target- the darknet. The so-called DarkMarket was olution “Problem of the militarization of the ing this category of children is a special tion and suppression of non-Russian media – had been deemed admissible and would taken offline and more than 20 servers, Autonomous and the “Yunarmia Mentoring” program launched located in Ukraine and Moldova, were city of Sevastopol, Ukraine, as well as parts by the eponymous Yunarmia (“Youth be followed by a judgment at a later date, an ECHR statement said. The court said there seized as part of an ongoing investigation of of the Black Sea and the Sea of Azov,” initiat- Army”) military-patriotic movement in users of the illegal platform, Europol said ed by Ukraine (Mfa.gov.ua, December 16, Crimea. This project also aims to promote was not enough evidence for Ukrainian alle- gations of a pattern of killings and shoot- on January 12. “The stored data will give 2020). The declaration indicates that the military service among these children (Arc. investigators new leads to further investi- transformation of the peninsula into a huge construction, December 20, 2020). ings and detentions of foreign journalists or the alleged confiscation of Ukrainian sol- gate moderators, sellers, and buyers,” the Russian military base “represents a threat According to information collected joint- European police agency said. An Australian to peace and security well beyond the Black ly by the Office of the Prosecutor General of diers’ property. Relations between Ukraine and collapsed after Moscow’s annex- citizen alleged to have been the operator of Sea region” (Un.org, December 7, 2020). Ukraine and the CHRG, the Russian DarkMarket was arrested near the German- This was the third year in a row that the Federation introduces and implements ation of Crimea and support for separatists Danish border over the weekend. Around a UNGA raised such concerns, but this time, complex compulsory programs of military- in the Donbass conflict in eastern Ukraine half million users and more than 2,000 sell- new key elements were included in the doc- patriotic education in all educational insti- that has killed 14,000 people since 2014. A ers used the website to sell illegal drugs, ument. Solomiya Bobrovskaya, the secre- tutions in occupied Crimea for children statement from the Russian justice ministry counterfeit money, stolen or falsified credit tary of the Committee on from preschool age to adults. In particular, focused on the allegations thrown out by cards, anonymous SIM cards, and malware. Foreign Policy and Inter-Parliamentary Russia has established numerous paramili- the court, including the most serious, that More than 320,000 transactions were con- Cooperation, mentioned that for the first tary and cadet classes in secondary schools civilians had been murdered. The Kremlin- ducted via the website using cryptocurren- time, the U.N. resolution includes informa- (including cadet classes of the Russian backed head of Crimea, Sergei Aksyonov, tion regarding the militarization of Crimean National Guard and the Investigative wrote on social media that Ukraine’s allega- cy amounting to around $170 million. youth. From her point of view, this is Committee of the Russian Federation), tions were false and that the court should German investigators led the international extremely important for Ukraine since it cadet groups at kindergartens, Cossack instead investigate real human rights viola- operation involving authorities from will attract international attention to the detachments, branches of Yunarmia, as well tions perpetrated against Crimeans by Australia, Denmark, Moldova, Ukraine, the problem (Ru.krymr.com, December 9, as specialized military-patriotic camps. The Ukraine not Russia. He said the European United Kingdom, the United States, and 2020). Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister CHRG has outlined that instruction within court’s rulings on Russian matters were Europol. (RFE/RL) often biased and politicized. Ukraine’s concurs and mentioned these organizations is usually conducted by Kyiv vows to punish U.S. election meddlers that “Ukraine now has a new strong argu- regular (or former) officers of the Ministry Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba ment to advance the de-occupation of of Defense of the Russian Federation (Zn.ua, called the ruling a victory for his country. The head of the Ukrainian president’s Crimea” (Mfa.gov.ua, December 7, 2020). October 1, 2020). The number of children “This is an important step towards bringing office says that Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s The problem of the militarization of chil- participating in such organizations and Russia to legal responsibility for aggression administration will do “everything in its dren and young people in Crimea is hardly movements has grown every year. In 2020, against Ukraine,” he said. “And with each power to hold...responsible” Ukrainians a novelty. Soon after the Russian annexa- already 2,505 students in Crimea (exclud- step the price of this responsibility will who meddled in the November U.S. election tion of the Ukrainian peninsula, in 2014, ing Sevastopol) were enrolled in 109 cadet grow.” The Strasbourg-based ECHR said the after Washington imposed sanctions on the occupying authorities adopted Edict of classes (Krymr.com, December 5, 2020). case was not concerned with whether the nearly a dozen Ukrainian nationals and the Head of the Republic of Crimea No. The children participate in drills and special annexation was lawful under international entities. “For the sake of clarity, regardless 522-U “On Approving the Concept of physical training, take classes on the history law, but had taken into account Russia’s of party affiliation, this administration will Patriotic and Spiritual-Moral Education of of the Motherland (Russia), learn the basics increased military presence in Crimea in do everything in its power to hold [to the Population in the Republic of Crimea” of military affairs, absorb “lessons in cour- January-March 2014 without Ukraine’s account] those responsible for meddling in (December 18, 2014). One of the main age,” and visit Spetsnaz (special forces) consent. The annexation has not been inter- U.S. elections,” Andriy Yermak tweeted. The tasks of the Concept is to improve military- training centers. Many students in these nationally recognized and it prompted the U.S. Treasury on January 11 accused seven patriotic education and form the founda- cadet classes are issued and wear camou- West to impose sanctions on Russia, send- individuals and four entities of involvement tions of patriotism and Russian identity flage uniforms (E-zdravnitsa.ru, September ing relations to their lowest level since the in a Russian-linked foreign-influence net- among Crimean children (Docs.cntd.ru, 4, 2019). . Members of the Council of work associated with Ukrainian parliament accessed January 5, 2021). For almost Television also plays an important role are supposed to abide by the judge- member Andriy Derkach. Mr. Derkach was seven years, numerous ministries, depart- in anti-Ukrainian propaganda and the mili- ment of the court, which can include ments, public organizations and media con- tarization of children in Crimea. TV and demands for reform or compensation, but (Continued on page 16) trolled by Russia have been successfully mass media shape the behavior of young implementing these tasks in Crimea, pursu- minds, form their identity, engrain stereo- ing a purposeful and systematic policy of types, as well as contribute to anti-Ukraini- militarization of local youth. This estab- an sentiments and the militarization of The Ukrainian Weekly FOUNDED 1933 lished educational system promotes com- their consciousness. At the same time, free- bat training among Crimean children in dom of speech in Crimea has become criti- An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., order to prepare them for military service cally curtailed. As monitoring by the CHRG a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. in the Russian Armed Forces, cultivates a shows, Ukrainian websites, radio stations Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. hatred toward Ukraine, as well as applies and some satellite TV channels are con- Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. all methods of misinformation and ideolog- stantly blocked to the peninsula’s residents (ISSN — 0273-9348) ical military propaganda. The head of the (Zn.ua, May 15). Propaganda and militari- Prosecutor’s Office of the Autonomous zation are also promoted through military The Weekly: UNA: Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 Republic of Crimea and the City of games. In May, Sevastopol hosted the Sevastopol, Ihor Ponochovny (a Ukrainian Zarnitsa children’s military-patriotic Postmaster, send address changes to: government official), stated that Russian games, organized by the Night Wolves The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Andrew Nynka actions aimed at promoting military ser- Russian motorcycle club. About 300 school- 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas vice in the Russian army among Crimean children took part (Yugsn.ru, May 19). P.O. Box 280 children can be qualified as a war crime Another way to influence the impression- Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] under Article 8 (2) (a) (v) of the Rome able, developing minds of Crimean children Statute of the International Criminal Court is to involve the Russian Orthodox Church The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com (Zn.ua, October 1, 2020). in the process of spreading ideological and Olga Skrypnyk, who heads the Crimean military propaganda. For example, priests The Ukrainian Weekly, January 17, 2021, No. 3, Vol. LXXXIX Human Rights Group (CHRG), asserts that take the oath of allegiance to Russia from Copyright © 2021 The Ukrainian Weekly the problem of the militarization of the cadets of Cossack classes in Crimea. For Ukrainian children in Crimea has both legal children, religion, patriotism and Russian and psychological aspects. Both preschool identity are thus linked together (Zn.ua, ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA and school curricula help to influence the May 15, 2020). worldview of Crimean children, promote Despite numerous economic and ecolog- Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 the values of the Russian World (Russkiy ical problems facing the annexed peninsula e-mail: [email protected] Mir), and propagandize in support of ser- (see EDM, February 26, 2020, August 12, Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 vice in the Russian Armed Forces. Such a e-mail: [email protected] system undermines the Ukrainian national (Continued on page 6) No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 3

NEWS ANALYSIS Year 2020 in review: Ukraine grapples with pandemic, vested interests, stalemate with Moscow

by Oleg Varfolomeyev cessors – despite his election promise to distanced himself from the oligarch. Donald Trump’s first impeachment, which Eurasia Daily Monitor recruit only people without links to past Kyiv also moved away from what had prompted the resignation of U.S. special administrations. been widely interpreted as attempts to envoy for Ukraine negotiations As in many other countries, COVID-19 Mr. Zelenskyy’s move to additionally weaken the anti-corruption bodies, which in 2019. There was no progress at home dominated the agenda in Ukraine in 2020. replace the leadership of the National Bank the previous Ukrainian president, Petro either, as President Zelenskyy continued his Kyiv locked down domestic trade, services, of Ukraine (NBU) alarmed Ukraine’s credi- Poroshenko, had reluctantly set up in predecessors’ course toward transforming education, and passenger transportation as tors. Prior to resigning as NBU governor, 2015–2016 – also in order to qualify for Ukraine into a mono-cultural and mono-lin- well as closed its state borders earlier than Yakiv Smoly accused the president of politi- Western assistance. Mr. Zelenskyy refused gual nation-state, losing sympathizers not did most neighboring countries in March. cal pressure. It took Mr. Smoly’s successor, to dismiss the embattled National Anti- only in Donbas but also in other That swift reaction may explain why, dur- Kyrylo Shevchenko, a former head of the Corruption Bureau chief Artem Sytnyk, Russophone areas of the country. As a ing the first half of 2020, the scale of the state-owned Ukrgasbank, many months to who had been backed by the West. And at result, popular support for the pro-Moscow pandemic in Ukraine was relatively low. But persuade the International Monetary Fund the head of state’s request, the Parliament Opposition Platform has been growing at even after the lockdown was lifted in the (IMF) that his appointment did not mean moved to circumvent the controversial rul- Mr. Zelenskyy’s expense (RBC, January 4). summer, the country faced the consequenc- the NBU’s independence was under threat. ing of the Constitutional Court from Candidates linked to Mr. Zelenskyy’s es of a GDP plunge of more than 11 percent Mr. Smoly’s resignation and doubts about October 27 that criminal liability for mis- Servant of the People party also performed in annual terms in the second quarter. As a Mr. Zelenskyy’s own independence of vest- takes committed by officials in their asset poorly in the October 2020 local elections, result, the team of President Volodymyr ed interests prompted the IMF to freeze its declarations was unconstitutional. The rul- compared with the parliamentary polls in Zelenskyy shied away from reintroducing assistance after disbursing the first ing had threatened to paralyze Ukraine’s 2019. tough restrictions when the pandemic $2.1-billion tranche of a new loan in June. anti-graft system (see EDM, November 19, This year may be quieter for Ukraine. peaked in Ukraine in late fall. As a result, Ukraine failed to receive $1.4 2020). Moreover, in December, Mr. The local economy is expected to modestly The lockdown, the pandemic-induced billion more from the IMF by the end of Zelenskyy suspended Constitutional Court rebound, with growth of 3-4 percent. No decline in exports, as well as the exodus of 2020, while the European Union and the chairperson Oleksandr Tupytsky over sus- opposition force looks strong enough to investors bared the endemic weaknesses of World Bank also delayed assistance badly picions of corruption (Ccu.gov.ua, challenge Mr. Zelenskyy’s domination of Ukraine’s fiscal system, prompting Kyiv to needed amidst the coronavirus crisis. President.gov.ua, December 29, 2020). local politics. Although his popularity has seek international assistance in order to As in similar circumstances in the past, Progress was eventually achieved in talks been sliding, rivals are disunited and far plug a budget hole that was expected to Kyiv had to step up measures against cor- with the IMF, which is expected to resume weaker. In the international arena, relations reach 7.5 percent of GDP by the end of ruption and vested interests in order to lending to Kyiv in early 2021; the EU also with Russia are likely to remain strained at 2020. Simultaneously, Mr. Zelenskyy began change the international creditors’ minds. resumed its lending (Mof.gov.ua, December least as long as Mr. Putin remains presi- to reshuffle his team. As early as February, In March, the Verkhovna Rada, in an 18, 2020). dent. But Mr. Zelenskyy hopes that rela- he replaced his office head, Andry Bohdan, extraordinary night session, lifted the ban Mr. Zelenskyy suffered political setbacks tions with the U.S. will improve when a well-connected lawyer who had helped on farmland sales, which had benefitted as well last year. Although a new Donbas Joseph Biden, who was closely involved in him win the presidential election in 2019, well-connected agricultural oligarchs for ceasefire and prisoner-exchange agree- Ukrainian affairs as Vice-President under with Andry Yermak, a lawyer Mr. Zelenskyy two decades. And in June, Parliament ments were reached with Moscow, Russian Barack Obama, is himself sworn in as presi- had worked with when he was a showman. passed a law on bank resolutions in order President continued to insist dent. Speaking in a recent interview with In March, the legislature dominated by Mr. to prevent the former owners of Ukraine’s on the status quo for both Donbas and The New York Times, Mr. Zelenskyy said he Zelenskyy’s party Servant of the People largest bank, Privatbank, from regaining Crimea, as he noted in his annual end-of- expected Mr. Biden to give a boost to the replaced Oleksy Honcharuk, a young pro- control over it. Privatbank had collapsed year press conference (Interfax, December settlement of the conflict with Russia Western reformer, with Denys Shmyhal, an and was bailed out by the state in 2016. 17, 2020). In the meantime, partly because (President.gov.ua, December 19, 2020). obscure bureaucrat from western Ukraine, One of its former owners, billionaire Ihor of the coronavirus, further talks on Donbas in the post of prime minister. It took the Kolomoysky, provided media support for in the Normandy format (Ukraine, Russia, The article above is reprinted from Shmyhal Cabinet several months to take Mr. Zelenskyy’s election in 2019, and credi- France, Germany) were frozen, while the Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from shape. Several of Mr. Shmyhal’s Ministers tors feared that he now expected favors in United States expressed relatively little its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, had worked also for Mr. Zelenskyy’s prede- return. Instead, Mr. Zelenskyy ostensibly interest in the Ukraine settlement since www.jamestown.org.

In particular, the voices on the recording ing of the meeting, participants can be suspects’ lawyers have found numerous New twist... could be heard plotting the assassination of heard discussing the use of poisons, explo- inconsistencies in the investigators’ report. (Continued from page 1) Mr. Sheremet, who at that time lived and sives, and car breakdowns to achieve the Mr. Antonenko’s defense team has worked in Russia. At the meeting, the task goals. Those plans included the killing in claimed that he is taller than the male who ist, was killed in a Kyiv car-bomb blast in a was given to murder the journalist with an Germany of Oleh Alkaiev, a former prison appears on a video released by the police. manner similar to the plan discussed in the explosive device and to make it noticeable warden in , Vladimir Borodach, an Ms. Duhar’s lawyers insist she has an recordings. Mr. Sheremet had made to the public. ex-colonel, and Vyacheslav Dudkin, who alibi which can be confirmed by documents Ukraine his permanent home since 2012, After the recordings became public, was the chief of the country’s anti-corrup- and witnesses and that evidence being working primarily for Ukrayinska Pravda, Ukrainian investigators acknowledged hav- tion agency. used against her is incomplete and biased. an independent online newspaper, and for ing received the recordings and said they Ukrainian Interior Minister Arsen Mr. Kuzmenko maintains the investiga- the radio station Vesti. The case of his mur- were studying them. Avakov told reporters on January 5 that tion is seriously flawed. According to his der has yet to be solved. Ukrainian Deputy Internal Affairs investigators are still examining the poten- defense, at the time of Mr. Sheremet’s mur- Three suspects – all Ukrainian and all Minister Anton Herashchenko told tially new evidence. der, Ms. Duhar was not acquainted with the involved in the war with Russian-led forces Ukrainian media on January 6 that the rev- “In December, we received a little more other two suspects; Mrs. Kuzmenko and Mr. in the country’s eastern Donbas region – elations “do not alter the original version of material than was published in the press, Antonenko had communicated with each are being held under various forms of cus- the criminal investigation.” which shows us that among the Belarusian other only a few times. tody for Mr. Sheremet’s murder. Ihor Makar, a former member of the secret services until 2012 were discussed Advocacy organizations like the The three other targets discussed in the Belarusian special forces, who distributed issues related to the murder of Pavlo Human Rights Protection Group have ques- assassination plan are presumed to be liv- the audio recording, said he is ready to tes- Sheremet. We accepted these materials, tioned the veracity of the case. ing in Germany and they are believed to tify before the Prosecutor General’s Office and, since then, we have made several Investigators have since partly altered still be alive. of Ukraine. He also said that he passed the international legal orders. We got our their version of the case to omit the phrase The Belgian-based EU Observer had a relevant evidence to the Ukrainian side in hands on quite a lot of documents, and now that the three suspects are “ultra-national- NATO-member country expert and a foren- December 2020. they are being studied,” Mr Avakov said. ists.” sics expert in the U.S. assess the recording. “We did everything to make it public,” In December 2019, Ukrainian President Mr. Antonenko has been in pre-trial It “sounds like the same guy,” an Mr. Makar said. Volodymyr Zelenskyy and Mr. Avakov held detention since December 2019. unnamed source told the media outlet. A He further added that “Ukrainian special a briefing on the Sheremet case with mem- Ms. Duhar and Ms. Kuzmenko were forensic examination by Catalin Grigoras, services” had contacted him and that he is bers of the country’s national police. detained the same month, but were subse- director of the National Center for Media ready “to cooperate. … When the Ukrainian Former military sergeant and musician quently remanded under house arrest. Then Forensics at the University of Colorado, said side is ready for me to arrive and testify, I Andriy Antonenko, military medic Yana in July 2020, Ms. Duhar was released from that the legitimacy of the audio file was am ready,” he said. Duhar and cardiac surgeon and war volun- house arrest. Ms. Kuzmenko has remained inconclusive. Still, she added, no noticeable Mr. Zaytsau also notes on the recording teer Yulia Kuzmenko were detained and in house arrest since August 2020. traces of audio manipulation were detected that the Belarusian leader, who claimed vic- held as possible murder suspects. Mr. Sheremet’s mother, Lyudmila on the recording. tory in the August 2020 presidential elec- That investigation alleged that Ms. Sheremet, told Radio Free Europe/Radio Mr. Zaytsau’s words were allegedly tion amid widespread claims of fraud and Duhar conducted surveillance a day before Liberty in December 2019 that she does recorded in his office using a hidden device ongoing protests, had allocated $1.5 million the bomb was planted and that Ms. not know if the suspects are guilty or not, on April 11, 2012, during a briefing of the in an off-the-books fund to carry out the Kuzmenko planted the explosive under Mr. but that she is afraid “that innocent people Belarusian security service’s elite counter- assassinations. Sheremet’s car. may be hurt” as officials try to show they’re terrorist unit in Minsk. Per the EU Observer, in the audio record- However, both the news media and the making headway in the case. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 No. 3

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE UNWLA’s North Port branch hosts virtual Christmas celebration by Patricia H. Zalisko A Christmas greeting was offered by the pastor of St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Orthodox NORTH PORT, Fla. – Branch 56 of the Church’s, Rev. Father Oleh Saciuk, who was Ukrainian National Women’s League of joined by his wife, Roxolana. Ms. Rakowsky America held an annual Christmas celebra- and Ms. Popel offered closing remarks. tion for members throughout the state on Branch members and guests closed the January 10. It did so, however, in a not-so- event with a traditional Ukrainian carol, traditional way, via Zoom. “God Eternal,” in a videotaped performance Members of Branch 56 and the remain- by seminarians from the Theological ing Florida branches of the UNWLA were Seminary in Ternopol, Ukraine. Guests invited to attend the celebration virtually. prayed for a good new year and they social- More than 60 guests took part in the cele- ized virtually after the program’s conclu- bration, which included various musical sion, vowing to hug one another by the end performances and poetry readings. of 2021. The yearly party is typically held for The UNWLA is a not-for-profit organiza- members and their supporters as a way for tion, founded in New York in the early 20th the organization to thank its Florida mem- century by women of Ukrainian descent. Its bers and acknowledge their hard work. purpose is to provide education, support This year’s Christmas celebration was dif- Patricia H. Zalisko and cultural enrichment within the United ferent, yet perhaps more celebratory Guests from across Florida’s branches took part in the virtual celebration via Zoom. States regarding Ukraine’s rich cultural and because participants celebrated virtually educational heritage. Through its many and safely. Lina Kostenko titled “Christmas Eve.” A written by Mark Lowry, was performed in charitable activities, the UNWLA also sup- Branch President Alexandra Popel touching vocal performance by three semi- its Ukrainian translation by the men’s vocal ports relief efforts, like providing badly opened the event, welcoming guests and narians of the Theological Seminary in quartet LeonVoci. The quartet performed needed medical supplies to areas of Ukraine thanking members for their continued work Ternopol, Ukraine, followed. Branch 56 live from , Ukraine. Ihor Rakowsky read in the cross-hairs of the hostile Russian and dedication on behalf of the UNWLA. member Lidia Mychalowych recounted her an ancient Ukrainian Christmas poem, incursion; and scholarship programs for After a moment of silence to honor the childhood memories of Christmas Eve in while UNWLA Auditing Committee children of the around memory of departed members, Ksenia Ukraine during the Soviet era, while anoth- Member Ivanka Olesnycky, together with the world, including the Unites States. The Rakowsky, who produced, organized and er branch member, Slava Maluk, described her husband, Nestor, greeted event partici- UNWLA also supports the accredited emceed the event, welcomed guests. her memories of Christmas in a displaced pants. Ukrainian Museum of New York, located in The folk ensemble Vyshnya performed persons camp in Stuttgart, Germany, during Led by Sofia Fedyna, guests caroled NYC, which was the location where the first the traditional Ukrainian carol “Good World War II. The latter brought many par- together, singing “Heaven and Earth” and waves of Ukrainians to this country flocked Evening to You, Host.” Fr. Vasyl Petriv, pas- ticipants of the event to tears, as these “In Bethlehem,” both ancient Ukrainian car- at the turn of the 20th century. tor of St. Mary’s Ukrainian members recalled in vivid detail their own ols. Branch member Halyna Lisnyczyj recit- in North Port, Fl., offered Christmas greet- painful experiences of secretly celebrating ed a Ukrainian poem titled “Christmas Eve” Patricia H. Zalisko is the English language ings and blessed the event’s participants. Christmas in Ukraine under Soviet rule. by Roman Zavadowych, and Terenia and press secretary of Branch 56 of the Olya Babchuk, a member of UNWLA “Mary Did You Know,” an American carol Alina Kuzma performed a musical number Ukrainian National Women’s League of Branch 56, recited a Christmas poem by composed by Buddy Greene with lyrics on the bandura. America. No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 5

ANALYZING DEMOGRAPHIC DATA New data released on the First Wave of immigrants from Ukraine to the United States The following article is the second part of a two-part sus: married, spouse present; married, spouse not present; Table 6. series. Part 1, which was published in the previous issue of divorced; widowed; and never married/single. Sixty-nine The Ukrainian Weekly, addressed the timing, place of birth percent of all immigrants are married with spouse present, Household structures of immigrants and mother tongue of Ukrainian immigrants to the United followed by 18 percent single, eight percent married with born in Galicia or Ukraine: U.S. 1920 States, as well as their distribution within the U.S. Part 2 spouse absent and four percent widowed. Less than half of Household persons percent addresses Ukrainian immigrants’ characteristics, such as age one percent are divorced, with twice as many men as type in HH and sex, education (literacy), knowledge of English, family women. There are also twice as many single men as Married-couple family household 60,020 89.3 structure, employment status, class of worker, occupation women and half as many widowers as widows. Men are Male householder, no wife present 1,280 1.9 and homeownership. much more prevalent in the category married with spouse Female householder, no husband present 4,220 6.3 Part 2 absent, as it is usually the man of the house who migrates first. Male householder, living alone 600 0.9 by Oleh Wolowyna The measure for level of education is rather crude in the Male householder, not living alone 460 0.7 The first part of this article presented new results about 1920 census. It consists of questions asking whether the Female householder, living alone 480 0.7 the First Wave of immigrants from Ukraine to the United person can read and/or write. Many immigrants answered Female householder, not living alone 140 0.2 that they are literate (can read and write): 79 percent States. These results were based on recently released cen- Total 67,200 100.0 sus data for 1910, 1920 and 1930. Immigrants from males and 72 percent females. Ukraine were defined using two different criteria: “place of As pointed out by researchers of this wave, immigrants average, somewhat smaller than female-headed house- birth” and “mother tongue.” According to these two crite- strived to become integrated into American society. A high holds. Many more male- than female-headed households ria, large fluctuations in immigrants’ totals prevent us from percentage of them claim to speak English – 70 percent of with spouses not present have no children – 20 percent using these data to estimate the number of immigrants in males and 75 percent of females – but there is no informa- and two percent, respectively. Fewer male-headed than the First Wave. The data were useful for analyzing the tion about their level of proficiency. Nineteen percent of female-headed households have three or more children immigrant’s evolution of their ethnocultural identity and the immigrants are naturalized citizens and 14 percent and fewer children are less than five years old. their distributions by state and metropolitan area. started the process of naturalization. These high percent- The labor force status of immigrants was also analyzed. Using this census data, a detailed demographic and ages are the result of continuous efforts to become mem- Male immigrants have very high labor force participation, socioeconomic profile of these immigrants can be created bers of American society: a) the percent of English- above 90 percent, compared to 78 percent for the total U.S. with the following components: a) demographic: age, sex speakers increases with time of residence; b) percent with male population. On the other hand, Ukrainian female and marital status; b) integration into American society: citizenship is strongly related to the duration of residence immigrants have labor force participation similar to the ability to speak English, citizenship and homeownership; in the U.S. entire U.S. female population, about 22 percent. c) household and family structure; d) socioeconomic char- Another measure of integration is homeownership. As Female labor force participation is related, in general, to acteristics: literacy, labor force status, class of worker; e) expected, the percent of people who are homeowners the number and age of children in the household. Only and detailed analysis of occupation. among immigrants is below the national level of 23 and 46 eighteen percent of females in married-couple family The number of immigrants defined by place of birth – percent, respectively. However, if we consider the duration households, with many children and many of them less Galicia or Ukraine – in 1920 was chosen as the basis for the of residence in the U.S., homeownership among immi- than five years old, are in the labor force. In the male demographic and socio-economical profile. This definition grants with 35 years of residency is equal to the national householder, no wife present household type, with fewer yields the largest number of immigrants (Table 1 in part 1 level. Immigrants who speak English or who are literate children and fewer of them less than five years old, 50 per- of this article) and includes a representative set of mother have higher homeownership than non-English speakers cent of females in the household are in the labor force. In tongues (Table 2 in part 1). Although this definition does and illiterate immigrants. other words, the presence of many children restricts not include all immigrants from Ukraine, the demographic The 181,300 immigrants born in Galicia or Ukraine are female labor force participation. and socioeconomic characteristics are similar to those of members of 67,200 households, classified into seven types. This relationship does not hold for females in the female all immigrants from Ukraine. Table 6 presents the absolute and relative sizes of these householder, no husband present household type. Immigrants have a relatively high percentage of children types. Most of the households, 89 percent, are of the mar- Although these households tend to have many children less than five years old (14 percent) and a very small per- ried-couple family type. Two other important types are who are less than five years old, 53 percent of females in centage of people age 65 or older (2 percent). The high male householder, no wife present (two percent) and these households are in the labor force. The absence of the percent of children age 0-4 is due to the high fertility in the female householder, no husband present (six percent). husband forces more women to work to support the family. immigrant’s country of origin, especially in rural areas. As There are few households in the other four types; they are Most of the immigrants, 90 percent, are wage earners. in many immigrant groups, the highest percentage is found either one-person households or one person living with Only three percent are employers and seven percent are in the working-age group (25-44), i.e., 36 percent. There one or more non-family members. independent workers. All employers are male and more are also more men than women among these immigrants, Table 7 presents some characteristics of the three main males than females work independently – eight and five 53 and 47 percent, respectively. household types. Married-couple family households have, percent, respectively. Five marital status categories are presented in the cen- on average, five persons. Only 10 percent of these house- holds have no children. All censuses have a very detailed list of occupations. More than half have at least Presented here are only a fraction of what can be under- Table 7. three children and two- stood about the occupations of the immigrants. Table 8 Characteristics of three household types: U.S. 1920 thirds of these households shows the distribution of immigrants in the labor force by 11 occupational categories and by sex. It provides a global average % with % with % with have children who are less Household type number of no 3 or more children than five years old. picture of the position of the immigrants in the occupation- persons in HH children children < 5 yrs. There are significant dif- al hierarchy. ferences between house- The very high percentages of immigrants in the laborer Married-couple family household 5.0 10 52 66 holds with male and female and operatives categories, as well as the very low percent- Male householder, no wife present 3.5 20 42 14 householders, where the age in the professional and technical categories, is consis- tent with a wave of immigrants characterized by high lev- Female householder, no husband present 4.0 2 51 27 spouse is absent. Male- headed households are, on els of illiteracy and no knowledge of the English language. However, occupations in categories like managers or sales- men require some level of literacy and knowledge of Table 8. Table 9. English. The number of immigrants with occupations in Percent distribution of occupation categories Number of immigrants born in Galicia and Ukraine, these categories is an indicator of their efforts to take by sex: U.S. 1920 in Top 14 professional occupations by sex: advantage of the new country’s opportunities. percent U.S. 1920 The two top occupation categories for males are labor- Occupation category Male Female Sum Occupation Male Female Sum ers and operatives. The laborer category lists few specific occupations. It consists mostly of the generic term laborer, Laborers 43.6 27.4 40.9 Teachers (n.e.c.)* 113 122 235 as immigrants did not provide more detail in their census Operatives 27.4 41.1 29.6 Clergymen 112 0 112 responses. The category operatives contain more special- Craftsmen 14.4 1.7 12.3 Musicians and music teachers 87 10 97 ized occupations like mine-operatives and laborers, work- Managers, Officials and Proprietors 5.0 1.8 4.5 Designers 50 8 58 ers in the textile industry, dyers, meat cutters, truck and Service Workers (not household) 3.1 6.9 3.7 Physicians and surgeons 42 2 44 taxi drivers, etc. The five percent of males with occupations Sales workers 2.3 2.8 2.4 Dentists 35 1 36 in the managers and proprietors category is an indicator of success for an immigrant group that had to start at the bot- Farmers and farm laborers 2.6 0.9 2.3 Photographers 34 1 35 tom of the occupational scale. Service Workers (private household) 0.1 7.3 1.3 Lawyers and judges 27 4 31 Pharmacists 28 2 30 The top occupation category for females is operatives, Non-occupational response 0.2 5.7 1.1 not laborers, as in the case for males. These occupations in Accountants and auditors 24 0 24 Clerical and Kindred 0.5 3.8 1.0 the operatives category require, in general, more skills Actors and actresses 10 2 12 Professional, Technical 0.9 0.6 0.8 than occupations in the laborers category. The categories Artists and art teachers 8 4 12 service workers (not household) and service workers (pri- Total 100.0 100.0 100.0 Professional nurses 0 12 12 Total number of persons 93,580 18,620 112,200 Editors and reporters 10 0 10 (Continued on page 6) 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 No. 3

FOR THE RECORD LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

only in political and diplomatic spheres. We Historic details aren’t ready to discuss any military assis- Appeal of the hierarchy of the Ukrainian tance.’” Mobilization was also discouraged: are stubborn “You’re provoking Russia to war, therefore Catholic Church in the United States revoke the mobilization!” In the years that followed Mr. Biden vis- Below is a statement issued by the We ask all of our priests, religious, and Dear Editor: ited Kyiv several times, primarily focused Ukrainian Catholic Hierarchy of the U.S.A. on faithful to pray for the future of our country, With the U.S. presidential campaign not on Ukraine’s existential threat but on the events of January 6. to call for repentance, to witness to the behind us, it’s important for history’s sake removing select corrupt officials. The integrity of the Gospel of our Lord, and that partisan mythologizing not gut sober- Obama administration persisted in pre- As , on the Feast of the begin the difficult work of rebuilding the ing details of how American figures influ- venting Ukraine from obtaining lethal Theophany, we continue to celebrate and unity of America. enced tragic developments in Ukraine’s weapons, though invasion and war were welcome the Emmanuel – “God is with us,” We are called to help all people hear and recent history. Already several times The raging. Recently, Mr. Biden’s penchant for the Prince of Peace, “the Beloved Son of the believe the fundamental truth of Ukrainian Weekly’s columnists have improving his biographical record with fan- Father,” who calls us all to be His sisters and Theophany – that each person is a “beloved penned paeans skirting inconvenient items ciful tales has presented a dissenting spin. brothers in the Father’s house. But as a son or daughter of the Father.” related to then Vice-President Joseph For those affected, however, touching up nation, today, we witness an appalling We have a long road ahead of us. Biden’s part in events affecting Ukraine. history is hardly constructive. assault on the central seat and process of Let us return to a motto of the founders Sadly, Mr. Biden played a role in getting American democracy which must stop. of our country: “In God we trust.” Ukraine to forgo armed resistance while Ihor Mirchuk Criminal trespassing, menacing break-in, + Crimea was being invaded. The loss of Easton, Pa. and the intimidation of senators and mem- Archbishop of Philadelphia and Crimea – likely long-term – has been inde- bers of Congress is unconscionable. Metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics pendent Ukraine’s great geopolitical trage- Any use of Jesus’ name to justify this vio- in the United States dy (chances for eastern Donbas’s return lent behavior and chaos is a travesty of the are better). + Healing our nation Gospel. In his recollection of events for a recent of Stamford There is nothing Christian about it. interview, Ukraine’s 2014 interim Dear Editor: Americans bear a great responsibility + Benedict Aleksiychuk President Oleksander Turchynov relates for the future of democracy in the world. Bishop of St. Nicholas Eparchy in Chicago what a blow it was to be confronted by U.S. In the aftermath of the events of January American leaders, first of all the presi- President Barack Obama’s emissaries, John 6, I greatly applaud and appreciate the edi- + torial “A citadel for liberty,” and Orest dent of the United States, must do every- Bishop of St. Josaphat Eparchy in Parma Kerry and Joe Biden, with their dismissive thing in their power to reestablish peace take on the territorial guarantees of the Deychakiwsky’s op-ed “Hope for the new + Andriy Rabiy and the rule of law. Budapest Memorandum. “I was patted on year,” which was written well before Auxiliary Bishop of the Philadelphia There is much injustice in our land. my shoulder and told, ‘The Budapest January 6. Archeparchy There is much anger. No injustice will be Memorandum doesn’t require a thing of us. America and, likewise, the Ukrainian remedied by violence. January 6, 2021 We condemn the aggression but will help American community were as divided as ever in this past, very close presidential election. We have experienced more divi- siveness, vitriol, “hate,” mutual accusations of spreading fake news, lunacy, being a Table 10. New data... “fascist, racist, or socialist-communist,” etc. (Continued from page 5) Number of clergy born in Galicia or Ukraine In some instances, long lasting friend- by selected states and mother tongue: U.S. 1920 ships were broken. At least that was my vate household) are in third place, account- Mother Tongue experience, from discussions, social media ing for 14 percent of all female occupations. State commentary among my friends and German Jewish* Other Russian Ukrainian** Polish Sum Another important category is non-occupa- acquaintances in the wider Ukrainian tional response, which accounts for five Pennsylvania 0 3 3 3 7 14 30 American community and in a closer cir- percent. It includes occupations like home New York 1 14 0 0 5 10 30 cle of my fellow Ukrainian American vet- housekeepers, students and retired per- erans. New Jersey 2 1 0 1 4 4 12 sons. The majority of Americans, regardless of The occupation data’s detail is illustrat- Ohio 0 0 0 0 2 3 5 whom they supported in the last election, ed by the top 14 professional occupations Illinois 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 desire the same things: prosperity, eco- for males and females (Table 9). The high- Massachusetts 0 1 1 0 1 7 10 nomic opportunity and security, law and est number among professional occupa- Missouri 0 1 0 1 1 0 3 order, and America’s continued leadership tions is teachers, 235, and they are almost North Dakota 0 0 0 0 1 0 1 in the world as a beacon of democracy and evenly split between males and females. human rights. They are followed clergy at 112. There are Sum 3 20 4 5 22 38 92 We also agree on the need for America’s also physicians, dentists, lawyers and judg- Total U.S. 5 25 6 6 22 47 111 continued support for Ukraine. es, pharmacists and accountants and audi- A president alone can hardly “heal” our * Jewish, Yiddish and Hebrew ** Ruthenian, Ukrainian and Little Russian tors, which are all professions that require nation. We need not dwell on the past, university-level degrees. Except for teach- other than to learn lessons. We must look ers and professional nurses, there are many gration, age, marital status, family type, and the first wave of immigrants from Ukraine at the present day and move forward with more men than women in all professions. the number of children (if married). to the U.S. The analysis presented here pro- the future. Table 10 shows the 112 clergy by mother According to the 1920 census, seven of vides only a small fraction of the topics that Healing of our nation depends on each tongue and state of residence. Only 22 cler- the 22 clergy with Ukrainian mother can be addressed with these data. We and every one of us. gy have Ukrainian (or Ruthenian) mother tongue resided in Pennsylvania, five in New invite historians, demographers and other The solution is simple; implementation tongue. This does not mean that they are York, four in New Jersey and two in Ohio. scholars interested in this topic to contact is a challenge. the only Ukrainian clergy. Some of the clergy Four other States have one clergy each. As us about getting copies of these data and We need to love our country and our with Russian, Polish or other mother mentioned, one can expand this analysis by technical assistance in their use. neighbors more than we (myself included) tongues may also be Ukrainian, but from adding more variables and get a more com- love and nurture our prejudices and other religions like Orthodox, Roman plete profile of these clergy. It would also be Oleh Wolowyna is Director of the Center resentments. If we do so, we have a chance Catholic or Protestant. Also, the definition useful to compare these data with the for Demographic and Socio-economic at restoring, preserving and strengthening used – immigrants born in Galicia or records of the two main churches in Research of Ukrainians in the U.S. at the our democracy and republic. Ukraine – is quite restrictive. Some Ukraine at that time, Greek Catholic and Shevchenko Scientific Society, and research Yuri A. Deychakiwsky Ukrainian clergy may have stated other plac- Orthodox, and other religions. fellow at the Center for Slavic, Eurasian and North Potomac, Md. es of birth, such as , Hungary, The availability of data from 1920 and Eastern European Studies at the University or Russia. This analysis can be expanded to other censuses provides a unique opportu- of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. He can be include cross-tabulations by year of immi- nity for increasing the level of knowledge of reached via email at [email protected].

be exposed to these policies were already continue to collect evidence of this militari- LIKE Stolen Childhood... born under the Russian occupation; others, zation of childhood and appeal to the inter- (Continued from page 2) due to their age, were unable to decide national community to take a stronger whether to stay in Crimea or leave it follow- stand against such Russian policies. The Ukrainian Weekly 2020, December 8, 2020), Crimea’s occupy- ing the annexation, and now they are unable ing authorities plan to continue to focus on to choose their educational system or lan- The article above is reprinted from on Facebook! this aggressive propaganda and the militari- guage of instruction. Crimean schools today Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from https://www.facebook.com/ zation of local youth over the coming year. cultivate hatred toward Ukraine and love of its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, TheUkrainianWeekly Some of the children who are or will soon Russia. From its side, Ukraine will have to www.jamestown.org. No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 7

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW In Ukraine: A pandemic, as war in the east continues s in most of the world, the COVID-19 pandemic did not spare Ukraine in 2020 and even reached a AChilean research center in Antarctica in December. In March, the same month that Ukraine recorded its first case of the coronavirus that originated in China in 2019, authorities in Kyiv imposed strict restrictive measures to stave off the spread of the highly transmissible disease. Only essential stores were allowed to stay open, and even the Kyiv subway was closed; public transportation was limited for a while in the early spring. Medical work- ers were trained to treat COVID-19 patients, and special hospital wards were established as the country’s dilapi- dated health-care system braced for hospitalizations. By the end of the year, exactly 1,064,479 people had been officially recorded to have tested for the virus, which had claimed 18,680 lives by January 1, 2021. Toward the end of the year, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office announced it had pre-ordered nearly 2 million vaccine doses from China’s biggest vaccine maker. That vaccine is still awaiting approval from Beijing health officials and the United Nations’ World Health UNIAN Organization (WHO). In this photo from late June, people in Kyiv, masked and unmasked, enter an underpass. As of August 17, Kyiv In addition, Kyiv expects to receive at least 8 million was designated as being in the yellow epidemiological zone for COVID-19. As of November 12, all of Ukraine was more doses in the first quarter of 2021 through COVAX, a considered an orange zone. WHO-led initiative to distribute vaccines free to lower- income countries. And Health Minister as May, anti-lockdown protests started and mayors in plies and fights beside is in a state of trench warfare con- is in bilateral talks with Poland and other countries to pur- Cherkasy, Ternopil and Lviv have been reported to flout sisting of sporadic artillery fire and sniper duels. chase additional doses with the overall objective of inocu- the softer measures implemented over two weekends in A prisoner exchange – the second during Mr. lating half of the country’s estimated population of 44 mil- November. Zelenskyy’s tenure – took place on April 16, with 20 lion people throughout the year. When little was known about the animal-to-human dis- Ukrainian captives freed in place of 14 prisoners that Kyiv Ukraine also established a special $2.4 billion COVID- ease, an angry mob on February 20 attacked a bus trans- released to the other side. The swap took place at the 19 fund for combating the virus and to avert a severe pub- porting 47 Ukrainians and 27 foreigners who had been Mayorske border crossing point in the Donetsk region and lic-health crisis, but opposition lawmakers and watchdogs evacuated from China, then the epicenter of the virus. They near the town of Shchastia in the Luhansk region. like the Anticorruption Action Center have criticized were en route to a health recreation center in Poltava Oblast A total of 3,253 people have returned from captivity authorities for how the money has been allocated. where they were placed under observation for two weeks. over the years of the war in the Donbas. By November 27, according to the Finance Ministry, About 20 protesters were arrested in a Poltava region Currently, 251 Ukrainian citizens are held captive in the only 59 percent of the fund had been spent, with more village and authorities faced criticism for not properly temporarily occupied territories of the Donbas, according than half of the money going toward the president’s informing the public while then-Health Minister Zoryana to Ukrainian ombudswoman Lyudmyla Denisova, and much-touted nationwide infrastructure project of building Skaletska said the widespread dissemination of “fake about 100 more are considered to be political prisoners in roads and bridges, and upgrading river and sea ports. information” had caused the panic. Russia and Crimea, the Ukrainian peninsula that the Kremlin illegally annexed in early 2014. Only $204 million had been distributed toward the con- The Donbas war struction or renovation of medical facilities and compen- Three major peace agreements, two brokered in the sation for medical staff. Fifty-six Ukrainian military personnel, including one Belarusian capital of Minsk, exist that call for an “all-for- The same month, the Organization for Economic woman, died in the Russia-instigated war in the Donbas all” prisoner exchange. Mr. Zelenskyy officially met with Cooperation and Development (OECD) said in a report that encompasses certain areas of the two easternmost his Russian counterpart, Vladimir Putin, during the first that “masks, protective suits and ventilators are in short regions of Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts, or about 4 per- year of his presidency in Paris as part of the Normandy supply” in Ukrainian medical facilities. cent of the country’s land area. As Ukraine enters its sev- format of peace talks with the leaders of Germany and COVID-19’s disruption in dollar figures means that eco- enth year in the unprovoked conflict, Mr. Zelenskyy’s France. They were supposed to meet again four months nomic output was slated to shrink to $146 billion by year- administration brokered another truce that has remained after their December 2019 meeting, but that has not hap- end, representing a yearly drop of 4.8 percent, Economy fragile yet calmed the intensity of combat to a simmering pened. Minister said in a televised briefing in late level as of July 27. During the past year, Russia increased its demands that December. Pursuant to a decision reached that month by the Ukraine hold peace negotiations with its proxies in the Foreign direct investment (FDI) for the first nine Trilateral Contact Group (TCG), consisting of negotiators Donbas through the TCG. In response, Kyiv in spring months of 2020 amounted to only 22 percent of that in from Ukraine, Russia and the Organization for the Security added displaced people to the TCG roundtable. They 2019, the U.S. Congress-chartered Wilson Center wrote. and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), an agreement was include notable journalist Denys Kazansky and doctor and Ahead of the 17-day stricter lockdown that was to start made for a “full and comprehensive ceasefire.” lawyer Serhiy Harmash. Ukraine has been reluctant to on January 8, 2021, taxpayers registered as self-employed Since then, Ukrainian combat losses have decreased to hold direct negotiations with Moscow’s puppets in the Donbas over fears it would legitimize their authority and and small business owners staged protest rallies in Kyiv in a tenth of what they were, and the current 450-mile front- portray the war as a civil conflict instead of a covert December, even setting up a makeshift tent city. As early line facing armed elements that Russia leads, trains, sup- Russian invasion and ensuing occupation. In November, , deputy prime minister of Ukraine for reintegration of the temporarily occupied territories, reported in a commentary for the Washington- based Atlantic Council think tank that “we opened two new [civilian entry-exit] checkpoints in Luhansk Oblast.” There are now six civilian checkpoints along the contact line, but they remain largely closed because occupying forces in the Donbas have shuttered them, ostensibly over the spread of the coronavirus from the Ukrainian govern- ment-controlled side, further isolating citizens living in occupied territory. Both Kyiv and the Kremlin have exchanged blame over the stalled peace process in a war that has killed more than 14,000 people and displaced more than 1 million, causing a humanitarian crisis in the east. The cumulative damage so far in the east will require a minimum of $21.7 billion for relief and recovery efforts, according to a report by the Vienna Institute for International Economic Studies. Crimea’s water problem The inhabitants of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula contin- Cabinet of Ministers ue to be persecuted, according to the United Nations. A Ukrainian Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal discussed new COVID-19 measures during a Cabinet of Ministers meet- resolution passed in September by the international body ing on December 9, while Minister of Health Maksym Stepanov joined the meeting via videoconference. once again called on Russia to withdraw from Crimea. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 No. 3

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Hundreds of Russian business entities and individuals still face financial and other sanctions from the U.S., the European Union and numerous countries over Moscow’s takeover of the territory, as well as over separate military action in the Donbas. The nonbinding U.N. resolution “urges the Russian Federation, as the occupying power, immediately, com- pletely and unconditionally to withdraw its military forces from Crimea and end its temporary occupation of the ter- ritory of Ukraine without delay.” It also calls on Russia to stop the transfer of advanced weapons systems, including nuclear-capable aircraft and missiles, weapons, ammuni- tion and military personnel “to the territory of Ukraine.” Arbitrary arrests of inhabitants of the peninsula by occupying Russian authorities have targeted in particular, rights groups like Amnesty International and the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group have stated. Mr. Zelenskyy on May 18 remembered the victims of Joseph Stalin’s genocidal deportation of the Crimean Tatar people in 1944, when about 200,000 people were deported from the peninsula via cattle cars. In a statement issued on the solemn anniversary, the president said: “We believe that the day will surely come when Crimea will return to RFE/RL Ukraine. Crimean Tatars and Ukrainians will return to their On August 13, a rally near the Embassy of Belarus in Kyiv was held in support of the Belarusian people’s protests native homes, gather at the same table to say together: against falsified elections in the neighboring country. Toward the end of the year, the president instituted a they are engaged in agricultural production,” he said of Controversy followed in March when Prime Minister moderate reshuffle in the Cabinet of Ministers amid dwin- clandestine farming in the exclusion zone. Subsidies Denys‘Bizim veShmyhal siziñ azatlığıñız mentioned içün! the For possibilityyour and our of freedom!’ renewing ” dling approval ratings in his job performance, multiple should be targeted to professional dairy farmers, helping water supply to Crimea. The peninsula was largely depen- surveys showed. to import “high-quality heifers.” dent on mainland Ukraine for fresh water, and Russia has Oleh Tatarov, the president’s deputy chief of staff At an extraordinary Cabinet session in December, failed, since taking over Crimea, to find a solution, includ- responsible for law enforcement, said on December 21 that another official from Mr. Yanukovych’s presidency was ing desalination efforts. he would recuse himself of certain duties in order to coop- appointed to the government. Vadym Melnyk was named “The issue of supplying water to occupied Crimea is not erate with investigators and avoid a conflict of interest in a as the head of the State Fiscal Service (SFS) in charge of a matter of trade with the invader. It is not a matter of large-scale corruption case in which he is a suspect. tax and duty collection. Until 2013, Mr. Melnyk headed the business. It is a matter of humanitarian responsibility Another change in the Presidential Office that same day investigation department covering particularly important before people who live in Crimea. Failure to supply water was the resignation of Yulia Kovaliv, a deputy chief of staff cases, and he also worked in the Ministry of Revenue and will lead to a humanitarian catastrophe... We won’t turn responsible for economics and investment. After 15 Duties. In 2014, he worked as deputy chief of the Main the water off at the mainline... We cannot stop giving months on the job, she described her tenure on Facebook Investigation Department of SFS Financial Investigations, water to Ukrainians,” Mr. Shmyhal said then. as “an unbelievable experience… in a complicated time for and later headed the department. He also had the rank of Former Foreign Affairs Minister then the country.” colonel of the tax police, an agency that no longer exists. wrote on social media that supplying Crimea with water The Verkhovna Rada on December 17 confirmed the Former executive director Yuriy Vitrenko was would be the “end of the fight for Crimea. It will not be a appointment of as education and science named acting energy minister during the same Cabinet problem for Russia. For them, Crimea is a military base, minister. The move was a promotion for Mr. Shkarlet, who session. and the people are mere appendages to it.” had been serving as the acting education and science min- Constitutional Court Chief Justice Oleksandr Tupytskyi Government reshuffles ister since June. was suspended for two months in a controversial move by The academic community, including the independent the president. The judge is a suspect in a witness tamper- Since being sworn into office in May 2019, President National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy and the ing and bribery case involving the privatization of an Zelenskyy has ushered in two governments, including one National Agency for Higher Education Quality Assurance industrial plant in Donetsk Oblast more than a decade ago. last year. In March, he dismissed his first Cabinet of (NAQA), have opposed his appointment and accused him The court on December 30 declared the suspension Ministers, just half a year after taking office. The relatively of plagiarism. “legally null and void,” further escalating a conflict between unknown Denys Shmyhal was named prime minister. The Education Ministry and Mr. Shkarlet have denied the executive and judicial branches of government. “Many senior members of the government also departed in the accusations. Both were at loggerheads in October, when the court the reshuffle, with new finance, foreign and defense minis- Another stain on the president’s Cabinet came after ruled to annul key provisions that dismantled a huge part ters appointed,” the Atlantic Council wrote on its website. Parliament in mid-December confirmed Roman of the country’s anti-graft architecture that was put in The president blamed his previous Cabinet of cowing Leshchenko’s appointment as agriculture minister. That place to meet Western conditions for financial assistance, to Western countries that financially assist Ukraine by same week, Ukrainian media learned that the Kyiv including a $5.5 billion lending program from the appointing foreigners to boards of state-owned compa- Commercial Court accepted a lawsuit that alleges he had Washington-based International Monetary Fund (IMF). nies. “With all respect to our international partners and embezzled $430,000 from a Ukrainian farming company The IMF aid remains frozen as analysts question more with all appreciation for their help, the citizens of our owned by North Dakota farmer Kurt Jacob Grozhans. Mr. whether the once popular president still has the will and country on governing boards of our companies are feeling Leshchenko responded to the allegations by saying he had momentum to follow through on his campaign promises like an ethnic minority,” Mr. Zelenskyy said in a speech in repaid “all debts to the American investor,” Ukraine Business of reducing the influence that oligarchs have on the state the Verkhovna Rada, where a vote was needed to dismiss News said in a daily note to the business community. and eradicating endemic corruption. the Cabinet. The 32-year-old agriculture minister pledged to make Specifically, a law making it a criminal offense for public While blaming the ministers, Mr. Zelenskyy also offered the national farm land registry more transparent, bringing officials to submit false information on their asset declara- praise and thanks that none had become involved in a cor- millions of hectares “out of the shadows” into the taxable tions was ruled unconstitutional. The court also ruled that ruption scandal in the six months they had served. economy. “Everyone knows that in the Chornobyl zone judges and others filing asset declarations cannot have their assets or personal lives monitored. The ruling was based on court complaints filed by pro-Russian and oli- garch-backed lawmakers who hold a minority of seats in the Verkhovna Rada. They also oppose Kyiv’s declared course of further integration with the European Union and NATO, and do not support cooperation with the IMF. At the time of the ruling, several asset declarations of Constitutional Court judges, including that of Mr. Tupytskyi, were under scrutiny. He was under investiga- tion for not declaring property in illegally annexed Crimea. Other inconsistencies in Mr. Tupytskyi’s asset declaration included ownership of lavish property in Kyiv Oblast. After much outcry from pro-Western activists and law- makers, Parliament passed a new yet softer version of the legislation in December that doesn’t foresee imprison- ment for providing false information. Calling the watered- down version “a mistake,” Mr. Zelenskyy has since submit- ted his own bill to restore punishment for those who Presidential Office of Ukraine would break the law, but the legislature has yet to consid- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy (left) in Brussels at the 22nd Ukraine-European Union Summit on October 6 with er it and Parliament has adjourned for winter break. Charles Michel (center), president of the European Council, and Josep Borrell, the EU’s high representative for Surveys commissioned and conducted by leading local foreign affairs and security policy. think tanks and policy centers in Ukraine consistently find No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 9

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW that the country’s unruly justice system remains the big- gest bottleneck in establishing the rule of law. Kyiv-based think tank Razumkov Center published sur- vey data in mid-December in which 42 percent of respon- dents ranked Mr. Zelenskyy as the “political disappoint- ment of 2020.” Sixty-seven percent of those polled said Ukraine was headed in the wrong direction. The presi- dent’s approval rating stood at 19 percent – a sharp drop from December 2019 when it stood at 41 percent. Foreign relations Over the year, Kyiv succeeded in taking another step in holding Russia accountable for its war-mongering in Ukraine that has led to about 7 percent of territory being chopped off. On December 11, the International Criminal Court (ICC) recommend a full-fledged probe of Russia’s actions since there was enough evidence to “believe that a broad range of conduct constituting war crimes and crimes against humanity” have occurred, ICC Prosecutor Fatour Bensouda wrote. The key findings came after the Hague-based court’s six-year preliminary examination, which was mostly based on Ukraine providing “detailed information” on events that encompass the pro-democracy -Maidan Serhii Nuzhnenko/RadioSvoboda.org protests that erupted in November 2013, Russia’s illegal On February 17, mourners laid flowers at the new memorial at Kyiv Boryspil International Airport to the victims annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula in early 2014 of the downing on January 8 of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752. On December 31, Iran released a report and its covert invasion of the two easternmost regions of on the passenger jet’s shootdown by its military. Luhansk and Donetsk. The next step, the prosecutor said, is to “request autho- In August, Ukraine separately protested the return of safe limits, Kyiv’s City Hall said in April. rization from the judges of the Pre-Trial Chamber of the Russian private military contractors by Belarus to Russia. Mr. Zelenskyy said six separate fires were extinguished court to open an investigation.” Nearly three dozen Russian mercenaries were detained in in the area and that “there was no threat to the nuclear Writing on Twitter on December 11, Ukrainian Foreign Belarus on July 29. Many of them were found to have power plant [in Chornobyl], spent fuel storage and other Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba described the news as a fought in the Donbas war and other hotspots where critical facilities.” “historic decision,” saying that “international justice is not Russia is militarily involved, including Syria. In July, forest fires spread in easternmost Luhansk quick, but inevitable.” The ICC’s probe focused on alleged On New Year’s Eve, former Ukrainian President Petro Oblast, killing at least six people and ravaging several vil- transgressions that include genocide, aggression, war Poroshenko asserted that he had given the initial approval lages. Water-bombing planes were deployed with hun- crimes and crimes against humanity committed by indi- for luring the 33 mercenaries to Ukraine in a special oper- dreds of firefighters and military personnel dispatched to viduals, not countries. “The day will come when Russian ation in order to prosecute them on war crimes and other contain the fires. Luhansk Governor Serhiy Haydar posted criminals will certainly appear before the court,” Mr. charges. He confirmed that Ukrainian intelligence services on Facebook that he suspected the fires were the result of Kuleba said. had started the operation at the end of 2018 when he was arson, although this was unconfirmed, according to Following a six-year international investigation, prosecu- still president but that “specific individuals” in the reporting by the BBC. tors in the Netherlands have argued that the downing of Zelenskyy administration had betrayed the operation. Ukraine’s western regions experienced floods in late Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17) over eastern Ukraine in Ukrainian media, such as Ukrayinska Pravda and June due to torrential rain with hundreds of kilometers of 2014 was done using a Russian-made Buk surface-to-air Censor.net, have reported that the operation came to a roads, dozens of bridges and kilometers of coastal fortifi- missile, which was transported from a Russian military base. premature halt in Belarus due to a high-level mole in the cation damaged. Hundreds of people were subsequently All 298 people aboard the aircraft were killed, and four Presidential Office. displaced. suspects – Sergei Dubinsky, Oleg Pulatov, and On foreign trips, Mr. Zelenskyy secured trade deals and The government initially allocated more than $25 mil- Igor Girkin, and Ukrainian Leonid Kharchenko – are being defense agreements with Turkey and Great Britain. lion to overcome the effects of the weather and asked the tried in absentia by the court for involvement in the trage- He visited Turkey in October and met with his counter- Verkhovna Rada for an additional $71 million for the pur- dy. In November, the judge adjourned the case until part, President Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Both sides agreed pose. February 1, 2021. to increase bilateral trade to $20 billion from $10 billion. In the Carpathian Mountain range area, 263 settlements Much of the evidence in the case was provided by Mr. Zelenskyy also announced plans to purchase 50 and more than 13,000 residential buildings were damaged; Ukrainian authorities; there was also evidence gathered Bayraktar TB2 combat drones and set up a large-scale 20 of these buildings were completely destroyed. In addi- by the British-based forensics group Bellingcat, journalists assembly line for unmanned aircraft targeted for export, tion, 201 kilometers of roads, 93 bridges and 80 kilometers and independent investigators. in addition to other defense systems. of coastal fortifications were damaged. After the plane was downed on July 17, 2014, the EU Polish President Duda visited Kyiv the same Nationwide local elections widened its sanctions against Russia to include more indi- month calling the trip “super important.” In Odesa, the viduals and targeted its defense industry. Ukrainian and Polish presidents took part in an economic On October 25, Ukraine held nationwide local elections In September, Ukraine joined a growing list of countries forum at which an agreement between the ports of Odesa for the second time since embarking on decentralization – that have not recognized the legitimacy of the presidential and the Polish city of Gdansk signed an agreement to pro- a reform that transfers powers from the national to local election in Belarus. In August, incumbent Alyaksandr mote privatization in Ukraine. governments, including the nearly 1,500 amalgamated Lukashenka claimed victory amid widespread allegations A joint statement between the EU and Ukraine was territorial communities that have since been formed of election fraud, which led to more than 150 days of daily signed at their yearly highest-level summit in October that encompassing several former township councils into one street protests centered in Minsk, the capital. stressed the necessity for Ukraine to continue reforming entity. The second round of the elections took place on “Ukraine has never in any way interfered in the internal the judiciary, fight corruption and reduce the influence of November 22. affairs of Belarus and will always support the Belarusian oligarchs. This has given local governments more decision-mak- people. Considering the course of the election campaign in As part of a busy foreign policy month in October, Mr. ing and tax collection powers. Another phenomenon is the Belarus and subsequent events, today’s ‘inauguration’ of Zelenskyy visited London and signed a political, free-trade emergence of local political parties that are not affiliated Alexander Lukashenko does not mean his recognition as and strategic partnership agreement with Great Britain. with the five major national parties represented in parlia- the legitimate head of the Belarusian state,” Mr. Kuleba Both parties also signed a memorandum to jointly con- ment. wrote on Twitter on September 23. struct military ships in British plants for Ukraine’s defense Overall, the ruling pro-presidential Servant of the People A growing list of European countries said they would industry with Britain agreeing to provide a loan to finance party secured a slight lead in the October elections based not recognize Mr. Lukashenka’s presidency. Denmark, the endeavor. on quantitative indicators, an analysis by Oleksandr Latvia, , Germany, Slovakia, the On December 31, Iran released its report on the downing Kliuzhev, a senior analyst at the Opora civic network, and Estonia all said they do not consider Mr. Lukashenka of Ukraine International Airlines Flight 752 back on January found. However, it failed “to win mayoral seats in any the legitimate president of Belarus. 8. All 176 people aboard the passenger jet shot down by oblast capital, including the big cities of Kyiv, Kharkiv, “The minimum requirements for democratic elections Iran’s military minutes after take-off in Tehran were killed, Odesa, and Lviv… which is telling,” Brian Mefford, were by no means met. They were neither fair nor free,” including 11 Ukrainians, two of whom were passengers and owner and director of Wooden Horse Strategies, a Kyiv- German government spokesman Steffen Seibert said after the rest crew members. Iran’s report on the shoot down based government relations and strategic communications Mr. Lukashenka was sworn in. “Even after today’s ceremo- was given to Ukraine on December 31, Ukraine’s Deputy consultancy, told The Ukrainian Weekly. Servant of the ny, Mr. Lukashenka cannot evoke the democratic legitima- Foreign Affairs Minister Yevhen Yenin said Ukraine has 60 People, however, won enough seats in city councils “to cy that would have been the condition for him to be recog- days to offer revisions or changes to the report. remain relevant,” he added. nized as a legitimate president.” As the country moves toward a more decentralized Wildfires and floods Kyiv also joined the sanctions regime against Belarus form of government, this means that “the parliamentary imposed by the EU. At the end of December, the Ukrainian Wildfires erupted in April in northern Ukraine and then and extraparliamentary victors in the local elections will government took the additional step of simplifying the in the east in July. The first incident in Zhytomyr Oblast be forced to build coalitions in local councils,” Mr. Kliuzhev rules for Belarusian IT specialists and some other catego- and in the Chornobyl exclusion zone put Kyiv first in the wrote. “The dispersion of the newly elected council mem- ries of professionals to obtain permanent residence amid Air Quality and Pollution City Ranking as the city with the bers will elicit unexpected political alliances between a widespread crackdown on civil liberties in Belarus. worst air quality. Radiation levels, however, were within ideologically opposed political forces.” 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 No. 3

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW U.S.-Ukraine relations: Plenty of ups and downs he year 2020 was, what can we say, a follow-up to the unusual year that preceded it as regards U.S.- TUkraine relations. There were plenty of ups and downs, and oftentimes it seemed the Trump administra- tion and Congress were on opposite sides when it came to Ukraine. Sometimes, different positions were articu- lated by members of the administration and the presi- dent himself. A case in point: While members of Congress and the administration kept up the pressure on Russia for its inva- sion and occupation of Ukraine, President Donald Trump was willing to ignore Russia’s violations of international law when he suggested on May 30 that he wanted to invite Russia to rejoin the Group of Seven. “I don’t feel that as a G-7 it properly represents what’s going on in the world,” Mr. Trump said, adding, “It’s a very outdated group of countries.” Readers will no doubt recall that Russia belonged to what was then called the G-8 in 1998-2014, but its membership was suspended after the invasion and annexation of Ukraine’s Crimean peninsula. A joint state- ment said that the body would meet in the G-7 format “until Russia changes course and the environment comes U.S. Embassy Kyiv back to where the G-8 is able to have a meaningful discus- On January 24, U.S. Chargé d’Affaires in Ukraine Kristina Kvien (center) handed over $1 million in equipment sion.” Clearly, nothing had changed since 2014 when from the United States to the Maritime Guard of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine. Russia was kicked out of the exclusive group of world leaders. Both men suggested that the recordings could be a publication of supposed material on Mr. Biden. The United States hadn’t had an ambassador to Ukraine Russian provocation. On May 26 it was reported that Ukraine continued to be a hot topic as the U.S. presi- since May 2019, when was recalled. Ukraine’s State Investigation Bureau had opened a case dential campaign continued. On September 23, a report Afterwards, a former ambassador to Ukraine, William into a possible illegal wiretap of the phone calls between released by Senate Homeland Security and Governmental Taylor, was tapped to serve as chargé d’affaires, which he Messrs. Biden and Poroshenko. It focused on “the illegal Affairs Committee Chairman Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) and did for half a year. On January 2, 2020, Kristina Kvien, dep- use of technical means of obtaining information which Senate Finance Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley uty chief of the U.S. diplomatic mission in Ukraine, was could inflict damage to national interests.” Commentators (R-Iowa) claimed that work done by Mr. Biden’s son in appointed as the interim chargé d’affaires at the Embassy opined that the ultimate purpose of releasing the record- Ukraine created a “potential conflict of interest” that in Kyiv. Ms. Kvien stated: “Our Embassy team will continue ings was to damage the presidential prospects of Mr. undermined U.S. policy. The controversial report came to partner closely with the Ukrainian government and civil Biden. They also generally agreed that in this situation just weeks before November’s presidential election and society, and support Ukrainian sovereignty and territorial President Zelenskyy had to carefully avoid being dragged with the elder Biden leading President Trump in most integrity, and support reforms that will help Ukraine build into American politics by staying strictly neutral during polls. its prosperous European future.” the U.S. election campaign. According to an RFE/RL story, the report also alleged Meanwhile, Ukraine’s new ambassador to the U.S., Initially, the new leaks and recycled accusations made that Hunter Biden had dealings with Ukrainian, Russian, Volodymyr Yelchenko – who had been appointed by more of a splash in Ukraine than in Washington. But the Kazakh and Chinese nationals of “questionable back- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in mid-December 2019 damage that could have been caused by the leaks resulted grounds,” including the wife of a former Moscow mayor. and presented his credentials to President Trump on in an unprecedented pro-Ukrainian response: seven for- But it also said it was “unclear” whether former Vice- January 6 – tapped Iryna Mazur as Ukraine’s honorary mer U.S. ambassadors to Ukraine on May 26 issued a President Biden altered U.S. policy or took any other consul in Philadelphia. The official appointment came on statement expressing their concerns and affirming their actions to assist his son. Democrats said that the January 11 in a ceremony at Ukraine’s Embassy during support for Kyiv. Republican exercise was a politically motivated attack on which an agreement about the creation of an Honorary Ambassadors Roman Popadiuk, , Carlos the Democratic candidate. Consulate in Philadelphia was signed. Pascual, John Herbst, William Taylor, John Tefft and Marie The Republican senators acknowledged in their At about the same time, the Government Accountability Yovanovitch stated: “We have worked over the years to 87-page report that it was “not clear” to what extent Office (GAO), a nonpartisan U.S. Congressional watchdog, build and strengthen the U.S.-Ukrainian strategic partner- Hunter Biden’s position on Ukrainian gas company said the administration of President Trump violated feder- ship established in 1996. We thus are disheartened by Burisma’s board affected the Obama administration’s poli- al law by withholding security assistance to Ukraine. RFE/ efforts to inject Ukraine into America’s domestic politics as cy on Ukraine. However, the report said the millions of RL reported that the GAO said in a January 16 report that the 2020 U.S. presidential election approaches. Those dollars the younger Mr. Biden received for his role with the Office of Management and Budget (OMB) had violated efforts advance a false and toxic narrative, one with no Burisma “negatively impacted” U.S. diplomatic efforts to the law in 2019 when it withheld the aid that had been basis in the reality of U.S.-Ukraine relations, in order to battle at a time when then-Vice appropriated by Congress. The nine-page report conclud- weaken the relationship between the United States and President Biden was leading Ukraine policy. The senators ed that “the law does not permit the president to substi- Ukraine and sow division within our two countries. That described Burisma as having a “longstanding reputation tute his own policy priorities for those that Congress has serves neither country’s interests. We strongly condemn for corruption.” enacted into law.” these efforts to divide our two countries and call on offi- Coincidentally, September 23 also appeared to be the The report was released just before the Senate was cials in both to avoid steps that will only erode the bilateral date that the charges of impropriety levelled against Mr. sworn in to start the impeachment trial of Mr. Trump, who relationship and alienate our countries from one another.” Biden by Mr. Shokin and a senior judge suspected of cor- was accused of abusing the power of his office for person- On September 10, the U.S. Treasury Department ruption were dropped in Ukraine. However, the announce- al gain and obstruction of Congress, RFE/RL noted. The announced it had blacklisted Mr. Derkach, who had been ment was not made by the Procurator General’s Office news service added that the two articles of impeachment helping Mr. Giuliani find compromising information on Mr. until November 11 – eight days after Election Day in the specifically related to Mr. Trump’s dealings with Ukraine. Biden. What’s more, the Treasury Department said Mr. U.S. They include holding up $391 million passed by Congress Derkach, a member of the Ukrainian Parliament who stud- An RFE/RL news analysis noted that, despite the heat- in military aid for Ukraine, a move seen as pressuring Kyiv ied at the KGB school in Moscow, has been “an active ed political battles, the outcome of the election may have into investigating Joe Biden, the Republican president’s Russian agent” for over a decade. little effect on U.S. policy toward Ukraine. Observers said potential Democratic opponent in the 2020 election. “Derkach has directly or indirectly engaged in, spon- the next administration – Mr. Trump’s or Mr. Biden’s – was In May, Ukraine was shaken by a scandal involving sored, concealed, or otherwise been complicit in foreign likely to continue to provide Kyiv with military support, leaked recordings of alleged phone conversations interference in an attempt to undermine the upcoming including lethal weapons, to help Ukraine in its ongoing between former U.S. Vice-President Biden and former 2020 U.S. presidential election. Today’s designation of war against Russian and Russian-backed forces. The President made in 2015-2016 when Derkach is focused on exposing Russian malign influence United States is also likely to push the Ukrainian govern- they were both in office. The recordings were released on campaigns and protecting our upcoming elections from ment to implement economic reforms, fight corruption, May 19 by Ukrainian National Deputy Andriy Derkach, an foreign interference,” the statement said. The Treasury battle the influence of billionaire tycoons, reduce reliance ally of President Trump’s lawyer . Among Department also noted that “Derkach almost certainly tar- on Russian energy and continue to reject Russia’s claim to other things, Messrs. Biden and Poroshenko were suppos- geted the U.S. voting populace, prominent U.S. persons Crimea. edly heard discussing the need to dismiss the Ukrainian and members of the U.S. government, based on his reli- On the sanctions front, in January the United States prosecutor general at that time, Viktor Shokin, in return ance on U.S. platforms, English-language documents and joined with the European Union and Canada in imposing for $1 billion in U.S. aid. Mr. Shokin was reportedly investi- videos, and pro-Russian lobbyists in the United States new sanctions on Russia in response to Moscow’s “contin- gating Vice-President Biden’s son Hunter for financial used to propagate his claims.” Mr. Derkach responded by ued aggression toward Ukraine and attempted occupation impropriety in Ukraine. accusing Mr. Biden and George Kent, deputy assistant sec- of Crimea.” A total of eight individuals and a privately Mr. Biden said the leaked recordings were heavily edit- retary of state overseeing Ukraine, of “revenge” and claim- owned railroad company face restrictive measures in the ed, while Mr. Poroshenko dismissed them as “fabricated.” ing the sanctions were announced to pre-empt another form of asset freezes in the United States, according to the No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 11

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC). Seven of these individuals, whom the Treasury Department called “illegitimate Russian-backed Crimean officials,” were also designated by the EU on January 28. Canada blacklisted six of the individuals. The imposition of sanctions was made “as part of a coordinated action in a strong demonstration of the international community’s continued condemnation of Russia’s interference in Crimean politics.” As a result, there were now 692 individ- uals and entities, as well as their subsidiaries, blacklisted by the U.S. government. A month later, President Trump extended for one year a series of previously imposed sanctions on Russia over its actions in Ukraine, in particular, forcibly annexing the Crimean peninsula and further destabilizing the country. The president’s executive order was signed on February 25 and included a package of sanctions that have expand- ed in scope over time since March 6, 2014, when they were first introduced by the Obama administration. Mr. Trump’s executive order said Russia’s actions, including its “purported annexation of Crimea and use of force in Ukraine... undermine democratic processes and institu- tions in Ukraine; threaten its peace, security, stability, sov- ereignty and territorial integrity; and contribute to the misappropriation of assets.” As regards U.S. javelins for Ukraine, the U.S. Defense Department on February 28 signed a new contract for the Presidential Office of Ukraine production of Javelin anti-tank missile systems for partner U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy held a joint briefing in Kyiv countries, including Ukraine. RFE/RL reported that the on January 31. U.S. Army contract worth more than $18 million was awarded to Raytheon and Lockheed Martin. The State the U.S. to meet with State Department officials and mem- negotiating proposals or disinformation themes. More Department in October 2019 had approved the sale of bers of Congress, and to attend a meeting of the U.S. importantly, the document describes the problem to be $39.2 million in military equipment to Ukraine, including Helsinki Commission. At the time of his U.S. visit, Russia resolved in Kremlin-friendly terms, perhaps in order to a second batch of Javelins, the world’s most effective anti- still held 96 political prisoners, most of whom were persuade members of the Russian elite to sign. The sign- tank missiles, to help Kyiv in its ongoing war against detained in Crimea, including 69 Crimean Tatars, accord- ers identify the problem in their very first sentence: ‘the Russian and Russian-backed forces. The deal reportedly ing to Ukrainian NGOs. Anywhere from 101 to 184 were conflict in and around Ukraine.’ That description obscures included 150 Javelin missiles and 10 launch units, adding still held in the occupied Donbas, according to NGOs and the problem’s origins and makes it impossible to find an to the 210 missiles and 37 launchers that Ukraine bought the Ukrainian government. appropriate solution. ‘The conflict in and around Ukraine’ from the United States in 2018. While the war in Ukraine’s east continued, so did began when Russian troops, in Russian uniforms but oper- Among those who traveled to the United States in 2020 attempts to reach a peace deal. At the 56th ating without identifying insignias, seized the Ukrainian to speak with leading American officials was Ukrainian Security Conference that took place on February 14-16, a peninsula of Crimea, and Moscow ‘annexed’ it. Moscow film director and former Kremlin captive Oleh Sentsov, distinguished group of American, European and Russian then launched its hybrid war in the Donbas and used its who told members of the U.S. Congress on January 28 former government officials and think tank experts issued massive disinformation apparatus to present this as a about his prison term in Russia. He also spoke about the a controversial statement recommending 12 steps to Ukrainian civil conflict.” confessions of the Russian military involved in seizing the bring greater security to Ukraine and the Euro-Atlantic The statement continued: “Without Kremlin leader- Crimean peninsula from Ukraine, the Voice of America region. The Washington-based Atlantic Council pointed ship, financing, weapons (including heavy arms), ammu- reported. According to Mr. Sentsov, Russian President out that, “For years, the Kremlin has tried to change the nition, and – in some cases – regular units of the Russian Vladimir Putin grabbed Crimea when Ukrainian citizens conversation on Ukraine, and they are clearly seeking Army, there would be no ‘conflict in and around Ukraine.’ toppled the regime of “Putin’s direct subordinate” Viktor another opening in Munich.” In response, 23 former U.S. In short, the problem to fix is Moscow’s aggression in Yanukovych. The Ukrainian filmmaker added that it was in diplomats, government officials and experts pointed out Ukraine – by restoring Ukraine’s sovereignty and territori- prison where he met with a Russian military intelligence their errors in a statement published by the Atlantic al integrity, starting with the Donbas. More broadly, the operative who had been involved in the annexation of Council. problem is to persuade Moscow that it does not have the Crimea: “In prison I met a convicted GRU officer who told “Most of the 12 recommendations from the Euro- right to dictate the policies of its neighbors.” The signato- in detail how the Crimea seizure unfolded. He took part in Atlantic Security Leadership Group – if faithfully imple- ries underlined: “The authors are right that the Kremlin’s this. Then this officer fought in the Donbas – he said that it mented by all parties – are constructive and could both war against Ukraine requires a political solution. However, was the Russians who were most brutal towards the serve as confidence-building measures and alleviate the that solution requires an honest assessment of the battle- Ukrainians.” difficulties and suffering endured by the population in or field, and the policies and objectives of the actors. Moscow Mr. Sentsov, who was freed by Russia in a prisoner near the occupied Donbas,” the opposing statement began. has not hidden its objectives. Senior Russian officials swap with Ukraine in September 2019, was on a trip to “Several are problematic; two in particular echo Kremlin declare that they must have a sphere of influence, and to achieve it they will use all necessary means, including mil- itary force.” Russia’s war on Ukraine was also in the headlines on World Peace Day, September 21, when the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv called on Russia to end the conflict in the Donbas, to withdraw from the Donbas and Crimea, and to release all illegally imprisoned Ukrainians. “On World Peace Day we call on Russia to choose peace. Ukrainians, like all people, want to live their lives in peace, and with full recognition of their human rights. Until Russia ends the conflict it manufactured and sustains in Donbas, and fully with- draws from both Donbas and Crimea, Ukrainians cannot enjoy the peace they deserve,” U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Kvien said in a video address posted on Twitter. On the diplomatic front, President Trump on May 1 announced his intent to nominate a retired lieutenant general of the U.S. Army as ambassador to Ukraine. The announcement released by the White House noted: “Keith W. Dayton currently serves as the director of the George C. Marshall Center in Garmisch, Germany, a position he has held since 2010. He also serves concurrently as Senior United States Defense Advisor to Ukraine. His current ser- vice follows a four-decade career in the United States Army, retiring in 2010 with the rank of lieutenant general. Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba reacted positively to the nomination of Mr. Dayton by Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S.A. tweeting on May 2: “I welcome the decision to nominate a On January 11, Iryna Mazur was appointed Ukraine’s honorary consul in Philadelphia by Ukraine’s ambassador new U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and look forward to wel- to the United States, Volodymyr Yelchenko. coming him in Kyiv. I have met Gen. Keith W. Dayton in his 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 No. 3

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW capacity of Ukraine’s defense reform advis- understands that Ukraine is an important er. Working with him has always been a country. It’s not just the geographic heart of wonderful experience.” Former Europe; it’s a bulwark between freedom Ambassador Herbst, now a political analyst and authoritarianism in Eastern Europe. … at the Atlantic Council, told RFE/RL that Lt. The United States sees that the Ukrainian Gen. (ret.) Dayton is a good choice because struggle for freedom, democracy and pros- he knows the issues facing Kyiv well. Mr. perity is a valiant one. Our commitment to Dayton’s top concerns will be the Russia- support it will not waver.” In addition, he backed war in eastern Ukraine as well as cited the historic Crimea Declaration of July Ukrainian reforms, Mr. Herbst said. In a July 2018 in which the U.S. made it clear that 13 letter to the chairman and the ranking Crimea is Ukraine and the U.S. “will never member of the Senate Foreign Relations recognize Russia’s attempts to annex it.” Committee, Sens. James Risch (R-Idaho) The Ukrainian Weekly’s editorial com- and Robert Menendez (D-N.J.), respectively, mented on the Pompeo visit, noting that “… the Ukrainian Congress Committee of the question that needs to be asked is: America voiced its support for the nomi- What’s next in the U.S. relationship with nee. this strategic ally? First on the agenda The Senate Foreign Relations Committee should be the appointment of a U.S. ambas- held a hearing on Lt. Gen. Dayton’s nomina- sador to Ukraine, where the Embassy is tion on August 5. Sen. Menendez’s opening currently led by a chargé d’affaires. Second, statement about U.S. relations noted: “On the U.S. should finally grant President this committee, you have stalwart champi- Zelenskyy what he’d been seeking since he ons of Ukraine.” In reference to the Russian was elected in April 2019: a White House invasion of Ukraine, Sen. Menendez also meeting with President Trump. And third, mentioned that Ukrainian forces are “con- it would be a wise move to name a special stantly challenged” holding back the envoy to help achieve peace in Ukraine, Russian military. “It is important to speak where Russia’s war will soon enter its sev- in one voice on Ukraine.” enth year.” In his opening remarks, Lt. Gen. Dayton On February 26, Secretary of State related his experience and knowledge of Pompeo released a statement on the sixth Ukraine-related matters, as “Ukraine has anniversary of Russia’s attempted annexa- been a part of my life for 40 years.” The tion of Crimea in order to state, yet again, nominee offered his opinion on the need to U.S. Embassy Kyiv that, “As underscored in our July 2018 “counter Russian malign influence” and During his visit to Kyiv on August 27, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen Biegun Crimea Declaration, the United States does advance “our shared goal of Ukraine join- (right) expressed solidarity with the brave Ukrainians who lost their lives and suf- not and will not ever recognize Russia’s ing the Euro-Atlantic community as a full fered injuries defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity. He is seen claims of sovereignty over the peninsula. here while visiting a memorial to those heroes with Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs We call on Russia to end its occupation of and free member.” He also noted: “My mili- Minister Dmytro Kuleba. tary background and current role as Crimea. Russia’s occupation of Crimea and its increasing militarization of the peninsu- Ukraine’s senior defense advisor provide Another major topic of concern to the U.S. delegation la is a threat to our common security. Russian occupation me unique insight that I hope to leverage to assist was that Russia and its proxies were denying access to authorities continue their assault on human rights and Ukraine’s armed forces become an increasingly effective and placing restrictions on the movement of the OSCE’s fundamental freedoms, brutally silencing critics in civil fighting force.” Special Monitoring Mission (SMM). “This is part of society and the media, and curtailing religious freedom. … A vote on the ambassador-designate was to take place Moscow’s broader campaign against Ukraine, including Six years on, Russia continues to rely on lies and disinfor- at a later date. However, close to the end of the year, RFE/ in both the Donbas and Russia-occupied Crimea. On a mation in its failed attempt to legitimize the illegitimate. RL reported: “The Senate has not yet scheduled a vote and weekly basis, the SMM’s work is inhibited by Russia and Its efforts are doomed to failure. The world will never for- is therefore unlikely to green-light the Trump administra- its proxy forces – which Russia arms, trains, funds, leads get Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine.” tion’s choice of a retired Army lieutenant general to be the and fights alongside – limiting the SMM’s ability to fulfill Mr. Pompeo continued his contacts with Ukraine. For next U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, according to Senate and its mandate and to provide OSCE participating states other sources. A failure to vote would leave the naming of with the most accurate view of the situation on the example, on April 6 it was reported that he spoke with someone for a posting that has been vacant for around 18 ground,” Ambassador Gilmore noted in his statement on President Zelenskyy to discuss ongoing U.S. assistance to months to President-elect Joe Biden’s administration.” March 26. Ukraine during the COVID-19 crisis, including the planned Meanwhile, in Kyiv, Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister On January 31, when U.S. Secretary of State Mike delivery of much-needed medical lab equipment. He also Kuleba on November 20 confirmed that he proposed the Pompeo visited Kyiv, the Russian-Ukrainian war in the thanked the president for Ukraine’s support in repatriat- candidacy of ex-Finance Minister for Donbas was among the topics of his discussions with ing U.S. citizens and residents, including more than 200 the post of Ukraine’s ambassador to the United States. President Zelenskyy, Foreign Affairs Minister Vadym Peace Corps volunteers. On May 7, he spoke with Foreign Writing on his Facebook page, he noted that the proce- Prystaiko and Defense Minister Andriy Zahorodnyuk. Affairs Minister Kuleba. According to the U.S. State dure for her registration had already been launched, but it During this major visit to Ukraine by a senior Trump Department, “Secretary Pompeo and Foreign Minister takes some time. “If appointed, Ukraine for the first time administration official, Secretary Pompeo also under- Kuleba discussed Ukraine’s efforts to achieve a diplomatic will have an ambassador to Washington who is well- scored the strong U.S. support for Ukraine and its Euro- resolution to the Russia-instigated conflict in Ukraine’s known both in the U.S. administration, in particular in the Atlantic integration. In addition, the secretary of state met Donbas region and the results of the April 30 Normandy Department of State and in the Department of Treasury, with Metropolitan Epifaniy of the Orthodox Church of Format virtual Foreign Ministerial. The secretary com- and in the IMF [International Monetary Fund]. … The fact Ukraine, civil society activists and business leaders, and mended Ukraine’s conflict diplomacy in the face of that Markarova will be the first ever madame ambassador participated in a wreath-laying ceremony to honor those Russia’s intransigence and continued aggressive behavior.” of Ukraine to the United States is also notable.” who were killed in the Donbas while defending their Later in the year, U.S. Deputy Secretary of State Stephen At the Organization for Security and Cooperation in homeland. On Twitter, Secretary Pompeo wrote: “The U.S. Biegun, during an August 27 meeting with Ukrainian Europe (OSCE), the U.S. delegation continued to speak out, welcomes Ukraine’s efforts to bring peace to the Donbas. Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal in Kyiv, assured that the loud and clear, about Russia’s ongoing war on Ukraine. On Russia must reciprocate. Our sanctions will remain in United States supports the Ukrainian government’s efforts January 16, Ambassador James S. Gilmore III addressed place until Ukraine’s territorial integrity and sovereignty to implement reforms. The U.S. Embassy reported on its the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna, stating, “We call is restored.” Facebook page that the United States is deeply committed upon Russia to abide by the Helsinki Final Act principles Clearly, the visit was meant to allay fears that the to reinforcing Ukraine’s continued progress on reforms to and the Minsk agreements, and to reciprocate the good Trump administration, with President Trump in the midst further integrate into Europe, including via cooperation faith displayed by President Zelenskyy’s administration. of impeachment proceedings in the U.S. Senate, was not with international partners to strengthen its judicial, regu- To end this conflict in 2020, both sides must be fully com- turning away from Ukraine. It would also counter the neg- latory and financial institutions. During Mr. Biegun’s meet- mitted to the implementation of a lasting and permanent ative impression created when Mr. Pompeo, apparently in ing with Minister Kuleba, the topics of discussion included ceasefire, which is predicated upon the withdrawal of a fit of anger, had said to an NPR anchor: “Do you think development of the strategic partnership between Russian forces and matériel from sovereign Ukrainian ter- Americans care about Ukraine?” Ukraine and the United States, as well as the situation in ritory.” He underscored: “The United States fully supports During their joint press availability, President Belarus, Ukraine’s northern neighbor, where protests had Ukraine’s sovereignty, independence and territorial integ- Zelenskyy stated: “This is a hallmark visit that clearly broken out in the aftermath of the tainted presidential rity within its internationally recognized borders, includ- demonstrates the consistent and across-the-board sup- election. ing its territorial waters. We do not, nor will we ever, rec- port of our country by the United States of America. The Among the strongest supporters of Ukraine in the U.S. ognize Russia’s purported annexation of Crimea. We join United States have been and will remain our key ally in were the members of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus our European and other partners in affirming that our defending sovereignty and territorial integrity of Ukraine. (CUC), who spoke out on a number of issues. On January Minsk-related sanctions against Russia will remain in We dearly appreciate the efforts of President Trump and 16, they introduced a resolution expressing bipartisan place until Russia fully implements its Minsk commit- his administration on this track. We are grateful for your support for Ukraine and its people, and commending the ments. The separate, Crimea-related sanctions will remain personal, unflinching and unwavering stance regarding Ukrainian people’s resilience and accomplishments in the in place until Russia returns full control of the peninsula the and the illegal annexation of Crimea.” face of Russian aggression.” The CUC added that to Ukraine.” Subsequent statements throughout the year In a similar vein, Secretary Pompeo emphasized that “Ukraine’s success will only boost U.S. national security repeated those assertions and the staunch U.S. position. “The Ukrainian people should know the United States interests in the region and globally.” No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 13

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On June 8, the Congressional Ukraine Caucus sent a let- ter to Secretary of State Pompeo expressing concern regarding Russia’s efforts to circumvent congressional sanctions on Nord Stream 2, and urging Mr. Pompeo to urgently apply sanctions on Russian entities STIF and MRTS and any other firms should they engage in pipelay- ing or provide technical support, as mandated under sec- tion 7503 of the Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Act of 2019. A copy of the letter was also sent to Secretary of the Treasury Steven Mnuchin. The letter read, in part: “Russian authorities seek to complete Nord Stream 2 as a political and economic weapon to cut off critical gas tran- sit through Ukraine, a nation fighting for its survival against Russian aggression and occupation of its regions, as well as to increase its leverage over Europe. That is why several Eastern European, Nordic and Baltic countries have joined the United States in expressing their concerns with the project.” A month later, Secretary Pompeo threatened to sanc- tion any individual or company helping Russia build the controversial natural gas pipeline to Germany as the Kremlin moved to complete the last kilometers of the nearly $11 billion project. “Get out now – or risk the con- sequences,” Mr. Pompeo said on July 15 during a press conference in Washington announcing the new sanctions guidelines. Still, in late October, the Congressional Ukraine Caucus Ukrainian Canadian Congress expressed fear that a U.S. bill to expand sanctions on a Oleh Sentsov (center), at a dinner with Ukrainian community leaders on February 2 in Toronto. From left are: Russian natural-gas pipeline to Europe could be dropped Ukrainian Canadian Congress Vice-President Olesia Luciw-Andryjowycz, UCC National President Alexandra from the 2021 National Defense Authorization Act Chyczij, Ukrainian World Congress Vice-President Anna Kisil, Mr. Sentsov, UWC President Paul Grod, UWC (NDAA). The Protecting Europe’s Energy Security Vice-President Zenon Poticzny and UWC Executive Director Mariia Kupriianova. Clarification Act (PEESCA) would widen the scope of sanctions related to the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. “We ple of a good man doing something by standing up and strongly urge you to include PEESCA in the final confer- Canada: Year of remembering speaking the truth. And he does it without fanfare – just enced FY21 NDAA bill. This will not only strengthen walking the talk – and not even talking much, which is very European energy security and U.S. national security, but during historic pandemic impressive in its simplicity and clarity.” also demonstrate the U.S. resolute commitment to - Ukraine’s democratic future, free from malign Russian ith the COVID-19 pandemic putting the planet on ceeded Ms. Freeland as Canadian foreign affairs minister in influence,” said the October 27 letter to congressional freeze for most of 2020, the year presented an NovemberMeanwhile, 2019, François-Philippe visited Ukraine on Champagne, March 4-6, 2020.who sucTop leaders signed by the CUC’s four co-chairs, Marcy Kaptur Wopportunity for reflection and Canada’s of mind was the tragedy involving Ukraine International (D-Ohio), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) Ukrainian community spent considerable time looking Airlines (UIA) Flight PS752, which Iran said its Islamic and Andy Harris (R-Md.). back at history. Revolutionary Guard Corps accidentally shot down on On August 26, the Congressional Ukraine Caucus As part of its “Heroes of Their Day” initiative and during January 8. applauded the inclusion in several appropriations bills of 75th anniversary year of Victory in Europe (V-E) Day, the Minister Champagne told Canadian reporters in a funding for vital programs that support key efforts to Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation (UCCLF) March 6 teleconference from Kyiv that the Royal Canadian strengthen democracy in Ukraine. The funding included: released the Almanac of Ukrainian Canadian Servicemen Mounted Police were assisting Ukrainian police in their $255 million for development and anti-corruption assis- online (https://www.ucclf.ca/heroes-of-their-day), a criminal investigation of the downing of the aircraft, which tance; $115 million for foreign military financing; $2.9 mil- Ukrainian-language digest (with an English foreword), claimed the lives of 176 passengers and crew, including 55 lion for international military education and training; $15 produced in 1946 by the Ukrainian Catholic Brotherhood Canadian citizens and 30 permanent residents of Canada. million for nonproliferation, antiterrorism, demining and of Canada, which provides information about many of the Canada’s foreign affairs minister also said that he and related programs; $30 million for international narcotics thousands of Ukrainian Canadian men and women who his Ukrainian counterpart, Dmytro Kuleba, agreed to “con- control and law enforcement; and $275 million for volunteered for service overseas with the Canadian Armed tinue to push” UIA to provide compensation to the families Ukraine Security Assistance Initiative. Also notable, the Forces during World War II, including photographs and of the victims of the ill-fated flight. CUC said, was the inclusion of key language to boost care casualty lists. News of the online documentation was While in Ukraine, Minister Champagne also announced for Ukrainian veterans, enhance Ukraine’s cyberdefenses reported in February. more than $2 million (about $1.5 million U.S.) over three and energy security, strengthen women’s agricultural Canada’s longest-serving ambassador to Ukraine, Roman years in Canadian government funding to help strengthen microfinancing initiatives and support creation of the Waschuk, a Ukrainian Canadian, was honored, along with the capacity of the National Police of Ukraine. Ukrainian Rada Research Service to boost Ukraine’s his wife, Oksana Smerechuk, at a Toronto gala organized by Back in Canada, Liberal Member of Parliament Yvan reform efforts, as well as language to ensure that Ukraine the Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) on February 1. Baker, a Ukrainian Canadian who represents the Toronto further adopts and implements defense reforms and Some $100,000 (about $88,000 U.S.) was raised to support riding of Etobicoke Center in the House of Commons – a reduces corruption in the security services. a fund bearing the couple’s name to support the UCC’s seat once held by another Ukrainian Canadian, Borys In the latest news on U.S.-Ukraine relations in 2020, Parliamentary Internship Program as well as its community Wrzesnewskyj – was elected chair of the Canada-Ukraine President Zelenskyy told The New York Times in an inter- development fund. Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Parliamentary Friendship Group on March 9. view published on December 20 that he was looking for- Chrystia Freeland, who is also an ethnic Ukrainian, were Later in March, the UCC launched a national blood drive ward to putting relations with the U.S. on a sound footing. among those who feted Ambassador Waschuk, Canada’s to fill the gap of blood donations created by the COVID Speaking of President-elect Biden, he said, “Before his representative in Kyiv from 2014 to 2019. pandemic. Also that month, the congress called on the presidency, he had close ties to Ukraine, and he under- The first week of February also found Ukrainian film- Trudeau government to support charitable and non-profit stands the Russians well, he understands the difference maker and political activist Oleh Sentsov visiting Ottawa organizations affected by the crisis through such measures between Ukraine and Russia, and, it seems to me, he and Toronto on a busy four-day schedule that included a as wage subsidies, which Ottawa introduced as organiza- understands the Ukrainian mentality.” He added: “It will sit-down with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Ms. tions were forced into lockdowns. really help strengthen relations, help settle the war in Freeland and a Ukrainian Canadian community meeting The pandemic impacted Canada’s Armed Forces too, [the] Donbas and end the occupation of our territory. The co-hosted by three members of Parliament and the with the number of personnel scheduled in April to deploy United States can help.” Ukrainian Canadian Congress’s Ottawa branch in the capi- to Ukraine as part of the military training operation, At the same time, the Ukrainian president said, “I tal, along with an event in Toronto organized by the UNIFIER, decreasing from 200 soldiers to about 60. should thank the United States in the period of Donald League of Ukrainian Canadians. Also in April, the Temerty Foundation, which Ukrainian Trump,” expressing thanks for sanctions imposed as a Released in 2019 from a Russian prison where he had Canadian business powerhouse Jim Temerty and his wife, result of Russia’s takeover of Crimea and its actions in held been for five years on trumped-up terrorism charges, Louise, established in 1997, donated $10 million (almost opposing the Nord Stream 2 pipeline. Mr. Sentsov spoke in Canada of the plight of the more than $8 million U.S.) to the University of Toronto’s Faculty of The New York Times reported that in the interview, 90 Ukrainians – many of them Crimean Tatars – jailed in Medicine to help its partner hospitals respond to the conducted via video link from Kyiv, Mr. Zelenskyy said he Russia and Crimea, where he grew up and whose annexa- immediate needs of frontline health-care workers, and resented efforts to draw Ukraine into American politics, tion by Russia he has actively opposed. One of his podiums facilitate research and training in response to the COVID- which could only harm Kyiv’s interests. “I don’t want was at the University of Ottawa, where Mr. Sentsov partici- 19 pandemic. Ukraine to become the subject” of a fight between pated in a question-and-answer session presented by the The coronavirus crisis impacted the UCCLF’s unveiling Democrats and Republicans, he said. “We are beautiful university’s Chair of Ukrainian Studies and the Human of a memorial “Heroes of Their Day” stained-glass window partners. But partners in what? Let’s be partners in geo- Rights Research and Education Center. At that event, he in London, scheduled for May 8, as part of the V-E Day 75th politics, in the economy between our countries. But cer- proved to be a man of few words, as law professor John anniversary commemoration activities. tainly not between personalities, and moreover with two Packer, the center’s director, told The Ukrainian Weekly. On that day, the UCC issued a statement marking Nazi candidates for the presidency of the United States.” Mr. Sentsov, said Prof. Packer, is “a flesh-and-blood exam- Germany’s surrender that ended World War II in Europe – 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 No. 3

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW a conflict that claimed more than 45,000 Canadian lives. “Today we unite in solemn commemoration of the mil- lions of victims of the most brutal war ever inflicted upon humanity and in eternal gratitude to those who fell in the service of our country in the struggle for freedom,” it read. “The memory of the Nazi German death camps and the blood-soaked battlefields of Europe warn us of man’s capacity for evil and instills in us an eternal vigilance against inhumanity.” The pandemic also motivated Canadian organizations Help Us Help and the Canada-Ukraine Foundation to launch the COVID-19 Children’s Relief Initiative on May 20. The online appeal (https://covid19childrensrelief.ca/) was intended to help about half of the nearly 100,000 chil- dren in Ukraine assigned to government-run residential institutions or rehabilitation centers who were sent home to their families when nationwide quarantine measures were introduced. Meantime, the Canadian Centre for the Great War, a Montreal-based non-profit organization, unveiled the online exhibit “Confined: Reflections on Internment in Canada during the First World War” (https://confined. greatwarcentre.com/), featuring images from internment operations in Canada during World War I that targeted, among other ethnic groups, Ukrainians, who were labeled as “enemy aliens.” Twenty-four camps housed 8,816 men, Ukrainian Canadian Congress women and children, including civilians and prisoners of Former Canadian Ambassador to Ukraine Roman Waschuk and his wife, Oksana Smerechuk, at a gala held in war. Ukrainians are counted among people from Austria- their honor by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress on February 1. They were honored for their contributions to Hungary (5,954 people as listed on the website), which public service and Canada-Ukraine relations. included Czechs and Slovaks. In June, The Weekly ran an editorial focusing on the Montreal. The Spirit Lake internment site was opened in A month later, on July 6, the UCC issued another state- month when Canadians commemorated the centennial of January 1915 with over 1,200 interned. The majority of ment – this time about the vandalization of a large banner the end of the country’s first national internment opera- those held there were Ukrainians – many taken from at the construction site of a planned $3 million (about $2.3 tions, “a shameful episode in Canadian history” that Montreal and the surrounding area, including 60 families, million U.S.) Victims of memorial in Ottawa. occurred between 1914 and 1920 against the backdrop of men, women and children. The words “Communism will win” and Soviet hammer- the first world war. Slammed by the pandemic, the fourth annual Ukraine and-sickle emblems were spray-painted on the English- Canada’s War Measures Act of 1914 made the opera- Reform Conference – scheduled to take place in Lithuania – and-French banner. tion possible; the same legislation was later used to justify had to be postponed until the summer of 2021. But the The memorial “is to be a national place of mourning, the imprisonment of Japanese Canadians during World COVID-19 lockdown did not prevent the UCC – in partner- reflection, contemplation and remembrance, honoring the War II and of some Quebecois in 1970. A decades-long ship with the Canadian International Council’s South millions of innocent victims murdered by Communist campaign spearheaded by the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Saskatchewan Branch – from presenting a special 90-min- regimes throughout the world,” the statement read. Liberties Association resulted in the historic signing in ute webinar on June 22 to examine the “progress” made and “Millions of people, including many Ukrainians, who were 2008 of a redress settlement between the Canadian gov- the “pitfalls” experienced a year after the 2019 reform con- subjected to the brutality and inhumanity of Communism, ernment and the Ukrainian Canadian community that led ference that featured President Volodymyr Zelenskyy in his fled to Canada – where they found liberty and peace. That to the establishment of a $10 million educational and first overseas trip as Ukraine’s then-new head of state. this sight was desecrated through this act of hate is unac- commemorative endowment managed by the Canadian Also in June, following the killing by a Minneapolis ceptable and deplorable, and an insult to the hallowed mem- First World War Internment Recognition Fund. police officer of Black American George Floyd in late May ory of the millions of innocent victims of Communism.” To mark the centennial in 2020, the UCC’s Alberta that sparked widespread anti-racism protests in both the The vandalized signage was removed, but the incident Provincial Council announced it would run stories online United States and Canada, UCC President Alexandra was not singular. On June 1, a similar memorial in (https://uccab.ca/internment-100/) daily from June 1 to Chyczij, a lawyer, issued a statement of solidarity to the Washington was defaced with graffiti, which included the June 20, the day when the internment operations officially Black community. “Racism has no place in Canada, yet is letters, “BLM,” an apparent reference to “Black Lives Matter.” ended 100 years earlier. Among the topics covered: the experienced every day by many Canadians who are mis- On August 2, The Weekly ran an editorial on the effort impact on descendants of internees; the early days of treated because of the color of their skin and their ethnic to have the word “Holodomor” and its definition included research into this historic injustice; and the documentary background,” she said in the June 2 statement. in such major English-language dictionaries as Oxford, “That Never Happened.” “The right of equal treatment before the law and the Merriam-Webster and Dictionary.com. “Currently, Ukraine Quebec’s Ukrainian community also remembered that right to justice are fundamental and inalienable for every and 15 other countries recognize the Holodomor as geno- sad chapter in the province’s history. The largest intern- human being. We must recognize that as a nation, we do cide,” read the editorial, which referred to an online peti- ment camp there, and the second largest one in Canada, not always live up to our highest ideals – but we must tion posted July 21 on Deeptruth.ca to have Holodomor was established at Spirit Lake, 373 miles north of strive for them, together,” Ms. Chyczij underscored. recognized by the aforementioned dictionaries. The Deeptruth.ca campaign and website were conceived by the Holodomor National Awareness Tour of Canada, the organization credited with the very successful Holodomor Mobile Classroom (https://holodomortour.ca), and a proj- ect of the Canada-Ukraine Foundation. The word “Holodomor” is derived from two Ukrainian words “moryty” and “holod,” or murder and starvation, which when combined, “literally means ‘to kill by starva- tion,’” according to the editorial. “Although usage of the word began to increase after the 1970s thanks to diaspora publications in North America, the word’s early usage was documented by Ukrainian diaspora publications based in Czechoslovakia in the 1930s to describe the genocide.” “The first official use of the word in Ukraine was in 1987 after the introduction of the Soviet policy of glasnost (openness). ‘Holodomor’ was included in Ukrainian dic- tionaries in 2004, which describe it as ‘artificial hunger, organized on a vast scale by a criminal regime against a country’s population.’” Summer in Canada also saw Deputy Prime Minister Freeland’s political star continue to rise with her appoint- ment, on August 18, as the country’s first female finance minister and the first Ukrainian Canadian to serve in that role. She is “a real force in the sense that she is able to take Johnny Guatto on any challenge… learn a file and dive deep into it,” said At the University of Toronto on September 24, when the Temerty Foundation announced its gift of $250 million Paul Grod, the Toronto-based president of the Ukrainian (Canadian) to the university’s Faculty of Medicine, are: (back row, from left) Hira Raheel, Trevor Young, Rose World Congress, who added that Ms. Freeland has been Patten, David Palmer, (front row) Mike Lord, Leah Temerty-Lord, Meric Gertler, Jim Temerty and Louise Temerty. “phenomenal” in her previous senior Cabinet roles in the No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 15

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Trudeau government, which have included international trade and foreign affairs. The UCC’s Ms. Chyczij told The Weekly that she expects the political powerhouse to one day serve as Canadian prime minister – “something the Ukrainian Canadian com- munity would wish for fervently.” Continuing centennial commemorations of Ukrainian Canadian internment, Canada’s first statue and trilingual (English, French and Ukrainian) bronze plaque, placed near Castle Mountain, Banff National Park, in memory of those held at that internment camp from July 1915 to July 1917, marked its 25th anniversary on August 12. Meanwhile, to celebrate Ukrainian Canadian Heritage Day, which is observed annually in Ontario and Alberta on September 7 and on the last Saturday in July in Manitoba, the UCC released a graphic that illustrated the cross-coun- try distribution of Canadians who identify as Ukrainian. The total number for Canada was 1,359,655, according to the UCC, which hopes to have the country’s Parliament recognize a “Ukrainian Canadian Heritage Month.” On September 22, Prime Minister Trudeau spoke by phone with President Zelenskyy. According to a release from Mr. Trudeau’s office, the two leaders talked about ongoing efforts in Canada, Ukraine and around the world to address the impacts of COVID-19 and to ensure a “sus- tainable and inclusive” post-pandemic economic recovery. During the call, the prime minister and the president also Canadian Armed Forces in Ukraine discussed “the importance of dialogue and diplomatic The outgoing commander of Canada’s Operation UNIFIER, Lt. Col. Ryan Stimpson (left), signs Transfer of efforts focused on restoring peace and security in Command Authority documents alongside incoming commander Lt. Col. Sarah Heer, Joint Task Force – Ukraine’s Donbas region, and the ongoing challenge of Ukraine’s first female commanding officer, and Col. Robert Foster (center) on October 5 at the International Russia’s illegal occupation of Crimea.” Peacekeeping and Security Center (IPSC) in Starychi, Ukraine. The Temerty Foundation was back in the news in the fall, when it made an unprecedented $250 million dona- Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) and the Ukrainian November 7 during the year of the UCC’s 80th anniversary. tion (about $194 million U.S.) to the University of World Congress (UWC), was named Ukraine’s first honor- The online reality continued later in the month when Toronto’s Faculty of Medicine on September 24. ary consul in the French-speaking Canadian province of the congress held a virtual National Holodomor In addition to a new Center for AI Research and Quebec on October 16. Since Montreal was in a COVID-19 Commemoration ceremony in Canada on November 22 Education in Medicine, new funding for research and col- red zone that prohibits travel outside Quebec, Mr. Czolij (https://www.youtube. com/watch?v=QKs9dHOUXY8) to laboration across hospital partners and a new medical had to sign the joint agreement appointing him to his remember the nearly 4 million Ukrainians who perished building in downtown Toronto, the U of T’s newly named three-year renewable term position on a Zoom call with during the genocidal famine perpetrated by Joseph Stalin’s Temerty Faculty of Medicine will establish the Education , Ukraine’s ambassador to Canada, Soviet regime in 1932-1933. and Research Fund for Collaborations with Ukraine, which who was in Ottawa. It was yet another example of how 2020 was a year in will support visiting fellows, professors, scholars and stu- For Mr. Czolij, a corporate and commercial litigator, and which memories were made even more poignant and dents from Ukraine and encourage increased collaboration partner with one of Quebec’s major law firms, Lavery de treasured during a time, unparalleled for most, of physical with academics and researchers from the Toronto faculty. Billy LLP, assuming the role of honorary consul in distancing. In his October 18 column, Marco Levytsky wrote about Montreal on a pro-bono basis complements the work he And that point was amplified on November 11 in the devastating effects the COVID-19 pandemic has had on began in 2019 – also on a voluntary basis – to head Ottawa, when COVID-19 restrictions kept the usually large seniors, with 81 percent of the deaths caused by the coro- Ukraine-2050, a non-profit organization that sets hard crowds in cooler weather away from the Remembrance navirus occurring in Canadian long-term care centers. But, targets over the next 30 years to advance Ukraine as a Day ceremony at the National War Memorial, and The as he pointed out, such facilities run by the Ukrainian “fully independent, territorially integral, democratic, Weekly spoke to Ukrainian Canadian filmmaker John Canadian community have been spared outbreaks. For reformed and economically competitive European state,” Paskievich about his latest documentary, “A Canadian War example, the Ivano Franko Home in Toronto, which had no according to its mission statement. Story” (https://canadianwarstory.com/), produced by the deaths, as CBC News reported in May, had an emergency As Ukraine’s honorary consul, Mr. Czolij told The Toronto-based Ukrainian Canadian Research and plan in place before the pandemic. Weekly he would also encourage continued sanctions – Documentation Center (UCRDC) with financial support In a September 24 letter to Prime Minister Trudeau, including Canada’s three-year-old Magnitsky legislation – from the Shevchenko Foundation’s Ukrainian Canadian Ihor Michalchyshyn, CEO and executive director of the against Russia in light of its military aggression against Veterans Fund. UCC, wrote that “during the COVID-19 pandemic, the 40 Ukraine and to “pressure Russia to comply with its inter- In the film, Mr. Paskievich highlights the enlistment rate Ukrainian long-term care homes across Canada have seen national obligations.” And he said he would “defend the of Ukrainian Canadians during World War II – “the highest better health outcomes and higher rates of life satisfaction interests of Ukraine” and “counter Russian disinformation percentage of any ethnic group outside of the British in for seniors and their families than have comparable for- regarding Ukraine, which is very powerful.” Canada.” Of the more than 1 million Canadians who profit institutions. This is borne out by evidence-based The centennial year remembering Ukrainian Canadian served in Canada’s Armed Forces, between 35,000 and policy studies of long-term care facilities.” He said the UCC internment concluded on October 28 with National 40,000 – mainly men – were of Ukrainian origin. The high is “ready to work with the government of Canada to iden- Internment Commemoration Day in Canada, as designat- Ukrainian Canadian wartime participation rate became a tify experts, stakeholders and practitioners in our commu- ed in 2014 by the Endowment Council of the Canadian reckoning for a community whose members were brand- nity that ensure that the experience of these long-term First World War Internment Recognition Fund and the ed in Canada as enemy aliens, many of them interned in care homes is integrated into the development of national UCC’s internment committee. work camps during World War I. standards for all Canadians.” COVID’s continued threat also forced the UCC, for the “A Canadian War Story” also examines how Ukrainians, Ukraine’s diplomatic presence in Canada expanded in first time, to hold its annual general meeting online. Over rendered stateless following the first world war, had their the fall when Eugene Czolij, former president of both the 80 people participated in the virtual AGM held on hopes for independence dashed when the Germans occu- pying the Soviet Union during the second world war viewed them and other Slavs as “subhumans.” Among them were Mr. Paskievich’s late Ukrainian-born parents (his mother, Ewka, from the Lviv area; his father, Paul, from the Volyn region), who were sent to forced-labor camps in Hungary and then Austria, where they remained following the war and where Mr. Paskievich was born 72 years ago. Some of the Ukrainian Canadians who served overseas during the war stayed behind in Europe to help Ukrainian displaced persons, such as the Paskieviches, avoid being repatriated to the Soviet Union and find a new home in Canada. Mr. Paskievich believes there should perhaps be a monu- ment recognizing the Ukrainian Canadian service person- nel, who not only served in World War II “but who stayed

Andriy Shevchenko/Facebook behind and helped the DPs emigrate to Canada.” It is a hope During the virtual ceremony on October 16 when Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada Andriy Shevchenko (right) that carries with it a wish: If and when such a memorial officially signed the agreement with Eugene Czolij on his appointment as the honorary consul of Ukraine in materializes, the hope is that people are present for the Montreal. unveiling and the COVID pandemic has become a memory. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 No. 3

No need to extend COVID-19 lockdown signed an agreement with China’s leading Botsan-Kharchenko said the pipeline will NEWSBRIEFS vaccine manufacturer, Sinovac Biotech, but “provide energy security also for the wider Ukraine’s health ministry expects the (Continued from page 2) it must obtain state registration in Ukraine region, Central Europe.” The pipeline seg- country’s strict lockdown will end as before starting to make deliveries. “I think ment is part of the larger TurkStream pipe- scheduled on January 25, Interfax Ukraine line, which supplies Russian natural gas to put under U.S. sanctions in September over we will register the vaccine by February news agency quoted the deputy minister as 1-5,” Valeriy Pechaiev told journalists. He Turkey, Bulgaria, Serbia, and Hungary. alleged efforts to influence the presidential saying on January 14. While Ukraine closed said that the first shipment, beginning in Speaking to journalists on December 25, Mr. vote, which was won by Democratic chal- schools, restaurants and gyms recently, March, would be 1.9 million doses, procured Vucic said the government plans to extend lenger Joe Biden. He has reportedly promot- Viktor Lyashko said the ministry expected by the health ministry. Ukraine’s presiden- the pipeline within Serbia to supply gas to ed unproven allegations – circulated within to exit the lockdown on January 25 and not tial office said in late December that the the cities of Vranje and Valjevo. “We will lay Republican supporters – that Biden’s son have to introduce any further strict mea- health minister had signed a contract to buy gas lines to bring new factories and inves- Hunter improperly used his influence with sures in the future. The number of new Sinovac doses. The Sinovac vaccine will be tors there and to supply gas to the popula- his father to block a Ukrainian investigation COVID-19 cases dropped in early January supplied independently of the COVAX initia- tion,” he said. Like the Nord Stream pipeline into energy company Burisma, on whose to less than 10,000 a day from record levels tive, which is co-led by the GAVI vaccine alli- project across the Baltic Sea from Russia to board the younger Biden sat. Mr. Derkach in mid-December. The country has regis- ance, the World Health Organization (WHO) Germany, TurkStream is intended to divert has said the sanctions are punishment for tered more than 1.1 million coronavirus and the Coalition for Epidemic Russian gas supplies from transiting exposing corruption. One of the individuals cases with 20,376 deaths as of January 14. Preparedness Innovations (CEPI). Ukraine through Ukraine. In July 2020, U.S. Secretary added to the Specially Designated Nationals (Reuters, with reporting by Pavel Polityuk) hopes to receive 8 million doses under the of State Mike Pompeo described both proj- (SDN) list at the Office of Foreign Assets ects as “Kremlin tools” to expand European Ukraine to get 5 million vaccine doses COVAX scheme. Coronavirus infections in Control on January 11 is Oleksandr Ukraine began rising in September and have dependence on Russian energy supplies Dubinskiy, from Mr. Zelenskyy’s ruling Ukrainian pharmaceutical company been consistently high ever since, triggering and to undermine Ukraine. In 2019, the Servant of the People party. People and enti- Lekhim hopes to register China’s Sinovac several national lockdowns. A total of United States imposed sanctions against ties on the SDN list have their U.S. assets COVID-19 vaccine in early February and to 1,130,839 coronavirus cases have been reg- companies involved in both projects. The blocked and U.S. nationals are generally pro- deliver 5 million doses in Ukraine in the first istered in Ukraine with 20,214 deaths as of administration of President Donald Trump hibited from dealing with them. (RFE/RL, half of 2021, the head of its supervisory January 13. (Reuters, with reporting by has repeatedly criticized Germany and with reporting by Reuters) board said on January 13. Lekhim has Natalia Zinets and Ilya Zhegulev) other European nations for their reliance on Russian energy supplies. Although it aspires IMF concerned by plan to regulate gas prices to European Union membership, Serbia is a traditional ally of Russia and has long been Ukraine’s finance minister said on dependent on Russian natural gas. (RFE/ January 14 that the International Monetary RL’s Serbian Service, based on reporting by Fund was concerned about the govern- TASS and AP) TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL WALTER HONCHARYK (973) 292-9800 x3040 ment’s plan to regulate household gas pric- or e-mail [email protected] es, although the Fund has not officially Meeting of Triangle to take place in 2021 commented on the plan. Such a plan would A meeting of the heads of the foreign SERVICES PROFESSIONALS not help Ukraine start its currently stalled $5 billion loan program with the IMF, affairs ministries of the Serhiy Marchenko said in a live interview (Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine) will be on NV. “Our partners held in Kyiv in early 2021, Ukrainian know about it. They are concerned that we Foreign Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba are revising some of our earlier commit- said. “Although the ministers did not meet, ments,” Mr. Marchenko said. IMF officials and there were no bright media reasons to could not immediately be reached for com- cover the Lublin Triangle, I assure you that ment. Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said the coordinators whom we have appointed on January 13 that the government would worked out during this time the agenda introduce state regulation and set a uni- and strategy of the Lublin Triangle, carried form gas price of 6.99 hryvnia ($0.25) per out this planned work and from the begin- cubic meter during the country’s coronavi- ning of the year we will return to creating rus lockdown or throughout winter, to for you, journalists, a beautiful media chan- OPPORTUNITIES ОКСАНА СТАНЬКО Ліцензований продавець avoid a jump in energy bills that have nel on the Lublin Triangle. ... This will be a Страхування Життя already led to protests across the country. meeting of ministers in Kyiv. We agreed on EARN EXTRA INCOME! OKSANA STANKO The price of gas in Ukraine has long been a it this fall,” Mr. Kuleba said in an interview Licensed Life Insurance Agent political issue, and opposition parties regu- with TSN, published on December 30, The Ukrainian Weekly is looking Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. larly use energy price hikes as a reason to 2020. The foreign affairs minister pointed for advertising sales agents. out that the ministers would already come For additional information contact Tel.: 908-872-2192 protest against the government. The gov- Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, ernment says gas prices took off last month up with a list of key areas in which the The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. email: [email protected] and in January, with gas companies supply- countries of the Lublin Triangle will agree ing the public at prices often exceeding 10 to interact and implement joint projects. hryvnias ($0.36) per cubic meter. “We have Poland, Lithuania and Ukraine established an obligation in the memorandum on the the Lublin Triangle format in July 2020. launching of market mechanisms in the (Interfax Ukraine) 1152 Route 10 West, Suite N, Randolph, NJ 07869 natural gas market… These are clear com- mitments and they must be adhered to,” Mr. Orban’s visit to Ukraine remains on agenda 862-219-5344 Marchenko said. “Now the issue is to con- The visit of Hungarian Prime Minister vince our partners that this step can be Viktor Orbán to Kyiv and his meeting with part of a mechanism or a temporary solu- Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy tion.” Last June the IMF approved the $5 remains on the agenda, Ukrainian Foreign billion loan program and disbursed the first Affairs Minister Dmytro Kuleba said. “This tranche of $2.1 billion to help the Ukrainian visit has not been removed from the agen- economy, which has been hit hard by the da. Moreover, I assure you that the presi- coronavirus pandemic. Further loans have dent of Ukraine is ready to hold such a been frozen due to the slow pace of meeting. But it must be meaningful and reforms in Ukraine. (Reuters, with report- reset relations. And the task of the diplo- ing by Natalia Zinets) mats is now to come to this moment. We Serbian president opens Russia-led pipeline are open for this meeting. I will say more, KULINSKI MEMORIALS we want them to meet, we want to elimi- 809 SOUTH MAIN STREET • MANVILLE, NJ 08835 Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic has nate all misunderstandings with Hungary,” presided over the ceremonial opening of Mr. Kuleba said in an interview with TSN, Tel. 800-458-5467 • 908-722-3130 • Fax 908-253-0027 the Serbian section of the Russia-led Balkan published on December 30, 2020. [email protected] • KulinskiMemorials.com Stream natural-gas pipeline. In a televised According to him, in order to reboot, it is event from the settlement of Gospodjinci • Serving Ukrainian families for over 60 years necessary to clearly state that from now on near Novy Sad on January 1, Mr. Vucic pro- the rules of the game are like this, and both • Over 40 granite colors to choose from claimed the 403-kilometer pipeline seg- • Custom etchings sides agree to these rules. “Mutual respect ment open. The ceremony had been post- is based on these rules. I’ll tell you, proba- • House appointments available poned from December 30 without any bly exclusive, I haven’t told anyone about • Serving the tri-state area explanation. “A big day for Serbia!” Mr. Vucic this yet. We received a signal from Hungary • 5 minutes from St. Andrew Ukrainian Cemetery posted on Instagram. During the event, he that after a significant sharp decline in rela- in South Bound Brook, NJ praised the project as “key for Serbia’s tions over the past month, they are ready to future development.” Russian Ambassador resume a constructive dialogue. And we to Serbia Aleksandr Botsan-Kharchenko, will respond positively to this signal. Run your advertisement here, Srbijagas Director-General Dusan Bajatovic, Therefore, with the beginning of a new in The Ukrainian Weekly’s CLASSIFIEDS section. and representatives of Russian gas and con- struction firms attended the event. Mr. (Continued on page 18) No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 17

Ukrainian Sports Hall of Fame announces 2020 class of inductees HORSHAM, Pa. – The Ukrainian Sports Hall of Fame ball coach, Canada); and Anatoli Volochyn (journalist, announced the inductees for the class of 2020 on Ukraine). November 24, 2020. The 2020 class of inductees includes The 1948-1949 Ukrainian hockey team in Mittenwald, seven professional athletes; the creation of a new category, Germany, displaced persons camp was inducted in the recognizing all current and former Ukrainian professional “Teams” category. Four organizations or entities were rec- hockey personnel whose name is listed on the Stanley Cup ognized in the “Legacy” category: SUMA Federal Credit (currently there are 54); nine Olympic and world athletes; Union (Yonkers, N.Y.); Nova Federal Credit Union (Clifton, eight amateur athletes; 11 individuals recognized as N.J.); Ukrainian National Federal Credit Union (New York, “Builders” of Ukrainian sport; and one in the “Teams” cate- N.Y.); and Svoboda Ukrainian newspaper (Parsippany, N.J.). gory; and four in the newly created “Legacy” category. Due Zenon Bilas to the pandemic, the 2020 induction ceremony will be held with the 2021 class of inductees in mid-2021. Zenon Bilas, a Boating Magazine contributor, eight-time Professional athletes included the following individuals: U.S.A. barefoot waterskiing champion, joins the ranks of Osyp Choma (boxing, U.S.A.); William “Wild Bill” Ezenicki Wayne Gretzy, Mike Ditka and others. Bilas, 58, started ski- (hockey and golf, Canada); Paul Henry Konerko (baseball, ing on tiny Round Lake, Ill., outside of Chicago. It was on U.S.A.); Tony Elswick/Lesvick (hockey, Canada); Gene those shores that the local Ukrainian immigrant communi- Makowsky (football, Canada); Ivan Podubny (wrestling, ty, to which Bilas’ parents belonged, purchased land for Ukraine); and Tammie Lee (Barbie) Shewchuk (women’s recreation. “Dad took us fishing,” recalled Bilas. “Fishing hockey, Canada). led to a boat, and a boat led to an outboard and the out- Olympians and world athlete inductees included the fol- board – a 7.5 [horsepower] Evinrude – led to skiing.” lowing people: Peter Fick (swimming, U.S.A.); Volodymyr I am extremely grateful that the Ukrainian Sports Hall of Ivanovych Holubnychy (race walking, Ukraine); Yana Fame has inducted me into its 2020 class. My parents emi- Oleksadrivna Klochkova (swimming, Ukraine); Inessa grated from Ukraine to the U.S. in 1955. For Boating Kravets (triple jump, Ukraine); Larisa Latnina (gymnast, Magazine, Bilas wrote: “I want to keep promoting the Ukraine); Volodymyr Ivanovich Morozov (kayaking, Boating Magazine sport, skiing and speaking to experienced boaters and the Ukraine); Oleksandyr Maksymovych Shaparenko (rowing, Zenon Bilas general public alike. I am a teacher, and sharing through an Ukraine); Zinaida Turchyna (handball, Ukraine); Nina article or a seminar or one-on-one instruction makes me Dmytrivna Umanets (Ukraine). The “Builders” category included the following individ- happy.” Amateur athletes included the following indviduals: uals: Len Bilous (soccer coach, U.S.A.); Ihor “TJ” Kostecky Bilas has appeared in film, TV and penned innumerable Bohdan Anniuk (soccer, U.S.A.); Zenon Bilas (barefoot (soccer coach, U.S.A.); Dr. Ostap Stromecky (soccer coach, magazine articles, many for Boating Magazine. In fact, his water skiing, U.S.A.); Peter Eshenko (football, Canada); Ivan U.S.A.); Ray Kinasewich (hockey coach, Canada); Valeriy byline will next appear in the magazine’s June-July 2021 Fedorovych Firtsak-Kroton (boxing, wrestler and strongest Lobanovskiy (coach, Ukraine); Mike “Martillo” issue. For additional information, readers can visit the man, Ukraine); Andrew Hlushko (soccer, U.S.A.); George Martynovych (coach, U.S.A.); Mijalo Mitar Mike Paliwoda Ukrainian Sports Hall of Fame and Museum website, www. Karol (basketball, U.S.A.); Marika Jaworska Rumsavich (coach, U.S.A.); Severin “Erko” Palydowycz (skiing, KLK ukrainiansportsmuseum.org. The Ukrainian Sports Hall of (volleyball and tennis, U.S.A.); and Taras Sczur (soccer, [Carpathian Ski Club] organizer, U.S.A.); George Popel Fame and Museum is located within the Tryzub Ukrainian U.S.A.). (skiing, KLK organizer, U.S.A.); Dr. Lorne Sawula (volley- Sports Center clubhouse in Horsham, Pa.

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With deep sorrow we announce that our dear mother, grandmother and great-grandmother Luba Denysenko née Stadnyk

passed away on January 1, 2021 in . She was born on January 15, 1920 in the town of Tuchyn in Volyn, Ukraine.

In Ukraine she was a primary school teacher and married Hryhoriy Denysenko in 1943. The following winter in 1944, with her only child in her arms, she and her husband, who had a price on his head from both the Soviets and the Germans, set out for the unknown West.

Their journey took them through farm labor in Germany and the Displaced Persons camp in Regensburg, from where they traveled UNIAN to Argentina, and nally ended up in New York. Oleksandr Dubinsky (left) and Andriy Derkach in the legislative chamber of the Verkhovna Rada. She is survived by: his party was included on the list. son - prof. Yuri Denysenko and his wife Vivien Dybal U.S. sanctions... The Ukrainian president’s chief of staff, grandchildren (Continued from page 1) Andriy Yermak, tweeted that “for the sake - Dr. Lex Denysenko and his wife Dr. Arati Karnik of clarity – regardless of party affiliation, - Olenka Denysenko and her husband Daniel Luebke nearly a decade and helped [Mr.] Derkach this administration will do everything in its hide financial assets,” the Treasury Depart­ power to hold [accountable] those respon- - Maxim Dybal-Denysenko. ment said. sible for meddling in U.S. elections.” great-grandchildren Messrs. Derkach, Dubinsky and Teli­ In a Facebook post, Mr. Dubinsky asserted - Kavi Karnichenko zhen k­ o have been documented holding that “once again, I declare that I have never - Andri Karnichenko meetings in Ukraine with U.S. President interfered in the elections of other countries, - Wolf Luebke. Donald Trump’s personal attorney, Rudy including the American elections.” Giuliani, a former mayor of New York. After the latest round of U.S. restrictive Funeral liturgy will be held at Holy Trinity Ukrainian Orthodox Mr. Giuliani’s last known trip to Ukraine measures, three Ukrainian lawmakers have Church in New York. She will be buried at the St Andrew Ukrainian was in December 2019. now been sanctioned. Pro-Russian law- Messrs. Derkach, Dubinsky, Onyshchen­ maker Viktor Medvedchuk was blacklisted cemetery in South Bound Brook, NJ, next to her husband, who died ko, and Telizhenko reportedly fed the attor- in 2014 for his role in Russia’s forcible take- in 1969. ney unfounded allegations against U.S. over of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea, The families of the son and grandchildren share in the grief. President-elect Joe Biden when he was run- which occurred that same year. ning for office and helped construct a base- Russian President Vladimir Putin is the May she rest in peace. less counter-narrative that it was Ukraine, godfather to one of Mr. Medvedchuk’s rather than Russia, that interfered in the daughters and the politician has visited the 2016 U.S. presidential elections and hacked Kremlin leader numerous times, traveling the Democratic National Committee. on direct Kyiv-Moscow flights in contraven- With deep sorrow we inform family and friends, Mr. Giuliani embarked on the campaign tion of Ukrainian law. that our dearest mother, grandmother amid Mr. Trump’s first impeachment trial “This highlights the difficulty of Kyiv’s and great-grandmother for alleged abuse of office, which stems in position,” wrote Anders Aslund, a senior part from a phone call in which he prodded fellow at the Washington-based Atlantic Mr. Zelenskky to investigate Mr. Biden and Council. “How can these three politicians Tekla Husiak his son, Hunter Biden, for alleged corrup- remain members of the Ukrainian parlia- née Petryk tion. At the time of the call, Mr. Trump’s ment at a time when a majority of their fel- administration was withholding millions of low MPs recognize that the country is at daughter of Danylo and Kateryna Petryk, dollars in military aid to Ukraine that war with Russia? Why has Ukraine not passed away on Monday, December 28, 2020, at the age of 104. Congress had approved in Kyiv’s fight expelled the three sanctioned MPs from She was predeceased by her son Danylo against Russian-led forces in the two east- parliament or attempted to prosecute them and husband Iwan, who died in 1971. ernmost regions of the country. for their alleged involvement in Russian In September, a Senate committee probe intelligence operations?” Tekla Husiak was born on May 8, 1916 in into the allegations found no evidence of All property and interests in property of Chicago, Ill. From the age of 5 to 21 she wrongdoing with regard to Hunter Biden’s the designated individuals and entities that had lived in Fredropil, near Peremyshl, paid role for sitting on the board of a con- are subject to U.S. jurisdiction have been Ukraine. troversial Ukrainian energy firm when his frozen, “and U.S. persons are generally pro- Mrs. Husiak was a member of UNWLA for father served as vice president. hibited from engaging in transactions with Mr. Zelenskyy hasn’t commented on the 66 years. She loved visiting Soyuzivka and them,” according to the Treasury Depart­ new sanctions given that a lawmaker from ment. Vovcha Tropa Plast Camp. She enjoyed spending time with other Ukrainians at the Selfreliance Association. the PACE deputies, the OSCE High She was kind, cheerful to the end, loved, and NEWSBRIEFS Commissioner have been notified,” he said a legend. She will be sorely missed. (Continued from page 16) in an exclusive interview with Interfax- Ukraine. The ombudsman expressed hope Remaining in deep sorrow: year, Hungary will be in focus, and we will that the information that his secretariat son - Johnny with wife Carole, try to get out of the negativity in which we collects together with the Verkhovna Rada daughter Emily with husband Jeremy, found ourselves,” Mr. Kuleba said. (Interfax Human Rights Commissioner Liudmyla daughter Kathryn with Lucas, Ukraine) Denisova will become the subject of his and son Eli, annual report in 2021, and will be replicat- Language policy violates human rights son - Stephen with Christine, ed around the world. “Crimea and Donbas and son Michael with Danielle, Commissioner for the Protection of the are Ukraine, and the people who live there granddaughter - Laryssa with wife Sharon and son Milo, State Language Taras Kremin said that the are Ukrainians. They cannot be separated, cancellation of the state including in the language issue,” Mr. Kremin sister Stefania Popyk with family in Crimea status in the occupied territories is a viola- said, answering the question of what the niece Olya Pohrebniak in Kherson, Ukraine tion of human rights. “The language legisla- language policy should be in the territories extended family in the US, Canada and Ukraine tion was canceled in the occupied territo- of Donbas and Crimea after de-occupation. ries of Ukraine, which deprived the When asked whether it would be necessary May her memory be eternal. Ukrainian language of the status of state to adopt certain transitional provisions of language. This is not only a primitive imita- the law on the language after the de-occu- Donations in memory of T. Husiak may be made to The Ukrainian tion of the procedures of the so-called legis- pation of the territories, Mr. Kremin said Museum in New York. lative activity of the occupation regime. that this issue is up to the Verkhovna Rada. This is a violation of human rights, of which (Interfax Ukraine) No. 3 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 19

“Ukraine needs access to the vaccine as Ukrainian government... early as the beginning of the next year so (Continued from page 1) that we can start the process of vaccinating doctors and other groups at risk as soon as “Vaccination for Ukrainians from the possible,” Mr. Shmyhal had said in occupied territory will also be available – December. “We appreciate the efforts of our January 21 Webinar with Borys Wrzesnewskyj, “Russia’s Military the relevant procedure will be approved by international partners to help Ukraine pro- Online Occupation of Ukrainian Territories as Part of an Ongoing a separate plan,” Mr. Kuzin added. vide the population with the appropriate Strategy for the Dismemberment of Ukraine,” Ukrainian Addressing the country’s vaccination amount of vaccine.” National Federation (Ottawa-Gatineau branch), hosted via plan, Ukraine’ Prime Minister Denys Shmy­ A new strain of mutated coronavirus Zoom, [email protected] or 613-558-2358 hal noted that the plan includes a priority COVID-19, which was identified recently in list for who will receive the vaccine first. the United Kingdom, has been identified in January 21 Webinar with Walter Zaryckyj, “Cauldron of Conflict? Taking “Given the fact that the purchase of vac- Ukraine. Online Measure of the Geo-Cultural, Geo-Economic, and Geo-Political cines cannot be done immediately for all Infectious disease doctor Viktor Petrov Significance of the Black Sea Region,” Columbia University citizens, there is a need to determine the said that one of his patients in the Club of Fairfield County, hosted via Zoom, [email protected] priority groups that should receive vac- Zakarpattia region of Ukraine contracted or 203-302-9954 cines first,” Mr. Shmyhal. this new form of coronavirus. According to He said the government will prioritize Mr. Petrov, in the regions bordering January 22 Virtual requiem service at Tomb of the Unknown Soldier of the the following groups of individuals to European countries, the coronavirus strain Online Ukrainian National Republic and Ambassador Lonhyn Cehelsky receive the vaccine: Healthcare workers, is changing slightly, especially among (diplomat of the UNR to the U.S.A.), St. Mary Ukrainian including those directly involved treating young people. Catholic Cemetery, Ukrainian Congress Committee of America COVID-19 patients; Ukrainian soldiers par- “That is, there may not be anosmia (loss and the Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S.A., hosted via YouTube ticipating in the Joint Forces Operation; of sensitivity to odors), but the virus is and Facebook, https://bit.ly/UCCATube or social workers; people who live in long- quite actively developing in lung tissue, https://www.facebook.com/pg/UCCA.org/videos term care and support facilities and staff of although everything is in a mild form,” Mr. such facilities; employees of critical state Petrov said. “One such example is my January 23 Online poetry reading, “Winter Poems” with Oksana Lutsyshna, security structures, including members of patient Mykola. He travels from Ukraine to Online Serhiy Zhadan, Mariana Savka and Vasyl Makhno, Shevchenko the National Police, the National Guard, ser- the Czech Republic and back. And he has Scientific Society, www.shevchenko.org vice members of the Armed Forces, and the already contracted a new strain, which was Ministry of Internal Affairs; teachers and announced by the United Kingdom. When January 24 Concert, “Pavlo Gintov Plays Bortkevych,” Ukrainian Institute other education workers; and people who it comes to verifying this, Ukraine is not Online of America, www.ukrainianinstitute.org are age 60 or older with weakened immune able to identify the virus. But people who systems. have insurance in the EU can detect an January 26 Webinar and book launch, “The Cold War in Val-d’Or, a Mr. Shmyhal emphasized that, per the already mutated virus. So, I was able to Online History of the Ukrainian Community in Val-d’Or, Quebec” plan, the vaccines will be distributed and confirm that there are already cases of by Myron Momryk, Ukrainian Genealogy Group, administered at existing vaccination offices. infection with a new strain of the virus in https://meeting.zoho.com/meeting/register?sessionId=1041 As of December 2020, there are more than Zakarpattia,” he said. 432510 11,000 such facilities located in Ukraine. However, Chief State Sanitary Doctor “For vaccinations, there are plans to set Viktor Lyashko said that coronavirus test January 27 Film screening and discussion, “Evilanko” by David Gracie, up mobile teams, as well as a network of systems used in Ukraine can detect a Online Ukrainian Film Club of Columbia University, family doctors, through whom vaccinations mutated version of COVID-19. https://harriman.columbia.edu will also take place,” Mr. Shmyhal said. “Even with the emergence of a new Mr. Shmyhal emphasized that the first strain, our test systems will work, and we Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events vaccines are expected in February. To this will detect coronavirus disease,” Mr. advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions end, the Cabinet of Ministers is negotiating Lyashko said. from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors directly with vaccine manufacturers and He also refuted the myth that the emer- and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. with the leadership of the countries where gence of a new strain is associated with the such vaccines will be produced or already beginning of vaccination in the United contracted. Kingdom because the mutation was detect- “The first batch of 8 million vaccines for ed much earlier. Mr. Lyashko said that the 4 million Ukrainians is expected in March coronavirus mutation is a common phe- under the COVAX initiative. Funds for the nomenon and is not a cause for concern. purchase of vaccines are included in the There are now about 12,000 cases of state budget. Additional negotiations on mutated coronavirus in the world. funding are underway with Ukraine’s inter- The first case of a new strain of COVID- national partners,” Mr. Shmyhal said. 19 was discovered in the United Kingdom On December 30, the Ministry of Health on December 14. The British Public Health signed a contract to supply the Sinovac Service announced on December 20 that a Biotech vaccine against COVID-19 to new version of the coronavirus in Britain Ukraine. The agreement on the supply to began to spread rapidly in mid-November. Ukraine has been signed with the The Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukrainian pharmaceutical company JSC Ukraine, together with other government Lekhim, which, according to Sinovac agencies, is closely monitoring the situation Biotech, is the only authorized representa- with the detection of a new strain of coro- tive of the vaccine manufacturer in Ukraine. navirus in the United Kingdom. Ukraine’s The company has purchased nearly two foreign diplomatic missions are in contact million doses at a cost of approximately with foreign governments that have tempo- 500 hrv per dose. rarily banned flights from the United Per the Ministry of Health, Ukraine will Kingdom. use the Sinovac Biotech vaccine to protect According to the Public Health Center of primarily citizens at critical risk of infection Ukraine, there were 6,911 new cases of and those who perform essential duties COVID-19 infection in Ukraine on January against the pandemic. Vaccination will be 6. Of that number, 203 were children and free for citizens. 406 were healthcare workers. The Public Mr. Shmyhal met with the ambassadors Health Center said that as of January 7 of the G7 states and the European Union on there were 309,241 active COVID-19 cases December 22. During that meeting, he in Ukraine. stressed that the Ukraine’s most important Throughout the course of the entire pan- task is to mitigate the impact of COVID-19 demic in Ukraine, 1,090,496 people have on the economy. He noted that Ukraine, been infected, according to the Public together with the World Bank and the Health Center. Of that number, 761,898 European Investment Bank, was working people have recovered, 19,357 people have on the possibility of purchasing more died; 5,680,116 tests for the virus have COVID-19 vaccines. been conducted.

Check out the websites of the UNA and its newspapers! www.unainc.org www.svoboda-news.com l www.ukrweekly.com 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 17, 2021 No. 3