Part 1 of THE YEAR IN REVIEW pages 5-11

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXXVI No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 $2.00 Suspect arrested in Nozdrovska murder Freed Luhansk blogger talks RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service threats for her efforts in the case of Dmytro Rossoshanskyy, the nephew of a district about his love for Ukraine A Ukrainian court has arrested a suspect judge in the Kyiv region. by Mark Raczkiewycz in the killing of activist lawyer Iryna On December 27, 2017, amid efforts by Nozdrovska that sparked public outrage Ms. Nozdrovska to raise public awareness KYIV – In between comments and pic- and underscored concerns about the jus- about the case, judges rejected an appeal tures of his beloved tabby cat on Facebook, tice system in Ukraine. by Mr. Rossoshanskyy to overturn his sev- Eduard Nyedyelaev, 46, would publish criti- The Kyiv region’s Vyshhorod district court en-year prison sentence. cal posts about the Kremlin proxies who on January 9 placed Yuriy Rossoshanskyy, Ukrainian National Deputy Mustafa have occupied Luhansk since April 2014. 64, in custody for 60 days without the possi- Nayyem wrote on Facebook on January 1 that He often employed deeply ironic lan- bility of bail. During the hearing, Mr. Mr. Rossoshanskyy’s father had threatened guage reminiscent of the style that Soviet Rossoshanskyy admitted to the slaying and Ms. Nozdrovska at the December 27 hearing, writers used to avoid censorship. But the said that nobody exerted pressure on him to warning her that she would “end up badly.” subtext was always clear: he didn’t care commit the crime. Activists say suspects who are relatives much for the Moscow-controlled authori- He is the father of Dmytro Rossoshanskyy, of officials often avoid prosecution or con- ties who were running his native city in who was convicted of causing the death of viction or are released early – a result of easternmost Luhansk Oblast. Ms. Nozdrovska’s sister when he hit her with corruption that Western officials say harms “My age and health condition didn’t his car while driving drunk in 2015. the economy and hurts Ukraine’s chances allow me to fight for the armed forces, but I On January 8, a week after Ms. Nozdrovska of throwing off Russian influence. didn’t want to run away while looking at Courtesy of Eduard Nyedyelaev was found dead, police announced the [Andrew E. Kramer reported in The New how the enemy captures my land,” Mr. York Times on January 9: “Ms. Nozdrovska’s Eduard Nyedyelaev, 46, recuperates at detention of a suspect, who was not named Nyedyelaev said of his reason for staying struggle for justice for her sister had become the Feofaniya clinic for government offi- at the time. behind in Luhansk in an e-mailed message The court’s order came after mourners a symbol of the fight against Ukraine’s deep- cials in Kyiv on January 5, following his on January 5 to The Ukrainian Weekly. release from prison 10 days earlier in paid their last respects to Ms. Nozdrovska, ly rooted corruption, and was featured in He also ran a blog at smartelectronix.biz Russian-occupied Luhansk where he who was buried next to her sister, Svitlana television documentaries and articles in the based on his passion for designing various spent 13 months in captivity for criticiz- Sapatanyska. local news media.” Speaking of her sister’s ing Moscow-led authorities there. People placed flowers in the yard outside case, Ms. Nozdrovska told a fellow lawyer, electronic devices. Along with a less active Ms. Nozdrovska’s family home in Demydiv, a who did not take her words literally: “I will Twitter feed, his posts stopped on November 21, 2016, the day that Kremlin He would not elaborate on his ailments village in the Kyiv region, before she was laid win this case if it costs me my life.”] or respond to questions about whether he proxies arrested him initially for writing to rest at a local cemetery on January 9. was tortured. unfavorable passages about the occupying Ms. Nozdrovska disappeared on With reporting by AFP, Interfax, Eventually, the blogger was sentenced to authorities. December 29, after she helped ensure that Ukrayinska Pravda and Strana.ua. 14 years in prison and had his property fro- “I didn’t always hold back my emotions the man convicted of causing the death of Copyright 2018, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted zen because Moscow-led security officials on Facebook and the blog,” Mr. Nyedyelaev her sister was not released from prison. with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ discovered that he had been sending the wrote in Ukrainian from the state-run The 38-year-old lawyer’s body was found Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Ukrainian army information about the in a river not far from Demydiv on January Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see Feofaniya hospital for government officials, movement and location of Russian- 1, and police later said she died of multiple https://www.rferl.org/a/mourners-pay- where he is recuperating following his controlled forces in the city. stab wounds. respects-ukraine-slain-lawyer-iryna-noz- release on December 27, 2017, after spend- Ms. Nozdrovska had been the target of drovska/28964743.html). ing 13 months in captivity. (Continued on page 15)

ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CONVENTION OF THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, INC.

NOTICE IS HEREBY GIVEN TO THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY, BRANCH OFFICERS AND TO ALL MEMBERS OF THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, THAT THE th 39 REGULAR CONVENTION of the UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION, INC. will be held at Soyuzivka Heritage Center in Kerhonkson, NY, beginning Friday, May 18, 2018, through Sunday, May 20, 2018. In accordance with the By-Laws of the UNA regarding by the members present. Nominations shall be made from is unable to attend a Convention, an alternate shall be seat- election of delegates to the Convention, the qualifications the floor and all candidates will be presented to the mem- ed in his or her place, and remain seated for the balance of for delegates, the number of delegates from each Branch bership for a vote. The candidate or candidates receiving the Convention. If a Branch has more than one delegate, and the credentials of delegates are as follows: the highest number of votes shall be elected delegates. the seats of the absent delegates shall be occupied by alter- The election of delegates and their alternates must be Alternate delegates shall be elected by separate vote in nates in the order of the highest number of votes received in held within 60 days of the announcement of the Convention. similar manner. All tie votes involving alternates shall be the election. Since the Convention was announced on January 12, 2018, immediately resolved by another ballot for the candidates Only UNA members in good standing may be present at the 60-day term for election of delegates and their alter- involved. Each member shall be entitled to one vote for the meeting and vote for delegates and their alternates. A nates ends on March 13, 2018. each delegate and each alternate authorized to the Branch. member in good standing is one who has a certificate of Delegates and their alternates to which the Branch is Delegates and their alternates must be elected at the same entitled shall be elected at a regular meeting of the Branch regular Branch meeting. In the event that a delegate fails or (Continued on page 15) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 No. 2

WINDOW ON EURASIA

Russia reacts to Javelin missiles were recorded that day. (Ukraine Crisis There’s no end to Russian fake news Media Center) Russia is taking urgent measures in light of reported deliveries of Javelin anti-tank Svitolina wins, now ranked No. 4 by Paul Goble 2. Mr. Putin showed Oliver Stone a film clip he said was about Russian actions in missiles to Ukraine, National Deputy Ukraine’s Elina Svitolina defeated News outlets routinely compile lists of Syria in 2017, but it was from 2009 in Dmytro Tymchuk (People’s Front) has said. Belarusian qualifier Alyaksandra Sasnovich the best or worst events of the year, of Afghanistan. Mr. Tymchuk and his Information inventions made and wars started or 1. The Russian Defense Ministry offered Resistance group said Russia’s military in the Brisbane International tennis final in stopped, and of those who have died over a picture it said proved the U.S. was pro- have been “tasked with developing anti- a warm-up tournament for the upcoming the last 12 months. But thanks to viding weapons to the Islamic State, but in Javelin missile protection for armored vehi- Australian Open. Ms. Svitolina topped Ms. Vladimir Putin, a new category has fact the picture came not from the Middle cles vulnerable to the heat-seeking missile.” Sasnovich 6-2, 6-1 on January 6 in the appeared – the compilation of the most East but from a video game (AC-130 Mr. Tymchuk said plans are under way to Australian city of Brisbane – a victory that outrageous fakes of Kremlin-controlled Gunship Simulator). When the ministry establish serial production of military boosted the Ukrainian star’s world ranking media. was caught in this lie, it blamed “the mis- equipment of the 1st and 2nd Army Corps to No. 4. Svitolina, 23, said her off-season Two “top 10” lists of Russian fake news take” on a civilian employee who, it said, based in the self-proclaimed Donetsk and workouts helped improve her game. “I’ve stories of 2017 have appeared in the last has been punished. Luhansk “people’s republics.” Russian occu- started to play more consistently, and few weeks – one from the BBC and a sec- The top 10 list offered by the pation forces in eastern Ukraine have also there’s lots of things that changed,” she ond from Ukrainian Information Resist Information Resistance group provides a ordered brigades and regiments under said. “I’m stronger physically. I have a dif- Service. Taken together, they suggest the useful supplement to the BBC offering their control to conceal their whereabouts ferent look to my game.” Ms. Sasnovich, also sweep of Kremlin falsehoods and yet the (news.eizvestia.com/news_politics/ from reconnaissance missions conducted age 23, will likely rise to 53rd from 88th in willingness of some in Russia and the full/412-informacionnoe-soprotivlenie- by unmanned U.S. RQ-4A Global Hawk the rankings. The Australian Open is sched- West to believe at least some of them sostavilo-top-10-fejkov-rossijskoj-propa- flights. As reported earlier, U.S. officials uled to begin on January 15. (RFE/RL, either in whole or in part. gandy-za-nedelyu). Again, all these stories have approved a plan to sell anti-tank mis- based on reporting by AP and AFP) siles to the Ukrainian government. The The top 10 fake news stories issued by are fakes; the only differences are that the Lithuania promotes investment in Ukraine Russian news agencies and outlets Ukrainian list is in descending order and package of $47 million includes the sale of according to the BBC over the last 12 covers a single week. 210 anti-tank missiles and 35 launchers. The Globe and Mail reported on January months (news.eizvestia.com/news_poli- 1. Russian sources provided a Czech Since Russia invaded Ukraine in early 2014, 7, that Lithuania is urging Canada to sign tics/full/2812-kto-i-kak-nas-obmanyval- outlet with an article saying that the the U.S. has provided $600 million to on to a long-term package of support for sluzhba-bbc-sostavila-rejting-fejkov- Crimean Autonomous Republic had a Ukraine in military assistance, which has Ukraine that would funnel more invest- goda), in ascending level of absurdity (all complete right to secede from Ukraine included Humvee vehicles, counter-radar ment into the Eastern European country are false), include the following: under Ukrainian law. equipment, small drones and electronic and strengthen its ties with the West. The 10. Ukrainian schools are conducting 2. Using fake Russian reports, an Italian warfare gear. (Interfax-Ukraine) newspaper reported: “The Lithuanian gov- film repeated earlier falsehoods about the special lessons in Russophobia. In fact, Militants break Christmas ceasefire ernment in concert with Ukraine is champi- the Russian media fell into a trolling trap supposed participation of Georgian snip- oning what is provisionally called a laid by Ukrainian media. ers during the Maidan in 2014. These On January 7 at 9 p.m., militants broke ‘European Plan for Ukraine’ and would dis- 9. The British are buying up Putin cal- have been shown to be false by Ukrainian, the Christmas ceasefire with an attack on burse an estimated $7.47-billion annually endars. In fact, few in Britain ever saw Georgian and Western investigators. Verkhnyotoretske in the Donetsk sector. to Ukrainian recipients for a period of 10 these calendars. They were mostly found 3. Ukraine supposedly wants to “Russian proxies fired 15 82-mm mines years. Lithuania remains concerned about in Russia itself or internationally on e-Bay. exchange Crimea for Transdniestria, a and used small arms, firing at Ukrainian Russia’s continuing efforts to destabilize 8. Russian feminists put up a banner on totally made-up story disseminated by troops for more than half an hour,” report- Ukraine and the idea, spearheaded by for- the Kremlin towers. The Russian reporter Lenta.ru. ed Col. Oleksandr Motuzyanyk, the mer Lithuanian Prime Minister Andrius who claimed this said he had seen it but 4. A report on Vesti.ru said that the spe- Ukrainian Defense Ministry’s spokesman, Kubilius, has been likened to the Marshall couldn’t produce a photo. Later it turned cial services of the Donetsk and Luhansk at a press briefing at the Ukraine Crisis Plan aid initiative that helped rebuild out that what he had seen had been pho- “people’s republics” had arrested a group Media Center. He said the Armed Forces of Western Europe after the second world toshopped by someone. of Ukrainian special forces, but there was Ukraine maintained the ceasefire and did war.” A key goal, according to The Globe 7. The former head of MI-6 reportedly no such group and therefore no such not return fire. As a result of the militants’ and Mail report, would be to replace aging said Britain planned to seize the arrests shelling, no Ukrainian troops were killed. Soviet-era infrastructure in Ukraine and Caucasus. The entire interview which 5. Russian sources continued to insist One Ukrainian soldier was injured by an “make other highly visible investments that appeared in Russian sources never hap- that the mass murder of Ukrainians in unidentified explosive device near demonstrate to Ukrainians the West is pened. 1932-1933 by famine was not intentional- Lopaskino. “He is in serious condition and playing a key role in their recovery and 6. A St. Petersburg woman died when ly directed at Ukrainians. was taken to the military medical facility, help prevent the rise of anti-European poli- supporters of Alexei Navalny blocked an 6. Moscow outlets said that Poland had where he is now being provided the neces- ticians. The disbursement of capital for ambulance coming to her aid. A woman blocked truck traffic between Ukraine and sary treatment,” Col. Motuzyanyk said. In may have died, an ambulance may have Europe. In fact, the number of trucks the Luhansk sector, no ceasefire violations (Continued on page 16) been going to her rescue, but Navalny going from Ukraine to Europe has expand- demonstrators were nowhere near by. ed to such an extent that it has over- 5. An American restaurant was report- whelmed the capacity of border guards to ed to have prepared a hamburger in deal with them. he krainian eekly FOUNDED 1933 honor of Mr. Putin’s birthday. This never 7. Moscow stations reported that NATO T U W does not want to admit Ukraine as a mem- happened, as the owners of the restaurant An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., in question told curious journalists ber, when in fact the secretary general a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. 4. Pro-Ukrainian “neo-pagans” took said exactly the reverse but did note that Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. Ukraine must take a number of steps for responsibility for a fire in Rostov. This Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. never happened either but was the result that to be possible. (ISSN — 0273-9348) of a Youtube leak by the security forces of 8. Russian channels said that 100,000 Ukrainian orphans had been driven into The Weekly: UNA: pro-Moscow groups in the Donbas. Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 3. “Osama bin Laden met with Hillary the streets. In fact, that has not happened. What has occurred is the launch of a pro- Clinton at the White House.” The source of Postmaster, send address changes to: gram that will put them not in orphanages this lie was the Russian Foreign Affairs The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz Ministry. The event never happened, but in homes by the end of the next 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas although the Russian claim and a photo- decade. P.O. Box 280 shopped picture were reported widely. 9. Russian commentators say that the Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] Americans are using the population of Ukraine to test various drugs without the The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com Paul Goble is a long-time specialist on consent of the people there. Sergey ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia Markov, head of the Moscow Institute of The Ukrainian Weekly, January 14, 2018, No. 2, Vol. LXXXVI who has served in various capacities in the Political Research, said that the Americans Copyright © 2018 The Ukrainian Weekly U.S. State Department, the Central treat Ukrainians “almost as if they were in Intelligence Agency and the International German concentration camps… only the Broadcasting Bureau, as well as at the Voice Ukrainian citizens don’t understand that of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio they are in a concentration camp.” ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA Liberty and the Carnegie Endowment for 10. Russian media say that anyone, Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 International Peace. The article above is including children, can get medals in e-mail: [email protected] reprinted with permission from his blog Ukraine; but that is absolutely untrue, as Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 called “Window on Eurasia” (http://windo- those making this claim must know since e-mail: [email protected] woneurasia2.blogspot.com/). they provide no evidence. No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 3 Germany calls for peacekeeping mission A year of Russian propaganda: 1,310 cases in Ukraine before Russian election of Russian fakes debunked by EU watchdog RFE/RL trolled by Kremlin-backed separatists from Euromaidan Press the claim that sanctions are aimed at the rest of Ukraine. destroying Russia, when it is clear that they Germany’s foreign affairs minister is The Kremlin also opposes placing armed During the year 2017, we have wit- have been imposed by the international calling for the establishment of an armed U.N. peacekeepers along parts of its border nessed plenty of spectacular claims from community because Russia decided to U.N. peacekeeping mission in eastern with Ukraine not under Kyiv’s control. pro-Kremlin mouthpieces, such as the break international law. Ukraine before Russia’s March presidential But Ukraine and its Western allies oppose imminent threat of civil war in Sweden, “The evil West” election. the narrow role Russia has proposed for the that an American plane dropped a nuclear Sigmar Gabriel told reporters after talks peacekeepers and have pushed for a broad- bomb over Lithuania, and that the U.S. aims In the pro-Kremlin disinformation in Kyiv with his Ukrainian counterpart, er role for the U.N. in an attempt to quell the to occupy Europe. Among the things sphere, the “West” is described as Pavlo Klimkin, on January 3 that such a conflict that has killed more than 10,300 claimed most recently that didn’t happen, Russophobic, and determined to humiliate force would be “essential” for ensuring the people since it broke out in 2014. we find a clumsy Ukrainian soldier who and discredit Russia; it is undemocratic, territorial integrity of Ukraine. Mr. Gabriel’s visit to Ukraine came days didn’t blow himself up (it was a video made untrustworthy and guilty of double stan- Mr. Gabriel was scheduled to visit the after Washington announced it will provide for fun), rape cases in Sweden that rose by dards; it is immoral and in decline; and it is contact line separating government forces Ukraine with lethal defensive weapons, 1,000 percent (in fact a rise of 1.4 percent an international aggressor. and Russia-backed separatists in eastern reportedly including powerful U.S. anti- since 2015) and Pope John Paul II claiming For example, in late December on Ukraine on January 4, but that leg of the tank missiles, for the first time, in a deci- that the invasion of migrants has to stop Russian state TV, Poland was accused of trip was canceled because of poor weather sion that angered Moscow. (he just didn’t). Apart from this, we have aiming to enslave Russians in cooperation conditions, Mr. Klimkin said in a tweet. Mr. Klimkin said the weapons would also seen the usual pro-Kremlin narratives with other European states. And the United The Ukrainian foreign affairs minister only be used for defensive purposes and being repeated over and over again. Kingdom was accused of attempting to added that the two are planning to should not spark an escalation of the war. Within the constant flow, one can notice humiliate Russia during the upcoming reschedule the trip for later in January. “These weapons can and will be used in some overarching themes. Here, EU vs Olympic Games. Russia’s foreign affairs “This has to be a strong, armed mission case of a provocation by Russia,” said Mr. Disinfo, the EU’s disinformation watchdog, minister repeated some of these claims in that is present across the entire territory of Klimkin. “They will not be used for offen- sums them up. an interview and said that NATO had made the conflict zone,” Mr. Gabriel said, adding sive purposes.” “Good Russia” a promise to Russia to not expand east- that Germany and France will propose such Germany’s foreign affairs minister, how- wards and that NATO is deploying troops in a peacekeeping mission to the U.N. Security ever, questioned the U.S. decision to sell With this theme, Russia is described as Poland and the Baltic states in a non-trans- Council in hopes it will bring about a “last- additional weapons to Ukraine. an innocent actor that does everything it parent way. ing ceasefire” in eastern Ukraine. “If there is one thing there is too much of can to solve the world’s problems but is The case of Ukraine Mr. Gabriel said the Russian presidential in this region, that is weapons,” Mr. Gabriel constantly mistreated by the “West.” During election should not factor into negotiations said. “We in Germany take a rather skepti- his annual press conference in December, As followers of the disinformation review with the United Nations on deploying a cal view of arms deliveries being able to President Vladimir Putin repeated two must have noticed, Ukraine has a special mission to Ukraine. resolve the conflict.” favorite recurring themes: that Russia is place within the disinformation (un)reality. “The establishment of a firm peace set- not involved in the war in Ukraine and that Ukrainians are often described as fascists, tlement should not depend on elections in With reporting by AP, AFP, Interfax and Crimea decided its own fate. oppressors, aggressors and xenophobes; Russia,” he said. “And I hope that we will be TASS. As we know, the European Union does Ukraine is portrayed as an artificial country, able to adopt a realistic and appropriate Copyright 2018, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted not recognize the illegal annexation of failing, disintegrating and alone; and mandate for the U.N. mission before the with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ Crimea and the Office of the Prosecutor of Russian actions concerning Ukraine are election in Russia is held.” Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, the International Criminal Court has con- described as legitimate and legal. Russian President Vladimir Putin, who is Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see cluded that the situation within the territo- In late December, we saw several exam- expected to easily win the March 18 vote, https://www.rferl.org/a/germany-gabriel- ry of Crimea and Sevastopol amounts to an ples of this theme. In pro-Kremlin outlets, it has backed establishing a U.N. peacekeep- calls-setting-up-un-peacekeeping-mission- international armed conflict between was claimed that President Petro ing mission only along the frontline in east- ukraine-before-russian-presidential-elec- Ukraine and the Russian Federation. ern Ukraine that separates territory con- tion/28954057.html). Meanwhile, Russian state TV repeated (Continued on page 15)

‘Youngest Soviet defector’ tells his tale nearly 40 years later

by Olena Removska Dazzled by choice “I tried to explain to her that if I go back to my parents, they will take me out of the and Tony Wesolowsky Like others who escaped from behind country,” Mr. Polovchak recalls. RFE/RL the Iron Curtain, he was also dazzled by the He says that during the six to eight hours cornucopia of consumer goods in the West. Wife, two kids, house in the suburbs of there, officers tried to get him to sign docu- “We went to the store, and you could buy Chicago, job as an office manager for the last ments but he refused, fearing it would lead everything. I had never seen anything like 20 years. The life of Volodymyr, or Walter, to his deportation. that in my life,” he recalls. “In Ukraine I saw Polovchak sounds like a completely ordi- Local TV were tipped off that a would-be how people waited in line for bread for two nary existence of a Midwestern American. defector was being held there, and sent hours! There was nothing.” But rewind nearly 40 years and Mr. down a reporting team, sparking what Mr. Polovchak moved to the United Polovchak was at the center of a Cold War would become a media circus not only in States in 1980 along with his parents, older row after he refused at the age of 12 to return the United States, but in the USSR as well. sister, and younger brother. Originally from to his home in Soviet Ukraine, won over by “In the Soviet Union, they were already Sambir, near Lviv, they settled in Chicago, the freedoms and opportunities he discov- saying that I had been abducted, that I had ered during a family trip to the United States. where relatives lived. been enticed with “a bicycle and Jell-O,” To Washington at the time, he was the However, U.S. life didn’t sit well with his explains Mr. Polovchak, referring to an “youngest Soviet defector.” To the Kremlin, father, who soon decided he wanted to American gelatin treat. he was a “hostage” along with his older sis- return home alone to the USSR. The matter soon moved to the courts, ter, Natalia, who also balked at returning to The Kremlin didn’t think that added up. with Volodymyr essentially suing his par- the Soviet Union. Mr. Polovchak was soon “They said, ‘You brought your family ents. caught up in a media frenzy, an accidental over, you will return with your family,’” His lawyers argued that his life would be pawn in the struggle between Washington explains Mr. Polovchak. in danger back in the Soviet Union. The par- and Moscow. While Volodymyr’s mother was resigned ents claimed that Volodymyr and Natalia “Yes, there was the Cold War then, but I to the idea, he and his sister, Natalia, who had been kidnapped, the version of events didn’t understand that or care about it. I was 17 at the time, didn’t want to budge. The cover of Volodymyr (Walter) Polovchak’s spun by the Soviets, including TASS. wanted to stay here. I had lived in the “I tried to talk to my dad: ‘Give the country autobiography, “Freedom’s Child” (1988), In the end, a U.S. court granted Volodymyr Soviet Union for 12 years and I saw what a chance. Let’s see how it all works out. We co-written with Kevin Klose. temporary refuge as a juvenile. In 1985, life was like there and the opportunities it already knew what awaited us in Ukraine, the when he turned 18, Volodymyr was sworn in So, one night, he and Natalia just quietly offered,” says Mr. Polovchak in an interview Soviet Union,” Mr. Polovchak explains. as a U.S. citizen, following in the footsteps of slipped out of the house and stayed with a with RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service from his But it was no use, Mr. Polovchak’s father his sister Natalia, who given her age had nearby cousin. home in Chicago. couldn’t be convinced. ended her court ordeal much earlier. “Here I saw that you can go to church “We never understood why he wanted to Media circus and no one will persecute you for that, like go back. He didn’t like it here. He was a sim- “Freedom’s Child” in Ukraine,” Mr. Polovchak, now nearly 50, ple man, worked as a bus driver, and was Police soon tracked them down and took In 1988, he told his story in an autobio- says of his first impressions of 1980s unable to get used to life here. It was diffi- them in. At the police precinct, officers graphical book, “Freedom’s Child,” co-writ- America. “If you want to move from one cult in the sense that he did not speak scrambled to locate a translator to break ten with Kevin Klose, a former Washington place to another, there’s no need for any English, had to start from the very begin- the communications barrier, eventually set- state permission.” ning,” explains Mr. Polovchak. tling on a Polish-speaker. (Continued on page 15) 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 No. 2

NEWS AND VIEWS From a Canadian Angle by Oksana Bashuk Hepburn About Akcja Wisla’s 70th anniversary and our next steps by Mark Howansky towards that goal. And for that reason, Lemkos assimilated in the Ukrainian com- The endless “Shchedryk” 2017 marked the 70th anniversary of munity. Operation Vistula (or Akcja Wisla), the But now that Ukraine is an independent The other day Euromaidan Press posted still buried? forced resettlement by the Polish commu- democratic nation, I think we can celebrate some 20 renditions of “Shchedryk” – the Dido’s wife, my babtsia (grandmother) nist government of the Ukrainian minority the diversity within it while continuing to New Year carol known in English as “Carol Anna Zatwarnytska, was a teacher, village from the southeastern provinces of post- support it at the same time. I want young of the Bells” – by Mykola Leontovych ( see doctor, psychologist, choir conductor and war Poland, to the so-called Recovered Lemkos to understand who they are, where http://euromaidanpress.com/2017/ artistic director of his plays. His sister, Territories in the west of the country. they are from and why they are part of the 12/21/a-ukrainian-composers-gift-to-the- Yulia Leontovych, had a long and distin- During this program, over 140,000 ethnic Ukrainian nation. I want them to know world-of-christmas-music/). The rendi- guished career as the wardrobe designer Ukrainians were uprooted from their ances- about population exchanges of 1944-1946 tions – performed in different parts of the at the Zankovetska Theater in Lviv. tral lands in the regions of Kholmshchyna, and the forced deportations of Akcja Wisla in world, in various arrangements and musi- I recall Myron Kyprian, the set-designer, Pidliashia, Nadsiannia, Boykivshchyna and 1947, and understand how these events fit cal media – are exquisite. Included are a telling me several years ago while offering Lemkivshchyna, and forced to abandon their into the greater history of Ukraine. We must 1920s choir in Prague, dribbling by U.S.A a tour of the theater that “Yulka,” as he homes, which they inhabited for genera- do a better job of teaching the unique history National Basketball Association’s stars set knew her, came from “a “fine family.” That tions. This program was a continuation of of the Kholmshchyna, Pidliashia, Nadsiannia, to its music, the magical David Hickens on was code during the ugly Soviet years; it the state-run ethnic cleansing that started Boykivshchyna and Lemkivshchyna regions the piano, and the incomparable Mormon meant that someone was not a Communist with the 1944-1946 population exchanges (together known as Zakerzonnia). Tabernacle Choir, whose musical conduc- apparatchik or lackey. between Communist Poland and Soviet Despite all they have experienced and tor popularized the piece. The Leontovych clan spread to other Ukraine, and were intended to remove all of suffered, Lemkos, along with the other There is also the singing of “Shchedryk” parts of the world, but continued its love the ethnic Ukrainians who found themselves deported Ukrainians, played an unforgetta- by various services of the U.S. military. affair with Ukraine’s culture. to the “wrong” side of the newly drawn bor- ble and indispensable role in building the Remarkable! Roman’s daughter, my mother, Natalia der between the two countries called the Ukrainian American community and were What an impact this little musical gem Leontovych Bashuk, was a devotee. Our Curzon line. members of the founding committees of all has had! And all because one man decided Winnipeg bungalow was eternally filled Thanks to the efforts of the Ukrainian Ukrainian churches, national homes and to put pen to paper and write down an with singing around the piano or theater Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and fraternal organizations in America that ancient melody from Ukraine’s cycle of rehearsals. She founded the Perepylychky many of its member organizations, much exist to this day, including the Ukrainian winter celebrations. Singers, a girls’ octet that performed in was done last year to honor those who suf- National Association (UNA). Teary-eyed, I listen to this panoply of Rome at the celebration of Ukraine’s 1,000 fered because of Akcja Wisla and to educate Similarly, Akcja Wisla survivors who sounds, proud to be related to this musical years of Christianity. Mama also organized those who may not know this tragic chapter remained in Europe have also suffered, genius via my mama, Natalia Leontovych the Winnipeg Ukrainian Children’s of history. These facts need to be repeated because of their support for the Ukrainian Bashuk. Theater that performed at Expo ‘67 and and spread until they are part of everyone’s national movement, and they must also be Here’s the link: Mama’s father, Roman Canada’s National Art Center. general knowledge in order to (a) receive recognized and respected by the Ukrainian Leontovych was a grandson to the Rev. As the theater’s producer for some 30 proper recognition and reparation for the community. Petro Leontovych who had six sons and a years, she collaborated with notable art- crimes committed and (b) prevent similar OOL has taken concrete steps to raise daughter. Mykola, the composer, was a ists like the prima donna of the Lviv Opera, actions from taking place ever again. Lemko awareness among our youth. For grandson too. Irena Turkewych-Martynetz, and a former And is important that we organize this example, we worked with the Ukrainian Perhaps Mykola inherited his musical ballerina/choreographer Nadia effort via multiple channels. We need to American Youth Association (UAYA) and talents from the Rev. Petro who built a Nezhankivska -Snihurovych. One of the continue interviewing the survivors of Akcja with various Ukrainian Saturday schools to church, directed the choir and, of course, theater’s singers, Irena Welgash – cast in Wisla and capturing their memories while integrate Akcja Wisla into their educational wrote its music. He passed the commit- most of its leading roles including the fox they are still with us. We need to continue curricula. We prepared training materials ment to Ukraine’s spiritual and cultural in Mykola Lysenko’s “Koza Dereza” – educating the Ukrainian community, and lectures and also coordinated a pro- development to his son Adrian – also a become a lead soloist with the Canadian through academic lectures, and research gram of interviews between young UAYA priest. Besides being into music my great- Opera Company. At its zenith in the and publications sponsored by organiza- members and fellow citizens who survived grandfather Adrian organized Prosvita, 1960s-1970s mama’s ensembles com- tions like the Lemko Research Foundation, Akcja Wisla. And we have posted these lec- and established a library and a small mon- prised some 100 performers and support. the Ukrainian Free University and the tures and interviews online at www.lemko- ey-lending operation. Was it a part of the Natalia Leontovych Bashuk also wrote Shevchenko Scientific Society. We need to ool.com. sizable credit union movement, indeed the extensively in children’s publications, create materials for non-Ukrainians and A lesser discussed aspect of Akcja Wisla national renaissance that swept through including Veselka. As national president of English speakers. We need to continue our is the lasting identity problems it caused western Ukraine of the 19th century and the Ukrainian Canadian Congress, political advocacy through organized pro- among Ukrainians from Zakerzonnia. One endures today? Women’s Division, she commissioned the tests and letter-writing campaigns to the must recognize, that the Ukrainian nation- In turn, the Rev. Adrian’s son, my dido English translation by Vera Rich of Lesia United Nations and the governments of alist movement was still young and grow- (grandfather) Roman Leontovych, the Ukrainka’s dramas and poems. Mama Ukraine and Poland. We need to coordinate ing in that area in the 1940s, so there were school director in the border villages of tackled political themes in Homin our efforts via the Ukrainian World still people who identified more as Rusyns Ukraine’s frontier with Poland, was an Ukrayiny. Congress (UWC) and the World Federation than as Ukrainians. One of the tactics of the author. He wrote numerous plays for the Most notably she left behind her mem- of Ukrainian Lemko Organizations (SFULO). Polish Communist government was to school’s productions. They highlighted oirs, “Na Mezhovii Zemli: Spomyny z The organization that I head, the demonize Ukrainians by associating them national and religious holidays. Zakerzonnia,” written under the nom de Organization for the Defense of with the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), Mama was convinced that this treasure plume Nata Lenko. It is a seminal docu- Lemkivshchyna (known by the Ukrainian which they painted as terrorists and ban- trove of works – including her favorite ment dealing with the 1945-1946 repatri- acronym OOL), does all of the things which I dits. This had the effect of slowing the natu- “Vechir Sviatoho Mykolaya” (St. Nicholas ation of Ukraine’s territory east of the have mentioned, but a particular area of ral progression of the Ukrainian movement Eve) – is still buried somewhere in Curzon line given to Poland after the War. focus is raising awareness among the next by creating new stigmas and tensions with- Tenetyska. Burying was a common way to The historic memoir depicts the daily generation about Akcja Wisla. Because if in the Ukrainian community, which unfor- hide anything indicating Ukrainian patrio- heart-wrenching survival of the dispos- we do not do this, then all of our work to tunately still exist today. tism from the Polish Communists and sessed people facing the horrific dilemma: date will be for naught. In fact, there are Lemkos both in Europe Bolsheviks. They were tearing up Western to turn traitors and be repatriated to Unfortunately, Ukrainians from my gen- and here in North America who are anti- Ukraine’s countryside following World Poland or face forced labor in Soviet kol- eration and younger, even those with Ukrainian and very vocal. Some of them War II, and forcefully inflicting repatria- hosps. Akcja Wisla became the final chord Lemko heritage, tend not to know a lot have Russophile roots and others have tion on the population. in this calamity. about Lemkivshchyna. This is because the joined the newly re-invented Carpatho- Dido’s work was published, including Those memoirs, published in Kyiv in Lemkos, who were amongst the first Rusyn movement. I feel that the best way to contributions to Lisovyk, the Ukrainian 1999 are slated for republication and are Ukrainians to immigrate to America at the combat Rusynism is not to argue with them Insurgent Army’s (UPA) journal. Notably, being translated into English by further end of the 19th and early 20th centuries directly, because that gives them fuel, but to in the 1930s two of his historic novels descendants of the Leontovych clan – me from what was then Austria-Hungary, explain the Ukrainian Lemko position came out. “Zveneslava” was gifted to me in and my children. The working title is “The worked very hard to preserve Ukrainian clearly and positively, and to allow people Winnipeg, Manitoba, by its publisher, Ivan Borderland.” A Polish translation is also on culture, but in the process forgot about to draw their own conclusions. Currently, Tyktor. It is dedicated “To the granddaugh- the way. their Lemko roots. In America it was, and we are allowing the Carpatho-Rusyns to ter of ‘Vuyko’ Roman Leontonvych, the- Now, back to Mykola Leontovych, the still is, a constant struggle to support write our story, and they are presenting us brother-in-arms in Sichovi Striltsi.” The musical genius who gave the world Ukraine, so all efforts and attention went in a negative light. We need to explain to monarch-era heroine of the book saves “Shchedryk.” He composed some 300 piec- the world why we Lemkos associate with her people a la Joan of Arc. I am still es. Until they become global sensations like Mark Howansky is national board presi- the Ukrainian state and show that we are searching for his other book “Na Pru” (a the “Carol of the Bells,” there’s no end in dent of the Organization for the Defense of reference to a no-holds-barred fight). Is it sight to all the work that needs to be done. Lemkivshchyna (www.lemko-ool.com). (Continued on page 15) No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 5

2017: THE YEAR IN REVIEW In Ukraine: a quest for peace and reforms uthorities in Ukraine started 2017 by presenting evidence in January that disgraced ex-President AViktor Yanukovych asked his Russian counterpart Vladimir Putin to send soldiers to Ukraine on March 1, 2014. It was allegedly based on a letter dated that same day which then-Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vitaliy Churkin presented in New York to the U.N. Security Council during an extraordinary meeting. After the envoy’s death, the Russian leader’s spokesper- son, Dmitry Peskov, stated that no letter “or any similar document” was received to deploy troops to Ukraine. Yet on the very same day Mr. Putin had asked the upper house of Russia’s Parliament for permission to deploy forces in Ukraine. Three days later, he stated the following: “What could serve as grounds for the use of the armed forces? This is, of course, an extreme situation… It is firstly an issue of legitimacy. As you know, we have a direct appeal from the current and legitimate… President of Ukraine Yanukovych, about the use of armed forces for the defense of the life, freedom and health of Ukrainian citi- Andriy Dubchak/RadioSvoboda.org zens... And, if we see that this lawlessness is beginning in In Kyiv on February 1, Ukrainian soldiers pray for their comrades-in-arms killed in the Russian offensive on Avdiyivka. eastern regions, if people ask us for help, and we already have an official appeal from the current legitimate presi- A United Nations report released on February 17 from spreading beyond the Donbas. “But that was not true dent, we reserve the right to use all means at our disposal emphasized the ongoing humanitarian catastrophe in the by the end of summer of 2014, and the country wouldn’t to protect these citizens.” Donbas, noting that 1 million children were in urgent exist today if it hadn’t been for the army making major Prosecutors in Ukraine are seeking a life sentence for need of assistance – nearly double the number in 2016 for progress in building up its force, modernizing its equip- Mr. Yanukovych based on treason charges. He also is sus- the same reporting period. The situation was particularly ment, training. And a whole new generation of combat pected of embezzling close to $40 billion. The former grave for the approximately 200,000 girls and boys living commanders had to learn at the front… [they] taught president and Donbas native has called the trial taking within 15 kilometers on each side of the “contact line” in themselves and figured it out, and became some very first- place in the northernmost district of Obolon in Kyiv “polit- eastern Ukraine, a line that divides government- and non- class commanders,” he said. ically motivated.” He is being tried in absentia and is government-controlled areas where fighting is most His observations were based on 177 days spent on the believed to reside in Russia. severe. Thousands of children are regularly forced to take war front on over 25 trips from March 2014 until the end Fighting escalated along the 450-kilometer frontline in refuge in improvised bomb shelters. Teachers, psycholo- of 2016. January. The epicenter of the fighting was the industrial gists and parents report signs of severe psychosocial dis- Asked what would happen if Ukraine stops fighting, Dr. town of Avdiyivka, where one of Europe’s biggest coking tress among children including nightmares, aggression, Karber said that the country, which has already lost 7 per- coal plants is located. Seven servicemen were killed fight- social withdrawal and panic triggered by loud noises. cent, or 43,744 square kilometers of territory to Russia, ing near the Donetsk Oblast town on January 29-30. By More than 740 schools – one in five in eastern Ukraine – “would be reduced to a figment of its former self and not the end of the year, 219 Ukrainian soldiers had died in the have been damaged or destroyed, UNICEF reported. exist the way it does today.” Donbas war, and the United Nations estimated that more By mid-year, a U.N. report released on June 13 stated Russia-led proxies on July 18 in eastern Ukraine’s than 10,330 had been killed in the Moscow-instigated war. that “people continue to be abducted, unlawfully deprived Donetsk region announced what they say is the creation The Ukrainian Weekly visited the frontline town in of freedom and held incommunicado – particularly in dis- of a new state called “Malorossiya,” or Little Russia – a early December and witnessed what international groups tricts controlled by Russia-backed separatists.” declaration that was swiftly condemned by Kyiv. But the call a festering humanitarian disaster. Although a consis- Unfortunately, “freedom” as measured by the Kremlin remained silent on the matter. Mr. Poroshenko tent hotspot, fighting at Avdiyivka escalated in December, Washington-based think tank Freedom House declined suggested it was part of a Russian effort to divide and con- reaching the same levels as February 2017, said Ertugrul worldwide for the 11th consecutive year, according to the quer the country, and said that would never happen. Apakan, the chief monitor of the Organization for Security group’s report published in February. “We see leaders and No high-level officials were prosecuted in 2017 for the and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), in a statement on nations pursuing their own narrow interests without death of the nearly 100 protesters who were shot dead by December 19. meaningful constraints or regard for the shared benefits of police during the Euro-Maidan Revolution of 2014. Ambassador Kurt Volker, U.S. special representative for global peace and freedom,” said Arch Puddington, one of Ukraine’s diplomatic mission attended an event on Ukraine negotiations, who is tasked with working to end the report’s coauthors. “These trends are accelerating and February 20 to commemorate the “Heavenly Hundred” in the Donbas war, said that the “decision for peace lies with starting to undo the international order of the past quar- Washington that started with the mournful Lemko folk song Russia.” In a December 19 tweet he noted: “Peace in east- ter-century, including the general respect for long-estab- “Plyve Kacha.” ern Ukraine can come if Russia pulls out its forces and lished norms for fundamental freedoms and democracy.” In his address to participants of the vigil, the ambassa- stops support for its proxies.” Regarding the geographic region of Eurasia where dor of Ukraine to the United States, Valeriy Chaly, said that The U.N.’s Security Council on February 2 discussed the Ukraine is located, the group said most countries there we, Ukrainians, must be worthy of the memory of the par- Donbas war, with Kyiv’s envoy emphasizing that there was ranked “at or near the bottom” concerning political rights ticipants of the Revolution of Dignity, who gave their lives no military solution in the Donbas. Regarding the attacks on and civil liberties. “While a few – such as Georgia, Moldova for a decent future for Ukraine. Ambassador Chaly civilian targets in Avdiyivka a month earlier, Ukraine said the and Ukraine – have struggled to democratize and pursue stressed that the struggle for Ukraine continues against humanitarian disaster that it created – including electricity European integration in recent years, they face strong Russia’s ongoing aggression. He thanked everyone for and water shortages – was “a terrorist tactic aimed primari- resistance from Russia and anti-democratic elements their unity and solidarity with Ukraine. ly at civilians.” It was notable that Russia’s attacks in the within their borders,” Freedom House stated. Ukraine cut off business ties with Russia-occupied Donbas coincided with Ukraine taking over the rotating Ukraine was judged to be “partly free” in terms of both Donbas, where much of the country’s coal and steel-mak- presidency of the U.N. Security Council for February. political rights and civil liberties, while the Russian- ing plants are located, starting in late January. Kremlin- occupied Crimea – which was listed and evaluated sepa- backed proxies responded by taking over some 45 enter- rately – was determined to be “not free.” prises in March. The Kyiv-based Ukrainian Institute for In a separate report on media freedom that Freedom the Future reported that the blockade cost the nation’s House published in April, Crimea was named the fourth coffers 1.5 percent of gross domestic product by year-end. least press friendly territory or country in the world. Meanwhile, Kyiv moved forward with international liti- However, Ukraine’s media environment had “significantly gation over Russia’s military aggression and illegal annexa- improved since a change in government in 2014, and tion of territory. In particular, Ukraine initiated a case at The ongoing reforms continue to strengthen the legislative Hague’s International Court of Justice over Russia’s tram- environment for journalists and outlets.” pling of “fundamental rights and liberties” in Crimea that it Meanwhile, Russia is using Ukraine as a testing ground invaded and took over in March 2014. Kyiv accuses Moscow for its “new-generation warfare,” Dr. Phillip Karber, a mili- of sponsoring “terrorism” and of discrimination against tary expert and president of the Potomac Foundation in Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians on the peninsula. Virginia, told The Ukrainian Weekly in February. He noted The case that Ukraine lodged in January said that it was that it was a “miracle” for Kyiv to withstand Russia’s initial seeking “full reparations for... acts of terrorism the Russian onslaught in Donbas starting in April 2014 when the Federation has caused, facilitated or supported,” citing Donbas war started. bombardments of residential areas and the July 2014 Today, “Ukraine has 22 brigades and close to 70 battal- downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17), which

Presidential Administration of Ukraine ions, and has the structure to have up to 30 brigades,” The killed all 298 passengers and crew. President Petro Poroshenko and First Lady Maryna Ukrainian Weekly reported on February 26. Mr. Karber Neutrality isn’t an option for Ukraine and is “illusory Poroshenko visit a memorial to the Heavenly Hundred credited the volunteer battalions that sprung up when peace,” according to a March 16 statement released by the in downtown Kyiv on November 21 on the fourth anni- war broke out, mainly consisting of protesters from the First of December Initiative Group, a coalition of versary of the Euro-Maidan Revolution. Euro-Maidan Revolution, with preventing the conflict Ukrainian intellectuals. It rejected making compromises 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 No. 2

2017: THE YEAR IN REVIEW with Russia and arguments expressed by pro-Kremlin pol- iticians like Viktor Medvedchuk that Kyiv should take an “Austrian-style” stance on neutrality in exchange for the promise of Russia stopping its war. “Malicious ‘peacemak- ers,’ both within Ukraine and beyond its borders, expect us to be like docile lambs. Their proposal for ‘peace’ requires a price that is nothing less than our capitulation,” the statement read. Noting the worsening conditions on the Crimean pen- insula, Canadian Foreign Affairs Minister Chrystia Freeland said in March that her country is “deeply trou- bled by the politically motivated application of ‘anti-ter- rorist’ and ‘anti-extremist’ legislation; ongoing harass- ment of human rights activists, journalists and lawyers; arbitrary detentions; disappearances; and the persecution of Crimean Tatars and other minorities.” She also denounced the banning of the Mejlis, the self-governing body of the Crimean Tatars, and called on Russia to reverse this “illegal and immoral decision.” Also in March, Ukrainian National Deputy Serhiy Leshchenko disclosed documents that showed Paul Manafort, U.S. President Donald Trump’s former campaign chairman, had received secret payments totaling $750,000 when he worked as a political consultant for Mr. Mikhail Palinchak/UNIAN Yanukovych. They were based on invoices for the purchase President Petro Poroshenko (right) and National Security and Defense Council Secretary Oleksandr Turchynov of computers and were linked to an offshore bank account. (second from right) at the council’s meeting on March 15, when a decision was made to halt all cargo traffic with That same month the Verkhovna Rada passed legisla- the occupied Donbas. tion that obliges employees of civil society groups that Appointed in October 2016, Mr. Chernyshov is initiating the Group of Seven industrialized nations to maintain monitor graft and the vendors with whom they conduct public-private partnerships, overseeing probation pro- sanctions against Russia. Due to Russia’s persistent war- business to disclose their incomes and purchasing activity. grams and introducing technology to modernize the pris- mongering, there are “no grounds for the EU to cancel or Members of Ukraine’s civil society called the new measure on system. He is responsible for 148 various incarceration ease economic and sectoral sanctions against the Russian discriminatory and said it will also affect journalists who centers that house over 61,000 convicts and which are Federation,” Mr. Poroshenko said during a telephone con- uncover corruption because many work for non-profit staffed by nearly 28,000 personnel. versation with European Council President Donald Tusk groups. Citing the Bureau of Investigative Journalism, Work on the $2.3 billion “New Safe Confinement” shell ahead of the G-7 summit that took place on May 26-27 in Oksana Romaniuk, director of the media watchdog over the site of the site of Chornobyl disaster was complet- Sicily, Italy. Institute of Mass Information, said many journalism out- ed last year. It is a metal dome that is designed to stop Ukrainians learned that visa requirements for the lets are “registered not as mass media but as civil society future leaks from the crippled reactor No. 4 that has more European Union were waived on May 11 – something that organizations.” than 200 tons of uranium buried inside. The reactor at the President Petro Poroshenko touted during his first news The Ukrainian Parliament on March 22 passed a reso- power plant north of Kyiv, in then-Soviet Ukraine explod- conference in 16 months three days later. The liberalized lution asking the U.S. to recognize Ukraine as a “major ed at 1:23 a.m. on April 26, 1986, after a safety test went regime entered into force on June 11, allowing Ukrainian non-NATO ally,” which would bolster security and defense citizens who have biometric passports to enter all EU cooperation between the two strategic partners. wrong. The precise number of victims and extent of the member states other than Ireland and the United Kyiv received only $1 billion from the Washington-based damage remain the subject of debate, in part because Kingdom without a visa for up to 90 days during any 180- International Monetary Fund (IMF) during 2017 as part of Soviet authorities took days to publicly acknowledge the day period. It also applies to four Schengen-area countries a $17.5 billion loan program. Some $4 billion was ear- disaster and kept information hidden. that are not in the EU: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and marked for Ukraine in 2017 but three-quarters of that Russian President Putin and German Chancellor Angela Switzerland. weren’t disbursed because Kyiv failed to meet anti-corrup- Merkel differed in their stances on Ukraine, following a tion conditions as part of the economic bailout program. meeting they held in the Black Sea port of Sochi on May 2. “Only crazy people can consider Ukraine to be part of Crusading central bank governor Valeria Gontareva “Today we once again reiterated the necessity of the strict the so-called ‘Russian world.’ Ukraine is part of a united resigned on April 10 after cleaning up the banking sector observation of the Minsk agreements by the parties to the Europe stretching from Lisbon to Kharkiv. For three years in her three years at the helm of the National Bank of conflict [in eastern Ukraine],” Mr. Putin told journalists. Russia has tried everything to block Ukraine’s path Ukraine. Under her watch, 87 out of some 180 banks lost Ms. Merkel said Moscow and Berlin “are of differing opin- towards the EU. But nothing will stop our path to Europe,” their licenses because they couldn’t meet the stricter regu- ions about the cause of the conflict.” She said it was essen- Mr. Poroshenko said. lations she put in place in one of Europe’s most corrupt tial for Kyiv to regain complete control of its border, While visiting Berlin on May 20, Mr. Poroshenko cited and shaky banking systems. As a result, total banking sec- including the portion between the separatist-controlled the signing of a political pact and free-trade agreement tor assets shrank to $53.8 billion by year-end 2016 from areas and Russia. with the 28-nation EU as another accomplishment. more than $120 billion three years earlier. Throughout the year, the European Union repeatedly However, by year-end, Kyiv had fulfilled only 10 of 86 Another banker, Deputy Justice Minister Denys prolonged sanctions on Russia for its continued occupa- commitments in the Association Agreement. The Chernyshov, unveiled his plans to reform the nation’s pen- tion of the Ukrainian peninsula of Crimea and portions of European Union formally approved the Association itentiary system that he described as currently serving the easternmost regions of Luhansk and Donetsk. Agreement with Ukraine on July 11; it went into effect on only two functions: “punishment and isolation.” President Petro Poroshenko also urged the leaders of September 1. At the Ukraine-EU Summit in Kyiv on July 12-13, European Council President Tusk urged Ukrainians to remain united and avoid internal conflicts. “We stand steadfast behind Ukraine,” he said. In turn, European Commission President Jean Claude Juncker called on Kyiv to do more to battle corruption. A minute of silence was observed across the country on May 18 to commemorate the victims of Soviet dictator Joseph Stalin’s mass deportation of Tatars from Crimea in 1944. Incidentally, the anniversary wasn’t observed in Russia-occupied Crimea. “Seventy-three years ago the Communist regime brutally expelled Crimean Tatars and representatives of other ethnic groups from their home- lands,” Mr. Poroshenko said. “For the Ukrainian nation it is an unhealed wound that especially hurts after the annexa- tion of Crimea.” The Crimean Tatars were deported en masse from the Black Sea peninsula in May 1944, after Stalin accused them of collaborating with Nazi Germany. Starting on May 18, 1944, some 250,000 were put on trains – most of them in the space of two days – and sent to Central Asia. Tens of thousands died during the journey or after they were left on the barren steppe with few resources. Crimean Tatars were not allowed to return to Crimea until the late 1980s, Presidential Administration of Ukraine when Mikhail Gorbachev conducted reforms in the years At the signing ceremony for a new visa-liberalization regime with the European Union in Strasbourg on May 17 before the disintegration of the Soviet Union. In November (from left) are: Malta’s Interior Minister Carmelo Abela (whose country then held the rotating presidency of the 2015, the Ukrainian Parliament passed a law declaring EU), Member of the European Parliament Mariya Gabriel, Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko and European Parliament President Antonio Tajani. In his May 14 press conference, Mr. Poroshenko cited Ukraine’s closer ties May 18 the Day of Commemoration of Victims of the with the European Union as a major achievement. Genocide of the Crimean Tatars. No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 7

2017: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Ukraine dealt a legal blow to Russia in their multi-facet- ed war when a Swedish arbitration tribunal on May 31 “rejected” claims by state-owned Gazprom over natural gas supplies to Ukraine worth more than $45 billion. Ukraine’s state-run energy holding company, Naftogaz, said in a news release that the tribunal dismissed Gazprom’s “take or pay” claim that stems from a 2009 contract, which required Kyiv to pay for unpurchased gas volumes. “This is an important step towards energy secu- rity,” Mr. Poroshenko said in a statement. “Moscow for the first time loses the ability to use gas as a weapon of politi- cal pressure and extortion.” Three months after Russia illegally annexed the Ukrainian territory of Crimea, Gazprom on June 16, 2014, had initiated litigation in Stockholm over the 10-year gas contract. In turn, Naftogaz filed a counterclaim alleging that Russia had underpaid for gas transit through Ukrainian pipelines. Kyiv is asking for an award worth up to $30.3 billion. That includes the market price difference for gas adding up to $18 billion and for transit equaling $12.3 billion. An overwhelming 92 percent of Ukrainian citizens con- sider themselves ethnic Ukrainians, according to a Razumkov Center survey conducted in March. Six percent of the respondents consider themselves ethnic Russians, Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and 1.5 percent cite other ethnic groups. This is the high- Acting Health Minister Ulana Suprun reacts in Ukraine’s Parliament on October 19 after reforms she had pushed est recorded percentage of Ukrainian self-identification to overhaul the nation’s health-care system were passed. since Ukraine regained independence. guage in the learning process” and emphasizes the ties and communal services for residents living in the Additional reforms took place during 2017 in health “importance of steadfast observance during education of nation’s high-rise buildings. It was the last of four key care and education. “Health outcomes in Ukraine today the humanitarian rights of national minorities who live on “energy efficiency bills” that the Ministry for Regional are poor,” the World Bank reported. “Life expectancy at the territory of Ukraine,” the president’s office said in an Development, Building and Housing had advanced. birth in Ukraine is 71 years, more than 10 years less than official statement published online on September 25. Ukraine’s business community received a preliminary the European Union average.” The good news was that It mandates Ukrainian-language instruction starting in respite when the Cabinet of Ministers approved a American-born acting Health Minister Ulana Suprun saw the fifth grade. Those attending schools where instruction “Business Pressure Relief Law” designed to soften pres- her vision for revamping Ukraine’s Soviet-era health-care is in their native language will be able to continue learning sure from fiscal and law enforcement authorities. On system passed. it in separate classes. Ethnic groups native to Ukraine, like November 9, the nation’s Business Ombudsman, Algirdas “Health outcomes in Ukraine today are poor,” the World the Crimean Tatars, are able to continue study in their Semeta, and Daniel Bilak, the director of UkraineInvest, a Bank reported. “Life expectancy at birth in Ukraine is 71 years, more than 10 years less than the European Union native language government-run foreign business promotion agency, average.” Dr. Suprun has publicly stated that 136,000 Currently, there are 581 daily Russian-language jointly announced that the bill will strengthen the “protec- Ukrainians yearly die prematurely – lives a normally func- schools, 75 Romanian and 71 Hungarian, according to tion of the rights of businesses, prevent abusive practices tioning medical system would’ve saved. Indeed, with 15.6 data provided by Ukraine’s Ministry of Education and on the part of law enforcement bodies during the course deaths per 1,000 people, Ukraine had the third highest Science. Some 3.7 million pupils are in grades 1 through of investigations, and introduce liability for any unlawful death rate in the world last year after South Africa and 11; of them, some 360,000 attend daily publicly funded behavior on the part of investigating officers.” Russia. Russian-language schools, and an additional 900,000 take As regards Ukraine’s aspirations for membership in Dr. Suprun’s bills are designed to have “money follow Russian as a separate course. NATO, the Verkhovna Rada on June 8 voted to make NATO the patient” instead of having funds being allocated based A more representative electoral bill was approved in accession a policy goal. There are currently 29 member on the Soviet-era method of counting hospital beds. the first of two readings on November 7. It foresees states in the North Atlantic Treaty Organization a collec- However, she stated that “vested interests” struck out replacing half of the country’s 225 voting districts, in tive defense alliance. Lawmakers justified the move by cit- certain accords during the reform bill’s final adoption. which single candidates got elected based only on who ing “Russian aggression” – mainly Russia’s illegal annexa- Namely, the option of co-payment for certain services and receives the most votes, with regional political party lists, tion of the Ukrainian territory of Crimea and its de facto “international protocols” that were penned to update out- whereby candidates get elected based on the proportion occupation of certain parts of easternmost Donetsk and dated procedures when a patient visits a hospital. Still, a of votes their party receives. Luhansk oblasts. National Health Care Agency will exist to control quality Another bill that was approved in its first reading dealt A month later on July 10, NATO Secretary-General Jens and determine how medical services are paid in a system with selling off a portion of the state’s nearly 3,500 com- Stoltenberg affirmed the alliance’s “unwavering support” that is supposed to be free, in accordance with the panies – the vast majority of which stand idle or are not for Ukraine’s territorial integrity and called on Russia to Constitution of Ukraine, but currently forces patients to profitable. Kyiv’s main lender, the International Monetary remove its “thousands of soldiers from Ukraine and stop pay even for the most basic of services to save their lives. Fund (IMF), has called on the government to sell whatever supporting the militants with command-and-control and Ukraine’s new law on education adopted in September assets are still viable, like the chemical producer Odesa military equipment.” is more inclusive of minorities and will improve their inte- Portside Plant, as a prerequisite for additional funding. In separate comments issued by his office, President gration into society, the Presidential Administration stat- In addition, the Verkhovna Rada on November 9 passed Poroshenko said Ukraine was determined to conduct ed. The law “raises the role of the official Ukrainian lan- in its final reading a law that should improve public utili- reforms in order to “have a clear schedule of what must be done by 2020 to meet the NATO membership criteria.” Holland in 2017 marked the third anniversary of the downing of MH17 that its Safety Board in October 2015 had said was brought down by a Russian-made rocket and outlined the area, largely held by the separatists, from which it was fired. That was followed by a report by Bellingcat, a team of independent, open-source research- ers who said they had positively identified the actual Russian Buk missile launcher as the weapon that brought the passenger jet’s flight to a fiery end. And in September 2016, the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) that conducted the international investigation said it had determined that the Buk missile system had been brought into Ukraine from Russia shortly before the Malaysian jet was shot down and then quickly smuggled back to Russia after- wards. It said the missile was fired from a field in separat- ist-held territory. On July 5, the Dutch Foreign Affairs Ministry said any suspects in the downing of MH17 will be prosecuted in a court in the Netherlands after an agreement was reached by the countries jointly investigating the crash: Australia, Belgium, Malaysia, Ukraine and the Netherlands. Former Georgian leader turned Ukrainian politician Mikheil Saakashvili staged anti-government protests towards the end of the year. Mr. Poroshenko’s erstwhile Mikheil Saakashvil/Facebook ally and former college chum is suspected of taking money Mikheil Saakashvili in Przemysl (Peremyshl) in Poland before boarding a train bound for Ukraine on September from exiled Ukrainian businessmen based in Russia. He 10. Ukrainian authorities claimed he crossed the border into Ukraine illegally. He is seen at a press briefing with Yulia Tymoshenko. was initially appointed by the president in 2015 to govern 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 No. 2

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Odesa Oblast but had a falling out with the ruling govern- ment when he complained that his reform efforts were being blocked. Mr. Poroshenko subsequently stripped Mr. Saakashvili of his Ukrainian citizenship. Afterwards, Mr. Saakashvili vowed to lead an opposition movement to demand that Mr. Poroshenko clamp down on pervasive and high-level graft in the country. Russia moved ahead with building a bridge to connect the country with occupied Crimea. It is a $5 billion project that includes a 19-kilometer road and railway that is being built across the Kerch Strait. Construction has already caused periodic closures that sealed off shipping lanes from Ukrainian ports located in the Azov Sea. To meet the bridge on the Crimean side, Russia plans a modern, four-lane highway running the approximately 400 kilometers from Kerch in the northeast to Sevastopol in the southwest. The highway will pass through Feodosia, Bilohirsk, the Crimean capital of Symferopol, and Bakhchysarai. The ports of Berdiansk and Mariupol lie on the Sea of Azov. In 2013, they handled 2.16 billion and 15.5 billion tons of cargo, respectively. Based on previous treaty agree- ments between Ukraine and Russia, a mutual arrange- ment must be reached before any construction in the Kerch Strait is allowed to begin. Inna Sokolovska/UNIAN An overwhelming majority of Ukrainians think the war- A scene from the anti-government demonstration in Kyiv on December 9 – the largest since the Euro-Maidan – that torn Donbas region should remain part of Ukraine, a poll called on the Poroshenko administration to speed up anti-graft efforts. by the International Republican Institute found in May. and-a-half-year suspended sentence in a case criticized by ing in April 2014, when Kyiv lost control of numerous cit- “Three years into the ongoing conflict in eastern Ukraine, the West as politically motivated. ies and towns in the Luhansk and Donetsk oblasts. which has claimed the lives of 10,000 and displaced more Mr. Poroshenko argued for a U.N. peacekeeping mission Now, the law “catches up with reality on the ground,” than 1.7 million people, Ukrainians are resolute in their to enter Ukraine to quell fighting in the Donbas while according to a note to investors by Kyiv-based Dragon desire to restore their territorial integrity and their rejec- addressing the U.N. General Assembly in September. Capital. The bill also deems areas not controlled by Kyiv in tion of the illegal occupation by Russian-backed separat- Lithuania’s President Dalia Grybauskaite emphasized that the Donbas as “temporarily occupied,” like a similar law ists,” said IRI Regional Director for Eurasia Stephen Nix. Russia is an aggressor state at the same U.N. gathering. currently in force regarding the Ukrainian territory of “This data is critical, as it suggests that the Ukrainian peo- “Despite Russia’s special responsibility to protect interna- Crimea that Moscow forcibly took over in March 2014, fol- ple will not accept the division of their country.” tional peace as permanent member of the Security lowing a sham referendum held on the peninsula in the War trauma is taking its toll on Ukrainian soldiers, sta- Council, it violated the U.N. Charter by attacking Georgia, presence of its disguised armed forces. “The law also gives tistics showed. Some 500 veterans have committed sui- cide since the war started in April 2014 through mid-June illegally annexing Crimea and directly participating in the more leeway for the president to enact martial law in the 2017, according to the Military Prosecutor’s Office. That war in eastern Ukraine,” she said. non-government-controlled areas of the Donbas,” Mariya figure doesn’t include the suicides committed while sol- The national president of the Ukrainian Canadian Zolkina, political analyst for the Ilko Kucheriv Democratic diers were in service. Congress (UCC) had called on Canadian Prime Minister Initiatives Foundation, told The Ukrainian Weekly. Outreach groups told The Ukrainian Weekly that the Justin Trudeau to take the lead in a U.N. peacekeeping mis- It also, according to experts like Ms. Zolkina, legally government needs to do more for the nearly 200,000 war sion. Following a September 22 meeting with Ukrainian solidifies Ukraine’s position to absolve itself of “what hap- veterans. “Although what we’re [and others] are doing can President Petro Poroshenko in Toronto, Prime Minister pens to its citizens in the occupied Donbas, whether finan- be scaled up… An integrated government system is need- Trudeau told reporters at a joint news conference with cially, on a human or civil rights level… it places the onus” ed to treat veterans. PTSD will collapse on society, on civil- both leaders that a U.N. mission could ensure that “people on the occupiers. ians who are ignoring this unless intervention happens,” are able to live their lives in peace and security in a way Ukrainians were reminded in 2017 that Russia is wag- Dr. Roman Torgovitsky, a Harvard-trained biomedical sci- that upholds the principles of international law that, quite ing war on Ukraine throughout the country, not only in the entist said in September. “We’re only a small part of the frankly, Russia violated with its illegitimate actions.” Donbas. rehabilitation paradigm.” A month later, on October 6, the Verkhovna Rada An Odesa-born medic and sniper of Chechen heritage Crimean Tatar leaders Akhtem Chiygoz and Ilmi passed a law in the first of two readings that names Russia who fought in the Donbas war was fatally shot in Kyiv Umerov, who were sentenced to prison by Russian courts as an aggressor state pursuant to international conven- Oblast. A bullet to the head killed Amina Okuyeva, 34, on on the occupied peninsula in September, were released tions and enables the Armed Forces of Ukraine to better October 30 while she was in the passenger side of a vehi- from custody on October 25 and arrived in Turkey, defend the country’s sovereign territory. Previously, the cle driven by her husband, Adam Osmaev, who was also Ukrainian officials, legislators and lawyers said. war was nominally deemed by law as an “anti-terrorist wounded by automatic gunfire, authorities said. A day However, a court in Russia-occupied Crimea on operation” that was de jure supposed to be led by the later, the SBU said it had detained a 29-year-old woman September 22 found RFE/RL contributor Mykola Semena Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) – as actually was the who planted a remote-controlled bomb that killed the guilty on a charge of separatism and handed him a two- case in the early stages of Moscow’s covert invasion start- deputy head of the spy agency’s counterintelligence unit in Donetsk Oblast on March 31. Others alleged to have been Russian targets have died in car explosions. Col. Maksym Shapoval of military intelli- gence died in his vehicle when a bomb was set off in Kyiv in June. Authorities said a “Russian trail” was behind his death also. All together some 1,600 Ukrainian law enforcement personnel and high-ranking government officials have been targets of assassinations that were prevented by the authorities, the chief military prosecutor, Mr. Matios, said on November 1. Russia engages in lies on an industrial scale packaged as actual news stated Yevhen Fedchenko, 41, director of the Mohyla School of Journalism. In a November inter- view, he said he and his colleagues noticed the practice during the Revolution of Dignity that ended in February 2014. A month later, Mr. Fedchenko and his like-minded team took action when he noticed that amid a “news vacu- um” on Ukraine, where there was “no government, no news makers, …immediately that vacuum was filled with fake news, a fake reality” – allegedly by Russia. Soon, the StopFake group that he co-founded to debunk hoax news would become aware of the scope of Russia’s large cottage industry, complete with a troll factory in St. Petersburg, automated “bots” and fictitious social media accounts created to spread lies and disinformation on U.S. Embassy Kyiv Ukraine. Ambassador Kurt Volker (left), U.S. special representative for Ukraine negotiations, toured Avdiyivka and Four years after the Euro-Maidan Revolution erupted Kramatorsk in eastern Ukraine on July 23. Accompanied by U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch (far in November 2013, political and sociological experts still right), he received briefings from Ukrainian government and military officials in order to better understand the sit- uation on the ground. Ambassadors Volker and Yovanovitch also met with civil society groups and victims of believe that the following year, 2014, was a breakthrough Russian aggression in Avdiyivka. year for Ukraine that firmly set the country’s course of No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 9

2017: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Dr. Ulana Suprun, who focused on the positive changes in Ukraine over recent years and the country’s path of reform The Ukrainian diaspora: in the health care system. As longtime readers of The Ukrainian Weekly may active around the world recall, the UWC was founded in 1967 as the World ifty years. That’s how long the Ukrainian World Congress of Free Ukrainians. A total of 1,003 delegates Congress has been around, and the year 2017 for attended the first World Congress of Free Ukrainians, and Fthis worldwide body – which has ties with 53 related activities, held on November 12-19, 1967, in New countries and represents a diaspora of 20 million York City. They represented 17 countries beyond the bor- Ukrainians – was one of multiple celebrations of this ders of Ukraine where some 3 million Ukrainians lived. A major anniversary. massive Freedom Rally at Madison Square Garden was A UWC appeal on the occasion of the anniversary cited meant to demonstrate the Ukrainian diaspora’s resolve. the organization’s worthy objectives: “In 1967 it was the And it did. Over 10,000 people attended. The creation of renewal of an independent Ukrainian state. In 2017 it is the World Congress of Free Ukrainians, known since 1993 the continued development of a democratic and prosper- as the Ukrainian World Congress, was seen as a reaffirma- ing state. Concurrently the UWC actively promotes the tion of Ukrainians’ faith in the ultimate realization of their rights and interests of all Ukrainians wherever they may nation’s claim to freedom. live.” In fact, in 2017 the UWC opened a Mission to UWC President Eugene Czolij noted: “Our commemora- International Organizations in Brussels to further build tions, which included events in 26 countries, including and strengthen relations with the international communi- Ukraine, offered the opportunity to meet with members of ty. www.inforesist.org our community from all walks of life, and to learn more Odesa-born Amina Okuyeva, 34, an ethnic Chechen, Major international conferences dedicated to the UWC’s about their work and commitment to both building their Donbas war veteran and overt critic of Russian five decades began in August in Lviv (on the topic “UWC at communities and assisting the people of Ukraine in build- President Vladimir Putin, was fatally shot in the head on 50 and Beyond: The European Context”) and concluded in ing their democratic, reformed European state.” October 30 in Kyiv Oblast. November in Toronto (“UWC at 50 and Beyond: The The world body’s golden anniversary was celebrated in Roadmap”). In between, there were conferences in New Kyiv, at the Mystetskyi Arsenal on August 26. Joining the development towards democratization and embracing York (“UWC at 50 and Beyond: The North American UWC leadership and representatives of its international European values. An “absolute majority” of 62 experts that Vector”), Curitiba, Brazil (“UWC at 50 and beyond: The network were Ukraine’s President Petro Poroshenko and the Kyiv-based policy center Ilko Kucheriv Democratic South American Vector”) and Brussels, Belgium (“UWC at Initiatives polled in November said the main achievement First Lady Maryna Poroshenko; Patriarch Filaret of the 50: European and Euro-Atlantic Forum”). Ukrainian Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate; Patriarch of the popular uprising is European integration and the In New York on September 16, a daylong conference at signing of a far-ranging political and free-trade agreement Sviatoslav of the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church; and the prestigious Princeton Club looked back at the history other religious leaders, high-ranking officials from with the European Union, as well as the overthrow of of the Ukrainian diaspora’s international coordinating Kremlin-backed former President Viktor Yanukovych and Ukraine, diplomats from around the world and representa- body; it was followed by a golden jubilee banquet. The tives of Ukrainian civil society. In his address at the jubilee his cohort. event brought together leaders of the UWC, the Ukrainian Canadian Ambassador Roman Waschuk told The event, President Poroshenko thanked the UWC for its long- Congress Committee of America and the Ukrainian Ukrainian Weekly that Ukraine had outlived its legacy of standing support of Ukraine and asserted that the UWC is Canadian Congress, as well as activists from the United the 1990s. Back then, Leonid Kuchma was in his first of a strong and consolidated voice for Ukraine’s aspirations States, Canada and beyond for a conference comprising two terms as president and starting to build the corrupt, and its loyal defender worldwide. On August 25, a special four panel discussions and presentations by individual oligarchic economic model that the nation’s post-revolu- session was convened at Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign tionary government inherited in 2014 and has been speakers on a variety of themes related to the world body’s Affairs on the occasion of the jubilee. replacing incrementally ever since. efforts. The banquet was addressed by two keynote speak- UWC leaders were in the Ukrainian capital for the orga- Today, however, people in the West “need to modernize ers: Kateryna Yushchenko, a former first lady of Ukraine, nization’s annual general meeting, which was attended by their view of the country” because “Ukrainians are able to and Vasyl Hrytsak, head of the Security Service of Ukraine. 206 delegates and guests from 32 countries. The August feel they are owners of the cities in which they live,” The steering committee for the entire day’s events was a 25-26 meeting took place at Taras Shevchenko National Ambassador Waschuk said in an interview with The collaboration between the Ukrainian Congress Committee University of Kyiv. A few days later, on August 30, Ukrainian Weekly on November 29. “They help codify the of America and the Center for U.S.-Ukrainian Relations. Dr. Verkhovna Rada Chairman Andriy Parubiy congratulated space. They’re not takers, they’re also makers. That, for me, Walter Zaryckyj, chair of the UWC International Scholarly the UWC delegates during a joint meeting with members if you compare the 1990s to now, that’s a huge difference.” Council, was the forum’s host and moderator. of the Committee on Foreign Affairs and Committee on At the end of the year, the U.S. special envoy for the The final conference in the series, held in Toronto on European Integration held in the Parliament. Ukraine conflict said 2017 was the deadliest year in the November 10-11, summed up half a century of UWC activi- In Lviv, on August 27-29, a UWC partner-organization, region since the outbreak of violence three years ago. ty and developed priorities for the future. Participating in the International Institute for Education, Culture and Ambassador Volker’s comments on December 19 came as the conference were religious and state high-ranking offi- Diaspora Relations of Lviv Polytechnic National University, international monitors reported intense shelling overnight cials and diplomatic representatives from Ukraine and and an organizing committee headed by Lviv Oblast State near the town of Novoluhanske, part of the eastern Canada, politicians, members of the leadership and repre- Administration Chair Oleh Syniutka continued the 50th Ukrainian region known as the Donbas. sentatives of UWC member organizations from Australia, anniversary celebrations with Ukrainian Diaspora Days, “A lot of people think that this has somehow turned into Brazil, Great Britain, Greece, Estonia, Canada, the Russian which encompassed various ceremonies, exhibits, a con- a sleepy, frozen conflict and it’s stable and now we have... a Federation, the United States, Hungary and Switzerland, as cert and a conference. At a gala at Lviv Polytechnic, the ceasefire. It’s a problem but it’s not a crisis,” Ambassador well as leaders of UWC partner organizations – the traveling exhibit “Ukrainian World Congress: Yesterday, Volker said in a speech at the Atlantic Council, a International Institute for Education, Culture and Diaspora Today, Tomorrow” was officially launched. It was to travel Washington think tank. “That’s completely wrong. It is a Relations of Lviv Polytechnic National University and the throughout Ukraine in 2017 and 2018, visiting universities crisis. This has been the most violent year, 2017, and frank- Atlantic Council. Dr. Zaryckyj was the program coordinator and educational institutions, and engaging students in dis- ly last night was one of the most violent nights, certainly and conference chair. The keynote address at the banquet cussion about the UWC and the role of the Ukrainian dias- since February, and possibly this year,” he said. that evening was by acting Minister of Health of Ukraine pora. Reports on many of the UWC anniversary commemora- tions, as well as visits by the peripatetic UWC president to Ukrainian diaspora communities appeared in quite a few issues of The Ukrainian Weekly, which compiled news sto- ries based on multiple releases of information from the UWC headquarters in Toronto. One of the first reports came from Poland, where a 50th anniversary banquet was held at the National Home in Przemysl (Peremyshl), which had been confiscated by the Polish Communist regime in 1947 during Akcja Wisla and returned in 2011 to the Ukrainian community by Polish governing authorities. As was the case elsewhere, the short documentary film “50 Years of the Ukrainian World Congress” was screened. Among the other countries the UWC president visited were: Greece, Italy, Spain, Portugal, Germany, Switzerland, the Czech Republic, the United States, New Zealand, Australia, Singapore, Moldova, Brazil, Belgium, Latvia, Hungary, Bulgaria, France, Belgium, Croatia, Estonia, the United Kingdom and, of course, his home country, Canada. In his speeches at various venues in various countries, Mr. Czolij called upon the Ukrainian community to encour- age the international community to assist Ukraine in the Defense Ministry of Ukraine defense of its territorial integrity against the aggression of Russian shelling from occupied Horlivka damaged a kindergarten in Novoluhanske in Donetsk Oblast on the Russian Federation and also focused attention on December 18, a day before St. Nicholas Day. recent positive reforms in Ukraine. He also aimed to 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 No. 2

2017: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Irene Rejent Saviano At the conference “UWC at 50 and Beyond: The North American Vector” at the UWC Princeton Club of New York on September 16. Seen in the foreground are Presidents Ukrainian World Congress President Eugene Czolij delivers greetings during the offi- Andriy Futey (left) of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America and Paul Grod cial opening on August 27 of Ukrainian Diaspora Days in Lviv at the Andrey of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Sheptytsky monument. strengthen cooperation with governing structures in Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars. Thus, in a December 20 Ukrainian problem in Poland.’ That specific language was these countries in order to further Ukrainian issues on the released, the UWC called upon its 53-country network to used in the secret directive for this action. Ukrainians international stage. More specifically, he highlighted the urge officials of their countries of residence and interna- were to be resettled in non-concentrated communities so magnitude of Russia’s hybrid war, which poses a serious tional organizations to refrain from attending FIFA World that they would cease to exist as an ethic entity.” threat to Ukraine, as well as peace and security in the Cup games in Russia. Since the time that Poland’s and Ukraine’s indepen- world. He called for the strengthening of sanctions against Elsewhere in the Ukrainian diaspora, the Australian dence was restored, in 1989 and 1991, respectively, many the Russian Federation until it fully complies with the Federation of Ukrainian Organizations, which represents Ukrainians had returned to Poland. “There they exhumed Minsk agreements and de-occupies Crimea, and for the 22 top Ukrainian organizations in the country, played a and buried their long fallen civilian ancestors, as well as deployment of a U.N. peacekeeping mission to eastern very active role. On February 1, the AFUO cited the “esca- fallen soldiers of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army that Ukraine and a monitoring mission of the Organization for lation of activity of Russian-terrorist forces in the Donbas fought the Soviets and the Polish Communists on Polish Security and Cooperation in Europe to illegally occupied region in eastern Ukraine.” In a letter to Foreign Affairs territory after 1945. Monuments were erected both with Crimea. Minister Julie Bishop, the AFUO called on the Australian and without the consent of the Polish authorities. In fact, On November 22, the Ukrainian World Congress issued government to officially protest to the Russian Federation some memorials to the Ukrainian deceased were erected a statement marking the 84th anniversary of the and demand it cease hostilities immediately and comply at the cost of the Polish government,” Mr. Lozynskyj noted. Holodomor – the genocidal Famine of 1932-1933 – and strictly with the ceasefire. “…the time has now come again “Most former Ukrainian community property and church- the beginning of a yearlong commemoration leading to to become far more proactive in sending strong messages es that were taken over by the Polish Communist govern- the 85th anniversary of the Holodomor that will culmi- internationally that Australia condemns the Russian ment in the late 1940s and decreed confiscated in 1949 nate in November 2018. The UWC called upon the inter- aggression and will assist Ukraine to ensure that our com- have remained with their new owners, but singular struc- national community to strengthen its efforts to further mon values and principles are not eroded or compro- tures have been returned to the Ukrainian ethnic commu- raise international awareness of the Holodomor and pro- mised.,” the AFUO stated. The organization’s strong voice nity.” These, buildings, churches, memorials, monuments mote the recognition of the Holodomor as an act of geno- continued to be heard throughout 2017. and gravesites “have been the targets of a recent cide by the governments of all countries and the United In Poland, the Ukrainian minority was in peril, accord- onslaught by chauvinistic elements of Polish society and Nations. During his working visit to Kyiv on November ing to Askold Lozynskyj, a former president of the sanctioned by the current regime. They have been defaced 29-December 1, Mr. Czolij and officials in Ukraine dis- Ukrainian World Congress who is now a journalist accred- and/or destroyed,” Mr. Lozynskyj continued. cussed, among other things, the joint commemoration in ited at the United Nations in New York. In his op-ed article A four-page Polish-language chronology of recent 2018 in Ukraine and throughout the Ukrainian diaspora of published in our October 8 issue, Mr. Lozynskyj wrote: attacks against Ukrainians in Poland – prepared by the the Holodomor’s 85th anniversary. “Over the last three years the Ukrainian minority in Union of Ukrainians in Poland – was submitted by Mr. At the end of the year, the UWC weighed in on yet Poland has been persecuted by this right-wing regime [led Lozynskyj to the permanent representative of the another issue that concerns Ukraine and Ukrainians, as it by the Party of Law and Justice]. Societal Polish anti- Republic of Poland to the United Nations in New York, but called upon all high-ranking officials of governments and Ukrainian activity has been emboldened, often encour- “There has been no response.” That document, he said, international organizations to boycott the games of the aged and almost invariably condoned by the regime in would be forwarded to the U.N. secretary general, the U.N. 21st World Cup of the Fédération Internationale de power.” He went on to point out: “The southeastern terri- Human Rights Council and its high commissioner, as well Football Association (FIFA) scheduled to be played in the tory of today’s Poland was formerly considered a part of as the 192 other countries that comprise the U.N. Russian Federation from June 14 to July 15, 2018. The Ukraine and occupied in heavy concentrations until 1947 UWC said it is unacceptable for high-ranking officials of by Ukrainians. In 1947 the Polish Communist government the world observed the solemn 70th anniversary of this governments and international organizations to attend forcibly relocated that ethnic Ukrainian community to the forcedSpeaking resettlement of Akcja by Wisła, the Polish Ukrainians Communist in various government parts of any FIFA World Cup soccer games in the Russian far reaches of northwestern Poland, territory belonging to of the Ukrainian minority from the southeastern provinc- Federation when it remains an aggressor state that illegal- Germany prior to World War II. The thrust of this police es of post-war Poland to the so-called Recovered ly occupies Crimea and for the fourth year brutally ignores action [known as Akcja Wisla], which many have con- Territories in the west of the country. Over 140,000 ethnic the international order, persistently waging war in eastern demned as an attempted genocide of Ukrainians in Ukrainians were thus uprooted from their ancestral lands Ukraine and grossly violating the human rights of Poland, was not simply to relocate but to ‘solve the in the regions of Kholmshchyna, Pidliashia, Nadsiannia,

UWC The president of the Ukrainian World Congress with Australian Federation of Ukrainian Organizations President Stefan Romaniw (left) and members of the AFUO at UWC a banquet in Melbourne marking the UWC’s 50th anniversary. Eugene Czolij was in Eugene Czolij (center) with the Ukrainians in Singapore during his visit to the coun- Australia on August 1-13, visiting seven cities where Ukrainian communities are active. try on August 14-15. No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 11

2017: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Boykivshchyna and Lemkivshchyna. Conferences and cul- tural events were among the events organized to mark the anniversary during 2017 in North America, Poland and Ukraine. Meanwhile, in Moscow, a municipal court on June 5 convicted the head of Russia’s only state-run Ukrainian lit- erature library for “extremism.” Natalia Sharina, a native Muscovite and ethnic Russian, was given a four-year sus- pended sentence for “inciting national enmity or hatred.” As noted by our Kyiv correspondent, the trial was part of “Russia’s timeworn orchestrated efforts to denigrate Ukrainian identity and culture.” Human rights groups, including London-based Amnesty International, Russia’s Memorial and the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group, as well as pro-Ukrainian advocacy groups, denounced Ms. Sharina’s prosecution, which ostensibly took place because a banned book authored by a Ukrainian nationalist was found at the Moscow library. Ms. Sharina testified that the book was planted at the library, and she told the court that the case was not about a single book among the 52,000 periodicals and books that she oversaw. “The state prosecutor herself admitted during the proceedings that this was a political case,” Ms. Sharina told reporters after the ruling. Russian authorities were in the process of shuttering the library, which also held events that included lectures by Ukrainian artists and renowned writers, concerts, and informative gatherings on Ukrainian history and culture, like Easter and Christmas. “This is a logical step in Russia’s Taras Shchepanyak national policy to humiliate Ukrainian history, particularly A group of Plast scouts on a hike during the international jamboree of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization held in the last three years,” Andriy Okara of Moscow’s Center on August 12-19 in Germany. The country’s highest peak, Zugspitze (2,962 meters), is seen in the background. for Eastern European Studies told The Ukrainian Weekly’s correspondent. “This criminal case was invented.” The International Mother Language Day honored the legacy of the U.N. NGO Committee on Mental Health on March 23; a overall goal, according to advocacy groups like the women’s voices in Ukrainian arts and literature. panel on women’s entrepreneurship; and an evening at Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA), is to Ukraine’s Ambassador to the U.N. Volodymyr Yelchenko the Shevchenko Scientific Society devoted to the presenta- continue persecuting Ukrainians in Russia – the country’s delivered opening remarks, and Undersecretary-General tion of a new publication in Ukrainian about domestic vio- second largest minority. Russia’s latest census, conducted Catherine Pollard underscored the importance of women lence, both of which were held March 18. “Proty in 2010, says that over 1.9 million people identify them- and their communities to the United Nations’ mission. Dr. Nasylstva/Pro Nas” (Against Violence/About Us), is an selves as ethnic Ukrainians. Martha Bohachevsky Chomiak, an authority on the history anthology of short stories describing real-life situations of The Ukrainian World Congress issued a statement on of the Ukrainian women’s movement and author of domestic violence written in Ukrainian (it is being trans- the Sharina case in which it appealed “to the international “Feminists Despite Themselves: Women in Ukrainian lated into English). The stories are supplemented by legal community, including all commissioners of human rights Community Life 1884-1939,” delivered the event’s key- advice and commentary based on research on the nature and human rights organizations, to take immediate action note address. and prevalence of domestic violence in Ukraine. in response to this blatant violation of human rights and The program also included a clip from the forthcoming In Germany on August 12-19, over 700 Ukrainian mockery of the rule of law and to protect the fundamental feature-length drama “Julia Blue,” written and directed by scouts came together for an international jubilee jambo- freedoms of all national minorities in the Russian Roxy Toporowych. Additional elements of the program ree celebrating the 105th anniversary of Plast Ukrainian Federation.” included the poetry of Lesia Ukrainka (1871-1913), recit- Scouting Organization and the 70th anniversary of the At the United Nations, the Permanent Mission of ed in Ukrainian by Nadia Tatchin and Lesya Topolya, as first large post-war Plast gathering at the “Sviato Vesny” Ukraine to the United Nations, along with two well as the work of Ayshe Ake and Sabriye Erejepova, read (spring camporee) in Mittenwald in 1947. The event took U.N.-accredited NGO partners, the World Federation of in the Crimean Tatar language by Zulfire Asanova and place at Jugensiedlung Hochland, near the village of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations (WFUWO) and the Lillia Memetova. Königsdorf, about 50 kilometers from Munich. The jambo- Ukrainian World Congress organized “A Celebration of Soon thereafter, on March 13-24, the U.N. Commission ree (known by its Ukrainian acronym as YuMPZ) saw par- Women’s Voices” in honor of International Mother on the Status of Women attracted close to 4,000 partici- ticipants from 60 different cities in 13 different countries: Language Day on March 10 at the U. N. Headquarters in pants from 580 civil society organizations from 138 coun- Australia, Austria, Belgium, Canada, Great Britain, France, New York City. International Mother Language Day was tries, 165 U.N. missions and representatives of govern- Germany, Poland, Slovakia, South Africa, Sweden, Ukraine proclaimed by the General Conference of UNESCO in ment and non-governmental organizations. Panels and and the United States. November 1999 “to promote the preservation and protec- cultural events were held at more than 100 venues The 2017 YuMPZ, named “Amid the Forest” (a direct tion of all languages used by peoples of the world,” and throughout New York City. The World Federation of translation of the German word “Mittenwald”), was filled active commemorations began in 2007. In 2017, on the Ukrainian Women’s Organizations, which has been with exciting activities for young participants: 14 kilome- eve of the 61st Session of the U.N. Commission on the involved with U.N. initiatives for almost 70 years, has been ters of whitewater rafting on the Inn River in Austria’s Status of Women, the Ukrainian celebration of the lynchpin organization at the U.N. for events of concern Imster Schlucht canyon; a hike through the beautiful for Ukrainian women worldwide; it often works in close Höllentalklamm gorge to the base of Zugspitze, Germany’s cooperation with the Permanent Mission of Ukraine to the highest peak; a city tour of Munich; as well as various United Nations. On March 13, members of Ukraine’s offi- scouting games around the Königsdorf campsite. Adult cial delegation to the CSW – Minister of Social Policy scouts also had an opportunity to participate in a week- Andrij Reva, Deputy Minister of Social Policy Natalia long cycling expedition from Berchtesgaden to Fedorovych and National Deputy Iryna Lutsenko – met Mittenwald. with WFUWO representatives President Orysia Sushko, Other highlights of the week included an international Administrative Officer Oksana Sushko, U.N./Economic and ecological exhibit named “Green Planet” that was pre- Social Council (ECOSOC) main representative Dr. Martha pared by scouts from each country; a mini-museum titled Kichorowska Kebalo and U.N./ECOSOC representative “Mittenwald 1947,” which exhibited photographs and Nadia Shmigel, as well as Dr. Lyudmyla Porokhnyak- memoirs from the 1947 Sviato Vesny and the displaced Hanowska, president of the National Council of Women of persons camps where the participants of that time resid- Ukraine, and Iryna Kurowyckyj, U.N./ECOSOC main repre- ed. Especially moving was the final day when more than sentative for the International Council of Women. Among 500 Plast scouts traveled to Mittenwald to get a bird’s eye the topics raised during the meeting were Ukraine’s plan view of the town from the peak of Karwendel Mountain, for implementing Security Council Resolution 1325 on and to learn about the town then and now. In Kurpark Women, Peace and Security, which was passed in 2000. Puit, Plast scouts also unveiled a memorial dedicated to The WFUWO was among the co-organizers of an event the displaced persons who lived there after World War II. Marta Kebalo hosted on March 16 by the Permanent Missions of Austria, The youngest members of the jamboree (cub scouts, or During the 61st session of the Commission on the Status Finland, Kazakhstan and Ukraine, and moderated by “novatsvto”) together with the six participants in atten- of Women, held on March 13-24 at the United Nations, Ambassador Melanne Verveer, to publicly introduce the dance who had taken part in the 1947 camporee, planted seen at the Regional Women’s Peace Dialogue Platform Regional Women’s Peace Dialogue Platform in Southern a commemorative ginkgo biloba tree at the park. This tree event are: World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s and Eastern Europe and Central Asia. The WFUWO was species, one of the oldest on the planet, was selected as a Organizations President Orysia Sushko (standing) with also among the co-sponsors or host of several additional symbol of peace, environmental protection, friendship (seated from left) Ukraine’s Deputy Minister of Social events, including a session organized by the U.S. League of and strength to honor those scouts who carried on Plast’s Policy Natalia Fedorovych, Ambassador Melanne Verveer of the U.S. and Kateryna Levchenko of Women Voters devoted to the fuller participation of tenets and continued to live by them wherever they went LaStrada-Ukraine. women in the world’s parliaments; a panel organized by on to settle. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 No. 2 No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 13 Ukrainian judges visit Minnesota and D.C.

Teresa Verigan WASHINGTON – On October 13-20, 2017, the Commercial Law Development Program, in cooperation with the High Commercial Court of Ukraine and the U.S. Federal Judicial Center, held a weeklong consultative visit on the development and utilization of judicial benchbooks. The consultations took place in Minneapolis and Washington, D.C., as part of efforts to assist Ukraine to obtain more effective adju- dication of intellectual property cases. Seen in the photo are: (top row, from left) Bogdan Lvov, chairman of the High Commercial Court of Ukraine; Ihor Benedysiuk, chairman of the High Council of Justice; Viktor Moskalenko, deputy chairman of the High Commercial Court of Ukraine (retired); Dorian Mazurkevich, U.S. Patent and Trademark Office; Kris Markarian, U.S. Federal Judicial Center, (bottom row) Iryna Gladka, Commercial Law Development Program; Maryna Domanska, Kyiv Commercial Court of Appeals; Oksana Humeha, Kyiv Commercial Court; Natalia Plias, head of apparatus of the High Commercial Court of Ukraine. – Ulana Baluch Mazurkevich The Ukrainian Weekly LIKE on Facebook! 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 No. 2

Br. Numb. NAME AND ADDRESS Br. Numb. NAME AND ADDRESS ANNOUNCEMENT No. of Mem. OF SECRETARY No. of Mem. OF SECRETARY regarding election of delegates in UNA Branches 253 18 PETER HAWRYLCIW 399 40 ANDRIJ SKYBA having less than 65 voting members 23 KAREN DRIVE 4575 N.NAGLE AVE. In accordance with the By-Laws of the UNA a Branch having less than 65 voting LUDLOW MA 01056 HARWOOD HEIGHTS IL 60706 members, that is, members whose dues to that Branch include contributions to the 413-589-0056 708-867-7762 Fraternal Fund of the UNA, may unite with another Branch also having less than 254 35 ADAM PLATOSZ 65 voting members, for the purpose of electing a mutual representative at the 402 20 ANNA BURIJ 37 OLIVE ST Convention. If, when combined, the aggregate of the two Branches shall be no 16 KEYWELL COURT NEW BRITAIN CT 06051 less than 65 voting members, they shall have the right to elect one delegate. TORONTO ON Branches wishing to unite for the purpose of electing a delegate and an alter- 860-225-9258 CANADA M8Y 1S7 nate, should each adopt a formal resolution at their meeting and after mutual 416-251-2776 agreement, should conduct an election. Unless otherwise agreed by the mutual 257 25 ZORYANA NATALYA KESKE consent of both Branches, the Branch having the greater number of members shall 5124 PENFIELD AVE be entitled to elect the delegate and the Branch having the lesser number of mem- WOODLAND HILLS CA 91364 407 30 TATIANA MISKIV bers, the alternate. 818-339-2184 636 RUNNYMEDE ROAD Both Branches, which have agreed to unite for the purpose of electing a delegate TORONTO ON and an alternate, should immediately notify in writing, the Recording Department of 267 17 GLORIA TOLOPKA CANADA M6S 3A2 the UNA Home Office, which will send the proper credentials to each Branch. 293 W.5TH STREET 416-767-0628 In order to facilitate mutual agreements between Branches which have less DEER PARK NY 11729 631-667-6483 than 65 voting members, we have listed these Branches below, showing the totals 414 55 GLORIA HORBATY of voting members and the names and addresses of the Branch Secretaries, as 3 PEQUOT RD well as telephone numbers if available. 277 58 MYRON KUZIO 79 ORCHARD STREET WALLINGFORD CT O6492 GLASTONBURY CT 06033 203-269-5909 Br. Numb. NAME AND ADDRESS Br. Numb. NAME AND ADDRESS 860-633-1172 # of Mem. OF SECRETARY No. of Mem. OF SECRETARY 423 21 VERA GOJEWYCZ 283 58 STEFAN LYSIAK 2147 YALE CIRCLE 7 46 WILLIAM J. SLOVIK 127 57 YURI DARMOGRAI 3202 BARRINGTON WAY HOFFMAN ESTATES IL 60192 47 W BLAINE ST 13 ROYAL PALM DR AUBURN NY 13021 224-535-9117 MCADOO PA 18237 CHEEKTOWAGA NY 14225 315-253-7282 570-929-2963 716-685-1505 432 37 OLGA SVYSTOUN 287 37 TARAS SOCHAN 5 PLATINUM RD 8 44 OKSANA STANISLAWCHUK-MALA 133 35 MICHAEL W.BOHDAN 9 CONKLIN AVE. RICHMOND HILL ON 343 EASTERN CLOSE 5 WADE RD MORRISTOWN NJ 07960 YORKTOWN HEIGHTS NY CRANFORD NJ 07016 973-998-8545 L4E 5E2 CANADA 10598-4921 908-272-02569 647-274-0642 914-434-1445 320 42 PAUL G. FENCHAK 134 39 IOURI LAZIRKO 7422 BROOKWOOD AVE. 441 12 SUSAN SOLDAN 17 10 PETER BYLEN 5 BRANNON CT. BALTIMORE MD 21236 190 WOLVERINE CRESC 6510 VIKING AVE CLIFTON NJ 07013 410-668-4325 THUNDER BAY ON PORTAGE IN 46368-3895 973-881-1291 P7C 5Z1 CANADA 219-764-3922 325 40 BARBARA CHUPA 807-475-4550 137 32 KATHERINE SARGENT 240 E. 6TH STREET 27 53 CHRISTINE BRODYN 2330 PARK AVE NEW YORK NY 10003 187 HENSHAW AVE. 444 21 ALBERT KACHKOWSKI EASTON PA 18045-2811 212-674-5340 SPRINGFIELD NJ 07081 610-252-3289 126 SIMON FRASER CRESCENT 973-376-1347 SASKATOON SK 327 40 BOHDAN PODOLIUK 142 18 RODNEY S. GODFREY S7H 3T1 CANADA 28 2 OLHA DUB 31 TEXAS STREET 188 LAKE AVE HICKSVILLE NY 11801-2524 306-374-7675 7925 AIRLINE DR. COLONIA NJ 07067 HOUSTON TX 77037 516-433-9381 732-381-1212 450 49 MOTRIA M.MILANYTCH 281-820-6132 341 7 ANNA PETRICHYN 529 W. 111TH STREET 147 62 JANICE MILINICHIK 39 52 JOYCE KOTCH 2409 MEIGHEN RD. APT #51 1220 PENNSYLVANIA STREET 314 DEMONG DR. WINDSOR ON NEW YORK NY 10025 WHITEHALL PA 18052-6018 SYRACUSE NY 13214 CANADA N8W 4C2 610-434-0824 212-749-1664 315-446-3814 519-948-1127 153 32 JURIJ DANYLIW 465 42 EUGENE OSIDACZ 56 12 PETE S KOHUT SR 345 24 ALEXANDER POLETZ 146 ALBEMARLE DR 6 OLD FOREST ROAD 11 BEE HAVEN DR 3520 EDWARDS ST N E BLUE BELL PA 19422 KIRKLAND QUEBEC WHEELING WV 26003 ST ANTHONY MN 55418 215-646-3115 304-242-4732 H9J 2Z8 CANADA 353 30 OSYP RINNYK 514-695-0924 162 10 GEORGE B. FEDORIJCZUK 59 57 BOHDAN DOBOSZCZAK 71 VAN LIEW AVENUE 3520 SUSSEX LANE 203 MORRIS ST. MILLTOWN NJ 08850 473 27 SERGUEI DJOULA PHILADELPHIA PA 19114 NAUGATUCK CT 06770 732-545-9171 5600 GATENEAU AVE 215-632-8560 203-808-6220 MONTREAL QC H3T 1X7 356 6 OLEKSA PRODYWUS 70 62 ANN MARIE JACEWICZ 163 17 ANDRIJ V R SZUL ESQ 908 AVERY ROAD 488 5 VICTOR SZWEZ 451 BEECH AVE 1 BROOKWOOD CRL WEST ROCKHILL PA 18960 BELLEVUE NE 68123-4001 5818 W CIELO GRANDE GARWOOD NJ 07027-1405 402-292-2551 908-928-0554 212-677-4422 GLENDALE AZ 85310 623-516-9812 362 32 MARIA LUBA WALCHUK 82 37 OLGA MARUSZCZAK 184 44 ANDREW W.LASTOWECKY 210 CLINTON AVE APT.#5C 3 JOHN DRIVE 7420 ROBINDALE 489 22 HALYNA KOLESSA BROOKLYN NY 11205-3428 ANNANDALE PA 08801 DEARBORN HEIGHTS MI 48127 100 MONTGOMERY ST APT 23-H 212-475-1547 908-872-6822 313-274-3807 JERSEY CITY NJ 07302 86 19 NADIA DEMCZUR 226 7 MARKO ZAWADOWYCH 379 46 MYRON LUSZCZAK 201-200-1915 152 ST. PAUL’S AVENUE 1163 STEELER ST 215 S. FOREST AVE JERSEY CITY NJ 07306 DENVER CO 80206 PALATINE IL 60074 498 8 LIDA HEWRYK 201-216-1788 303-355-2940 847-359-0467 11440-37A AVENUE EDMONTON AB 113 45 CAROL HESTER 233 26 JULIA KRYSCHTAL 385 24 JULIAN PISHKO T6J 0J5 CANADA 610 2nd ST. NE 326 RIDGE AVE 1017 WEST RIVER RD 780-435-1533 DERRY PA 15627 ELYRIA OH 44035 MINNEAPOLIS MN 55413 412-780-0326 440-277 -8440 612-702-2505 500 6 MYROSLAV HLADYSHEVSKY 121 6 HELEN HEIM 247 20 LUBOMIRA SZEREMETA 387 14 IRENE OLIYNYK 10 MARLOWE PL N E 7328 COLEMAN MILLS RD. 120 CHERRY LANE 103 BIRCH STREET CALGARY AB ROME NY 13440 NEW CASTLE DE 19720 WILLIMANTIC CT 06226 T2E 5P8 CANADA 315-339-2823 302-652-8104 860-423-3815 403-277-3830 No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 15

war should stop, and that “people are suf- ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE CONVENTION... Freed... fering on both sides of the front line.” Mr. Nyedyelaev said that freedom to him (Continued from page 1) (Continued from page 1) is a “positive shock.” insurance in the UNA on which dues are 194 members inclusive, two delegates; those “After that I was charged with spying for “I’m quietly adapting to it… I haven’t being paid. A member who has transferred to having 195-259 members inclusive, three the benefit of another country – Ukraine,” been to Kyiv in 15 years, when before I extended insurance, or paid-up insurance, or delegates; those having 260 or more mem- Mr. Nyedyelaev said. would visit once-twice a year for work,” he is suspended, may not be present at the bers, four delegates. Each delegate shall be He was incarcerated for the first six said. “The city has changed a lot since. Life meeting nor can he (or she) vote. Members entitled to one vote. No Branch shall be enti- months in cell No. 5 of the basement of the here strongly contrasts with the existence in good standing may vote for delegates and tled to more than four votes. former Security Service of Ukraine building that people lead in the occupied lands.” their alternates only in that Branch where A Branch having less than 65 members, that Kremlin proxies now call the Ministry Asked what it means for him to be they pay dues to the Fraternal Fund. No vote for the purpose of representation at the of State Security. Mr. Nyedyelaev got fed Ukrainian, Mr. Nyedyelaev said it’s to “love by proxy shall be allowed. Convention, may unite with another Branch and was allowed to use the bathroom twice your land and its people, to do something Only those members may be elected as also having less than 65 members and if, a day. He was awakened at 6 a.m., with beneficial for those around you, and defend delegates or alternates who are in good when combined, the aggregate of the two lights out at 10 p.m. your homeland.” standing and have all the qualifications for an Branches shall be no less than 65 members “They led us from the cell in handcuffs He was part of a prisoner exchange on officer of the Branch, i.e., have been mem- who pay dues in these Branches to the fastened behind our backs with sacks over December 27, 2017, that saw 73 additional bers of the UNA not less than one year and of Fraternal Fund, they shall have the right to our heads,” he said. Ukrainians freed from Moscow control in their Branch not less than six months, and in elect one delegate. Unless otherwise agreed Once he was moved to the Luhansk pre- the Donbas. In turn, Kyiv released 306 peo- which they pay dues to the Fraternal Fund, by the mutual consent of both Branches, the trial detention facility, he ate three times a ple, but only 237 prisoners decided to are over 18 years of age, are of Ukrainian Branch having the greater number of mem- day and was allowed to take walks on the return to the occupied parts of Donetsk and nationality or descent and are not officers or bers shall be entitled to elect the delegate, assembly officers, agents or salesmen of any and the Branch having the lesser number of rooftop. He had a window in the cell. He Luhansk oblasts. It was the biggest other similar fraternal organization or life members, the alternate. even had a television starting in August. exchange since the war started and the first insurance company, and are fulfilling all obli- Credentials of delegates and their alter- “It was almost like a resort,” Mr. in 15 months. gations toward the UNA, in particular, have nates must be sent to the Home Office of the Nyedyelaev said. One hundred-sixty Ukrainians still are shown active participation in organizational UNA within 10 days of the election, but no He said he never changed his views about held against their will in Russia, the occu- and promotional work for the UNA. No person later than 60 days prior to the Convention. the war since Russia invaded in April 2014. pied Donbas or Crimea, according to the shall be eligible for delegate or alternate who “I believe the Donbas is an integral part Kharkiv Human Rights Protection Group. at any time unjustifiably or maliciously institut- Parsippany, NJ, January 12, 2018 of Ukraine and that’s how the majority of Asked what his plans are once he is ed or caused to be instituted any suit, action people think who live in the occupied terri- released from the hospital on January 12, EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE tories. But unfortunately, they can’t do Mr. Nyedyelaev said: “I will look for a place or proceeding against the UNA either on his OF THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL much about it,” Mr. Nyedyelaev said. to live and find gainful employment… I real- own behalf or on behalf of any other member. ASSOCIATION: Every duly established Branch in good “People have grown tired of the war.” ly miss working… I have many ideas that I standing in the Association, having 65 or STEFAN KACZARAJ, President He said that he prefers “peace” and the would like to put into practice.” more members who pay in fraternal dues into MICHAEL KOZIUPA, First Vice-President the Fraternal Fund of the UNA, shall be enti- EUGENE OSCISLAWSKI, tled to representation and vote on all matters Second Vice-President such as we have in America.” to be acted upon at the Convention as fol- MYRON GROCH, Director for Canada ‘Youngest...’ And for those Ukrainians frustrated by lows: Branches having 65 to 129 members YURIY SYMCZYK, National Secretary the slow pace of change, Mr. Polovchak has (Continued from page 3) inclusive, one delegate; those having 130 to ROMA LISOVICH, Treasurer a message of hope. Post Moscow bureau chief as well as a for- “Since I began to travel to Ukraine in my parents were born in Lemkivshchyna, mer president of RFE/RL. 1993, I’ve seen big changes,” he says. “Life About Akcja Wisla’s... in the villages of Zdynia and Smerekowiec For years he was estranged from his par- there has become better for the people. to be precise. And both of them eventually ents and cut off from his homeland until People living in Ukraine may not agree with (Continued from page 4) immigrated to the United States where they the Soviet Union collapsed and Ukraine this; of course, everyone wants a lot more. not the “enemy” as they claim. finished university – the University of gained its independence. But to have a better life, a lot of time is One may ask if Akcja Wisla succeeded, Connecticut and City College of New York, “I came [to Ukraine] for the first time in needed. But I believe that Ukraine is now and I would like to conclude with my respectively. And they gave birth to three 1993. I started speaking again with my par- heading in the right direction.” thoughts to this question. As mentioned, children who all finished prestigious uni- ents. And since then I have traveled to the negative effects of the action were tre- versities and completed advanced degrees, Ukraine nearly every two years,” he says. “I Written by Tony Wesolowsky based on mendous. The loss of property and ances- including Oberlin College and Columbia knew that my mother always regretted that reporting by RFE/RL Ukrainian Service cor- tral land. The physical torture, imprison- University for my sisters and Harvard for she went back. Dad, just before he died, respondent Olena Removska. ment and murder. The forced assimilation myself. As a result, I think we are in a much also admitted he had made a mistake.” Copyright 2018, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted and labeled stigma. All of these things better position to help build the Ukrainian Mr. Polovchak still closely monitors with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ caused irreversible damage, which is hard nation than if we were still living on our events in Ukraine, devouring all the infor- Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, to quantify and is still being felt today. family farm in Lemkivshchyna. mation he can find in print or on TV. “I want Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see But I would argue that Akcja Wisla also In short, despite their best efforts, I Ukraine to be independent so that the peo- https://www.rferl.org/a/ukraine-polovchak- had unintended consequences that work in believe that the Communist governments ple have the freedom and opportunities youngest-soviet-defector-/28961417.html). the favor of the Ukrainian nation-state. The of the Soviet Union and Poland did not suc- heinous acts against us sparked a genera- ceed in “solving the Ukrainian problem.” To tion of activists, who will not be silenced. use an analogy, while they did manage to Check out the websites Also, there were new economic and educa- put out the initial flame by destroying the tional opportunities in western Poland, local Ukrainian community irreversibly, of the UNA and its newspapers! allowing Ukrainians to improve their finan- they also inadvertently spread the embers cial and societal status. And the resulting that have now grown into fires of their l www.ukrainiannationalassociation.org l emigrations to other European countries own, which are now larger and more wide- and North America led to an entire net- spread than the original one. It is our job as l www.svoboda-news.com l www.ukrweekly.com l work of educated professionals with new descendants of the survivors of Akcja Wisla financial resources. to make sure that the resulting “Vatra” con- Take my family as an example. Both of tinues to burn brightly. NOTIFICATION OF SHAREHOLDERS’ MEETING

vs Disinformation has debunked 3,680 dis- Attention Shareholders A year of Russian... information cases. The Annual Shareholders’ Meeting (Continued from page 3) Source: The EU’s East StratCom Task of the Poroshenko was brought to power by the Force was set up by EU High Representative U.S. to establish a nationalist regime and that Federica Mogherini in 2015, in response to a Ukrainian National Home the Ukrainian state denies the Donbas access request from all 28 EU heads of government 140 2nd Ave., New York, NY 10003 to water, among other things. As we know by to “address Russia’s ongoing disinformation will take place now, the regime in Kyiv is not nationalistic campaigns.” It is a team of 11 communica- and came to power through popular protest tions and Russian language experts who also Sunday, February 4, 2018, at 2:30 p.m. and democratic elections. The water in seek to improve communication on EU poli- Luhansk was turned off by the local energy cies towards the Eastern Neighborhood and in the Main Auditorium. to strengthen media plurality in the region, company since the bills were not paid. Meeting will include annual reports This year, EU vs Disinfo reported a total especially in the Russian language. The task and the election of a new Board of Directors. of 1,310 disinformation cases. From Angela force’s flagship products are its weekly Merkel to burgers and Danish pets, pro- Disinformation Review of pro-Kremlin disin- Phone: (212) 529-6287 Kremlin disinformation cast its net wide in formation stories and its social media Attendance limited to registered shareholders. 2017. accounts@EUvsDisinfo and EU vs Since its creation in November 2015, EU Disinformation. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 No. 2

Group of Seven countries throughout 2018, Congress Daily Briefing) sense,” Mr. Saakashvili wrote on Facebook NEWSBRIEFS can make Ukraine a priority for its tenure.” from Ukraine, where he currently resides Canada, the United States and other poten- Cypriot court freezes Akhmetov assets and is an opposition politician. “The trial of (Continued from page 2) tial donors and international financial insti- A court in Cyprus has issued an order to a president for using his right to pardon, investment projects would be linked to fur- tutions, from the European Union’s freeze $820 million in assets held by Rinat which is not limited by any means, shows ther reforms of governance and Ukraine’s European Investment Bank to the World Akhmetov, Ukraine’s richest man, as part of that the case is fully politically motivated,” investment climate. This proposal remains Bank’s International Finance Corp. and a legal battle with a rival over the owner- Saakashvili said. “It also shows that in the formative stages and financing and Scandinavia’s Nordic Investment Bank, ship of fixed-line telecoms group Georgian authorities have not been able to partners are still being assembled. A have been invited to an upcoming “Invest Ukrtelecom, The Financial Times reported. find anything against me in the last five Lithuanian government delegation, which Ukraine” conference in Brussels to discuss The court’s decision against Mr. Akhmetov years – neither facts of corruption nor other visited Washington and Ottawa near the the project, including the establishment of and nine others was handed down on violations of the law.” Mr. Saakashvili said a end of 2017 to press its case, hopes that a central agency to manage this initiative, December 27, 2017, the London-based simultaneous court hearing against him in Canada, which will serve as chair of the the newspaper noted. (Ukrainian Canadian newspaper reported on January 5, adding Kyiv showed that “oligarchic authorities in the Ukrainian oligarch can appeal the deci- Ukraine and Georgia are operating in syn- sion until January 8. Quoting a court docu- chronicity and in full coordination with ment provided by Raga Establishment, each other” against him because he is “the owned by Denis Gorbunenko, the newspa- leader of a battle against corruption, oli- per said the case seeks money for the sale garchs, and the robbery of the people.” Mr. of Ukrtelecom to Akhmetov’s SCM Saakashvili said the world knew that TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 Financial Overseas (SCM FO) by Raga in Russian President Vladimir Putin “has been or e-mail [email protected] 2013 for $860 million. Under the court demanding both Georgian and Ukrainian order, Mr. Akhmetov and other respon- authorities to implement repressive mea- SERVICES PROFESSIONALS dents can manage their property as long as sures” against him. Mr. Putin “repeated that assets worth at least $820.5 million – the in his recent press conference,” Mr. amount sought by Raga in the litigation – is Saakashvili said, claiming that talks aimed МАРІЯ ДРИЧ preserved and that Raga is notified in at “neutralizing” him were conducted Ліцензований Продавець advance of certain larger transactions. Raga between Ukrainian President Petro Страхування Життя claims it received only $100 million up Poroshenko and Mr. Ivanishvili in Georgia МАRІA DRICH front for the sale and nothing since. Further several days before Mr. Poroshenko issued Licensed Life Insurance Agent an order to strip him of his Ukrainian citi- Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. complicating the case, in October 2017 a Kyiv court terminated the original privati- zenship last summer. “According to my 2200 Route 10, Parsippany, NJ 07054 zation contract that sold Ukrtelecom to sources, [the issue was also discussed] by Tel.: 973-292-9800 ext. 3035 ESU, a unit of Mr. Gorbunenko’s Raga, say- Poroshenko and Putin in a telephone con- e-mail: [email protected] ing it failed to fulfill the obligations set out versation on December 29, 2017,” Mr. in the sale. Assets held by Mr. Akhmetov, Saakashvili wrote. Mr. Saakashvili’s govern- listed by Forbes magazine as having ment-appointed lawyer, Sofio Goglichidze, amassed a fortune of $4.6 billion through said after the ruling that the court violated SERVICES various business interests including mining “a number of legal provisions and the con- and real estate, could be part of the freeze. stitution” in convicting former Georgian He also has holdings in the coal, steel, and president. “It is obvious that political perse- energy sectors, as well as the Shakhtar cution is going against Mikheil Saakashvili. Donetsk football club. (RFE/RL) It was impossible to deliver a guilty verdict in the case in accordance with the law,” Mr. Georgian court sentences Saakashvili Goglichidze said. Khatia Dekanoidze, a The Tbilisi city court has found former member of Mr. Saakashvili’s United SERVICES Georgian President Mikheil Saakashvili National Movement party in Georgia, said guilty of abuse of power in connection with the January 5 verdict in Tbilisi might help a 2006 murder case and sentenced him in Ukrainian authorities extradite Mr. LAW OFFICES OF absentia to three years in prison. Judge Saakashvili to Georgia. “Nobody doubts that ZENON B. MASNYJ, ESQ. Giorgi Arevadze on January 5 announced the charge was motivated and ordered,” ______the verdict against Mr. Saakashvili, Georgia’s said Ms. Dekanoidze, who served as the In the East Village since 1983 president from 2004 until 2013, convicting head of the Ukrainian National Police when him of abusing his presidential powers by Mr. Saakashvili was governor of Ukraine’s Serious personal injury, real estate trying to cover up evidence about the mur- Odesa region in 2015-16. “I do not exclude for personal and business use, der of Georgian banker Sandro Girgvliani, Mikheil Saakashvili’s extradition [to representation of small and mid-size and issuing pardons for four men who were Georgia] because the administrative businesses, securities arbitration, resources of the two countries are working divorce, wills and probate. convicted of the killing. Mr. Saakashvili, who FOR SALE rejects the charges as politically motivated, together” against him, Ms. Dekanoidze said (By Appointment Only) said on January 5 that his conviction was in Tbilisi. But Mr. Saakashvili’s lawyer in the result of pressure from one of his major Ukraine, Ruslan Chornolutskiy, told RFE/RL 140 Second Avenue on January 5 that his client’s legal status For sale 2 bedroom apartment, 73.4 New York, NY 10003 political opponents in Georgia, former m/2 in a new building in Lviv, fully 212-477-3002 Prime Minister Bidzina Ivanishvili, whom should prevent his extradition to Georgia. equipped. Individual heating +2 [email protected] Mr. Saakashvili linked to Russian state-con- “According to Ukrainian laws, a person who electric boilers, air conditioning, 2 trolled energy giant Gazprom. “The so- was a Ukrainian citizen and for the last sev- glazed balconies. Kitchen: gas-electric If 212-477-3002 landline not working, called ‘ruling’ against me by a Georgian eral years resided in Ukraine cannot be stove. New playground, bus stop 3 please call 201-247-2413 court that is fully under control of extradited,” Mr. Chornolutskiy told RFE/RL. min. Pictures will be sent on request. Gazprom-shareholder Ivanishvili is abso- (RFE/RL’s Georgian and Ukrainian services, Contact: [email protected] lutely illegal and contradicts all internation- with reporting by Apsny.ge and OPPORTUNITIES al and domestic regulations and common Newsgeorgia.ge)

WANT IMPACT? Earn extra income! NOTICE The Ukrainian Weekly is looking Run your advertisement here, for advertising sales agents. UKRAINIAN NATIONAL HOME of BAYONNE, NJ in The Ukrainian Weekly’s For additional information contact Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, The Ukrainian National Home Corporation of Bayonne, New CLASSIFIEDS section. The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. Jersey will be initiating legal dissolution procedures. The Board is seeking to repay all bonds to fully paid members. Most funds have been recompensed except for the following OPEN POSITION members who cannot be located. Applications are invited for the position of an Bachurskyj, John Kostyk, John Poltawec, Anastasia Administrative Assistant at the Ukrainian Catholic Bilyk, Michael Lawriw, Jack Skapiak, Steven Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, Philadelphia. Bojko, Onysym Lev, Michael Stupka, Olga Duties include handling all daily o ce responsibilities, Fedoryk, Wasyl Pawlyszyn, Daniel Szyszka, Mykola assisting with the operation of St. Mary’s Cemetery Jurchyshyn, Wilhelmina Pellegrino, Nina Wilnat, Lucia (arrangements with funeral directors, communications with people Kormeluk, Nicholas Pichocka, Justina Zelinski, Stephen relating to cemetery, record keeping), and maintaining church nancial records. Knowledge of QuickBooks, and a working knowledge of If you are listed or are an Heir of someone listed, please contact Ukrainian and English languages. Hours  exible; salary negotiable and our Bond Redemption O ce, Walter Figiel at (973) 736-1796 bene ts provided. Contact Very Rev. Fr. Roman Pitula at 215-922-2845, or send resume to 819 N 8th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19123. no later than March 30, 2018 to be repaid. No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 17 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 No. 2

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE Huge celebration at St. Josaphat’s marks 40th anniversaries by Myrosia Hluszok Jones achievement as the first Plast eagle scout in America in 1969. Additional greetings from TRENTON, N.J. – Over 300 celebrants friends and clergy were read. packed the church hall at St. Josaphat’s To thunderous applause, Bishop Hlib, Ukrainian Catholic Church in Trenton, N.J., Father Taras and his family were invited to on December 6, 2017. The large turnout the stage, where they were offered congrat- was in response to an invitation to honor ulations and warm remarks, and presented and celebrate the 40th anniversary into with gifts: the presenters were Lesya Kindiy priesthood of the pastor and NJ Dean the and Volodar Lysko from St. Josaphat’s Parish Very Rev. Protopresbyter Taras Lonchyna, Council and St. Josaphat’s Sisterhood, and and his brother, Bishop Hlib Lonchyna of parishioner Oksana Lupak. the Ukrainian Catholic Eparchy of the Holy Bishop Hlib and Father Taras thanked Family of London. It was also the 40th wed- everyone for making this day such a joyous ding anniversary of Father Taras and occasion. Jaroslava (Lala) Lonchyna. The evening ended with Bishop Hlib bless- The celebratory mass was attended by ing all participants and the St. Josaphat’s Bishop John Bura, auxiliary bishop of the Parish Choir singing “Bozhe Velykyi.” Philadelphia Archeparchy, and Bishop Basil The celebration was enthusiastic, family- Losten, bishop emeritus of the Ukrainian oriented, and visibly enjoyed by all. Eparchy of Stamford, Conn., and 13 priests. Roksolana Tymiak-Lonchyna The service was followed by a reception The Lonchyna family (from left): prepared by St. Josaphat’s Sisterhood, and Jaroslava Lonchyna, the Rev. Taras dinner was catered by Passage Restaurant Lonchyna, Bishop Hlib Lonchyna, Sister of Philadelphia. Roman Juzeniw did an Iliana (Lonchyna) and Bohdan Lonchyna. excellent job as master of ceremonies. The congratulatory program opened with the St Father Taras and Bishop Hlib, , skillfully Josaphat’s Parish Choir, directed by Roman performed Frederic Chopin’s Nocturne in Kucharsky, singing “Our Father,” and the E-flat major. blessing was given by Bishop John. The toast was given by the Rev. The Voloshky Ukrainian Dance Ensemble Oleksander Dumenko, pastor of Holy Trinity dancers brought energy to the gala by per- Church in Silver Spring, Md., and forming several popular Ukrainian dances. Annunciation Church in Manassas, Va. Lala Lonchyna and Natalia Tereshchuk led Greetings and an honorary certificate the children of St. Josaphat Parish and the were given by the Pobratymy fraternity of local Ukrainian school in a number of chil- Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization dren’s religious and popular songs, with (with members present from Philadelphia Kristina Oliynyk and Solomia Khometska as and Chicago), Oleh Rydzanycz, head of the soloists. The church choir performed two Ukrainian Cultural Home of Trenton and songs, with Oksana Lupak as soloist mes- Marta Kuzmowycz, chief executive officer merizing the audience with her beautiful of the World Plast Executive, who present- Roksolana Tymiak-Lonchyna voice. Maria Lonchyna Lisowsky, sister of ed Father Taras with the badge for his Bishops and priests with the Rev. Taras Lonchyna.

Hartford UAYA celebrates Ukrainian Christmas traditions HARTFORD, Conn. – The Ukrainian American Youth Association’s Hartford branch held a Ukrainian Christmas Eve dinner on December 19, 2017, at the Ukrainian National Home of Hartford. UAYA Hartford parents volunteered to make varenyky, holubtsi, kutia, kolach, pampushky and uzvar. The older chil- dren of the branch pre- pared a short Christmas program along with tra- ditional Christmas carols, or koliady. – Myron Kolinsky

“Scratches on a Prison Wall” presented at Carpe Diem Club

by Irka Sawchyn Doll “Scratches on a Prison Wall” is a fascinat- The multi-media program narrated by Ms. A second video featured Dr. Alexander ing first-person account of Ms. Komar’s Prokop, a daughter of Ms. Komar, was very Motyl, professor of political science at WHIPPANY, N.J. – The Carpe Diem Club arrest and brutal torture by the NKVD, the effective in bringing out the intensity of the Rutgers University, who highlighted the of the Ukrainian American Cultural Center Soviet secret police, in 1940. At that time author’s experiences to the attentive audi- high quality of the English translation by of New Jersey sponsored a book presenta- Ms. Komar was a 21-year-old student activ- ence. The first segment of the evening was a the author’s daughter Christine Prokop, tion of “Scratches on a Prison Wall,” a World ist and member of the underground video clip of an interview with Ms. Komar which captured the essence of the original War II memoir written by Luba Komar, Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists conducted by Yurij Luhovy in 2000. It was Ukrainian words while making the memoir edited and translated into English by (OUN). First sentenced to death for treason, most compelling to hear the author herself flow in page-turning English. Christine Prokop, at a special evening meet- which was commuted to 10 years’ hard relate the harrowing story of her imprison- The most absorbing part of the evening ing on October 26, 2017. labor and five years of exile in Siberia, Ms. ment and interrogation. Her dispassionate came when Lydia Prokop read excerpts The club’s co-chair, Louisa Kaminsky, Komar was able to escape when a fire and almost clinical tone only underscored from the book. In the first selection the introduced Lydia Prokop, who moderated erupted in the prison where she was the life-and-death dangers that she encoun- the evening’s program. detained during transport to Siberia. tered while still a very young woman. (Continued on page 20) No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 19 GENERATION UKE

Edited and compiled by Matthew Dubas Impressions of the Lemko Vatra in Zdynia The Lemko Vatra in Zdynia, Poland, is Lemko to each other. We both had a posi- considered the largest and most recogniz- tive impression of each other because I feel able Lemko cultural festival worldwide. we are all proud Lemkos and we appreci- Held since 1990, this three-day festival in ate that, even though we are not living in the Lemko region has celebrated Lemko cul- our ancestral homeland, we want to pre- tural traditions with hundreds of musical serve our Lemko culture. and theatrical performances on stage, as well as exhibitions, contests and traditional Any interesting/funny stories? crafts. The Lemko Vatra in Zdynia has Marko: What I found interesting is that, attracted thousands of guests and tourists when I talked to some people, we found from around the world, including not just out that we had mutual friends and I met the Lemko region and Poland, but Ukraine, up with people who used to live in Slovakia, Croatia, Serbia, Hungary, Austria, America. The Vatra is a nice way of bring- Canada and the U.S.A. Siblings Natalia and ing people together, whether you know Marko Lyszyk, both young professionals them or they’re new friends. who graduated from Rutgers University and Natalia: As soon as you entered the live in Bridgewater, N.J., attended the Lemko Vatra, there was a huge map of Lemkiv- Vatra in Zdynia last summer and shared shchyna and its villages. You could take a their experiences with Mark Howansky, push-pin and place it in the village that you president of the Organization for the or your family is from. My brother placed Defense of Lemkivshchyna (OOL), which pins where our family is from. And then submitted this Q&A. my fiancé, Kile, who is English and was on the trip too, pushed a pin into a village What is your connection to named Izby. Because my fiancé is now an Lemkivshchyna (the Lemko region)? “honorary Lemko,” appointed by my broth- Marko: Our grandparents were from er Marko, he decided that he will say his there. Our paternal grandfather is from family is from Izby. (Kile’s last name is Dee, Paszowa, our paternal grandmother is so Marko told him that he must be related from Lipowiec, our maternal grandfather to the famous actress Sandra Dee, who has is from Zahoczewie, and my maternal roots in Izby.) As Kile goes to push the pin grandmother is from Turzansk. During in – which was the only pin placed in Izby – Natalia Lyszyk, Marko Lyszyk, Anette and Mark Lyszyk (parents) and Alexander a man comes running up to him, all excit- northwestern Poland near the Baltic Sea in Lyszyk at the 2017 Lemko Vatra in Zdynia, Poland. ed, and starts explaining how his family is theAkcja Kolobrzeg-Koszalin Wisła, they were area. all sent to live in from Izby and he never met anyone from once stood and has become very interest- What did you enjoy least? What sur- there before. Kile, whose Ukrainian and Natalia: Our mom was born in ed with its history – so interested that he prised you the most? Polish are limited, stood there smiling, as Kolobrzeg and our dad was born in wrote a book (and we bought three cop- Natalia: The only thing I did not enjoy his eyes were looking for my brother’s or Koszalin. ies). After Lipowiec, we went to my other that much was the hot and humid weather. my help. Marko stepped in to help explain grandmother’s village of Turzansk. Homes How did you hear about the Lemko What surprised me most is how comfort- to Kile why this man was so excited. And, are still standing and people still live there. Vatra and why did you go? able we felt and how friendly everyone not to disappoint the man from Izby, Almost every other house was a relative of was. And, because of the friendliness, con- Marko said that Kile’s great-grandmother Natalia: Our family has always known my mom’s. As we made our rounds to visit about the Lemko Vatra in Zdynia and knew versations arose between us and other was from Izby. family, we jokingly started calling my mom Lemkos – some of whom we had friends or it was somewhere we needed to visit. So, a celebrity as family was so happy to see Would you go back and recommend this past summer we decided to make that family in common with. We, also, unex- my mom again and meet us. None of the pectedly, met several friends we have not it to others? happen. We wanted to see where our family we visited knew we were coming, seen in a while. Natalia: I would go back as soon as pos- grandparents were from and to experience but they were so hospitable and inviting. sible! Everything from the food, the atmo- everything that our mountains had to offer. After spending a few days there, our last Marko: One thing that I was surprised sphere, the vendors, the history, the sing- Marko: Also, our aunt from Poland went village was Zahoczewie, where homes are about was that there was a posterboard ing and dancing was amazing. there a few times and told us about it. I still standing and occupied. We were even with a list of people who were detained at decided to go because I wanted to visit my able to see the house where my mom’s the Jaworzno and Talerhof concentration Marko: I would definitely go back. I homeland and go to an event that cele- father was born, thanks to a few older camps. On the list of people sent to need to go back within the next two years. brates the Lemko culture. neighbors whom we talked to while we Jaworzno was my great-grandfather, who I would recommend it to others, especially were there. Along with the different village Lemkos. It’s important for the preservation How did you travel there and where visits, we stopped by two Lemko muse- er) of Turzansk. of our culture. did you stay? ums. was at the time, the “sołtys” (village lead- Did you meet others your age? How How has this trip affected your Natalia: When we first arrived in Marko: After the Vatra, we visited the did you communicate? What were your Lemko identity and opinion of Lemkos? Poland, we spent a few days up north in Museum of Lemko Culture in Zyndranowa. impressions of them and theirs of you? Kolobrzeg, seeing family. Then we rented a Natalia: This trip has strengthened my Natalia: We met up with our cousin who car and made our 12-hour journey down What did you enjoy most? Lemko identity and solidified my opinion of how strong, united and deep in culture south. Once we arrived in Lemkivshchyna, Natalia: I honestly enjoyed every aspect was camping with his friends. We hung out Lemko people are. of the Lemko Vatra. It was an experience I withis from them Kolobrzeg, for a bit but and lives communicated in Wrocław. He in minutes from the Lemko Vatra. will never forget. I feel like sometimes I Marko: It made me proud to be Lemko. we stayed in Komańcza, a village about 15 Polish or Ukrainian or English. Our impres- It gives me inspiration that Lemkos are can’t relate to all Ukrainian people fully sions of them, and theirs of ours, was that What else did you visit during the since my parents were born in Poland. reviving the culture in Poland and it makes trip? of interest. We were interested to learn me want to do the same here in America. However, I can’t relate to all Polish culture about them and where they come from * * * Natalia: After enjoying our weekend at because I am not Polish. At the Lemko and vice versa. the Lemko Vatra, we started making our Vatra, I felt that I could relate completely – For more information, readers may visit way to the different villages and seeing the food, the songs, the dancing, the way Marko: I met Hryc Suchanycz, who was the Lemko Vatra website www.watrazdyn- where my grandparents are from. Our first people spoke. I just felt comfortable, as if I the MC and helped run the Vatra, and I met ia.pl or the OOL website www.lemko-ool. stop was Lipowiec, where my dad’s moth- have been coming every year – that is what people from Radio Lemko. We spoke in com. er is from. Unfortunately, not much is I enjoyed most about the Lemko Vatra. there. All the homes were burned down as Marko: Overall, I enjoyed being in a my grandmother’s family was forced to place where I felt truly at home and proud The “Generation Uke” page accepts photo submissions for the photo of leave. There was a small information board to be a Lemko. One of the specific things I the month space, which features Ukrainians being Ukrainian. with a map and history of the village. As really enjoyed was the massive amount of we stood around and observed the empty Lemkos singing traditional Lemko songs Send photos to: [email protected] or The Ukrainian Weekly, P.O. land, a man stopped to talk to us. He together and accordion players in the mid- Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. bought the land where my family’s houses dle. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 No. 2

“Scratches...” (Continued from page 18) author’s voice was very immediate as she described how she was arrested, along with other students, and viciously interro- gated by the secret police. A second pas- sage detailed the chilling conversations among the young female detainees about how best to face the firing squad and what last words they should say before their exe- cution. Ms. Prokop, an excellent reader, was able to vividly convey her mother’s fear of being betrayed by members of her own underground network when she returned as a courier after her escape. The captivated audience participated in a lively discussion after the formal presenta- tion. There was unanimous agreement that “Scratches,” with its very readable English translation, was an excellent vehicle to dis- seminate this little-understood period of Ukrainian history to a broader, especially non-Ukrainian, public. Various suggestions were made, such as donating the memoir to public and academic libraries, and including the memoir in book club readings. Another strategy would be to interest educators, from middle school to university levels, in the historical value of the book. Ms. Prokop applauded all the sugges- tions, and while she is available for addi- tional book presentations, she suggested that a wider grassroots effort from the Ukrainian community could be very effec- tive in propagating a better understanding of the complexity of events in Ukraine dur- ing World War II. “Scratches on a Prison Wall” can be obtained at Amazon.com. Ms Prokop can be reached at [email protected].

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UWC The UWC president with participants of the community meeting in Budapest. Eugene Czolij with the participants of the community meeting in Latvia. Ukrainian World Congress president visits diaspora communities

The wreath-laying ceremony for the victims of the Holodomor at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier and Eternal Flame at the Arc de Triomphe in Paris. At the service in Bulgaria commemorating victims of the Holodomor.

UWC the Ukrainian people during a community diaspora and the UWC. That day he joined communities, and participated in com- event on the occasion of the 50th anniversa- the Ukrainian community leadership and memorations honoring the memory of vic- TORONTO – Continuing his visits to ry of the UWC organized by the Dnipro the Ambassador of Ukraine to Hungary tims of the Holodomor of 1932-1933 and Ukrainian diaspora communities, Ukrainian Ukrainian Cultural and Educational Society Liubov Nepop in remembering the victims marking the 50th anniversary of the UWC. World Congress President Eugene Czolij, vis- in Latvia chaired by Ivan Nalivaiko, the of the Holodomor by laying flowers at the The UWC president thanked France for ited Latvia on December 2-4, 2017, on the Union of Ukrainian Associations in Latvia monument in their honor. supporting Ukraine in defense of its territo- invitation of three UWC member organiza- led by Iryna Dukule and the Congress of On November 28, Mr. Czolij attended a rial integrity from Russian aggression, tions, the Union of Ukrainian Associations in Ukrainians in Latvia led by Mikola Pavluks. session of the Parliament of Hungary, where especially for its role in the Normandy for- Latvia, the Dnipro Ukrainian Cultural and Guests also had the opportunity to view an Ms. Hartyanyi, a member of Parliament who mat negotiations. Mr. Czolij highlighted the Educational Society in Latvia and the exhibit about the history of the UWC. is also the UWC’s first vice-president and importance of joint action by the interna- Congress of Ukrainians in Latvia. That day the UWC president visited the president of the European Congress of tional community in combating the hybrid The aim of his working visit to Riga, as Ukrainian booth of the Christmas Market Ukrainians, delivered an address on the war of the Russian Federation, which poses well as to other European capitals, was to on Unity Square. On December 3 he attend- 84th anniversary of the Holodomor. a serious threat for Ukraine, and for peace strengthen cooperation with governing ed divine liturgy at the Ukrainian Greek- and security in the entire European region. Meetings in Bulgaria structures and Ukrainian communities in Catholic Church of the Transfiguration of He particularly called for the strengthening order to promote Ukrainian issues on the Our Lord Jesus Christ, after which he spoke On the invitation of the Maty Ukraiina and continuation of existing sanctions international stage. to parishioners. He also laid flowers at the Association of Ukrainian Organizations in against the Russian Federation. He also Prior to his stopover in Latvia, Mr. Czolij monument to Taras Shevchenko. The next Bulgaria, which is a member organization urged France to support the deployment of visited Ukrainian communities and met with day he visited the Riga Ukrainian school, of the UWC, Mr. Czolij visited Sofia, an observer mission of the Organization for officials in Hungary, Bulgaria, France, Belgium, where he met with teachers and students. Bulgaria, on November 24-25 2017. Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) Croatia, Estonia and the United Kingdom. Before concluding his visit, the UWC During meetings with state officials, the to illegally occupied Crimea and a U.N. President met with Chargé d’Affaires of the UWC president thanked Bulgaria for sup- peacekeeping mission to eastern Ukraine, Meetings in Latvian capital Embassy of Ukraine in Latvia Alisa porting Ukraine in combating Russian both territories suffering the consequences In the Latvian capital, during meetings Podolyak and the Embassy staff, as well as aggression. Citing its upcoming presidency of the ongoing Russian aggression. with high-ranking officials, the UWC presi- with the ambassadors of the United States of the Council of the European Union (effec- Mr. Czolij also stressed the need to pro- dent expressed gratitude to Latvia for rec- and Canada, respectively, Nancy Bikoff tive January 1 through June 30, 2018), he tect the human and civil rights of ognizing the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as Pettit and Alain Hausser. He also met with encouraged Bulgaria to use its position to Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars on the terri- genocide of the Ukrainian people, for assis- several members of the Latvian Parliament renew and strengthen sanctions against the tories currently under control of the tance to Ukraine in the battle against and government officials. Russian Federation until it fully complies Russian Federation, including those of Russian aggression, and for humanitarian During his meetings the UWC President with the Minsk agreements and de-occu- Ukrainian journalist of the Ukrinform news aid, particularly the medical care and reha- was accompanied by officials of the Embassy pies Crimea and eastern Ukraine. agency in France, Roman Sushchenko. bilitation provided to wounded Ukrainian of Ukraine in Latvia – Chargé d’Affaires Alisa On November 24 Mr. Czolij spoke at a On November 18, together with the soldiers and care for children whose family Podolyak and First Secretary Ruslan Tsekov – commemorative dinner organized by the president of the Representative Committee members are in the Donbas conflict zone. and Mr. Nalivaiko of the Dnipro Ukrainian Association of Ukrainian Organizations in of the Ukrainian Community in France, Mr. Czolij highlighted the magnitude of the Cultural and Educational Society. Bulgaria. The next day he joined the associ- Tarass Horiszny, the UWC president laid hybrid war of the Russian Federation, which Visit to Hungary ation in honoring the memory of victims of flowers at the memorial plaque in memory poses a serious threat to both the territorial the Holodomor during a requiem service at of victims of the Holodomor and at the integrity of Ukraine, and peace and security in The UWC president on November 26-28, the Church of the Holy Sunday, Bulgarian monument to Anna Yaroslavna, queen of the world. He called for the strengthening of 2017, visited Hungary on the invitation of Orthodox Patriarchate, celebrated by France. Mr. Czolij also attended divine litur- sanctions against the Russian Federation until the Association of Ukrainian Culture in Father Kyryl Popov. That same day Mr. gy at Holy Martyrs Borys and Hlib it fully complies with the Minsk agreements Hungary, a UWC member organization. Czolij delivered remarks during a screening Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church celebrat- and de-occupies Crimea and for the deploy- While in Budapest, he discussed with its of a film by director Kostantin Chakyrov ed by Bishop Bohdan Dziurakh, secretary ment of a U.N. peacekeeping mission to east- high-ranking government officials the new about the 1946-1947 Holodomor in of the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian ern Ukraine and an OSCE monitoring mission law of Ukraine “On Education” and Bessarabia, “Pryishla Osin 1946” (Then Greek-Catholic Church, and Bishop Borys to illegally occupied Crimea. Also discussed Hungary’s continued support for the came Autumn of 1946). He also joined Gudziak of St. Volodymyr the Great Eparchy was the Latvian sanctions act, which provides European and Euro-Atlantic integration of Ukrainians in Bulgaria in laying a wreath at in Paris for Ukrainian Catholics in France, for measures similar to the Magnitsky act. Ukraine. In addition, he thanked Hungary the Shevchenko monument. Belgium, Luxembourg and Switzerland. The UWC president also encouraged support for recognizing the Holodomor of 1932- On this day, on the occasion of the 50th France on the itinerary from Latvia for an economic aid package for 1933 as a genocide of the Ukrainian people, anniversary of the UWC, a roundtable was Ukraine modeled on the Marshall Plan to help being one of the first countries to do so. November 18-21, 2017, on the invitation held during which the UWC president overcome the devastating consequences of On November 26, Mr. Czolij held a com- of the UWC member organization delivered a keynote address on the main Russian aggression and to further reforms. munity meeting organized by the Ukrainian Representative Committee of the Ukrainian priorities of the UWC. Mr. Czolij noted the positive reforms in vari- Cultural Association in Hungary chaired by Community in France, the UWC president On November 19, he participated in a ous spheres of life in Ukraine. Jaroszlava Hartyanyi and the Ukrainian fulfilled a working visit to Paris and Senlis, wreath-laying ceremony for the victims of On December 2 Mr. Czolij delivered a key- Self-Government of Hungary chaired by France, where he discussed current the Holodomor at the Tomb of the Unknown note address on today’s main priorities of Yuri Kravchenkol during which he spoke Ukrainian issues in meetings with high- the UWC regarding support for Ukraine and about the main priorities of the Ukrainian ranking government officials and Ukrainian (Continued on page 23) 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 No. 2

The Shevchenko Scientific Society in America The Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences in the U.S. Columbia University’s Ukrainian Studies Program The Ukrainian Institute of America announce an international conference in commemoration of to offer seven courses in spring semester Ukrainian Studies Program Issues in Soviet and Post-Soviet Studies” The 100th Anniversary of the (Wednesdays, 2:10-4 p.m.) will be taught Ukrainian Revolution and the Proclamation of Ukraine’s Independence NEW YORK – During the Spring 2018 by Prof. Alexander Motyl. This is an inter- semester, Columbia’s Ukrainian Studies disciplinary course that examines some of Saturday, January 20, at 4:00 pm Program at the Harriman Institute is the major controversies and “non-contro- at the Shevchenko Scientific Society, 63 Fourth Avenue, New York, NY offering seven courses that study various versies” in the study of the Soviet Union aspects of Ukraine and is organizing lec- and its successor states – including East The Ukrainian Revolution in Historical Perspective tures and book presentations in Central Europe – and thereby traces the Chair: Anna Procyk, Kingsborough Community College of the City University Ukrainian studies at the university. evolution of post-Soviet studies in general of New York On Tuesdays and Thursdays at 1:10- and Ukrainian studies in particular in Vladyslav Verstiuk, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: “Вплив револю- 2:25 p.m., Dr. Mark Andryczyk will teach a light of actual political, historical and ційних подій 1917-1921 рр. на історію України ХХ ст.” course titled “Fin De Siècle Ukrainian artistic developments within the region. Alexander Lushnycky, University of Minnesota: “Українська революція і укрa- Literature: Beauty, Duty, and Decadence.” In particular, the course explores how їнська діяспора Америки” The course focuses on the emergence of scholarly disciplines, academic discours- Zenon Wasyliw, Ithaca College: “Iuliian Bachynskyi: Ukrainian Independence, modernism in Ukrainian literature in the es, political controversies and normative the United States, and Transnational Discourse” late 19th century and early 20th century, predispositions affect academic debates, Discussant: Serhy Yekelchyk, University of Victoria a period marked by a vigorous, often bit- as well as how scholarship and the ing, polemic between the populist objects of scholarly study interact to Reception at the Shevchenko Scientific Society Ukrainian literary establishment and affect conceptual, methodological, theo- Sunday, January 21, at 12:30 pm young Ukrainian writers, who were retical and empirical understandings. at the Ukrainian Institute of America, 2 East 79th Street, New York, NY inspired by their European counterparts. Three levels of Ukrainian language Students will read prose, poetry, and instruction will be taught this spring by Political Aspects of the Ukrainian Revolution drama written by Ivan Franko, the writers Dr. Yuri Shevchuk: elementary on of the Moloda Muza, Olha Kobylianska, Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at Chair: Martha Bohachevsky-Chomiak, Fulbright Program Lesia Ukrainka and Volodymyr 11:40 a.m.-12:55 p.m.; intermediate on Anna Procyk, Kingsborough Community College of the City University of New Vynnychenko, among others. The course Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays at York: “Policies and Tactics of ‘White Russia’ toward the Ukrainian will trace the introduction of feminism, 10:10-11:25 a.m.; and advanced on Central Rada and Its Successors” urban motifs and settings, as well as dec- Mondays and Wednesdays at 1:10-2:25 Serhy Yekelchyk, University of Victoria: “A Soldier of Three Armies: Yurko adence into Ukrainian literature, and will p.m. Tiutiunnyk as a Symbol of the Ukrainian Revolution” analyze the conflict that ensued among Several events have already been Alexander Motyl, Rutgers University: “Ukrainian State-building in Comparative Ukrainian intellectuals as they set out scheduled for the spring semester, with Perspective” forging the identity of the Ukrainian peo- more to come. Henry Abramson, Touro College: “Should We Tear Down Statues of Khmelnytskyi ple. The course will be supplemented by On February 6 at noon, Dr. Maria G. and Petliura? Contemporary Reflections on Conflicting Visions of audio and visual materials reflecting this Rewakowicz, who teaches Ukrainian liter- National Heroism and Villainy” period in Ukrainian culture. ature at Rutgers University, will be pre- Discussant: Lubomyr Hajda, Harvard University Dr. Markian Dobczansky, postdoctoral senting her latest monograph “Ukraine’s

fellow in Ukrainian studies at the Quest for Identity Embracing Cultural 2:30 – 3:30 pm: Luncheon at the Ukrainian Institute Harriman Institute of Columbia University, Hybridity in Literary Imagination, 1991– will teach “Eurasian Urbanisms: From the 2011” (Lexington Books, 2017). Cultural Aspects of the Ukrainian Revolution Imperial to the Post-Soviet” (Wednesdays, Later that month, on February 27 at 4 Chair: Myroslava Znayenko, Rutgers University 2:10-4 p.m.). This course explores the p.m., Prof. Marci Shore (Yale University) Tamara Hundorova, National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine: “The Nation as institution of the city across Eurasia from will present her book “The Ukrainian Aesthetics: Modernism and Nationalism of ‘Ukrains’ka khata’” the 19th century to the present. Night: An Intimate History of Revolution” George Grabowicz, Harvard University: “Pavlo Tychyna, the Revolution, and Before World War I, rapid urbanization (Yale University Press, 2017). Modernism: the Case of Instead of Sonnets and Octaves” began to significantly alter how the On March 8 at noon, Dr. Tamara Valentyna Kharkhun, Mykola Gogol State University: “Between Two Powers: Russian Empire was run, how its econo- Martsenyuk, assistant professor at the Nationalist vs. Bolshevik in Volodymyr Vynnychenko’s Works about the my functioned and how its various peo- National University of Kyiv Mohyla Ukrainian Revolution” ples interacted. With the rise of Soviet Academy and visiting Fulbright scholar at Discussant: Halyna Hryn, Harvard University socialism, the “socialist city” became an the Harriman Institute during the 2017- object of intense discussions, while 2018 academic year will present a lecture 7:00 pm experimental architecture, massive public titled “Ukrainian Women at War: The Concert: Vira Slywotzky, soprano works projects and the Soviet forced Successes and Challenges of the ‘Invisible Reception at the Ukrainian Institute of America labor economy changed the face of cities Battalion.’ ” across Eurasia. The Cold War ushered in a Dr. Shevchuk, who is also director of new era of state-sponsored nuclear the Ukrainian Film Club of Columbia research, competition over consumer University, will continue to provide fans goods and a new Soviet role in the so- of film with consistent programming fea- called Third World. Finally, with the col- turing Ukrainian cinema both on and off lapse of Soviet socialism, cities were campus this spring. simultaneously nationalized and global- Courses at Columbia are open to stu- ized. Dr. Dobczansky’s appointment is dents from other universities in the New generously supported by the Petro Jacyk York metropolitan area seeking credit. Fund. Students are advised to contact the uni- In Spring 2018, Ambassador Valeriy versity at which you are enrolled to deter- Kuchynskyi will teach the course “Today’s mine whether it participates in this man- Ukraine: Power, Politics, and Diplomacy” ner with Columbia University. Some (Tuesdays from 2:10-4 p.m.). Ukraine is at courses are also open to outside individu- war, and the country is in turmoil. What is als interested in non-credit continuing to be done by the government to rebuff studies. Additionally, through the Lifelong foreign aggression, eradicate corruption, Learners program, individuals over 65 improve the economic situation and who are interested in auditing courses implement reforms? What are the chanc- may enroll at a discount rate as Lifelong es of the new opposition to succeed? Will Learners. Visit the Columbia University the Minsk accords be implemented? School of Continuing Education (http:// These and other issues, including the www.ce.columbia.edu/auditing/?PID behind-the-scene politics, power struggle =28) for more details. and diplomatic activities are dealt with in January 16 is the first day of classes, the newly revised course delivered by a and January 26 is the final day to register career diplomat. The course is aimed at for a class. For more information about both graduate and advanced undergradu- courses or the Ukrainian Studies Program ate students. at Columbia University, readers may con- The course “Post/Sovietological tact Dr. Mark Andryczyk at ukrainianstud- Debates: Contentious Issues and Non- [email protected] or 212-854-4697. No. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 23

Through Art exhibit, “Warming” by Les Panchyshyn, Ukrainian January 26-28 The New York Times Travel Show, U.S.-Ukraine January 28 National Museum, 312-421-8020 or New York Foundation, Jacob K. Javits Center, [email protected] Chicago www.ukrainiannationalmuseum.org January 27 Presentation of Debutantes “Chervona Kalyna,” Plast January 18 Workshop, “The European Union and Russia: Where East Rutherford, Ukrainian Scouting Organization, Hilton Meadowlands, Ottawa Now?” by EUREAST, Carleton University, NJ www.kalynadeb.org or 866-295-8986 http://carleton.ca/eureast/cu-events January 27 Winter Ball and Presentation of Debutantes, Ukrainian January 20 Ukrainian Debutante Ball, Taras Shevchenko School of Detroit Engineers’ Society of America – Detroit Branch, Washington Ukrainian Studies and the Washington Group, Omni featuring music by Klopit, Dearborn Inn Marriott Hotel, Shoreham Hotel, [email protected] 586-677-9466 or [email protected]

January 20 Montreal Malanka, co-hosted by the Ukrainian Youth January 27 through Gerdany (bead-strung necklaces) making course, Montreal Association in Canada and Plast Ukrainian Scouting February 17 with instruction by Olha Lesko, The Ukrainian Organization, Le Chateaubriand, 514-774-8428 or New York Museum, www.ukrainianmuseum.org or 212-228-0110 514-887-2094 January 27 through Embroidery courses (eight weeks each session), with January 20 Toronto Malanka, “Moulin Rouge,” Plast Ukrainian Scouting June 2 instruction by Lubow Wolynetz, The Ukrainian Museum, Toronto Organization, Liberty Grand, [email protected] New York www.ukrainianmuseum.org or 212-228-0110

January 20 Presentation of Debutantes, Newark Branch of Plast January 28 Book presentation, “The Ukrainian Night: An Intimate Whippany, NJ Ukrainian Scouting Organization, Hanover Marriott, New York History of Revolution” by Marci Shore, The Ukrainian [email protected] or 973-538-8811 Museum, 212-228-0110 or www.ukrainianmuseum.org January 28 through Tapestry weaving course (four weeks, three sessions), January 20 Book presentation by Marci Shore, “The Ukrainian Night: May 20 with instruction by Vasyl Nayda, “The Ukrainian Museum, Chicago An Intimate History of Revolution,” Ukrainian Institute New York www.ukrainianmuseum.org or 212-228-0110 of Modern Art, www.uima-chicago.org or 312-513-1088 February 3 64th Presentation of Debutantes, Ukrainian Engineers’ January 20-21 International conference, “The 100th Anniversary of the Philadelphia Society of America, Hyatt Regency Hotel at the Bellevue, New York Ukrainian Revolution 1917-1921,” Shevchenko Scientific 610-277-1284 or [email protected] Society, Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences and the Ukrainian Institute of America, 212-228-8660 February 3 Presentation of Debutantes, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Independence, OH Organization in Cleveland, Embassy Suites Hotel January 21 Traditional Christmas Eve Dinner, Ukrainian Cleveland-Rockside, [email protected] Lehighton, PA Homestead, 215-235-3709 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events January 25 through Art exhibit, “Five Elements of War,” by Daria advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions from February 3 Marchenko and Daniel Green, Ukrainian Institute of all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors and as New York America, 212-288-8660 or www.ukrainianinstitute.org space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected].

of Ukraine, including to the Ukrainian- he delivered an address. He then participat- Ukrainians in Estonia President Vira Konyk UWC president... Russian border as recognized by the inter- ed in a 50th anniversary celebration of the in a commemoration of the 50th anniversary national community; c) take measures to UWC at the Kobzar Ukrainian Cultural- of the UWC at which he delivered the key- (Continued from page 21) terminate the Nord Stream 2 project, which Educational Association, where he spoke note address. He presented UWC certificates Soldier and Eternal Flame near the Arc de is detrimental to European energy security; about the achievements of the UWC and the of recognition to Ukrainian associations, Triomphe. He also attended an ecumenical and d) support the initiative to establish a main objectives of the Ukrainian diaspora groups and activists, and the Estonian volun- memorial service at Notre-Dame Cathedral broad investment package for Ukraine akin led by the UWC. teer organizations Vaba Ukraina (Free in memory of victims of the Holodomor, fall- to the Marshall Plan to enhance the adop- While in Zagreb, the UWC president and en heroes of the Revolution of Dignity and tion of reforms and economic growth. the leaders of the Ukrainian community in (“News from Ukraine”) and participants of the war in eastern Ukraine. The requiem On November 8, the UWC president Croatia discussed cooperation on issues of Ukraine),numerous Моndo, pickets portal in support Uudised of Ukrainast Ukraine mass was celebrated by Bishop Bohdan addressed a conference of the Atlantic Council mutual interest with diplomatic represen- against Russian aggression that have been Dziurakh, Bishop Borys Gudziak, Bishop titled “Ukraine and the EU: Charting a Path tatives of Ukraine in Croatia, Chargé ongoing in Tallinn for three years. Denis Jachiet and Father Ivan Radevytch on Forward” held at the European Parliament. d’Affaires Yaroslav Simonov, Defense To official meetings the UWC President Attaché Volodymyr Opanasiuk and Third was accompanied by Chargé d’Affaires ad behalf of Bishop Daniel Zelinsky of the Meetings in Croatia Ukrainian Orthodox Church. Secretary Holets. interim of Ukraine to Estonia Vasyl During his visit to France, the UWC presi- On October 8-9, 2017, Mr. Czolij visited Visit to Estonia Yakovenko, Ms. Konyk of the Congress of dent was accompanied by Mr. Horiszny of Zagreb, Croatia, where he participated in Ukrainians in Estonia and Ms. Iaroshevych. the state commemoration of Croatian On October 10-11, 2017, Mr. Czolij, on the Representative Committee of the Working visit to the U.K. Ukrainian Community in France, First Independence Day, met with Prime the invitation of the UWC member organi- Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine in zation Congress of Ukrainians in Estonia, At the invitation of the UWC member France Serhii Shablii and the director of the visited Tallinn, where he discussed contin- organization the Association of Ukrainians UWC Mission to International Organizations Ministerranking state Andrej officials Plenković, of Croatia Speaker and repreof the- ued support for Ukraine during meetings in Great Britain, the UWC leader on October in Brussels, Maryna Iaroshevych. Parliamentsentatives Gordanof municipal Jandroković, structures other high- of with the Speaker of the Parliament Eiki 12-15, 2017, traveled on a working visit to Zagreb, and joined the Ukrainian communi- Nestor and other high-ranking state offi- London and Manchester to discuss current Visit to Belgium ty for a commemoration of the 50th anni- cials of Estonia, and also participated in the Ukrainian issues during meetings with gov- On November 6-8, 2017, Mr. Czolij con- versary of the UWC. Ukrainian community’s commemoration of ernment officials, civil society representa- cluded a working visit to Brussels, Belgium, During these meetings the UWC president the 50th anniversary of the UWC. tives and Ukrainian communities, and also where he took part in a forum entitled “UWC offered congratulations on Croatian He thanked Estonia for its significant sup- to take part in the commemoration of the at 50: European and Euro-Atlantic Forum” Independence Day and encouraged Croatia to port for Ukraine and emphasized the impor- 50th anniversary of the UWC. and met with high-ranking officials of the support Ukraine in today’s difficult times. He tance of further combating the hybrid war of During his meetings, the UWC President European Union, NATO and their member spoke about the need for the international the Russian Federation. He raised the issue thanked the U.K. for helping Ukraine pro- states, as well as Ukraine and Moldova. community to counter Russian disinforma- of countering the Russian disinformation tect its territorial integrity and called for During these meetings, the UWC presi- tion and focused attention on the significant campaign that attempts to portray Ukraine official recognition of the Holodomor as a dent called for the implementation of the reforms in Ukraine that are being realized as a failed state, and shared information on genocide of the Ukrainian people. recommendations of the EU-Ukraine with the active support of civil society. He also recent significant reforms in Ukraine. On October 14, he attended a concert in Parliamentary Association Committee called upon Croatia to recognize the The UWC president expressed gratitude Manchester organized by the Association of meeting of September 20, 2017, namely to: Holodomor of 1932-1933 as genocide of the to Estonia for being the first country to rec- Ukrainians in Great Britain, chaired by a) increase the sanctions against the Ukrainian people. ognize the Holodomor of 1932-1933 as a Petro Rewko, which was organized in com- Russian Federation in response to the steps With municipal authorities of Zagreb Mr. genocide. memoration of the UWC’s 50th anniversary. undertaken by the Russian authorities to Czolij discussed the importance of securing a On October 11 in the Parliament of Estonia, In his speech, Mr. Czolij addressed the gath- integrate the occupied territories of eastern center for the Ukrainian community in Croatia he participated in a roundtable discussion on ering and presented long-standing activists Ukraine into the Russian Federation and in from which it can conduct its activities. Estonian-Ukrainian relations, and the role of of the Ukrainian community with certifi- response to the further deterioration of the On October 8, together with the Estonia and the UWC in supporting Ukraine. cates of recognition. human rights situation in Crimea; b) sup- Ukrainian community and the Attaché for The discussion was held on the initiative of the Throughout his stay in the United port the deployment of a U.N. peacekeeping Culture, Diaspora and Media and Third head of the Estonia-Ukraine Parliamentary Kingdom, the UWC President was accom- mission in coordination with Ukrainian Secretary of the Embassy of Ukraine in Friendship Group, Johannes Kert panied by Bohdan Terlecky, member of the authorities with full access to the whole ter- Croatia Vita Holets, Mr. Czolij laid wreaths at On October 10, Mr. Czolij joined the board of the Association of Ukrainians in ritory of the Donetsk and Luhansk regions the monument to Taras Shevchenko, where Ukrainian community led by Congress of Great Britain. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JANUARY 14, 2018 No. 2