INSIDE:  Defending Donetsk airport: a ‘cyborg’s’ account – page 3  When ‘high culture’ mixes with terrorism – page 7  Books: reviews, notes, presentations – pages 8-9

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXXII No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 $2.00 Profi le of the Cabinet: Ambassador to Ukraine says U.S. Ukraine’s new ministers and Europe must help Ukraine by Zenon Zawada that he scraped together with his allies at the last minute. KYIV – The new Cabinet of Ministers As part of the government’s reform approved by Parliament on December 2 program, Mr. Yatsenyuk announced on failed to impress Ukraine’s political December 9 such proposals as dismissing observers, many of whom are already 10 percent of the government workforce; predicting their demise, partly because of raising wages for those remaining; reasons beyond their control. replacing Soviet-era benefits with con- They described a no-win situation, in temporary social payments; reducing the which dramatic reforms will slash social personal income tax, while introducing a payments and stir protests among those real estate tax (among others); and elimi- vulnerable and dependent, while a lack of nating half of state regulatory agencies. adequate reforms will upset the creative, Age: 40 upwardly mobile middle class. Party: People’s Front Former National Deputy Taras Stetskiv Hometown: Chernivtsi called it a transition government and gave it a lifespan of three to six months, Vice Prime Minister Hennadii Zubko: while Dnipropetrovsk political expert A highly trusted confidante to the presi- Andrii Zolotariov dubbed it “the heating dent, he will serve as the minister of Yaro Bihun season government” that would last no regional development, construction and Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt shares his reflections and analysis of current and possible longer than the spring. utilities and maintenance. He gained what’s future developments in Ukraine. Many of the Cabinet’s members have called in Ukrainian politics a “khlibna posa- already served in government without da” (a bread-winning post), as are many by Yaro Bihun some ways even more important, is what demonstrating any commitment to that were secured by the Poroshenko Bloc. happens in the other 95 percent of Ukraine: WASHINGTON – U.S. Ambassador to reform, experts said. Meanwhile, “three He earlier served as Mr. Yatsenyuk’s go-to how the reform projects are sustained and Ukraine Geoffrey Pyatt said that the United guy in Zhytomyr. He took a course in inno- how this newly elected reformist Cabinet is foreigners won’t rescue the government,” States and Europe must help Ukraine in vation management at Northwestern able to deliver on the very high expecta- said Ihor Losiev, a lecturer at the National protecting its territorial integrity, now University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. University in Evanston, Ill. in 2006. tions that the Ukrainian people have laid threatened by Russian aggression, as well out today.” Another ominous sign was that the Age: 47 as assist the Ukrainian government in Cabinet’s composition was determined Party: Independent Looking back on the past year, since building a better future for its people. Viktor Yanukovych left the presidency, behind closed doors, with President Hometown: Mykolayiv He presented his analysis of the current Petro Poroshenko and Prime Minister Ambassador Pyatt noted that there have Vice Prime Minister Vyacheslav situation in Ukraine and the best possibili- been two democratic elections, resulting in a Arseniy Yatsenyuk spending weeks strug- ties for that country’s future development gling to divvy the majority of the posts Kyrylenko: A veteran of Ukraine’s pro- new government and a strong pro-European Western politics, he was part of the 1990 on December 8, during a discussion with coalition, as well as a strong consensus on between them, despite the president’s foreign policy experts, officials and journal- assurances that the Cabinet wouldn’t be student protests, joined the Rukh party, the essential requirements for reform. ists at the Atlantic Council, a leading “Ukraine’s political leaders, Ukraine’s determined by quotas. and participated in the Orange Revolution Washington think tank. democrats, have managed to put aside their “There are two big groups here – of 2004 and the Euro-Maidan. He served The crisis Ukraine faces today is unprec- parochial interests and have managed to Yatsenyuk’s and Poroshenko’s – who as vice prime minister for humanitarian edented in as many ways as its resolution is focus on the long-term task of building a gained posts through quotas. A govern- affairs in the Orange government and will hopeful, he said. more democratic, just and European ment in this form isn’t capable of any- serve as culture minister this time, draw- The resolution of the crisis in the Donbas Ukraine,” he said, adding that this makes thing. There won’t be any significant ing wide criticism for a lack of experience. region will have positive consequences for him optimistic. changes because they will be competing He is believed to have gained vice prime Ukraine, the Euro-Atlantic Security system “I am absolutely convinced that the against one another,” said Serhii Rudenko, minister status as a result of being a confi- and American interests in the region, he a Kyiv political expert. dante to Mr. Yatsenyuk. said. “But just as important,” he added, “in (Continued on page 5) Following are capsule profiles of the Age: 46 Cabinet ministers. Party: People’s Front Hometown: Village of Poliske, Kyiv Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk: Oblast Though his public support plummeted Biden: Ukraine can’t ‘blow’ after the Euro-Maidan, the 40-year-old Vice Prime Minister Valerii redeemed himself when taking the helm Voschevskyi: He is a leading entrepre- another chance to change of the interim government afterwards. neur and president of several agri-firms He led officials in conducting snap in the Chernihiv Oblast, which is the by Luke Johnson government formed this month fails to reforms and meeting International political stronghold and native oblast of RFE/RL reform the economy and fight corruption, Monetary Fund (IMF) requirements to Radical Party Head Oleh Liashko. He has the efforts of Ukrainians who risked their WASHINGTON – U.S. Vice-President Joe gain a $17 billion stand-by loan program, extensive experience in politics, serving lives in street protests that pushed Viktor Biden has said Ukraine cannot lose another including an immediate $2 billion tranche in the administration of former President Yanukovych from power in February could chance to change the country for the better. in April, without which the Ukrainian gov- Leonid Kuchma. This nominee drew the be in vain. Speaking at an event at the National ernment would have gone bankrupt. most controversy, given that he served as Vice-President Biden said battling cor- Democratic Institute in Washington on Though he was not a presidential con- head of Ukravtodor – among Ukraine’s ruption and “kleptocracy” would help December 9, Mr. Biden said, “These people tender in May, by the time October rolled most corrupt state enterprises – for two Ukraine protect its sovereignty, which is have braved snipers’ bullets, freezing cold, around, Ukrainians wanted Mr. Yatsenyuk months in 2010 before being dismissed. threatened by Russian-backed separatists to win for themselves a chance to funda- to remain as prime minister, casting the who have been fighting government forces most votes for the People’s Front party (Continued on page 4) mentally alter their country for the better.” His message was that if the pro-Western (Continued on page 3) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 No. 50

ANALYSIS

In annual address, Putin pledges NSDC reports on “silence regime” President Leonid Kuchma – Kyiv’s envoy in talks with Russia, separatists and the KYIV – “The silence regime established Organization for Security and Cooperation to stay the course, hits a dead end yesterday brought its first results,” said Col. in Europe (OSCE) – said on December 10 Andriy Lysenko, spokesman of the Brutal suppression was supposed to be that a new round of negotiations should by Pavel K. Baev Information Analytical Center of the one key part of an answer, while another not be held in Minsk in the coming days Eurasia Daily Monitor was extra-generous funding channeled National Security and Defense Council because separatists had violated a previ- (NSDC). Speaking on December 10 at the The Kremlin has a lot to explain follow- through local elites, who keep demanding ously agreed ceasefire deal. Mr. Kuchma ing the dangerous deterioration of Russia’s more – but the state coffers continue to Ukraine Crisis Media Center about the “Day was quoted by Interfax as saying, “In a situ- international situation and the drastic deg- shrink. The arrival of a deep economic of Silence” called for by President Petro ation where the second party is unable to radation of its economy. And President recession is perhaps the most demanding Poroshenko, he noted: “For the first time in ensure the cease-fire regime, I do not con- Vladimir Putin opted in his annual address problem that Mr. Putin should have focused quite a while Ukrainian servicemen in the sider this meeting expedient.” He also to the Federal Assembly, delivered on on in his address – but neither his instruc- east did not suffer losses. No cases of reportedly said the separatists should December 4 (see Eurasia Daily Monitor, tions to punish supposed “speculators” Ukrainian servicemen killed or wounded “show that they really want peace and not December 4) to provide one particular attacking the ruble, nor his order to coun- were observed. The number and intensity war, and that they fully control their armed explanation for all the setbacks that have ter Western sanctions with expanded of shelling in the east of Ukraine decreased. formations.” Denis Pushilin, the envoy for happened on his watch. His explanation was import substitution has any convincing Since the bilateral ceasefire regime was separatists in Donetsk, told Interfax on strikingly plain and straightforward: Russia power (RBC Daily, December 5). announced, fire was opened 16 times, all December 10 that Mr. Kuchma’s remarks is the target of a Western policy of contain- He offered many hollow promises to cases are qualified as provocations.” Col. confirmed Kyiv is not interested in obeying ment because it has become “too strong or jump start the economy, but the only prac- Lysenko added, “We would like to bring a September 5 Minsk peace accord and independent”; and the United States and its tical measure was to declare “amnesty” for attention to the restraint of our servicemen ceasefire deal. That ceasefire deal has been allies aim to force Russia into “the Yugoslav any capital returning to Russia from off- who complied with the ‘silence regime’ in broken on a daily basis, with more than scenario of disintegration and dismember- shore accounts, which, for all intents and exemplary way and did not return fire of 1,000 people being killed in eastern ment” (Kremlin.ru, December 4). purposes, is merely a one-off rescue mea- the provocateurs.” Outside Donetsk terror- Ukraine since the accord was agreed upon In this apparent irreducible clash of geo- sure for state-owned companies run by Mr. ists fired at Ukrainian military positions at in the presence of mediators from Russia political interests, the Russian president Putin’s allies that are being targeted by the territory of the airport and outside and the OSCE. A new round of peace talks, explained, the Ukraine crisis is merely a Western sanctions (Polit.ru, December 5). Mariinka with anti-aircraft mounts and possibly in Minsk, was expected to be pretext for Russia’s foes to subject it to The two main ills that drive the Russian small arms. Fire was observed outside arranged by the end of this week following pressure and sanctions, which is, according economy into structural and irreversible Debaltseve in the area of Ridkodub and a “day of silence” truce between Ukrainian to Mr. Putin, “an exercise in futility” because recession are devastating corruption and a Nikishyne, on the outskirts of Horlivka near government forces and Russian-backed “we have a modern and combat-ready serious lack of property rights protections Mayorske and Shumy. “The biggest threat separatists on December 9. (RFE/RL, with army” – and Russia will not be contained. – and neither was even briefly mentioned came from the fire opened from tanks, reporting by Reuters, the Associated Press, This defiant stance against the alleged in Mr. Putin’s state of the nation address artillery and small arms at the Ukrainian Agence France-Presse, Deutsche Presse- Western attack on Russia’s sovereignty is (Slon.ru, December 5). positions in the area of towns Krymske and Agentur and Interfax) supplemented by the assertion of the righ- Moscow is abuzz with expert specula- Sokilnyky located on the Bakhmutka road. teousness of Moscow’s choice to annex tions on the downward dynamics of oil Our positions near Stanytsia Luhanska also OSCE Ministerial Council discusses Ukraine Crimea. And perhaps feeling the need to prices, but the shocking contraction of pet- came under fire. In the South bandits fired BASEL, Switzerland – The chairperson- reenergize this tired discourse, Mr. Putin ro-revenues has not convinced the govern- at the stronghold near Mykolayivka village in-office of the Organization for Security argued that Crimea is as sacred to Russians ment of the need to execute liberal eco- of Volnovakha district,” Col. Lysenko said. and Cooperation in Europe, Swiss Foreign as the Temple Mount is to the “followers of nomic reforms, which would have clashed He also spoke about the drastic increase of Affairs Minister Didier Burkhalter, summa- Islam and Judaism” (Gazeta.ru, December with Mr. Putin’s orders to rigidly mobilize the internally displaced persons from terri- rized the discussions of the first day at the 5). The argument is blatantly false, but the all state resources (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, tories temporary controlled by terrorists. OSCE 21st Ministerial Council in Basel, not- Russian leader is clearly struggling to main- December 4). In the last 24 hours, he said, 7,246 persons ing that OSCE foreign affairs ministers are tain the national mobilization achieved Stubborn insistence on this clearly resettled in other areas of Ukraine. Since meeting against the backdrop of one of the with the Crimean “triumph,” since he can- unworkable guideline might appear irratio- the start of the anti-terrorist operation worst crises in the Euro-Atlantic and not offer any useful direction for further nal, but the Kremlin is apparently hoping (ATO), over 514,000 persons have been Eurasian area since the end of the Cold War. advances (Bolshoi Gorod, December 4). that the economic disaster in Ukraine will resettled. (Ukraine Crisis Media Center) The theme of upholding Russia’s sover- run faster and hit harder than in Russia. It Speaking on December 5, Mr. Burkhalter eignty, which Mr. Putin used as the central is not a far-fetched expectation, except that No agreement on new peace talks said that there is general concern that the message of his address, is hardly inspiring, the newly formed Ukrainian government crisis in and around Ukraine is having a KYIV – Ukraine’s government and pro- negative impact on security and stability in as the best-case-scenario for this defensive seems to be progressing on launching eco- Russian separatists have failed to agree on posture is a long stagnation in self-isolation nomic reforms that target, first of all, the the OSCE area and beyond. He added that a new round of peace talks, but Ukraine’s negotiations and other exchanges of views (Slon.ru, November 4). Economic modern- country’s deeply rooted networks of cor- military says it will prolong a 24-hour ization, which was notably espoused by for- ruption (RBC.ru, December 3). Kyiv’s suc- ceasefire agreement. Ukraine’s former (Continued on page 10) mer President Dmitry Medvedev, has appar- cess is by no means guaranteed at this ently been discarded as incompatible with stage, and the second part of the Kremlin’s this prospect; and Mr. Putin also did not say calculations is that the European Union, a word about domestic political reforms, preoccupied with its own economic ills, FOUNDED 1933 which would, indeed, be nonsensical in the will not be able to provide Ukraine with the The Ukrainian Weekly current rigidly centralized Putinist system – necessary support. described by one sharp analyst as con- European discord is real, but the down- An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., trolled by a “corps of protectors of sover- ward shift in the global energy market a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. eignty” (Forbes.ru, December 5). denies Moscow the leverage it has previ- Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. Alexei Navalny, a leader of the Russian ously enjoyed by manipulating gas supplies Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. liberal opposition who remains under to its European customers. And the abrupt (ISSN — 0273-9348) house arrest amid an investigation into cancellation of the South Stream pipeline The Weekly: UNA: crudely fabricated charges, argues that Mr. project boldly highlighted these trends Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 Putin’s neo-feudal regime is doomed (Gazeta.ru, December 6). The Kremlin has because it stands in the way of Russia’s thus been reduced to spinning diplomatic Postmaster, send address changes to: development (Sobesednik, December 5). intrigues aimed at convincing European The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz His point that the next president would leaders that Russia seeks to resolve the 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas have to deliver the country out of severe Ukraine conflict through dialogue P.O. Box 280 instability was sharply illuminated by the (Kommersant, December 1). Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] December 4 rebel attack in Grozny, in Dialogue could indeed yield some fruit which 14 policemen were killed (Lenta.ru, were Russia to refrain from further aggres- The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com December 5). sive moves against Ukraine and come to The gun-battle erupted just two days recognize that its control over the rump The Ukrainian Weekly, December 14, 2014, No. 50, Vol. LXXXII after Chechen head Ramzan Kadyrov “Novorossiya” around Donetsk and Copyright © 2014 The Ukrainian Weekly announced that terrorism and extremism Luhansk is not sustainable. However, Mr. had been exterminated in the republic Putin’s problem is that he cannot afford (RBC.ru, December 4). Mr. Putin accused such a “freezing” of the conflict, which ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA the West of supporting the Chechen rebels, would fail to prevent Russia from sinking Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 but the attack proved that 20 years after into recession, while inevitably quickly and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 the first military invasion into Chechnya, it eroding his sky-high – though far from reli- e-mail: [email protected] remains a massive security challenge, to able – public support. His maneuvers, Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 which Moscow has no answer e-mail: [email protected] (Ezhednevny Zhurnal, December 5). (Continued on page 3) No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 3 Interview: Ukrainian ‘cyborg’ describes nine days defending Donetsk airport

RFE/RL How did you get used to it? pure adrenalin. I probably ate once every respondent Sergei Loiko came and photo- We do our jobs, we carry out orders. 24 hours. And not because of the fighting, graphed us. And she saw his photo of me at For weeks, Ukrainian soldiers struggled to just because I didn’t want to. I would eat the airport. Of course, my mother was maintain their sole foothold on the war-torn One of the guys we were replacing gave us some good advice about how not to go once and drink tea with lots of sugar. shocked. But thank God they suddenly gave outskirts of Donetsk – the city’s newly mod- Everything there is adrenalized. I lost six us leave after those three days. And I ernized airport. The area has seen some of crazy. He said don’t just sit there – you’ve got to keep living your life. Make some tea, kilos in nine days. And you’re not really arrived home with a big bouquet. “Mama, the fiercest fighting between pro-Russian sleeping. After nine days, your body is just I’m alive, I’m in one piece, and I’m here.” separatists and the Ukrainian government go figure something out, check the ammu- nition. You need to live with it. Otherwise, if completely worn out. But the whole time Loiko’s story about the defenders of the troops known admiringly as “cyborgs.” Daria you’re thinking clearly, you’re fighting, you’re Buniakina of RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service you just sit there turning things over in Donetsk airport was on the front page. your head, the fear is going to take control hauling boxes of ammunition. That’s when I caught up with one such cyborg – 22-year- Yes, I talked to him. I’m also interested in of you, and things won’t end well. So we understood what they meant by cyborgs. old Cherkasy native Serhiy Halyan – who journalism, so I got a chance to ask him tried to contribute to that kind of atmo- Did you see people die? survived a surreal nine days at the airport about this difficult profession. And he sphere. We held our positions, fulfilled our and whose father is a Russian army colonel. Yes, during those nine days I did. Before interviewed me. He was interested in the duties and supported each other. The interview was posted on November 15. that, perhaps, God protected me from such fact that my father lives in Russia and What was it like at the airport? Were there any parts of the Donetsk situations. I spent a lot of time in the con- serves in the Russian armed forces. airport left where it was possible to voys, but that was all calm. Now I under- Is your father fighting against Words can’t convey what’s going on at hide from fire? stand that life, as they say, is cheap. It’s a Ukraine right now? the Donetsk airport. It’s a totally different really frightening thing. An ordinary person world. I wasn’t battle-hardened when I When they’re firing tank shells, you sim- doesn’t understand that. I didn’t under- No, he’s not fighting, he’s at his base. It’s arrived. And then I saw how they were ply lie on the floor as flat as you can stand it myself. It’s like you grow up, finish one of the crazy, ridiculous things about shooting at you with every kind of weapon: because there’s no real cover, only drywall school, go to university, find work. You have this. So many people have relatives over grenade launchers, machine guns, mortars, around you. We were in what was the air- children, build a house, earn a pension. there. It’s painful that people are so suscep- missiles. The most frightening thing was port’s Customs Department, where there were conveyors that moved luggage. These And in reality, a person’s life is nothing. tible to propaganda. You should get your probably being fired at by a tank. It was news from other sources and judge the also really frightening just being taken to conveyors are metal constructions that go Especially when people have machine guns information fully. the airport in a tank, because the road was up to your waist. So you could hide behind and there’s no law behind what they’re completely surrounded by snipers. those. That was the one thing that could doing. They do whatever they want. If they Are you and your father in touch? save you – these three millimeters of metal don’t like someone, then it’s simpler to just There were two buildings under our Yes, our communication is on the level running along the conveyor. get rid of the problem – and then the per- control, and when I got to the new terminal, where he’s concerned about me, he knows So we lie down, we sleep, we work, and son’s not there anymore. It’s really terrible. the first floor was ours, the second was where I am and asks how I am – am I we take our breaks all behind that space. ours, and the third was the separatists’. I Who was worried about you back in healthy, am I sick? But we don’t speak They can open fire at any moment and was just in complete shock when I got there Cherkasy? about the conflict. and saw what was going on. The enemy cause a lot of damage. So you needed to be was above us, they were below us in the on your toes constantly and know that the My university professors. My friends Do you feel like you and your father basement, and their snipers were sur- lives of your comrades depend on you. And worried a lot. My mother didn’t know. She are fighting on opposite sides? thought that I was in Zhytomyr the whole rounding the building. your life depends on them. In fact, yes. Unofficially. But I think that if In terms of morale, it’s very difficult to time. I said that we were just being mobi- Why do you think the defenders are my father ever received a deployment realize that there’s nowhere to retreat. God lized, that we were sitting in our units. called cyborgs? Then, when I was going to the airport, I order, he would never agree to this “vaca- forbid you got into a really tough situation, tion,” as they call it. because you wouldn’t be able to get out of Early in my training, before I realized said that I was going for training and that I there. If you stepped out of the building, a that I would end up at the airport, we really wouldn’t be able to talk to her for a while Copyright 2014, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted sniper would get you immediately. worried about the guys there. We were because I wouldn’t have a phone but that with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ Everyone understands that you need to watching a TV report about them, and it everything was fine. Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, hang in there until the last bullet is fired. was then I first heard the term “cyborgs.” And then literally with three days to go Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see You get used to the shelling, to things flying By the time I was there, I figured out that until my break, she recognized me in a http://www.rferl.org/content/donetsk- over your head. They become ordinary. for nine days straight I was running on photograph. The [Los Angeles Times] cor- fighters-ukraine/26693593.html)

defense, it is about integrity, it is about sov- Biden... ereignty.” Mr. Biden emphasized his connection Sen. Portman meets with U.S. ambassador to Ukraine (Continued from page 1) with Ukrainian government officials, saying in the east in a conflict that has killed more he was “literally on the phone” with them than 4,300 people since April. for at least an hour and a half to two hours Ukrainians have a chance again, and “they a week. can’t blow it,” he said, adding, “Freedom is The vice-president’s remarks came as over 25 years old and they blew it; the Ukrainian forces and the rebels largely sus- Orange Revolution and they blew it.” The pended hostilities in the country’s east on vice-president warned, “They don’t have December 9. President Petro Poroshenko many more chances in the near term.” had called for a “Day of Silence,” saying it The Ukraine crisis began in November was included in a ceasefire deal signed in 2013, when the government abandoned Minsk on September 5. plans for a landmark agreement with the Despite a noticeable decrease in the European Union in favor of closer ties with level of violence, the Ukrainian military Moscow, sparking huge protests that top- said there were 13 attacks on army posi- pled President Yanukovych in February of tions and residential areas in government- this year. controlled settlements. Rebel authorities WASHINGTON – Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) met on December 9 with U.S. The United States, the European Union said they were engaged with small arms Ambassador to Ukraine Geoff Pyatt (left). Messrs. Portman and Pyatt discussed the lat- and Western states have placed economic fire. est developments in Ukraine and the state of current U.S. assistance efforts. “I appreci- sanctions on Russia for its annexation of Viktor Muzhenko, chief of Ukraine’s ated the opportunity to meet with Ambassador Pyatt to discuss the U.S.-Ukrainian rela- Crimea from Ukraine in March and its sup- General Staff, said the truce was open-end- tionship and ways to strengthen it going forward,” Sen. Portman stated. “Ambassador port for the pro-Russian rebels who control ed and that no termination date had been Pyatt is deeply committed to standing with Ukraine during this challenging time, and parts of the Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts. set. It remained unclear whether a new both the United States and Ukraine benefit from his deep knowledge and experience. I Moscow denies it has sent troops or round of peace talks, involving Russia, look forward to continuing to work with him in the future.” The Ohio senator previously weapons into Ukraine despite what Kyiv Ukraine and the rebels, under the auspices met Ambassador Pyatt in Ukraine in May, when he and Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) led a Congressional delegation to observe the Ukrainian presidential election. and NATO say is clear evidence of a direct of the Organization for Security and military role. Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), would take Mr. Biden said that Ukraine has been a place this week. tion of this smoldering conflict. “kleptocracy.” He noted, “Some think that’s In annual address... In the end, Mr. Putin had little to say in offensive to say but it’s a reality. And With reporting by the Associated Press his reality-denying address to the nation. (Continued from page 2) they’ve made great progress. But there’s and Reuters. But his message that he will not be still major, major impediments.” Copyright 2014, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted which combine fragments of dialogue and a deterred from pursuing the course of con- The vice-president also said that Russian with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ chain of military provocations, are not aimed frontation came out loud and clear. President Vladimir Putin has been using Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, at finding a face-saving exit from the dead “kleptocracy and oligarchy” as “tools of Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see end of an unwinnable confrontation. Rather The article above is reprinted from international coercion.” In such a situation, http://www.rferl.org/content/biden- he seeks to pre-empt a unified response from Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from he said, “Fighting corruption is not just ukraine-cant-blow-another-chance-to- the North Atlantic Treaty Organization its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, about good governance, it’s about self- change/26734598.html). (NATO) to any new spasm of violent escala- www.jamestown.org. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 No. 50

reforms are developing a National Human in the government, in what’s reported as an Hometown: Uzhhorod in the Profile... Rights Strategy and its implementation; alliance sought by Mr. Poroshenko. He Zakarpattia Oblast simplifying the procedure for registering earned a master’s degree in international (Continued from page 1) real estate; and submitting constitutional business and finance from The Fletcher Agrarian Policy and Food Production Minister Oleksii Pavlenko: He earned his He told parliament on December 2 that the amendments to form an independent body School at Tufts University in Boston. He to improve the selection and reappoint- served as the director of investment bank- bachelor’s degree in economics from the Yanukovych administration threatened to National University of Kyiv Mohyla throw him in prison if he didn’t surrender ment of judges. ing for Dragon Capital in Kyiv before Age: 35 becoming general director in Mr. Academy and master of business adminis- such a bread-winning post. He also said the tration from Nyenrode Business University structure should be dissolved, reorganized Party: People’s Front Yeremeyev’s Kontinium group of compa- in the Netherlands. He served on the audit- and possibly privatized. Hometown: Chernivtsi nies, which includes the WOG gasoline ing of an international Dutch company, and Age: 58 retail chain and several dairy producers. Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko: was the general director of a Ukrainian Party: Oleh Liashko’s Radical Party Age: 36 Having lived in Ukraine for more than 22 agricultural holding firm and the executive Hometown: Village of Halytsia, Party: Independent years, she has close ties to former First director of the Foxtrot electronics retail Chernihiv Oblast Hometown: Kyiv Lady Kateryna Yushchenko, who also has chain in Ukraine between 2006 and 2009. Foreign Affairs Minister Pavlo ties to the Chicago area. Various theories Energy and Coal Industry Minister Afterwards, he served on the supervisory Klimkin: A lifelong diplomat, he served a have surfaced as to why she was selected, Volodymyr Demchyshyn: In what is per- boards of several companies, including key role in the Foreign Affairs Ministry dur- including Western lenders having lost trust haps the most “khlibna posada” in the Agroprogress, and became a partner in the ing the Yanukovych administration. Since in Ukrainian officials, Mr. Poroshenko want- Ukrainian government, it should come as Pharus Assets Management fund. becoming foreign affairs minister in June, ing to dilute Mr. Yatsenyuk’s influence with no surprise that it fell under the Age: 37 he has remained in the background of foreigners, her lack of incentive for corrup- Poroshenko Bloc’s influence. Mr. Party: Self-Reliance Ukrainian diplomacy to handle its nuts and tion, and her extensive experience in work- Demchyshyn earned a master of business Hometown: Uman, Cherkasy Oblast bolts, with the Presidential Administration ing with Western financial institutions in administration from the University of Ecology and Natural Resources taking the lead in dealing with its counter- attracting capital to Ukraine as co-founder Kansas School of Business. Between 2008 Minister Igor Shevchenko: After graduat- parts in the Kremlin. He has made two pro- and CEO of the Horizon Capital venture and August 2014, he served as the director ing from the Kyiv Institute of International posals for Ukraine’s future defense against capital fund. She announced as her imme- of investment banking services at Relations and studying overseas, including the Russian Federation: creating tactical diate goals amending the tax code to boost Investment Capital of Ukraine, whose Harvard University, he founded the law fighting groups with European Union mem- state revenue and slashing spending in the board chairman during these years, Valeriia firm Shevchenko Didkovskiy and Partners ber-states and gaining Major Non-NATO 2015 budget, which would be ready by Gontareva, currently serves as the head of in 1995. Their remarkable success led Mr. Ally (MNNA) status. December 20. Kyiv’s pro-Putin media have the National Bank of Ukraine (NBU). In Shevchenko to retire from the legal pro- Age: 46 already launched a smear campaign against turn, Ms. Gontareva has handled much of gression in 2007 and launch Shevchenko Party: Independent her, implying she could be a U.S. govern- the finances in Mr. Poroshenko’s business Asset Management to invest the millions Hometown: Kursk, Russian Federation ment spy (having worked at the State empire. As one of his first moves, Mr. Department and U.S. Embassy in Ukraine) Demchyshyn announced Ukraine has no that he earned. His hobbies include healthy Defense Minister Stepan Poltorak: He and digging into her personal life. choice but to buy electricity from Russia food, traveling and taking photographs spent most of his career, 12 years, directing Age: 48 because the war has disrupted coal sup- with stars; he once published a glossy mag- the Internal Army Cadet Academy in Party: Independent plies to Ukraine’s electric power plants. He azine, Elite Club. He is believed to have Kharkiv. During the Euro-Maidan, he Hometown: Chicago also dismissed the general director of a qualified for the Cabinet under the quota of ordered his cadets to use force in suppress- state electric producer, Centrenergo, for his the Batkivshchyna party, having served as ing the protest, according to Soviet dissident Economic Development and Trade alleged role in corrupt purchases of coal an adviser on foreign investment to former Stepan Khmara. Yet since then, he helped Minister Aivaras Abromavicius : Though from the Republic of South Africa. Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko in 2005. launch the National Guard of Ukraine and not a Kyiv resident as long as Ms. Jaresko Age: 40 He has minimal experience in ecology, earned the respect of military experts and (arriving in 2008), he shares with her exten- Party: Independent though the ministry handles business mat- battalion commanders. Among his propos- sive experience in attracting investment to Hometown: Lviv ters surrounding Ukraine’s highly coveted als is creating an army reserve, including Ukraine as fund manager of the Swedish- natural resources. manpower, technical equipment and arms. based East Capital asset management Social Policy Minister Pavlo Rozenko: Age: 43 Age: 49 group, among the biggest investment funds His political career began with the student Party: Meritocratic Party of Ukraine Party: Independent in Eastern Europe. He is credited with hunger strike in 1990 and membership in Hometown: Oleksandria, Kirovohrad Hometown: Vesela Dolyna in the bringing $200 million in investment to the People’s Rukh of Ukraine. He climbed Oblast Odesa Oblast Ukraine for banks, the pharmaceutical com- the bureaucratic ladder after graduating pany Darnitsa and the Lviv-based gasoline from Kyiv Polytechnic Institute in 1993, Sports and Youth Minister Ihor Internal Affairs Minister Arsen retailer Galnaftogaz. He told the parliamen- serving in various state bodies. He is Zhdanov: After earning a candidate of sci- Avakov: Among the more controversial tary Economic Policy Committee on returning to the ministry where he served ences degree from Taras Shevchenko ministers, he began reforming the national December 11 that the state is practically as first vice-chair between 2005 and 2010. National University in Kyiv, he served the police force by dissolving the Berkut special bankrupt and the best policy would be to Afterwards, he served as a non-staff consul- Kuchma administration in various legal forces responsible for the Euro-Maidan kill- not get in the way of business. Among his tant at the Razumkov Center think tank in positions. He joined the Razumkov Center ings. Yet none of the Berkut or other inter- goals is to raise Ukraine’s ranking on the Kyiv. He is faced with conducting unprece- think tank in Kyiv in 2000 and worked for nal affairs officers responsible for the mur- Doing Business index to the top 50 from its dented cuts in social payments to vulnera- the Yushchenko presidential election cam- ders has been brought to trial or convicted. current No. 96. Kyiv’s pro-Putin media have ble parts of society, particularly pensioners, paign in 2004 as its leading analyst. After On December 2, he presented to the launched a smear campaign, pointing out which will make him unpopular. “He’s a serving in several posts in the Our Ukraine Verkhovna Rada his plans for further his Jewish background and accusing him of whipping boy,” said Mr. Zolotariov. “He will People’s Union party, he abandoned it to reform, which include dividing the ministry knowing little beyond basketball (he played be helpless before many problems. There join Batkivshchyna in time for the 2012 into five main divisions: the National Guard, for the Soviet teen champion team in 1988.) will be a contrast between the new faces parliamentary election campaign. He has the National Police (to replace the current Age: 38 directing government on the exterior and minimal experience in sports. “militsiya”), the State Migration Service, the Party: Independent representatives of the old system.” Age: 46 State Emergency Service and the State Hometown: Vilnius, Lithuania Age: 44 Party: Batkivshchyna Border Service. His critics said the measure Party: Poroshenko Bloc Hometown: Vinnytsia is an attempt to consolidate power and cre- Health Minister Alexander Kvitashvili: Hometown: Kyiv ate opportunities for corruption. After earning a master’s degree from the Information Policy Minister Yuriy Age: 50 NYU Wagner Graduate School of Public Education Minister Serhiy Kvit: The Stets: The most controversial nominee, he Party: People’s Front Service, he served as the health minister former president of the National University is the godson of First Lady Maryna Hometown: Baku, Azerbaijan under former Georgian President Mikheil of Kyiv Mohyla Academy is credited with Poroshenko and presidential adviser Yurii Saakashvili in 2008 to 2010. He served as the only structural reform of the interim Lutsenko. The president is being widely Justice Minister Pavlo Petrenko: He is rector of Tbilisi State University between government that took power after the criticized for creating a new ministry, a childhood friend of Mr. Yatsenyuk; they 2010 and 2013. Although he helped intro- Euro-Maidan. His work was good enough to moreover for such a questionable purpose, attended the same school and then Yurii duce insurance-based healthcare in Georgia, keep him the job (and joining the at a time when ministries are supposed to Fedkovych National University in he said Ukraine isn’t ready for a full transi- Poroshenko Bloc certainly didn’t hurt). be merged and consolidated for more effi- Chernivtsi. Mr. Petrenko moved to Kyiv in tion, as proposed by Mr. Yatsenyuk. “There’s Besides implementing the complex of cient work. Though Mr. Stets has insisted 2001 to work as the head lawyer for the hope for Kvitashvili, who received nice reforms under the law “On Higher on the need to counter Russian war propa- leading state bank, Oschadbank, at the ten- reviews in Georgia and here. But if you add Education,” further changes include a mar- ganda and promote Ukraine’s positive der age of 22. He has claimed credit for a little bit of syrup in a pot of rot, it’s doubt- ket approach to vocational-technical educa- image in the world, critics insist that could conducting numerous reforms since ful it will taste different,” said Mr. Losiev, a tion, which remains structured under the be done with a department in an existing becoming justice minister in late February, lecturer at the National University of Kyiv outdated Soviet system. However, whatever government body. They believe the minis- including the creation of a lustration Mohyla Academy, referring to Ukraine’s cor- further changes are planned will have to be try was created to give Mr. Poroshenko an department, opening access to the regis- rupt health sector. done on a tight budget amid painful reduc- additional vote in the Cabinet to offset Mr. tries of real estate and legal and physical Age: 44 tions. The first drafts of the 2015 budget Yatsenyuk’s influence. They also believe the entities and the introduction of an electron- Party: Independent call for eliminating schools and nurseries ministry could be used to pressure the ic system of selling confiscated property. Hometown: Tbilisi, Georgia with fewer than 30 students, eliminating president’s critics. The ministry is derisive- Incidentally, the Nashi Groshi news site higher education scholarships (except for ly referred to as the “Ministry of Truth” and reported that Mr. Petrenko likely has a Infrastructure Minister Andriy orphans and the disabled) and eliminating “Minstets” by its critics. stake in the firm that won the right in May Pyvovarskyi: He enjoys close ties to Volyn extra pay for teachers. Age: 38 to install this electronic system via an alleg- oligarch and mega-millionaire Ihor Age: 49 Party: Poroshenko Bloc edly rigged tender. Among his planned Yeremeyev and will represent his interests Party: Poroshenko Bloc Hometown: Chortkiv, Ternopil Oblast No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 5 Sacral Heritage workshop looks at Church decision-making in view of demographic changes WINNIPEG, Manitoba – A workshop funded by the Killam Foundation at the University of Alberta was recently held here at St. Benedict’s Retreat and Conference Center to explore how scholars – specifically the faculty at the University of Alberta and Cape Breton University involved in the Sanctuary Project – might work with the Ukrainian Catholic and Ukrainian Orthodox Churches of Canada to help them utilize academic research in Church decision- making related to demographic changes. The goal of the Sanctuary Project, which is based at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies (CIUS) at the University of Alberta, is to document the Ukrainian spiritu- al heritage on the Canadian prairies. The attendees at the workshop in Winnipeg discussed pressing issues of demographic change. With migration to urban centers and the dwindling membership in rural par- CIUS ishes, churches will need to be closed. Formulating best At the workshop are: (seated from left) Natalie Kononenko, the Rev. Roman Bozyk, Metropolitan Lawrence policies for meeting the needs of congregations who will Huculak, Sophia Kachor, (standing) Sterling Demchinsky, Leonard Krawchuk, Roman Yereniuk, Gloria lose their churches is a priority. Romaniuk, Ihor Okhrimtchouk, Marcia Ostashewski, Frances Swyripa, the Rev. Mark Gnutel, Donald Machnee The closing of churches will involve disposing of both and Robert Klymasz. the building and its contents. Church buildings and the icons, crosses, chalices, vestments and other items they and studied how the data compiled by the Sanctuary University of Saskatchewan. The proposed consortium will contain need to be treated with respect. Because not all Project team might be used for developing best practices. continue field research and documentation. It will run buildings and not all church contents can be preserved, Present at the workshop, which was held on August small workshops in rural areas to train local communities policies need to be developed for dealing with these issues. 27-28, were Natalie Kononenko, Marcia Ostashewski and in record-keeping and object maintenance. It will expand The workshop, therefore, discussed preservation options Frances Swyripa from the Sanctuary Project team. (John- and systematize the digital database of photographs and Paul Himka, also a member of the team, was unable to sound files and make this resource maximally useful to attend.) Roman Yereniuk represented the collection work academics, church officials and interested citizens. done at the University of Manitoba. He was joined by The consortium will continue to meet on a regular basis Robert Klymasz, formerly of the Museum of Civilization. and work to develop guidelines to be used in determining Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, Gloria Romaniuk of the which churches to close and when. Similarly, criteria of Archeparchy Archives, and the Rev. Mark Gnutel spoke for uniqueness and representativeness will be formulated. the Ukrainian Catholic Church. These can be used in selecting objects for preservation. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church was represented by Another objective is the standardization of terminology so Sterling Demchinsky and the Rev. Ihor Okhrimtchouk, both that available data can be cross-referenced. The consor- of the Rural Issues Committee, and the Rev. Roman Bozyk tium will seek to involve civic officials who are in charge of of St. Andrew’s College. The group was joined by Sophia heritage issues and heritage preservation. Kachor from Oseredok, the Ukrainian Cultural and Presenting the rich sacral heritage of Ukrainians in Educational Center in Winnipeg, and Leonard Krawchuk Canada to the public is an important goal, and an exhibit, a and Donald Machnee, community activists. (Metropolitan book, and journal articles are planned. The exhibit will Yuriy Kalistchuk of the UOC-Canada) was unable to attend open at Oseredok in Winnipeg to coincide with 150th anni- due to health issues. versary of the confederation of Canada and the 125th anni- The workshop proposed a series of recommendations. versary of Ukrainian immigration to Canada, and then trav- These include the formation of a Consortium of Heritage el to Edmonton, Saskatoon and Toronto. The Canadian Institutions, which will consist of those present at the Institute for Ukrainian Studies has already requested a workshop plus other academic partners, specifically book based on the Sanctuary Project’s work, and the com- The ritual burning of a church on the Canadian prairies. Natalia Khanenko-Friessen and the scholars at the pletion of that book will be one of the consortium’s goals.

And the third area on the priority list is constitutional States will be working closely with the International Ambassador... reform, which began under Prime Minister Yatsenyuk’s first Monetary Fund and its European partners to support this government, when his deputy, Volodymyr Groysman, sug- government as Ukraine moves forward and seeks to man- (Continued from page 1) gested following the Polish example and move more deci- age its way out of the situation left by the Yanukovych gov- greatest single risk factor facing Ukraine today is ‘business sion-making down to the lower levels of government, where ernment and exacerbated by the Russian intervention. as usual,’ ” he said, pointing out that both President Petro governors and mayors were more accountable to the people. He noted that the U.S. Congress has played and will con- Poroshenko and Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk are Ambassador Pyatt also noted some of the leading indi- tinue to play a critical role in resourcing the American con- fully aware of that imperative. And he stressed that if cators of progress to watch for, a major one being national tribution to helping Ukraine. Ukraine is to surmount this crisis in the political process, unity. He said he has personally witnessed the extraordi- “The circumstances are difficult, but they are not insur- Ukrainian leaders “will have to put aside the habits of the nary courage and resilience of the Ukrainian people, their mountable,” he said. “There is a wide understanding past” and focus on implementing the ambitious program of decisive wish to determine their own future and change among Ukraine’s political leaders today that the country’s reform embodied in the November agreement of the five their destiny. survival depends on more honest politics and meaningful coalition parties. The Russian government has tried to defeat that objec- progress... and we will support them as strongly as we can He said he was optimistic that document won’t just “sit tive, suggesting falsely that Ukraine was on the cusp of a in that process.” on the shelf” but actually can turn into a practical road map civil war, Ambassador Pyatt said. But on his visit to Kharkiv As for Ukraine’s defense and security problems, for the implementation of a reform agenda entailing signif- a few days before coming to Washington, he said he found Ambassador Pyatt noted that the United States has already icant and, at times, painful changes in such critical sectors it remarkable to see Ukrainian flags flying everywhere – on played a “critical role” with the expansion of its security as energy, justice, defense and security. the main streets and draped over the Shevchenko monu- sector aid to $118 million and a commitment to do more in First and foremost on Ambassador Pyatt’s suggested ment – and this in a city that had been targeted by Russia cooperation with its European partners and Ukraine in the reform priority list for Ukraine should be energy. “The is no to instigate a break away from Ukraine. development of a roadmap for its security sector reforms, sector more in need of reform or more central to the main- There is a noticeable emergence of a stronger national which are just as sweeping as the reforms in the ministries taining of Ukrainian democracy than energy and energy identity with a resolve to resist this false narrative for divi- of energy and justice. reform,” he said, adding that because of the “egregious cor- sion, as well as a strong effort to reach out to the east, to He said the U.S. must continue to help protect Ukraine, ruption under multiple governments” and their poor man- the Donbas, by the western parts of Ukraine, he said. “This which is also being confronted by Russian President Putin’s agement, this area has been a drag on Ukraine’s economic kind of bridge-building remains critically important.” “weaponized” media strategy aimed at trying to confuse growth and competitiveness, and Russia has been able to Ambassador Pyatt also cited Mariupol and Sloviansk as the issues involved and sow a division between the U.S. and use it to increase its influence over Ukraine. And Ukraine’s examples of this movement. These two eastern cities, Europe. new energy minister understands this, he noted. which had been occupied by Russian separatists, are now Ambassador Pyatt said that the door remains open for The second area on the Kyiv envoy’s suggested priority looking to Kyiv for help in their reconstruction and a clear Ukraine’s possible membership in NATO. But that is a ques- list is the speedy implementation of anti-corruption signal that they will have a voice in the future governance tion that the people of Ukraine will have to decide as they reforms. This “pernicious phenomena of politically driven of Ukraine. choose the road to their future, he added. corruption” in Ukraine has sapped the people’s confidence The ambassador also raised the question of what role Mr. Pyatt is the eighth U.S. ambassador to serve in in government, he said, and “in many ways, it was the root the opposition bloc parties will play in developing Ukraine since it gained its independence. He said that of the Maidan.” Ukraine’s future and “how to leave behind the poisonous before departing for Kyiv in December of 2013, he sat It will not be easy, because oligarchic politics dominated history of Yanukovych and the damage that he did.” down to talk with all his predecessors and they informed the old political system, he said. “But that’s now changed. And then there is the financial situation the Yanukovych him that Ukraine has become a different country from the Certainly one of the most inspiring things in Ukraine today government left to Ukraine’s new government. one they experienced – in terms of the security environ- is the emergence of a new generation of political leaders in Ambassador Pyatt called it “a disastrous macro-economic ment, the expectations of the Ukrainian people and its poli- the Rada – in almost every political party – who have come situation, which Prime Minister Yatsenyuk has done a com- ticians, as well as in terms of the partnership he may hope to office with a focus on achieving better governance.” mendable job of managing.” He added that the United to build between Ukraine and the United States. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 No. 50

REMEMBERING THE HOLODOMOR The Ukrainian Weekly Season of giving White House banality In 2013 at this time of the year, one of our editorials spoke about the importance of helping the courageous people of Ukraine who were on the barricades of the by Askold S. Lozynskyj Stalin and those around him committed Euro-Maidan. The goal then was to provide humanitarian assistance to the hundreds genocide against Ukrainians in 1932-1933.” Almost every year since its inception in of thousands who had flooded the streets of Kyiv and other cities in Ukraine to pro- That finding was supported by a defini- the early 1990s I have participated in the test the suspension of Ukraine’s Euro-integration. What started out as the Euro- tion of genocide taken from the Genocide annual Holodomor commemoration on the Maidan movement was soon transformed into a true Revolution of Dignity, whereby Convention as one of more actions commit- third Saturday of November at St. Patrick’s ted with intent “to destroy a national, eth- the people of Ukraine clearly made known their civilizational choice. Cathedral in New York. However, in particu- Today, Ukraine is in a battle, a war, for its continued existence. And Ukraine’s nic, racial or religious group wholly or par- lar since 2010, instead of finding some tially as such.” defenders – its soldiers and members of volunteer battalions – desperately need our degree of solace from the beautiful reli- The commission’s report went on to assistance. There are countless fund-raising initiatives in our local communities that gious service, I have been further saddened point out that one or more of these actions are geared toward soliciting monetary donations and/or supplies for these brave and sometimes infuriated by the govern- was taken against the Ukrainians in order to men and women. It is important to note that our projects here parallel efforts in mental statements. destroy a substantial part of the Ukrainian Ukraine that have been organized in cities and towns from the west to the east. From 2010 to 2013 when Viktor people and in this way to neutralize them We’re sure you’ve seen leaflets in your “hromada,” or e-mail messages, or posts on Yanukovych – a Russian stooge – was in politically. The report referred to substan- Facebook. We’ve seen special events, organized by such groups as Razom, the pro- power, Ukraine’s representative at the com- tial evidence that Stalin was warned of ceeds of which go to help Ukraine’s warriors; we’ve noted the creation of special memoration would read a meaningless impending famine in Ukraine and pressed funds to assist them, whether that’s through a humanitarian aid organization like composition of verbiage. One year for additional measures to ensure its occur- the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee, or community organizations like President Yanukovych forgot to issue a rence and exacerbate its effects. These poli- the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America or the worldwide Plast statement entirely. cies were entirely dissimilar to Stalin’s Conference Inc. And then there is Patriot Defence, a group working with the This year with the advent of a new presi- response to food difficulties in other Ukrainian World Congress that sends IFAKs (individual first aid kits) and other med- dent in Ukraine, Ukraine’s consul general regions in the previous year. Furthermore ical necessities to the troops. We’ve also seen praiseworthy individual initiatives, read an incisive and analytical statement Stalin’s measures to aggravate the situation including one you can read about in the UKELODEON section of this issue. Yes, even including language that referred to the in Ukraine were implemented with great our children are involved in helping Ukraine! Holodomor as an attempted genocide of vigor in ethnically Ukrainian areas. Stalin’s All these initiatives are worthy of our support, however we can provide it. That, the Ukrainian people. This was in line with intent in this regard was manifest through Dear Readers, is up to you. Support the organizations or groups that you’re familiar prior statements issued by Ukraine’s his writings, which displayed a clear intent with, that you trust will deliver assistance to Ukraine’s defenders on the frontlines in Presidents Leonid Kravchuk, Leonid to eliminate any manifestation of Ukrainian the war against a powerful aggressor that has invaded the country. Kuchma and Viktor Yushchenko. national self-assertion. We may not be able to help Ukraine’s soldiers and volunteers with the defensive Unfortunately, the statement issued by the The following government people were White House was once again banal, and dis- weapons they so sorely need to protect our ancestral homeland in its latest existen- members of the Commission: Reps. Daniel played a typical generic and routine attitude. tial fight – that is one of the purposes of the Ukrainian Freedom Support Act of 2014, A. Mica, William Broomfield, Benjamin The following terms were employed to Senate bill 2828 and House bill 5782. [The news as this issue went to press was that Gilman and Dennis Hertel from the House characterize the historical event being com- of Representatives; Sens. Dennis DeConcini S 2828 had been passed by unanimous consent; the fate of HR 5782 was yet memorated: “death by hunger,” “one of the unknown.] But we can certainly do our share to help provide the crucial supplies, and Robert Kasten from the Senate; Gary L. gravest atrocities,” “tragic chapter,” “man- Bauer, assistant to President Ronald such as food, winter clothing and medical items, needed by our fighters for freedom. made famine,” “horrific tragedy.” In vain, I Reagan for policy development; C. Everett Remember, Christmas is the season of giving. listened most attentively to hear the word Koop, surgeon general. “genocide” because, after all the rhetoric, Neither the White House nor the that’s what it’s all about – recognition that Department of State has conducted an the Holodomor was an attempted genocide independent study of the events in Ukraine of the Ukrainian people. in 1932-1933. The question that has to be Dec. Turning the pages back... At the conclusion I sought out Senior asked is: Wouldn’t it be appropriate for the Advisor to the U.S. Permanent Mission to the White House and State to respect the find- Six years ago, on December 19, 2008, U.S. Secretary of State United Nations William P. Pope, who had ings of a commission convened by the U.S. 19 Condoleezza Rice and Ukraine’s Foreign Affairs Minister read the White House statement. He seemed Congress and which included an assistant Volodymyr Ohryzko signed the “Charter on Strategic almost apologetic, stating that he is from the to the president of the United States and 2008 Partnership” in Washington. The document affirmed the U.S.- Department of State, intimating that he does the surgeon general? Ukraine bilateral relationship in areas of security, energy, eco- not bear responsibility for White House Furthermore, on October 13, 2006, the nomic issues, as well as indicated that the U.S. would establish a statements. Nevertheless, he suggested that I 109th Congress approved Public Law 340 “diplomatic presence” in Crimea. send him some material on this issue. authorizing the government of Ukraine to The last line of the charter stated: “Ukraine welcomes the United States’ intention to Instead of presenting my own analysis, establish a memorial on Federal Land in establish an American diplomatic presence (American Presence Post) in Symferopol.” which may or may not be persuasive to the Washington to “honor the victims of the U.S. State Department Spokesman Sean McCormack said that opening a diplomatic White House or State, I decided to submit Ukrainian famine-genocide of 1932-33.” This presence is a bilateral matter between the U.S. and Ukraine. If the Russian government findings made by U. S. governmental law was signed by President George W. Bush. “chooses to be upset” by this, he added, “well, there’s not much I can do about that.” Mr. authority that characterized the All I ask is that the White House and the McCormack explained that an American Presence Post is led by one or two diplomats on Holodomor as genocide. In 1985 the U.S. Department of State respect findings and cultural exchanges, events and political reporting, among other duties. Congress formed the Commission on the laws passed by Congress and signed by a Ms. Rice stated prior to signing the charter, “We have long believed that Ukraine’s inde- Ukraine Famine. That commission ren- president of the United States, and act pendence, its democracy, is essential to a Europe whole and free and at peace.” dered a report and submitted it to Congress accordingly. There is a clause in the U. S. The charter states in the first section, “support for each other’s sovereignty, indepen- on April 22, 1988. Among the findings of Constitution about the states affording full dence, territorial integrity and inviolability of borders constitutes the foundation of our that commission was the following: “Josef faith and credit to laws of other states. bilateral relation.” Shouldn’t similar full faith and credit be The document further states the two countries “share a vital interest in a strong, inde- Askold S. Lozynskyj is an attorney based afforded by the current White House to pendent and democratic Ukraine,” that Ukraine’s integration into Euro-Atlantic institu- in New York City. He is a former president of prior bipartisan Congressional action and tions “is a mutual priority,” and that they plan to deepen their security cooperation that the Ukrainian World Congress. laws passed by a prior White House? would include “enhanced training and equipment for Ukrainian armed forces” in order to strengthen Ukraine’s candidacy for NATO membership. GUIDELINES Other areas of cooperation included strengthening democratic institutions through cul- tural, professional, educational exchange programs. Reforms in the judiciary were recom- FOR SUBMITTING MATERIALS TO THE WEEKLY mended, including the adoption of a Criminal Procedure Code compliant with Council of In order to facilitate preparation of The Ukrainian Weekly, we ask that the guidelines listed Europe standards. U.S.-assisted improvements to Ukraine’s law enforcement against such below be followed. threats as terrorism, organized crime, trafficking, money-laundering and cyber crime • E-mail submissions are preferred. Stories and photos may be sent to [email protected]. were also noted. • Materials may also be mailed to: The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Russia, despite numerous meetings with its Ukrainian counterparts, remained unwill- Parsippany, NJ 07054. ing to seriously discuss border demarcation in the Azov and Black seas, the removal of • Stories should have the name of the author; photographers should be credited for photos. Russia’ Black Sea fleet from Crimea by 2017 and other issues that remained “major irri- All photos must be clearly labeled and accompanied by captions. tants in our relations,” Mr. Ohryzko explained. • Persons who submit any materials must provide a complete mailing address and daytime In 2010, Viktor Yanukovych became president of Ukraine and forced through phone number where they may be reached if any additional information is required. Parliament (with 236 votes out of 450) an extension of the lease for the Russian naval • News stories should be sent in not later than 10 days after the occurrence of a given event. • Full names (i.e., no initials) of all persons mentioned in stories and captions must be provid- presence at Sevastopol until 2042, with a possible additional five-year extension. The trea- ed. English spellings must be verified. ty also allowed Russia to station up to 25,000 troops in Crimea. Russia’s Parliament for- • Information about upcoming events must be received one week before the date of The mally terminated the treaty on March 31, 2014, following the invasion and annexation of Weekly edition in which the information is to be published. For items to be listed in Preview of Crimea by the Russian Federation. Events, information must be sent to [email protected]; information for the Out & About listing must be e-mailed to [email protected]. Source: “U.S. and Ukraine affirm relations in Charter on Strategic Partnership,” by Yaro Any questions? Call 973-292-9800 or e-mail [email protected]. Bihun, The Ukrainian Weekly, December 28, 2008. No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 7

NEWS AND VIEWS When “high culture” merges with terrorism by Adrian Bryttan disheartening when one compares the courage and integri- ty of major artists like violinist Nathan Milstein and cellist/ Concert pianist Valentina Lisitsa should be a familiar conductor Mstislav Rostropovich who always spoke out name to readers of The Ukrainian Weekly from her perfor- against the atrocities of the Soviet Union. Today, conductor mances at the Ukrainian Institute in New York, The Daniel Barenboim devotes much of his time to noble work Washington Group Cultural Fund music series and other with the West-Eastern Divan Orchestra, which includes Ukrainian organizations. Ms. Lisitsa continues to promote Israelis playing side by side with Palestinians, in order to herself as “Ukrainian-born” and is one of the most recog- build bridges and promote understanding. nizable names on the professional circuit. She is a self- By contrast, the Russian Ministry of Culture website dis- made YouTube superstar of sorts, with 156,000 subscrib- plays a letter “in support of Putin’s actions in Crimea and ers and over 72 million global views. Ukraine” signed by 511 artists, musicians and directors of What might be less familiar to readers is the content of cultural institutions. High-profile conductors Valery her Internet Twitter pages @ValLisitsa. Outnumbering the Gergiev and Vladimir Spivakov, violist Yuri Bashmet, and mundane photos of hotel rooms, airports and tidbits for soprano Anna Netrebko have all been quite forthright her fans about her orchestra rehearsals, there is an unre- about their support for Mr. Putin and his regime. (Not to lenting stream of disinformation and vulgar polemics, den- mention the pro-Putin solidarity of sports figures like igrating Ukraine in the most hateful terms, while praising hockey stars Alexander Ovechkin, Evgeni Malkin, Sergei Russian terrorists and Vladimir Putin’s invasions. Gonchar, Semyon Varlamov and Pavel Datsyuk, and “King Starting on August 28, Ms. Lisitsa adopted an abhorrent of Mixed Martial Arts” Fedor Emilianenko.) racist tone in her anti-Ukraine hate speech. She repeatedly The tide is incrementally turning. Violinist Gidon posted photos of spear-carrying, half-naked African villag- Kremer enlisted his colleagues pianist Martha Argerich ers juxtaposed with Ukrainians in embroidered “vyshy- and Mr. Barenboim for an anti-Putin concert in 2013, and In front of Heinz Hall, at a protest against Valentina vanky” shirts on her Twitter page. Her captions stated: in November the Saar International Music Festival in Lisitsa’s engagement by the Pittsburgh Symphony, “New school year begins in Odessa with teachers forced to Germany announced it was removing Mr. Gergiev from a (from left) are: Borys Wowczuk, Adrian Bryttan and wear Ukrainian tribal dress, a truly European custom.” concert with the Munich Philharmonic because of his out- George Honchar. What is abominable is her appeal to “high culture” to make spoken support for Mr. Putin. Ukrainian patriotic feelings seem like barbarism, and also Netrebko and Novorossiya with the same brush to smear Africans and mock them as inferior to “Europe.” On December 9, Austrian Airlines announced it will no Who reads these tweets? Well, the 8,350 followers reg- longer be an advertising partner to opera superstar Anna istered on Ms. Lisitsa’s Twitter include the nationally syn- Netrebko, and dropped her promotional ad campaign, stat- dicated talk radio host John Batchelor, who retweets a ing they want to “distance ourselves from extreme political number of her posts. Also listed among her followers are positions and the use of armed violence.” Ms. Netrebko had major international symphony orchestras, universities, just announced her 1 million rubles (about $18,500) gift to professors, news networks, magazines, journalists, hordes the Donetsk Opera. She gave the check to Oleg Tsariov, pos- of pianists, music teachers, students and devoted (and per- ing with the Novorossiya flag. (Mr. Tsariov, a former nation- haps unsuspecting) music lovers and fans. al deputy of Ukraine, had been expelled from the Party of In addition to her own Twitter, Ms. Lisitsa is also credited Regions and is wanted by Ukrainian police for terrorism as translator for 16 articles thus far on a second website: and violence.) According to Deutsche Welle, Ms. Netrebko slavyangrad.org. This is simply another pro-Putin propa- later said: “The presence of the flag was unplanned and ganda Internet hive dedicated to Ukraine bashing, legitimiz- caught me off guard; I actually did not recognize it at first ing “New Russia” (Novorossiya), and Malaysia Airlines and realized only later what it was.” It remains to be seen In a photo posted by Oleg Tsariov on his Twitter page, Flight 17 conspiracy theories. Slavyangrad is itself part- how much of that money Mr. Tsariov will use for new Anna Netrebko poses with the “Novorossiya” flag and nered with a number of further similar blogs, like “The trombones and how much for new Kalashnikovs. Mr. Tsariov, who refers to himself as chairman of the Unwashed Brain” and Anti-Maidan.com. The same bloggers Ms. Netrebko is scheduled to appear with Valery “Parliament of Novorossiya,” to whom she gave a 1 mil- appear and reappear, posting on several sites – a concerted Gergiev for numerous performances of Tchaikovsky’s lion ruble gift for the Donetsk Opera. action by Internet trolls, many operating under bogus “Iolanthe” starting January 26, 2015 at the Metropolitan and its trolls. It is frightening that such an exhibit was for- names with manufactured identities and fake photographs. Opera in New York. mally visited by students from the John Jay College of The ValLisitsa Twitter pages take any opportunity to “Material Evidence” Criminal Justice. smear and mock Ukraine. Tweets include a maniac Who was behind this? Well, Mat Babyak, an editor at restrained by a straitjacket with the heading “Glory to Moreover, all those Lisitsa tweets were not an isolated EuromaidanPress.com posted an investigative article Ukraine, Glory to her Heroes” and a photo (captioned event. On September 21, an art exhibit titled “Material about this exhibit. It turned out “Material Evidence” was “Darling I am waiting for you”) of a crazed, deformed girl in Evidence” opened at the Art Beam Chelsea in New York for organized by an anti-Ukrainian Moscow newspaper, a blue-and-yellow dress, clutching an axe, about which the a three-week run, following a previous tour in Berlin. This Journalistic Truth (Zhurnalistskaya Pravda). This newspa- tweet says, “The mental state of Ukraine today… This photo exhibit, heavily promoted on the sides of buses and sub- per also offered cash prizes for journalism via the “Material kinda nails it.” way platforms, was basically a photo gallery of recent Evidence” site totaling over $93,000. Their editors have More Lisitsa tweets: “Quietly without complaining events in Ukraine. disturbing connections with the extremist National- Russia is looking after 1 million refugees from eastern The exhibit described the Maidan as “…an upsurge of Bolshevik Party (a Nazi-Communist hybrid) and the noto- Ukraine”… “Ukrainians are notoriously unwilling to share, nationalists-banderovtsy groups, which… could not be rious Izborsky Club, which advocates a “Eurasian Empire,” they owned long and proud history with Russia, threw it ignored by the eastern parts of Ukraine, which are mostly and trueman-lab.com, an ugly racist and anti-American away and invented myths”… “Ukraine: a society sunk populated with Russian-speaking people, who… strongly website. beyond redemption”… “Odessa was, is, and always will be oppose ‘benserovtsy’ [sic] and ‘Westerner [sic] Oligarchs’ After Mr. Babyak’s article appeared, the Lisitsa site Soviet”… “Cluster-bomber-in-chief [photo of President who had come to power. Accordingly the Autonomous defended the “Material Evidence” exhibit in typically vitri- Poroshenko] gets standing ovation in U.S. Congress… Go Republic of Crimea held a referendum on the separation olic tweets, tried to cover up all its dirty handlers and Novorossiya :-)).” from the Ukraine and its reunification with Russia.” In attempted to smear Euromaidan Press. Such mean-spiritedness by Ms. Lisitsa is all the more other words, typical talking points of Kremlin propaganda On September 20, outraged demonstrators gathered in front of Heinz Hall to protest the Pittsburgh Symphony’s engagement of Valentina Lisitsa as piano soloist for the opening concerts of their 2014 season. Complaints about the hiring of Ms. Lisitsa had previously been e-mailed to the Pittsburgh Symphony management, principal donors and local media. Protesters from Pennsylvania and New York carried placards and handed out information leaflets to ticketholders, orchestra members, pedestrians and passing motorists. True to form, the ValLisitsa pages subse- quently attacked these concert protesters (among whom was this writer). Ukrainian communities might be interested to greet Ms. Lisitsa at her upcoming concerts in Quebec, the Netherlands, Paris, Washington, Leipzig, London, Cincinnati, Two photos from one of Valentina Lisitsa’s tweets: one of African villagers which she linked with another of Stockholm and in April, 2015 with the Toronto Symphony. Ukrainian schoolteachers with the caption: “New school year begins in Odessa with teachers forced to wear Her current international tour schedule can be found at: Ukrainian tribal dress, a truly European custom.” http://www.deccaclassics.com/us/artist/lisitsa/ontour. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 No. 50 BOOK REVIEW: The life of Vasile Avramenko “The Showman and the Ukrainian Center for Ukrainian Canadian Studies, and those who lost their money by invest- Cause: Folk Dance, Film and the Life of University of Manitoba in Winnipeg. He is ing in his projects. People, places and Vasile Avramenko” by Orest T. the author of “Ukrainians in Canada: The events discussed here are still remem- Martynowych. Winnipeg, University of Formative Years, 1891-1924” (Edmonton: bered. Manitoba Press, 2014. (Studies in Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, For example, Winnipeggers now retired Immigration and Culture, No. 11) 219 pp., 1991). He is meticulous and scrupulous in still remember dancing in the mass illus. ISBN 978-0-88755-768-2 (also avail- his research, much to the chagrin of those “Metelytsia” dance choreographed by able as ebook and pdf) $27.95, paperback. who remember only the legend of Avramenko at the Winnipeg Arena during U.S. distributor: Michigan State University Avramenko. One wonders how many the celebrations in 1961 when the Taras Press. among the heroes, award-winners and Shevchenko monument at the Legislature by Orysia Paszczak Tracz “idols” do not have a dark side. Most also was unveiled by John Diefenbaker. have the egos to go with their reputations, Ukrainian Americans across the whole In the mid-1950s when I was a kid, my as did Avramenko. country will remember Avramenko’s class- parents and I took the Hudson Tubes to the Mr. Martynovych writes that “modesty es, performances and productions at the Lower East Side, to a small hall someplace and perspicacity were not the maestro’s (as Chicago World’s Fair in 1933, in Hollywood, on Second Avenue to watch Ukrainian films he liked to be called) strongest traits. New York and Detroit, among the major produced by Vasile Avramenko. These trips Convinced that his work was more impor- venues. must have made an impression on me, tant than that of any other Ukrainian in The book covers Ukrainian, Ukrainian because I still remember the black-and- North America, Avramenko amassed and Canadian and Ukrainian American history, white films. Who knows, I probably watched guarded an enormous archive of more than culture, politics and entertainment over young performers in those films whom I 150 large boxes of documents…” Readers many decades. It is well-illustrated with later met as mature adults when I moved to questioning the author’s statements can archival photographs. However, in today’s Winnipeg. From that time on, the name check the documentation themselves. world, transliteration from Ukrainian rath- Avramenko remained important in my No one can take away from Avramenko er than Russian should be used, e.g., Dnipro memory. many accomplishments, Mr. his endeavors and legacy in Ukrainian folk (not Dnieper) River. In Winnipeg, he was a larger-than-life Martynowych’s book knocks a hero off his dance, film production and popular culture. In great detail, Mr. Martynovych figure from the late 1920s into the 1960s, a pedestal. Not so much knocks him down, But his fund-raising and investment meth- “attempts to present a nuanced and bal- dancer and dance teacher, film producer but brings to light how Avramenko did this ods tainted that legacy and ruined his repu- anced picture of a deeply flawed but fasci- and impresario. It is because of him that to himself. tation among his investors. Some of the let- nating character, one who deserves a place Ukrainian folk dance grew on this conti- Vasile (Vasyl) Avramenko (1895-1981), ters from friends and others warning him in the history of interwar Canada and nent, especially in western Canada, into the born in the Kyiv region of Ukraine (then of the consequences of his misdeeds are North American popular culture.” Some phenomenon it is now. The founder of part of the Russian tsarist empire), had a quoted in this book. Mr. Martynowych readers who remember Avramenko may Winnipeg’s Rusalka, Peter Hladun, studied difficult childhood under a cruel father. As a explores both sides of the man and his question why Martynowych “tarnishes” the with Avramenko, as did Edmonton’s teenager he traveled for work to character, providing exact details. Some art- reputation of a great man. But the author Chester Kuc, who founded Shumka and Vladivostok, Russia, on the Pacific coast. It ists have no business notion at all, they just simply presents the truths of a well-docu- Cheremosh. So did many other dancers and was there that he saw his first theater pro- mean well but are clueless, and are legends mented life. Readers can decide for them- founders of Ukrainian Canadian dance duction, the Ukrainian operetta “Natalka in their own minds. And some misadven- selves. Now we know about the whole per- ensembles. So many seniors across North Poltavka.” This inspired Avramenko’s pas- tures are not of their deliberate doing; oth- son, not just the persona. America are proud that they had studied sion in theater and productions, and he ers are. We are left with the old proverb: Shcho dance with Avramenko way back when. never looked back. His life is an engrossing This book will be of interest to readers pravda – to ne hrikh (Saying the truth is not But there was another side to journey of self-discovery, learning, enthusi- across Canada and the U.S.A., so many of a sin). Avramenko, a side historian Orest asm, patriotism, world travel, accomplish- whom learned Ukrainian dance from Martynowych uncovers so meticulously. ment, and loneliness and disappointments. Avramenko and/or from his original stu- Orysia Tracz is a Winnipeg writer, trans- While giving Avramenko credit for his Mr. Martynovych is a historian at the dents, those who performed in his films lator, lecturer and consultant. BOOK REVIEW: Koliada in a Carpathian Village “Still the River Flows: Winter Solstice by Maria Sonevytsky It ends with a poem and its translation. and Christmas Rituals in a Carpathian On the last page of the book, the bilingual Village” (Тече Річка: Стародавня коляда “Still the River Flows,” the new bilingual reader can track how a Ukrainian text com- в Криворівні), by Virlana Tkacz, with trans- (English-Ukrainian) publication lovingly posed by Odosia Plytka-Sorokhan, a legend- lations by Virlana Tkacz and Wanda Phipps. documents the winter “Koliada” ritual as ary poet and lifelong inhabitant of the village New York: Yara Arts Group, 2014. 53 pp. practiced by Hutsuls in the Carpathian of Kryvorivnia, became transformed ISBN: 978-1-63443-233-7. $25. Mountains. through its translation into English by Virlana Tkacz and Wanda Phipps to “Still the River Flows” – also used as the title of a Yara Arts Group piece staged at the venerated La MaMa Experimental Theater in 2008. The imprint of Ms. Plytka-Sorokhan’s original text, a poem that celebrates and glo- rifies these winter rituals, is felt in the trans- lation, though Mmes. Tkacz and Phipps omit some detail of the original poem and extract its essence. Ultimately, “Still the River Flows” realm. Ms. Tkacz presents the ritual as it is becomes an incantation on the enduring conducted in the picturesque and storied properties of time, nature and winter ritual village of Kryvorivnia, with field recordings songs. For those readers acquainted with Ms. from 2003, and in collaboration with Tkacz’s visionary transformations and re- Ukrainian ethnomusicologists who had contextualizations of indigenous ritual prac- worked in the region since 1965. tices to the experimental theater stage (in Songs are presented in English transla- New York and around the world), this poem tions alongside the Hutsul originals, and in translation is a familiar kind of metamor- the book is powerfully enhanced by the phosis; it is a respectful reinvention, a cre- presence of 33 color photographs by Yara ative re-imagination. Arts Group long-time collaborator The pages preceding this last poem, however, offer an educative – less poetic, Alexander Khantaev. though still very artful – portrayal of the As a book of art featuring Mr. Khantaev’s winter solstice and Christmas singing prac- sumptuous visuals and the crystalline verse tices known as Koliada. In this annual ritu- of these songs, this is an object to covet. As al, male musicians spend 12 days in the ethnography, it provides an invaluable deep snows of January delivering messages glimpse for the English-speaking world into of joy, encouragement and gratitude to the a unique ritual practice from a mytholo- villagers in their community. The Koliada is gized and under-represented part of the connected to ancestry, and is thought to world. harness powers from the supernatural (Continued on page 9) No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 9 Alexander Motyl presents his latest novel in Boston A novel about family history “Fall River,” by Alexander Motyl, Marlboro, N.J.: Alternative Book Press, 2014. 150 pp. ISBN: 978-1-940122-13-7. $14.99 (paperback). Also available as an e-book, prices vary.

Alexander Motyl’s latest novel, “Fall River,” examines how family history, Ukrainian roots and war shaped the lives of three Ukrainian Americans who were all born in Fall River, Mass., grew up in inter- war Poland and returned to a very different United States that was as welcoming as it was alienating. Based on, as Dr. Motyl writes, “95 parts fiction and five parts fact” the novel focuses on three main characters – Manya (Prof. Motyl’s mother), Mike and Stefa (Manya’s two siblings) – and the trio’s beginnings in Fall River, the death of their mother in 1922, Vsevolod Petriv the move to Poland in 1923, and the return Prof. Alexander Motyl presents his latest book in Boston. to the United States in 1938 and 1947. painter. With six other novels to his credit, “Stefa’s husband, Bohdan, was in fact as well as his widely published poetry selec- beginning of World War I to Fall River, by Peter T. Woloschuk tortured and killed by the Soviet secret tions, Dr. Motyl is currently working on a where he became a shoemaker and started police in late 1941. Most of the other peo- satire of intellectuals, policy-makers and BOSTON – Approximately 70 people his own business. In the course of the next ple and places the novel mentions were businesspeople called “Ardor House.” His attended Prof. Alexander J. Motyl’s presen- eight years he and his wife had three chil- artwork has been featured on the Internet tation and reading of selections from his dren. At that point Anna died, asking her also real. Everything else – the motivations, gallery www.artsicle.com. Dr. Motyl has also latest novel, “Fall River,” in Christ the King’s husband to take the children home to the fears, the emotions, the expectations, Ukrainian Catholic Parish Center in Boston, Europe and raise them there, which he did, the interpretations, the experiences… is fic- authored six academic books, as well as Sunday, November 16. The event lasted two remarrying in the process. tional,” Dr. Motyl writes. numerous scholarly and policy articles, in hours and was followed by a question-and- Prof. Motyl said the starting point for his Variances in perspective voice in the addition to his weekly World Affairs Journal answer period and a book signing. It was research were memoirs that both his father book’s chapters – Mike in the second person, blog “Ukraine’s Orange Blues” (www. sponsored by the Ukrainian Congress and mother wrote, some family photo- Manya in the first person and Stefa in the worldaffairsjournal.com). Committee of America, Boston Branch graphs, a few old letters and some family third person – offer each character’s insights. Readers may obtain copies from the (UCCA Boston). lore. He also mentioned that the genealogi- Dr. Motyl, who resides in New York City, publisher, www.alternativebookpress.com, The novel is based on the life stories and cal records of the Church of the Latter Day is professor of political science at Rutgers or via retailers such as Amazon. E-book personal memories of Prof. Motyl’s mother Saints proved invaluable. The Church’s University-Newark, and is a writer and versions are also available. and her younger brother and sister – records department has microfilmed all of Manya (Maria), Mykhaylo (Mike), and the extent state and church records in Stefka. It is a multi-dimensional exploration Ukraine and they are available for a very of how Ukrainian and Polish roots, family modest fee. If a family name and town are history and World War II shaped the desti- known, records are obtainable. As a result, nies of the three who were born in Fall Prof. Motyl was able to trace his family back River, Mass.; grew up in Peremyshyliany to the mid-18th century. (western Ukraine), Poland in the 1930s, Fall River is divided into three chapters; and then returned to an America after one for each of the three Bojczuk children. World War II that was both alien and yet Interestingly, each is also written in a differ- somehow welcoming and familiar. Fall ent person. Mike is introduced first and is River paints a complex picture of three dealt with in the second person. He is the young Ukrainian Americans forced by fate first to come back to America, and his ulti- to become emigrants, then refugees from mate fate is truly tragic as he spent almost Polish Ukraine, and later European immi- half a century in a veterans’ psychiatric grants back to the United States. hospital. Manya’s tale comes next, and it is The presentation was opened by UCCA written in first person. Stefka, who was the Boston’s president, Vsevolod Petriv, who youngest, is dealt with in the third person. welcomed Prof. Motyl and then gave his Prof. Motyl was born in New York City biography as a well as a brief overview of and studied at Columbia University, earn- the book. As prelude to his presentation, ing both his bachelor’s degree in history Prof. Motyl explained that he got the idea for and his doctorate in political science there. the novel while doing research on his fami- He has taught at Columbia, Lehigh, and ly’s history, particularly, that of his mother’s Harvard universities, and is currently pro- family. The basic facts, which serve as a pre- fessor of political science at Rutgers lude to the novel are that his grandparents, University-Newark. Ivan Bojczuk and Anna Dembicka Bojczuk Prof. Motyl is a prolific author and editor came to the United States in 1910 from then of both scholarly works and novels. “Fall Austrian Galicia and immediately headed to River” is his seventh work in the latter the coal fields of Pennsylvania. genre. He is also a published poet and a Ivan could not take the life of a coal visual artist, and has had showings of his miner and, on the advice of family and works in New York City, Toronto, friends, headed in 1913 just before the Philadelphia and other venues.

Hutsul Koliada winter songs and music to Koliada... the world stage. To order “Still the River Flows,” send $25 (Continued from page 8) plus $5 shipping to: Yara Arts Group, 306 E. The new book is part of Yara Arts 11th St. – No. 3B, New York, NY 1003. Group’s ongoing “Koliada Project,” which Copies will also be available at all Koliada also includes the CD “Koliada: Winter Songs 2014 events. and Music from the Carpathians,” recorded by the Koliadnyky of Kryvorivnia, and more Maria Sonevytsky is assistant professor of than a decade of collaboration with tradi- music and ethnomusicology at Bard College tional artists of Kryvorivnia to bring the in Annandale-on-Hudson, N.Y. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 No. 50

“With a good dose of humor and insight into the lives of Ukrainians, Crossing the Border is a must for any international ction collection.” Yuri Turchyn to perform – Midwest Book Review (Reviewer’s Choice) in Winter Solstice Concert “One of the strongest images in this anthology is Babtsia.  e image of the strong and competent Ukrainian grandmother caring for by Christina Kotlar the emotional and spiritual needs of future generations is skillfully PATERSON, N.J. – A Winter Solstice portrayed by Rychtycka.” – Myra Junyk, Nash Holos Ukrainian Radio Concert that blends the contemporary inspirations of acclaimed jazz violinist Yuri Turchyn with the ancient traditions of “ e stories crossed geographical renowned music and healing artist borders, but also cultural and Alessandra Belloni will be presented by the emotional ones.  e dialogue was Ivanhoe Artists Mosaic on Sunday, spare but so eloquent that it catches December 21, at 2-4 p.m. your breath and steals your heart. The concert, part of celebrations of the  e descriptions of the settings 350th birthday of New Jersey, will take draw you in as though you are place in the Hannah Art Galley within the intimately part of the story. You’ll Paterson Museum, 2 Market St., in the Paterson Historic District. The museum, nd yourself revisiting the stories which once met the large-scale needs of the long a er you’ve put the book aside. Rogers Locomotive Works, provides a Savor these stories as you would a venue with 30-foot ceilings, exposed beams ne wine!” – Goodreads and walls of historic brick. Violinist Yuri Turchyn An acclaimed violinist and international jazz cat, Mr. Turchyn will appear with his the pace of Ms. Belloni’s wild cathartic “Ksenia’s talent lies in her ability to ensemble musicians. Whether solo, as part dance. poetically weave signi cant details of an eclectic ensemble or with his Latin Tickets to the concert are $20; parking of Ukraine’s history without being Jazz quintet Grupo Yuri, he has performed at the Paterson Museum is free. To reserve didactic or intrusive.” – Myrosia at world-class jazz festivals, regional con- tickets, call 917-605-0880 or e-mail march- Stefaniuk, Detroitski Novyny certs and A-list clubs throughout the New [email protected]; tickets are available Jersey/New York metropolitan area. also online at www.marchharemedia.me. Alessandra will perform the Tarantata: Come early to visit the Paterson “ ese stories ring true, honest and familiar.” – Luba Kytasta, IC Spider Dance, a ceremonial dance that Museum (www.patersonmuseum.com), Commemorative Centennial Book comes from Roman mythology of the which features antique textile looms, Abbot women who were disciples of Bacchus. The and Costello memorabilia, some of the first dance is based on a tale of a poisonous spi- Colt revolvers, and a newly opened Lenape Finalist in the 2013 Next Generation Indie Book Awards! der bite, which could be cured only by per- Indian Exhibit, or visit a local treasure: The forming a ceremonial dance to stomp out Paterson Great Falls National Historical the poison. The dancer makes use of large Park (www.nps.gov/pagr/). tamborines and moves with frenetic ener- Ivanhoe Artists Mosaic, Inc is a non-prof- Available on amazon.com and barnesandnoble.com in gies, to cleanse herself from the infection. it organization that promotes art, history ebook and paperback or at www.kseniarychtycka.com Joe Denizone, known as the “Jimi Hendrix and culture in Paterson (www. of the Violin,” will complement and add to Ivanhoeartistsmosaicinc.org).

Maksim Belyavskiy, the head of Ukraine’s NEWSBRIEFS gas transportation network Ukrtransgaz, said on December 9 that gas supplies from (Continued from page 2) Russia to his country have resumed. Mr. during the Ministerial Council have illus- Belyavskiy said Ukraine should receive trated that there are diverging assessments some 43.5 million cubic meters of gas daily on the root causes of the crisis. He said that for the rest of this month. State-controlled OSCE participating states are united in the Russian exporter Gazprom confirmed it UNA Product of the Month! conviction that there is no military solution resumed deliveries to Ukraine after to this crisis and pledge their strong collec- received a $378 million prepayment for 1 tive support to its peaceful settlement and billion cubic meters of gas for December. Endowment to all efforts directed towards resolving the Russia suspended gas shipments to Ukraine crisis by diplomatic means and through in June as tension mounted following the at Age 18* inclusive political dialogue. (OSCE) ouster of Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych and Moscow’s annexation of * Not available in all states. 10,000 soldiers get lifesaver training  Issued to persons between the ages of 0-10 Crimea. Gazprom cited Ukraine’s multi-bil-  Minimum policy size is $5,000 TORONTO – In November the humani- lion dollar gas debt and demanded prepay-  Premium payable until age 18 tarian initiative Patriot Defence reached a ment for future supplies. The resumption of milestone: 10,000 soldiers trained in  No policy fee supplies follows an October 30 deal signed Combat Lifesaver techniques. A news  Full face amount paid at death or by Russia, Ukraine and the European Union on maturity date at age 18 release sent by the Patriot Defence noted: to ensure deliveries to Ukraine over the  Life insurance plan and systematic “This would not have been possible with- winter. (RFE/RL, based on reporting from savings combined out the help of hundreds of concerned peo- Interfax and Reuters) ple from all over the world, without the tre- Saakashvili rejects government post Age Male Female mendous work of our instructors (modest and simply the best) and without the dedi- 0 TBILISI – Former Georgian President $205 $200 cated work of our volunteers that have 2 $240 $235 PREPAY and SAVE! Mikheil Saakashvili says he has rejected a carefully packed almost 8,000 IFAKs [indi- 4 $285 $280 vice prime minister’s post in Ukraine. vidual first aid kits]. …Ukraine’s patriots 6 $345 $340 For instant quotes call Georgia’s Rustavi 2 TV on December 1 8 $435 $405 are defending the sovereignty, territorial quoted Mr. Saakashvili as saying he would 10 integrity and independence of Ukraine. $565 $560 888-538-2833 not take the post because it would require Together, we can continue to train as many Annual premium for $5000 policy. him to renounce Georgian citizenship in defenders of Ukraine as possible, arming order to become a citizen of Ukraine. The Ukrainian National Association, Inc. them with the knowledge and techniques Ukrainian media had reported earlier that 2200 Route 10, Parsippany, NJ 07054 to save their own lives and the lives of their Mr. Saakashvili, who is hated by Russia’s   brothers-in-arms.” For a donation of $100, founded in 1894 owner of Soyuzivka Heritage Center leadership, could be offered the post in a  is a modern fraternal society  Patriot Defence will deliver an IFAK to a publishes two newspapers: government to be formed after the victory  offers a competitive range Svoboda in the Ukrainian language soldier. To learn more, readers may visit the of pro-Western parties in Ukraine’s parlia- of high-quality insurance products and The Ukrainian Weekly in English project’s website at http://patriotdefence. mentary election last month. Media org/. (Ukrainian World Congress) For more information reports in Ukraine on December 2 said that please visit our website or call Home Offi ce 800-253-9862 • Sales 888-538-2833 Russian gas flows resume to Ukraine two members of Mr. Saakashvili’s former government, Aleksandr Kvitashvili and Eka UKRAINIANNATIONALASSOCIATION.ORG KYIV – Supplies of Russian gas are flow- ing to Ukraine after a six-month suspension. (Continued on page 16) No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 11 UNA❄ Christmas Card Contest for Children ❄ ❄ ❄ The Ukrainian National Associa 12 Selected Christmas Cards tion has been an active participant in the ❄ Ukrainian community since 1894. When- ever there was a need to initiate projects that would promote Ukrainian culture and heritage, the UNA was in the fore- front. For many years, the Christmas card fund-raiser has been one of these special projects. This project celebrated the spirit

and traditions and giving opportunities to ofUkrainian Christmas artists while to reflecting share their our artheritage with the community. For the second year in a row, the UNA initiated a Christmas card contest for our children. What a wonderful way to promote our children’s talents while ex- changing best wishes for the holidays and the new year! This year’s special collec- tion of cards includes drawings created by the youngest members of our community – the future artists of tomorrow. Twelve entries were selected for the published Christina Alyskewycz, 11 Bozhena Kulchyckyj, 14 Sofia Yarosh, 10 Cold Spring Harbor, NY Arnold, MD Parma, OH page of this pull-out section; other sub- missionscards, and appear they areon featuredthe following on the pages, first as we appreciate every child’s participa- tion. As always, all the proceeds from the sale of the cards are assigned to Soyuz- ivka, where children’s camps and pro- grams are held. We ask that you support this Christmas card project and thus en- courage all the children who participated and shared their talents with us. Please forward your donations to the Ukrainian National Foundation (UNF), a 501(c)(3) foundation; all donations are tax-exempt as permitted by law. Oksana Trytjak UNA Events Coordinator

Maksym Kuropas, 10 Ksenia Kuzo, 9 Hannah Bazylevsky, 11 Waxhaw, NC Roseville, CA Warwick, NY

Susanna Popyk, 13 Nina Rakowsky, 10 Newburgh Heights, OH Bloomfield, NJ Sophia Leshchyshyn, 11 Columbia, MD

Nazar Yarosh, 7 Julianna Lyktey, 16 Volodymyr Sadovyy, 14 Parma, OH Cary, NC Brooklyn, NY 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 No. 50

Paul Salvi, 11 Tara Manasterski, 9 Isabelle Alyskewycz, 13 Washngton, DC Moon Township, PA Cold Spring Harbor, NY

Victoria Schwetz, 6 Vika Lapka, 10 Olga Drobockyi, 9 Newport Coast, CA Parma, OH Amston, CT Valya Breslawec, 11 Potomac, MD

Aleksa Bazylevsky, 9 Marko Paxi, 7 Warwick, NY Nina Nebesh, 12 Broad Brook, CT Yuriy Bilous, 12 Columbia, MD New Britain, CT

Karolina Petruk, 9 Sofia Kipran, 6 Natalie Zborowski, 7 Parma, OH Cleveland, OH Southington, CT

Julia Rokycky, 7 Axel Kolcio, 6 Marko Paxi, 7 Wethersfield, CT Higganum, CT 06441 Broad Brook, CT No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 13

Mark Rokycky, 10 Anastasiya Andriyashko, 10 Maria Toronchuk, 11 Wethersfield, CT Wethersfield, CT Andover, CT

Mariana Toronchuk, 10 Anna Drobockyi, 11 Sophia Paxi, 4 Andover, CT Amston, CT Broad Brook, CT

Taras Panchyshyn, 13 Tanya Messenger, 15 Southington, CT Sophia Martyniuk, 14 Hartford, CT Wethersfield, CT

Arianna Rudko, 10 Maxim Markiw, 7 Anastasia Prediy, 6 Colchester, CT Bloomfield, CT Strongsville, OH

Maksym Tseplyy, 9 Andriy Grynyk, 12 Kotyk, Nadia, 10 Chicago, IL Newington, CT Baltimore, MD

Maksym Kuropas, 10 Yuriy Mishtal, 13 Olga Salamakha, 9 Waxhaw, NC Suffield, CT Chicago, IL 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 No. 50

Ariana Moreno, 10 Anna Chaban, 11 Katarine 0liynyk, 10 Chicago, IL Chicago, IL Chicago, IL

Oleksandr Ivanyshyn-Ugryn, 10 Jorge Lopez, 9 Kayla Mercado, 10 Chicago, IL Chicago, IL Chicago, IL

Adriana Hrytsyshyn, 10 Juliia Khlystun, 10 Victoria Pylyavska, 11 Chicago, IL Chicago, IL Chicago, IL

Sofia Kotyk, 9 Baltimore, MD

Alex Musyakevych, 9 Yuliya Lutsyk, 10 Larysa Butenko, 7 Chicago, IL Chicago, IL Chicago, IL

Taras Seredyuk, 8 Brooklyn, NY Mathew Lyktey, 10 Cary, NC

Diana Svydenyuk, 15 Strongsville, OH

Anya Melnyk, 12 Liliya Svydenyuk, 12 Avon, CT 06001 Strongsville, OH No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 15 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 No. 50

Saakashvili lives in self-imposed exile in the beyond,” Mr. Stoltenberg said. He said Russia spokesman Andriy Lysenko as saying by tele- NEWSBRIEFS United States. (RFE/RL Georgian Service) and the separatists are not respecting the phone. Russia has dispatched several ship- ceasefire deal signed in Minsk, which aimed ments of aid to alleviate what it says is a (Continued from page 10) NATO chief blasts Russia for military activity to end a conflict that has killed more than drastic humanitarian situation in eastern Zguladze, had been named by Ukrainian BRUSSELS – The head of NATO says 4,300 people since April and driven East- Ukraine, but the pro-Western government in President Petro Poroshenko’s bloc as poten- Russia has been sending large amounts of West ties to post-Cold War lows. The Kyiv accuses Moscow of using the shipments tial candidates for minister of health and weapons to rebels in eastern Ukraine and Ukrainian military accused Russian special to send military equipment to separatists. Mr. vice-minister of internal affairs, respectively. stepped up its military activity around forces of taking part in rebel attacks on the Stoltenberg said, “The best way of improving Georgian Vice Prime Minister Kakha Europe and the world. NATO Secretary- Donetsk airport, a strategically important the humanitarian situation in eastern Kaladze said on December 2 that it would General Jens Stoltenberg told a monthly facility that has been a focus of fierce fighting Ukraine is to stop the violation of the Minsk be “painful” to see former Georgian officials, news conference in Brussels that “efforts for despite the ceasefire. “These are Russian spe- agreement, to respect the ceasefire, and we some of whom are suspects in crimes, in a lasting peace continue” despite daily viola- cial forces. It’s already the third day that have seen that the separatists and Russia Ukraine’s government. Mr. Saakashvili, tions of a September ceasefire in the conflict they’ve been trying to do something,” the [are] not doing that.” (RFE/RL, with reporting whose term ended in 2013 after nearly a between Ukrainian government forces and Reuters news agency quoted military by Reuters and the Associated Press) decade in office, has been charged with sev- pro-Russian separatists. “We see a significant eral crimes by the government that came to military build-up in and around Ukraine, power after his party’s defeat in a 2012 par- large transfers of Russian advanced weap- Ділимося сумною вісткою, що у вівторок, 9 грудня 2014 liamentary election. He and members of his ons, equipment and military personnel to року, на 87-ому році життя у Чікаґо відійшов у вічність former government say the charges against violent separatists, and a major increase in them are politically motivated. Mr. Russian military activity around Europe and св. п. Анатолій Коломиєць найдорожчий чоловік, батько, дідо, і брат художник, український патріот, шляхетна й добра людина. Народився 12 лютого 1927 року TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL WALTER HONCHARYK (973) 292-9800 x3040 у Кобеляках, Полтавська область, Україна. or e-mail [email protected] Залишив у глибокому смутку: дружину - Любу SERVICES PROFESSIONALS доньку - Марту з чоловіком Данилом Яневським сина - Андрія із дружиною Зоряною та дітьми Дем’яном, Мар’яною, Інесою і Максимом брата - Юрія з дружиною Александрою племінника - Анатолія з дружиною Феліцією племінницю - Тамару з чоловіком Міхаелем Ампулським та сином Адамом з дружиною Тифані племінницю - Таїсу з чоловіком Робертом Ампулським та дітьми Віктором і Валентиною шваґра - Олега Каравана з дружиною Іванкою та донькою Танею з чоловіком Романом Куропасем і дітьми Максимом, Катею, Зоряною та Ізабелою СТЕФАН ВЕЛЬГАШ та сином Григорієм з дружиною Адріяною Ліцензований Продавець Страхування Життя і дітьми Миколою та Олександром сватів - Левка і Віру Ременюків з родиною STEPHAN J. WELHASCH Licensed Life Insurance Agent ближчу і дальшу родину в Америці та в Україні. Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. Панахида буде відправлена у неділю, 14 грудня, о 5-ій годині вечо- 548 Snyder Ave., Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 ра в похоронному заведенні Muzyka Funeral Home, 2157 W Chicago Tel.: 908-508-1728 • Fax: (973) 292-0900 Ave., Chicago, Il. e-mail: [email protected] Похорон відбудеться у понеділок, 15 грудня, о годині 10 ранку в Українській православній катедрі св. Володимира в Чікаґо. Поховання на цвинтарі Elmwood у River Grove, IL. Замість квітів родина просить складати пожертви на: • Фундацію Українського Геноциду – США • Український Національний Музей у Чікаґо • Українську Православну Церкву Київського Патріярхату HELP WANTED Вічная пам’ять! PARENTS SEEKING NANNY for two children, uptown Manhattan Mon – Fri, 8 AM to 6 PM Our children are 3 year old girl, Hunter Larysa Wolosheniuk Kushnir and 4 month old son, Gri n. We are looking for an experienced Ляриса Волошенюк Кушнір female nanny between the ages of April 23, 1959 – November 4, 2014 25-55 who genuinely enjoys caring for, spending time with and teaching small children. Must be  uent in both English and Ukrainian and comfortable speaking to the children in both languages. Prior experience and recommendations are required. Please include detailed list of all prior experience, references including contact information, and OPPORTUNITIES any relevant licenses or certi cations with your email. LOCATION: We live near the B,C and EARN EXTRA INCOME! the 2,3 trains West 110th Street. The Ukrainian Weekly is looking Contact: Nurse Practitioner, Educator for advertising sales agents. Katie 917 617 5454 For additional information contact [email protected] Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, Michael 917 952 9214 Beloved wife, daughter-in-law, sister-in-law, aunt, The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. [email protected] great aunt, friend, and mentor to many

Run your advertisement here, Вічна Їй Пам’ять! in The Ukrainian Weekly’s CLASSIFIEDS section. No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 17

Kalyna Tysiak As she began her new life in the United States of America, she approached everything with vitality, happy to be surrounded by her cherished family and peacefully departed from her circle of friends and acquaintances. Throughout her 9 decades of life, she was family on November 20, 2014 devoted to her family and friends, to her church and to her community. at Eddy Village Green. Kalyna Kalyna is survived by her son Gerald and his wife Cynthia, her two daughters formerly resided in Troy where Martha and her husband Dr. Antonio Artiles, and Marika Papa and her long- she lived for more than 60 years. time companion Tom Mulhall. She also leaves behind six grandchildren and two great grandchildren. In addition, she is survived by her surviving nieces Kalyna was born on October 26, 1920, in Stinka and nephews and their families in Ukraine. (Ternopil Oblast), Ukraine. She was born to the late Embroidery is an ancient and symbolic tradition in Ukraine; a national pastime Timoté and Phalaghia Myhailuk who passed away that is part of Ukrainian cultural and national identity. Embroidery was her passion in 1935, leaving Kalyna orphaned as a teen-age girl and favorite past time. Kalyna in her life-time elevated her mastery of embroidery who then became caught-up in the crosswinds of World War II. Kalyna was the to an art form. She embroidered portrait quality images, many of which are suitably youngest of  ve children. Her two brothers (Mikhail and Stefan) and two sisters framed and hung in the homes of her children and grandchildren, and created (Olyha and Maria) were born prior to World War I and have since all passed on. hundreds of individual pillows, towels, table cloths, napkins, blouses, shirts and Given the age gap between Kalyna and her siblings, after the passing of her even dresses and jackets with traditional Ukrainian embroidery showing motifs parents in 1935, she basically became nanny to her nephews and nieces. re ective of styles found in the di— erent regions of Ukraine. As a young woman in Ukraine, she became involved in nationalistic She was a communicant of St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church in activities in the 1930’s which at the time were highly harassed while Ukraine Watervliet and for decades a member of the Ukrainian National Women’s was occupied by Poland between the two world wars of the 20th Century. League, in Cohoes and later in Watervliet. She sang in church choirs most of Her witness and participation in the national identity movement as a young her life and worked on numerous church fundraiser projects over the years. woman became a de ning moment that fostered a strong belief and life- In addition, she devoted time and energy to the mission and projects of the long commitment to maintaining the Ukrainian identity abroad awaiting the Ukrainian National Women’s League. Her life-long devotion to church and establishment of a free and independent Ukraine. community became an inspiration to her children and grandchildren calling With the advent of World War II, and given her age and orphan status at them to remember Ukraine’s proud traditions, and to remember the country’s the time, the winds of war conspired to lead her on an unwanted journey as a painful and con icted past and present. forced laborer to Germany where she remained throughout and immediately A special thank you is extended to the sta— of Eddy Village Green, House following the end of the war years. Upon her marriage to Ivan Tysiak on June #1, for the loving comfort and care they provided Kalyna these past three-years 10, 1945 and eventual immigration to the United States in early 1951, she especially during her  nal days. The family also wishes to acknowledge the embarked on her life’s destiny as wife, mother, homemaker and preserver of visitations by Pastoral Council members and by Fr. Mikhail Myshchuk while a Ukrainian culture and traditions in her new homeland. Kalyna and Ivan enjoyed resident of Eddy Village Green. 35 years of marriage until his passing on October 10, 1980. Friends were invited to call at Parker Funeral Home, 2013 Broadway, The turmoil of the war years gave her a great inner strength making her Watervliet, NY on November 25. A mass of Christian burial was held on resolute but very open, loving and accepting of all that life brought her way. November 26 at St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, 2410 Fourth Avenue, After the war, she and her husband Ivan immigrated to the United States Watervliet. Interment followed at St. Nicholas Catholic Church Cemetery in where they ultimately settled in Troy. Upon arriving in Troy, Kalyna worked in Watervliet. the needle crafts industry and , after working for several di— erent employers, In lieu of  owers, contributions in Kalyna’s name may be made to the retired from The Arrow Company in 1980. Ukrainian National Women’s League, Watervliet Branch.

In memory of situations. From her she learned domestic skills such as the language, history, traditions and culture of her how to cook, sew and even barter. homeland. She loved to embroider, make gerdany, Ivanka Prystacky Szkafarowsky bake korovaii and Ukrainian torty. She sewed and When WWII ended, the family found themselves embroidered Ukrainian blouses and even created her BEFORE YOU WERE HERE in an American Displaced Persons camp in Bayroit, daughters’ Debutante Ball gowns. Recognizing her Germany. Although the next  ve years continued to children’s talents, Ivanka supported their endeavors. by Adrianna Rudyk-Odomirok bring hardships, the Ukrainian community within the Heeding the advice of Stefan’s 8th grade teacher, DP camp founded a church, choir and even a school Ivanka helped her son pursue a singing career. In 1977 It’s hard to imagine where Ivanka learned Polish, German and English. what life was like before the family donned their  nest gowns and tuxedos to While there, her tato Mykola, was poisoned by Russian attend Stefan’s historical debut, being the youngest you were born. What were spies for protecting his family from resettlement or your parents like when solo artist to sing at Carnegie Recital Hall. Her daughter so called “repatriation” in the Soviet Union. In dealing Olia commanded the stage through recitation and they were kids? How did with the loss of her hero, Ivanka promised to honor your grandparents live Lillia had a  air for painting, as well as, music and his love for his homeland and pass his passion down performance theater. without today’s technology? to generations to come. As a widow, Maria and her Travelling around the world family were accepted to the Catholic League Relief In 1992, a year after Ukraine’s proclamation of took weeks or months who sponsored her voyage to the United States. independence, Ivanka, along with her grandchildren, instead of hours. Our elders Settling on 7th Street, New York City, amongst other made an emotional trip back to her native Ukraine. Even tell us stories, show us Ukrainian émigrés, the family began a new life  lled at the age of 9, her grandson was moved by the tearful pictures, share with us their with freedom, hope and opportunity. To make herself reunion of Ivanka and her sister Pavlina, after 52 years favorite books and recipes, look older, Ivanka used her mother’s makeup and of separation. It must have been Divine Providence and  ll our imaginations got a job at Nabisco while attending beauty school that timed this reunion because two years later, on with the people and life that classes at night. One Christmas Eve, at St. George December 14, 1994 Ivanka Prystacky Szkafarowsky once were. Although these experiences and people Ukrainian church, she met Petro Szkafarowsky and passed on to her Eternal Life in God’s keeping. Mama- only live in our imaginations, we indulge in these on May 23, 1953 they were married. They were soon Baba Ivanka lives on in our hearts, photos, stories and stories and dream of meeting our ancestors and learn blessed with a daughter, Olia. Later, came two more imaginations. Since her passing, her family has grown how life came to be the way it is today. children: Stefan and Lillianna and eventually the family in number and her personality and characteristics One of our elders’ life story began October moved to Yonkers, New York. To help support her continue to shine through in the smiles and gestures 13, 1937 in Lviv, Ukraine. Born to Maria and Mykola family, Ivanka worked as a beautician, sewed custom of her  ve grandchildren and four great grandchildren. Prystacky, Ivanka was the youngest of three children. clothing, embroidered, and after attaining her High For the past 20 years, her family has thought about At age 3, she, her parents and brother Stax, were ripped School Diploma worked as an Aid at St. John’s hospital. her every day, wondering what life would be like if she from their homes by the invading German forces and Eventually Ivanka overcame her fear of driving and at were still around. Her great grandchildren and younger sent to work on a German farm as forced laborers. (Her 47 attained her driver’s license. grandchildren see her picture on the mantel or in a wallet and, although still young themselves, realize older sister Pavlina was spared as she went into hiding Always the worker-bee she was present at with the neighbors.) Living on a farm with strangers that she is someone important in their family. At dance every church and community event not merely recitals, they wear her “vyshyvky.” In high school, they was a di cult adjustment. Her only escape was in the as an audience member but as a contributor. She evening when her father would tell her stories and sing write essays about her. At Christmas they use her many belonged to St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, recipes including their favorite medivnyk. At formal folk songs about her homeland. She indulged in the the “Sestrytstvho”, ODFFU Women’s Auxiliary, and history, traditions and legends about the kniazivstso, events they wear her favorite jewelry. They watch her “CYMA”. She baked numerous cakes for bake sales, great grandchildren smile in their sleep and know she kozatstvo, and Sichovi Striltsi. Like the legendary sewed costumes for children’s theater productions, kobzari on their bandury, her father would enchant her is singing them a lullaby and recounting the glory days and taught/tutored elementary students at the School of her heroes, from tato Mykola to Taras Shevchenko. with folklore, read from Taras Shevchenko’s Kobzar, and of Ukrainian Studies. ignite her unwavering passion and patriotism for her We miss you and love you. Thank you, Mamo- native Ukraine. Meanwhile, her practical mama taught In keeping her promise to her father, her children Babo for everything! Tsiom tsiom, tuli tuli, Your children, her to seek out opportunities in the most unlikely were raised in the Ukrainian patriotic spirit, learning grandchildren and great grandchildren. 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 No. 50

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE “Spotlight on Ukraine” at the Miami Book Fair International Apuleyo Maedoza, and thousands of people chase books that shed light on Ukrainian attending. history, culture, politics and the arts. Local Ukrainians felt it was the right The Ukrainian American Club Inc. of Miami opportunity to set up a Ukrainian booth supported this first-time event in Miami. with Ukrainian-themed books. So, for the first time in its 31-year history, the fair had a booth called “Spotlight on Ukraine.” With the cooperation of Harvard’s Ukrainian Research Institute and Prof. Serhii Plokhy; the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies Press and Prof. Frank Sysyn; Rutgers University’s Prof. Alexander Motyl; and Marijka Sochan Tymyc of the Yevshan Corp., the project came to fruition, Oksana Piaseckyj and a varied collection of books was for At the Miami Book Fair International (from left) are: Iryna Virstuk, Peter J. sale on November 21-23. Piaseckyj, Oksana Piaseckyj, Roksolyana Havryliw and Natalka Sharshanevych. Thousands of people passed by the booth, some stopping to look and browse, or at least acknowledging with a thumbs by Oksana Piaseckyj the Miami Dade College, Wolfson Campus in downtown Miami. up that they are for Ukraine in its struggle MIAMI – This city is gaining momentum This is the largest literary event in the with Russia. Inquisitive readers stopped to each year as a cultural center, with an country, with international authors pre- ask questions. expanding emphasis on art, theater, music senting their latest works in a speaker’s Tending the booth, Peter J. and Oksana Peter J. Piaseckyj with the display of and literature. On November 17-23, the series, such as Joyce Carol Oates, Nicholas Piaseckyj tried to disseminate information books about Ukraine at the Miami Book Miami Book Fair International was held at D. Kristof and Colombian writer Plinio on Ukraine and persuade readers to pur- Fair International. Community holds memorial service for Holodomor Victims NORTH PORT, Fla. – On November 23, in solidarity with the people of Ukraine, a memo- rial service for the victims of the Holodomor of 1932-1933, was held in local Ukrainian churches here. Members of the Community Committee, headed by Romana Guran, took part in the memorial service at the Presentation of the Most Holy Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church. Officiating at the memorial service were the Rev. Severyn Kowalyshin and the Rev. Wolodymyr Wolosczuk with Bishop Michael in attendance. Representatives of the Community Committee holding candles at the memorial service were: Ms. Guran, Marion Boysiuk (Ukrainian American Veterans), Ann-Marie Susla and Lidia Bilous (Ukrainian National Women’s League of America Branch 56), Vira Bodnaruk (Ukrainian Language Society), Lieda Boyko and Doris Horbachevsky (Ukrainian American Club) and Klara Szpiczka (Ukrainian Congress Committee of America). – Vira Bodnaruk Bohdan Bodnaruk UCCA reports major donation Bees and beekeeping at community event to UUARC from proceeds of September banquet NEW YORK – The banquet held at the Waldorf Astoria in New York City on September 25 was intended as a unique opportunity for the Ukrainian American commu- nity to show its support by welcoming President Petro Poroshenko to New York City and demonstrating that the community stands united with the people of Ukraine, especially during this time of crisis. Over 800 people gathered in at the Waldorf Astoria’s grand ballroom that evening, welcoming Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk, who was delegat- ed by President Poroshenko to attend the gala in his stead. The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and the Reception Committee had stated that Roma Hadzewycz any proceeds from the banquet would go directly to WHIPPANY, N.J. – An audience of enthusiasts attended a special evening event about beekeeping held here the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee Inc. at the Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Jersey that was organized by Petrusia Kotlar Paslawsky. The (UUARC) to assist in its humanitarian aid mission to November 7 program included a screening of a new short documentary, “Bee Dance: Steps to a New Future help the Ukrainian army, the National Guard and the in Beekeeping,” directed by Dr. Paslawsky. The presenter also spoke about Taras Shevchenko and bees, and families of the soldiers of Ukraine. answered myriad questions from her audience about bees, beekeeping (including colony collapse disorder) and In a December 5 news release, the UCCA and the honey. Attendees were able to sample honey-based hors d‘ouevres and herbal teas. Dr. Paslawsky, a chiroprac- Reception Committee announced that a donation of tor, is a member of the Ukrainian American Beekeepers Society. Seen above are some of those who attended the $40,000 was made to the UUARC. presentation by Dr. Paslawsky (seated, second from left). No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 19

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE Parma cathedral celebrates 90th anniversary PARMA, Ohio – On Saturday and Sunday, October 25-26, the faithful of St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral here cele- brated the parish’s 90th anniversary. Organized in Cleveland in 1924, the parish moved to Parma in 1967. Metropolitan Antony and Bishop Daniel, cathedral archpastor, led the weekend cele- brations. The festivities began on Saturday morning with the hierarchs visiting the 180 children of the cathedral’s Taras Shevchenko School of Ukrainian Studies. On Saturday evening, vespers and a memorial service for departed pastors and “panimatky” (priests’ wives), and deceased founders and parishioners were held. On Sunday morning, a hierarchal liturgy was celebrated by Metropolitan Antony and Bishop Daniel. Five priests, a deacon and 14 altar boys served. Responses were sung by the combined English and Ukrainian choirs. Metropolitan Antony delivered the homily. Following the liturgy, an anniversary banquet was held in the parish cultural center. The Ukrainian Dance and Bandura Metropolitan Antony and Bishop Daniel with children, clergy and the teaching staff of the Taras Shevchenko School of Ukrainian Schools provided entertainment during the Studies at St. Vladimir Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral, Parma, Ohio. dinner, with an attendance of 375 people. Bishop Daniel delivered the main address. attendance. He was presented with flowers ing ecumenical cooperation between the ticipants sang “Mnohaya Lita” for Bishop Bishop John Bura of the Ukrainian and a model of St. Vladimir Cathedral as a Churches during his years as administrator Bura. The Catholic bishop delivered the Catholic Eparchy of Parma was also in remembrance of his five years of outstand- of the Parma Eparchy, and the banquet par- benediction concluding the banquet. “Maidan – Th rough Patience to Hope” exhibited at U. of Alberta tinues to generate a great deal of creative been created or recreated in partnerships human expressions, she notes. through the Kule Folklore Center and dis- The “Maidan – Through Patience to played throughout Canada. Folklore is the Hope” exhibit generated great feedback, traditional beliefs, customs, skills, arts and and several organizations, including the stories of a community, passed on from Hankuk University of Foreign Studies in person to person in living context and South Korea, have expressed an interest to exhibits have included “Journey to Canada: display this recreated exhibit and will do so Ukrainian Immigration Experience 1891- in the near future. 1900,” “Ukrainian Wedding” and This exhibit is one of several that have “Ukrainian Dance: From Village to Stage.” Philadelphia area students send greetings to Ukrainian soldiers

Kule Center Nataliya Bezborodova (left), graduate student and Dr. Andriy Nahachewsky, director of the Kule Folklore Center in front of the Maidan Exhibit at the University of Alberta. EDMONTON, Alberta – The Kule Folklore – through the Kule Folklore Center. Center at the University of Alberta (U. of A.) Ms. Nataliya Bezborodova, herself from hosted the exhibit “Maidan – Through Kyiv, is one of the many Ukrainian graduate Patience to Hope.” For 12 days in October, students at the U. of A. who have had a hard this exhibit was displayed in the Galleria time focusing on their studies while critical Atrium of the U. of A. Rutherford Library. It events shake their homeland this school captured the protests and changes in year. She is working on her master’s thesis Ukraine that occurred last winter, bringing in Ukrainian folklore, analyzing the role of life to the quotes and feelings of the people social media during the Maidan. Ms. who experienced this event. Bezborodova has a huge database of mate- This exhibit was originally displayed at rial collected from Facebook during the the Rimini Meeting Festival in Italy during critical months of the Maidan. A folkloristic the summer of 2014. U. of A. graduate stu- exploration can show how personal experi- dent Natalia Bezborodova spoke at the fes- ences illuminate many elements not tival and made arrangements to recreate exposed by normal media coverage and JENKINTOWN, Pa. – Students of the Ukrainian Heritage School at the Ukrainian the exhibit together with the original official reports. The Maidan phenomenon is Educational and Cultural Center in Jenkintown, Pa., recently sent greetings authors – Oleksandr Filonenko, Anastasia a rich source of contemporary and urban to Ukrainian soldiers. Above, some of these soldiers hold the messages they Zolotova, Oleksiy Chekal and Oleksiy Sigov folklore, a physical and social site that con- received. As one Ukrainian American veteran put it, such greetings for the soldiers are “as precious as weapons.” The students also participated in a letter-writing activity to President Barack Obama and other elected officials, asking their help for the Ukrainian people. Visit our archive online: www.ukrweekly.com – Vera Andryczyk 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 No. 50 Club Suzie-Q Week off ers local adventures, Ukraine insights

by Anisa Handzia Sawyckyj with Yuri Mykolayevych FOREST HILLS, N.Y. – When Club Suzie-Q, a gathering of (then) young Ukrainian professionals from the U.S. and Canada, first met at Soyuzivka in 1983, few could have imagined that they would still be enjoying camaraderie, non-stop conver- sations and new adventures three decades later. However, this past summer, that is exactly what they did at Club Suzie-Q’s 31st annual get-together at Soyuzivka, the UNA Heritage Center in Kerhonkson, N.Y. From nature hikes to urban adventures and intellectual stimulation – Club Suzie-Q Week held August 9-16 offered something for everybody. This year’s Club Suzie-Q participants hailed from the Northeast, the Washington, D.C., area and as far west as Pittsburgh and Kentucky. Fully one-third of this year’s 30 attendees were Canadians, representing the cities of Toronto, Montreal, Ottawa and Andrew Hrechak Thunder Bay, Ontario. While there were Friends gather at the 31st annual Club Suzie-Q Week at Soyuzivka. many familiar faces of Club Suzie-Q regu- lars, there were also a few new partici- beauty of Soyuzivka’s natural setting, Club evening at Adrian Bryttan’s Hunter-area Slavka Jarema and Maria Zaliszczuk, with Dr. pants, as well as some newly retired old- Suzie-Q members are always organizing country home, with a splendid gourmet Hrechak organizing the beverages. In addi- timers who have returned this year after a group activities that are hard to resist. dinner, house tour and exhibit of art works tion, on Monday evening, prior to steak few years’ absence, now that they have This year’s offerings featured day hikes all created by the host himself. night alfresco on the Vorokhta lawn, attend- plenty of vacation time to spare. to nearby Lake Mohonk and Lake There were also several new excursions ees enjoyed a wine tasting and appetizers, While it is possible to simply relax, par- Minnewaska as well as a trip to Hunter during the week. These included walking courtesy of Soyuzivka management. Indeed, take of good conversation and enjoy the Mountain. The latter was followed by an tours of the nearby towns of Rosendale and Club Suzie-Q organizers have credited High Falls with its D&H Canal Museum, as Soyuzivka management, especially Nestor well as a trip to Ashokan Reservoir, source Paslawsky and Sonia Semanyshyn, with Panel discussion: Ways to help Ukraine of New York City’s water supply. The latter making a special effort to accommodate the Club Suzie-Q would not be complete without its traditional evening presentation three tours were organized by area resident needs of the group throughout the week. and discussion about Ukraine, an event in which Club Suzie-Q participants discuss cur- Halyna Barannik, with Yuri Mykolayevych In the latter part of Club Suzie-Q week, rent issues, share their expertise and make plans for further engagement and network- arranging the canal museum tour segment. some of this year’s participants made a brief ing on various community projects to aid Ukraine. This year the dark shadow cast by The trip to Ashokan Reservoir was inspired trip to New York City, with excursions to Russia’s military offensive against Ukraine gave a special urgency to the evening, whose by the showing of a documentary film about museums, the World Trade Center site and theme was “How to Help Ukraine.” Roma Cehelsky Nightengale was the organizer and the building of the reservoir, which was pro- other venues. An unexpected bonus was the moderator of the event. duced by Ms. Barannik under a grant from opportunity to participate in a march up The first speaker, Andrij Masiuk of Washington, who spent a number of years in Kyiv as the Mid-Hudson Library System. Fifth Avenue that culminated with a demon- a management consultant, traced the political developments in Ukraine since 1991 that Another presentation was made during stration in front of the Russian Consulate were the background to the Euro-Maidan and Ukraine’s Revolution of Dignity. Ukraine the week by Mr. Mykolayevych, a private protesting against Russia’s ongoing armed was never more united and determined to shed its colonial past than it is today, he said. pilot, who narrated a slide show featuring invasion of Ukraine. Mr. Masiuk has been providing much-appreciated Ukraine updates at Club Suzie-Q his aerial and ground photos of unique nat- Indeed, developments in Ukraine were gatherings for nearly two decades. Starting in September 2014, he has been a visiting ural features and hiking destinations in the never far from the minds of Club Suzie-Q lecturer at the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy. He promised to return to Northern Shawangunk Ridge on which members, who eagerly looked forward to a Club Suzie-Q in 2015 with new insights based on his experiences in Kyiv. Soyuzivka is located. His inspiring photo- long-standing annual tradition: a panel dis- Ron Chyczij of Toronto shared his expertise as both an election observer and an graphs prompted a number of intrepid cussion devoted to Ukrainian issues. The observer team leader in numerous official Canadian government delegations to souls to hike the next day to the 87-foot wide range of topics covered this year Ukraine and other countries. He focused on issues such as party politics, corruption, high Stony Kills Falls, located only three included a historical overview of political the election cycle, and the opportunities and challenges faced by election observers. He miles from Soyuzivka. events in Ukraine since independence, believes that good documentation, such as filming incidents, being at the right place at Lucy Alonso and Roma Cehelsky observing elections, countering Russian the right time, and efficient reporting sometimes can lead to successful election fraud Nightengale made a presentation on the disinformation and dealing with PTSD vic- deterrence. He recently traveled to Ukraine to observe the October 26 parliamentary topic of healthy eating, covering such sub- tims. (See sidebar below.) elections as did another Club Suzie-Q member, Lyubko Zobniw of Binghamton, N.Y. jects as GMO and processed foods, the Ms. Nightengale and Dr. Hrechak Adrian Bryttan of New York City discussed the nuances of Russia’s all-encompassing Chinese approach to health, cooking oils, planned and managed this year’s Club disinformation and propaganda war against Ukraine, emphasizing the need for Ukrainians herbs, supplements and vitamins. Andrew Suzie-Q Week, as they have for the last sev- to push back by providing good English-language materials on Ukraine for Western media Hrechak entertained during the week with eral years. They have already announced and audiences. He mentioned a number of important English-language information sourc- images of previous Club Suzie-Q gatherings. the date of next year’s gathering: August 15 es and in particular euromaidanpress.com and its international team of volunteer transla- For several days, delicious refreshments - August 22, 2015. For further information, tors and editors, a website for which he both translates and contributes original material. for the presentations were prepared by contact them at [email protected]. A conductor and concert violinist, Mr. Bryttan recently both wrote about and per- sonally demonstrated against appearances at U.S. venues of pro-Putin musicians such as conductor Valery Gergiev and pianist Valentina Lisitsa. Additional comments were made by psychiatrist Jurij Savyckyj, M.D., of Greenwich, Conn., who shared his experiences in Kyiv last March as a volunteer with the Philadelphia- based charity United Ukrainian American Relief Committee (UUARC), which, among many other projects, works with Maidan survivors who suffer from post-traumatic stress dis- order. He also described his consultations in March with Kyiv psychiatrists, psychologists and social workers who work daily with PTSD patients. In late August, Dr. Savyckyj was able to reconnect with these colleagues when a delegation of these professionals arrived in New Haven, Conn., to attend a Yale University-sponsored conference on PTSD. Also, Walter Derzko of Toronto spoke about the need for coordinated organizational work among volunteer groups in the U.S. and Canada who are aiding Ukraine. He point- ed out the methods used by the Russian government to keep Ukraine and the West off balance, hesitant as to intentions and in a reactive mode, and suggested ways to turn the tables. His fall plans included travel to Ukraine to attend the Model Ukraine Conference at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. At evening’s end Donna Sianchuk of Ottawa spoke for all attendees when she thanked the organizer, the speakers and discussants for updating the audience on the challenges facing Ukraine today and new ways North Americans can help. Many Club Suzie-Q members are already proactively involved with various Ukraine aid committees in their local communities. This presentation gave them food for thought and a stimulus to further action. A hike at nearby Lake Mohonk is an annual Club Suzie-Q tradition. No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 21

December 14 St. Nicholas children’s program, Assumption of the December 27-28 Performance, “Winter Light,” by Yara Arts Group, Miami Blessed Virgin Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, New York La MaMa Experimental Theater, 212-475-7710 or https://ukrainianmiami.org www.lamama.org

December 14 Book presentation by Roman Cybriwsky, “Kyiv, Ukraine: December 31 New Year’s Eve celebration, Assumption Ukrainian Chicago The City of Domes and Demons,” Ukrainian Institute of Perth Amboy, NJ Catholic Church, 732-826-0767 or 202-368-2408 or Modern Art, [email protected] www.assumptioncatholicchurch.net

December 14 St. Nicholas Day festivities and pot-luck lunch, St. John January 16 Malanka Pub Nite, Ukrainian American Citizens’ Ottawa the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Shrine, 613-440-2784 Philadelphia Association, 215-284-0185

December 14 Christmas concert, featuring Akord Ukrainian Men’s Choir January 17 Malanka celebration, with music by Zvook, Ukrainian Ottawa of Ottawa, St. Albertus Church, Jenkintown, PA American Youth Association, Ukrainian Educational and http://facebook.com/akordukrainianmenschoir Cultural Center, 215-620-7462 or [email protected]

December 14 Christmas bazaar, St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic January 17 Malanka celebration, with music by Fata Morgana, St. Whippany, NJ Church, Ukrainian American Cultural Center of New Scranton, PA Vladimir Ukrainian Catholic Church, Jersey, 973-476-1970 [email protected] January 30 Pub Night, featuring music by Svitanok, Ukrainian League December 14-21 Exhibit, “The Magic of Beads,” Ukrainian Institute of Philadelphia of Philadelphia, www.ukrainianleague.com or Chicago Modern Art, 773-227-5522 215-684-3548 December 20 Mykolai show and holiday bazaar, Taras Shevchenko January 31 Presentation of debutantes, Ukrainian Engineers’ Society of Bethesda, MD School of Ukrainian Studies, Westland Middle School, Penn’s Landing, PA America, Hyatt Regency Hotel at Penn’s Landing, 410-730-8108 or [email protected] 610-277-12814 or [email protected]

December 20 Literary bazaar, dedicated to the Maidan and war in January 31 New Britain Malanka, to benefit Zolotyj Promin Ukrainian New York Ukraine, Shevchenko Scientific Society, 212-254-5130 New Britain, CT dance group, featuring music by Hrim and Klooch, St. George Greek Orthodox Church hall, 860-452-4023 December 20 Christmas bazaar, Holy Trinity Ukrainian Catholic Church, Kerhonkson, NY 845-647-6911 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions December 21 Winter solstice concert, featuring violinist Yuri Turchyn, from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Paterson, NJ Paterson Museum, www.marchharemedia.me and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 No. 50 UKELODEON For The Next Generation For the love of Ukraine, showing our support ists (terrorists) in eastern Ukraine. As a member of Plast, I took an oath to: be faithful to God and Ukraine, help others, and live by the Plast Code and obey the Plast lead- ership. To me, this means that my obligations as a scout are to always look for ways to do good deeds by helping others, especially if can help to preserve our Ukrainian identity and heritage. I wanted to do something to help Ukraine, and I could not think of a better way to begin working towards my Plast “treta proba” – akin to an eagle scout badge – than to make this my first project. After distributing flyers and post- Father Mykhaylo Dosyak blesses the Dnipro LLC truck, for a safe Adriana Buniak stands in front of a truck ing news on social media about this journey in front of the Syracuse Ukrainian Federal Credit Union, as loaded up with 39 boxes of aid and several collection drive, I was amazed by the community members sing the Ukrainian National anthem. sets of crutches wrapped up in duct tape. outpouring of support and interest from other Ukrainian organizations by Adriana Buniak about spearheading a collection feeling very frustrated just sitting and businesses, both locally and be- drive for the brave men and women at home, reading newspaper ar- yond the Central New York area, who SYRACUSE, N.Y. – In early members of the Ukrainian volunteer ticles and watching the news of how wanted to help with the project. September of this year, Roman Vo- battalions fighting in the Anti-Ter- Ukraine is struggling to reform itself Thanks to our community and in- lytskyy, a resident of Syracuse, N.Y., rorist Operation (ATO) zone in the into a more pro-Western democracy, dividuals, we collected over 39 large and a former Maidan participant, Donbas region of Ukraine. but continues to be viciously at- contacted our local Plast chapter Up until that point, I had been tacked by the Putin-backed separat- (Continued on page 23) New York students remember Holodomor by Daria Kozak-Tymets the Holodomor, exhorting those in attendance to never forget about the NEW YORK – On Saturday, millions of Ukrainian victims who November 22, the Ukrainian com- munity of the New York City-metro perished from the man-made famine area marked the 81st anniversary of on their fertile land. He reminded all Ukraine’s 1932-1933 genocide, the about those who bravely stood up to Holodomor. Also on that day, stu- the outright lies of the occupiers, the dents, teachers and parents of the New decades of cover-up and twisting of York City School of Ukrainian Stud- the facts surrounding the genocide, ies gathered in St. George Academy’s and asked participants to honor and gymnasium to participate in a program support the ongoing fight for dignity of remembrance on the occasion of and freedom in Ukraine. this tragic event in Ukrainian history. For young people today, who don’t Principal Ivan Makar spoke about know the meaning of hunger, it is Pupils of the school at the Holodomor remembrance at St. Patrick’s Cathedral.

impossible to imagine or comprehend their lives for Ukraine’s liberty. what happened to millions of Ukrai- 11th grade students presented “A nians who died from forced famine. Small Poem about Big Trouble,” to A quarter of modern-day Ukraine’s the haunting musical accompaniment population died as a result of the of violinist Anastasia Antoniv and genocide, which peaked in the spring pianist Elya Romanyshyn. Then, a of 1933. At that time, 17 Ukrainians candle of remembrance was lit. died of hunger per minute, thousands Following a final prayer, School per hour and almost 25,000 per day. of Ukrainian Studies students took School community members said part in the annual, solemn procession a prayer and stood for a minute of si- and requiem liturgy at St. Patrick’s lence to honor the souls of the victims Cathedral in midtown Manhattan, of the Holodomor, and also for the where, together with survivors of the Students of the New York School of Ukrainian Studies during a school pro- Heavenly Hundred and thousands of Holodomor, they brought “kolosky” gram in memory of the Holodomor. known and unknown heroes who gave (ears of wheat) of truth. No. 50 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 23 Plast’s Orlykiada competition: the winning group’s perspective

by Ruta Odulak KERHONKSON, N.Y. – Stepping off of the bus onto the chilly grounds of the oh so familiar Soyuzivka this year held a new promise for all of us, girls from the Passaic, N.J., branch of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization. In previous years, we’d always arrived with more anxiety than excitement, but never had we all worked this hard in preparation for the Orlykiada competition for Plast scouts from all over the United States and Canada. Upon reading the competition material months before, we all realized the importance of this year’s topic: Taras Shevchenko. We discovered that the words he wrote in the mid-19th century are tragically relevant today, as Ukraine battles for its freedom once again. We were united by the motivation to portray our true feelings on the Orlykiada topic, the idea that Andrew Zwarych Ukraine is worth fi ghting for and the importance of At the 2014 Orlykiada are: Christina Temnycky (foreground), holding the fi rst-place certifi cate remembering the soil in which our roots lie. awarded to Passaic Plast’s girls; (fi rst row, from left) Sofi a Migalko, Maria Migalko, Laryssa Horo- We soared through the question section of the dysky, Olha Shchur, Lexi Hamilton, (second row) Lena Wanio, Iryna Chorniy, Stephanie Domarad- Orlykiada competition, and we gave a wholeheart- sky, Ruta Odulak, Nadiya Stakhyra and Lidia Drybushar. (Another member of the group was Olenka ed performance of our rendition of the Maidan. Tytla, who is missing from the photo.) We were proud to present the exhibit that we made: a tree adorned with inscribed acorns and and proud to be Plast Troop 38 from Passaic. women and children in Ukraine will soon feel with oak leaves that outlined Shevchenko’s words and When we were announced as the overall win- the triumph of freedom. how they affect us everyday. ners, we were fl ooded with disbelief and elation. Feeling closer than ever as a Plast branch, we We had put our hearts and souls into our work Ruta Odulak, 16, is a junior at Nutley High marched down to the closing of the weekend in and had high hopes, but this was an unbelievable School where she is a staff writer for the school our new crimson vests and berets. We felt united moment! It was a moment that we hope the men, newspaper, The Maroon and Gray.

For the love... was fi lled with the following boxed items that were collected: aspirin, New Haven schoolchildren send (Continued from page 22) thermal underwear, cold medication, crutches, toothbrushes, army fa- messages to Ukraine’s soldiers boxes of much-needed aid. Those tigues, ski masks, warm hats, gloves, involved included: members of the wool socks, warm jackets and vests, Syracuse’s Ukrainian American scarves, sweaters, laundry deter- Youth Association and Odesa dance gent, personal hygiene products, and ensemble under the leadership medical supplies including Celox/ of Christina Bobesky; treta proba combat gauze, hypothermal blankets, candidates from the Plast branch of medical tape, abdominal pad dress- Newark N.J., Andreya Pencak and ings, anuscopes, stethoscope, stretch Olenka Hladky, under the guidance bandages and disposable towels. of Borislaw Bilash; the entire Plast As in other Ukrainian communi- group and Spartanky sorority in New ties, both here in the United States York City, coordinated by division and abroad, we are still collecting NEW HAVEN, Conn. – The school year at Ridna Shkola, the School of head Natalia Danysh O’Connell; items because Ukraine is still in Ukrainian Studies in New Haven, Conn., started with a divine liturgy cel- managers of the Syracuse Ukrainian desperate need of support. What I Federal Credit Union Nadia Hay- ebrated by the Rev. Iura Godenciuc. Afterwards, the parents had a meeting appreciated most about this project with the director of the school, Myron Melnyk. Meanwhile, some of the stu- duke and Tanya Dashkevich of the was seeing fi rst hand that, although Rochester Ukrainian Federal Credit dents, under the supervision of Halia Lodynsky, a teacher at the school, drew Russia’s government continues to pictures and wrote letters to the solders in Ukraine. Many of the students Union; black-belt and Plast member encroach upon Ukraine by trying to enjoyed doing this. The teachers this year are: Nataliya Danchenko, Volody- Alexandra Salenko from Southern divide us as a nation, the Ukrainian myr Dumalsky, Nataliya Korenovska, Ms. Lodynsky and Myron Melnyk. Tier Martial Arts of Binghamton, diaspora is more united than ever in Also, catechism is taught by Luba Dubno and Ms. Lodynsky. The fi rst day of N.Y.; Father Mykhaylo Dosyak wanting to help Ukraine. classes was Saturday, September 27. from St. John the Baptist Ukrainian I know that, in the end, the – Halia Jurczak-Lodynsky Catholic Church in Syracuse; Leonid country of my heritage will over- Jemetz of St. Luke Ukrainian Ortho- come, because there are many young dox Church in Warners, N.Y.; Greg people like me who will continue to Lisnyczyj of Syracuse’s Ukrainian work hard to raise awareness and Congress Committee of America; Dr. offer support to show the world that Borys Buniak from the Ukrainian Ukraine is always in our hearts. Medical Association of North Amer- ica; and my school, Manlius Pebble Adriana Valentyna Buniak, 16, Hill. is a working toward her Plast eagle On Saturday, November 21, we scout rank. She is a member of the had a gathering of the members Syracuse branch of Plast and a of our community to bless a truck 10th grader at Manlius Pebble Hill from the Dnipro LLC company that School. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, DECEMBER 14, 2014 No. 50

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Saturday, December 20 Saturday-Sunday, December 27-28 CHRISTMAS NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific Society will hold its NEW YORK: Yara’s new theater piece “Winter Light” with annual Literary Bazaar dedicated to the Maidan and war in koliada and vertep featuring Koliadnyky, Yara artists and Ukraine. Participants include Andrey Gritsman, Anna Frajlich, special guests. The program is on Saturday at 3 p.m. and 8 SPECIAL! Oksana Lutsyshyna, Taras Malkovych, Alexey Tsvetkov and p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. La MaMa Experimental Theater is Vasyl Makhno, who will also emcee the evening. Also, poems located at 66 E. Fourth St. Admission is $25; $20 for seniors, by various Ukrainian, Polish and Russian poets, including students and children. Tickets may be purchased by calling Bohdan Zadura, Boris Khersonsky, Halyna Kruk, Olena 212-475-7710 or at www.lamama.org. Herasymiuk, Marianna Kijanovska, Mariana Savka and oth- Wednesday, December 31 A YEAR’S SUBSCRIPTION TO ers, will be read. The bazaar will be held at the society’s building, 63 Fourth Ave. (between Ninth and 10th streets) at PERTH AMBOY, N.J.: A New Year’s Eve dance (zabava) will THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY 5 p.m. For additional information call 212-254-5130. be held by Assumption Ukrainian Catholic Church, 380 OR VOBODA Meredith St., Perth Amboy, N.J., beginning at 8 p.m. Music S WASHINGTON: Taras Shevchenko School of Ukrainian will be by Oberehy. Tickets are $80 per person; children (PRINT EDITION) Studies will host a Mykolai show and holiday bazaar. (age 5-12), $40. (Tickets purchased after December 25 will Students will present a Mykolai show at noon. Sviatyi be $90). A TV will be raffled off as a door prize. Menu will FOR ONLY $80 Mykolai (St. Nicholas) will then meet with each grade/age include: main course – stuffed salmon, French-style pork, $70 FOR UNA MEMBERS group (non-students welcome). The Heavenly Office will be roasted chicken, chicken with barbeque sauce, chicken loaf, open at 9:15-11:45 a.m.; only one item per child ($2 fee), meatloaf, stuffed cabbage, pyrohy, roasted potatoes, cheese ADD $5 AND RECEIVE labeled (child’s name, grade/age). The bazaar/bake sale at blintzes, puffs with meat, mushroom gravy, borshch; BOTH PRINT AND ONLINE SUBSCRIPTIONS. 9:30 a.m. to noon will feature a variety of home-baked European salads – salad olivier, cold feet (studynets), treats and holiday foods, as well as books and gift items. “shuba,” carrot salad with raisins, cold cuts, pickled cucum- THIS LIMITED-TIME OFFER IS VALID FOR Location: Westland Middle School, 5511 Massachusetts bers and tomatoes; desserts – cakes, fresh fruit and cham- NEW SUBSCRIPTIONS ONLY Ave., Bethesda, MD 20816. For further information visit pagne. For tickets call 732-826-0767 or 202-368-2408. All THROUGH DECEMBER 31, 2014. ukrainianschoolbazaar.weebly.com or contact Lada seats reserved; no tickets will be sold at the door. For infor- Onyshkevych, [email protected] or 410-730-8108. mation see www.assumptioncatholicchurch.net. ACT NOW BY CALLING OUR SUBSCRIPTION PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES DEPARTMENT: Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a service provided at minimal cost ($20 per list- ing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian community. 973-292-9800, To have an event listed in Preview of Events please send information, in English, written in Preview format, i.e., in a brief X 3040. paragraph that includes the date, place, type of event, sponsor, admission, full names of persons and/or organizations involved, and a phone number and/or e-mail address to be published for readers who may require additional information. Items must be no more than 100 words long. Preview items must be received no later than one week before the desired date of publication (i.e., they must be received by 9 am Monday morning). Please include payment for each time the item is to appear and indicate date(s) of issue(s) in which the item is to be published. Also, senders are asked to include the phone number of a person who may be contacted by The Weekly during daytime hours, as well as their complete mailing address. Information should be sent to [email protected]. When e-mailing, please do not send items as attachments – sim- ply type the text into the body of the e-mail message. Preview items and payments may be mailed to: Preview of Events, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054.