INSIDE:  Analysis: What Putin got wrong – page 2  Sviatoslav Vakarchuk visits Yale – page 9  “Kozak Beyond the Danube” opera – pages 10-11

THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXIII No. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 $2.00 Vladimir Putin’s lies Yatsenyuk makes Ukraine’s case “Hiding in Plain Sight” in a series of appearances in DC New reports reveal extent of Russia’s aggression in Ukraine

by Ashish Kumar Sen Atlantic Council WASHINGTON – Russian President Vladimir Putin is violating a February 2015 ceasefire agreement by continuing to send troops and weapons into Ukraine in a blatant attempt to destabilize the country, accord- ing to an Atlantic Council report issued on May 28. The report, “Hiding in Plain Sight: Putin’s War in Ukraine,” draws on open source material and uses social media posts to track the movement of Russian soldiers and equipment across the border into Ukraine. “There would be no conflict in Ukraine today but for Putin’s strategy to provoke one,” said Damon Wilson, the Atlantic Council’s executive vice-president of programs and strategy, and one of the report’s five co-authors. “We don’t have a Ukraine problem, we have a Putin problem.” The 36-page report says satellite images confirm the movement of Russian troops and camp buildups Yaro Bihun along the Ukrainian border, and that Russia sends sol- Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk addresses the AJC Global Forum, telling his audience: “We are facing a real war diers and military equipment from these “staging with Russia. Ukraine is the only country in the world that is fighting against the Russian regular army.” grounds” into Ukraine. The most recent photograph analyzed was that of a Russian soldier taken at a by Yaro Bihun White House meeting with Vice-President Joe Biden, who checkpoint near Debaltseve on February 23. had just returned from his son’s funeral in Delaware. The report further asserts that Russian command- WASHINGTON – As President Barack Obama and the In all, as Mr. Yatsenyuk told journalists following his IMF ers order their troops to conceal the identifying fea- other G-7 leaders on June 8 were concluding their summit meeting just before departing back to Ukraine June 10, he tures of military vehicles and remove insignia from meeting discussions with a focus on how best to resolve and Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko had some 30 meet- their uniforms before joining separatist forces in east- the crisis of Russia’s intrusion into Ukraine, the prime min- ings over the span of two days. ern Ukraine. In addition, the report says, Russian ister of Ukraine, Arseniy Yatsenyuk, arrived in Washington “And the level of support expressed by the U.S. vice- arms and munitions – including shoulder-launched for three days of talks about that crisis and other important president, the speaker of the U.S. House of surface-to-air missiles and landmines – end up in the issues facing Ukraine and the West, with U.S. government Representatives, the secretaries of the Treasury and hands of separatists. officials, congressional leaders, the International Monetary Commerce – in other words, the American establishment Fund and influential American organizations. (Continued on page 14) The prime minister’s tight schedule included a surprise (Continued on page 5)

Canadian doctors and nurses perform complex surgical procedures in Ukraine

by Laryssa Waler deformities were seen in consultation. A total of 53 reconstructive procedures TORONTO – A specialized team of were performed in 29 patients between May Canadian health professionals recently 10 and 16 for a total of 116 operating hours. returned home after completing a medical The procedures included: 13 upper mission in Ukraine. This mission marked the extremity reconstructions, five skull recon- second medical mission the Canada Ukraine structions, 14 facial soft tissue (nose, eyelid, Foundation has organized in as many years. lip, cheek, scalp) reconstructions, 20 facial The team worked alongside Ukrainian bone reconstructions (mandible, orbit, doctors and nurses in performing recon- midface, nose). structive complex surgical procedures on “During this mission we focused our victims of the Euro-Maidan movement and efforts primarily on injuries to the skull and Vladimir Putin’s invasion into Eastern face. The majority of the injuries sustained Ukraine. All surgeries took place in Kyiv at by the patients were shrapnel/explosive the Ukrainian Military Hospital. wounds and gunshot wounds,” said Dr. Oleh The medical team of 22 professionals was Antonyshyn, head of the Adult Craniofacial composed entirely of volunteers and includ- Program at Sunnybrook Health Sciences ed surgeons, anesthetists and nurses. The Centre and professor of plastic surgery at team was assembled from across Canada. Adriana Luhovy the University of Toronto. Forty-nine patients from across Ukraine A team of medical professionals from Ukraine and Canada operate at the Ukrainian with complex post-traumatic defects and Military Hospital. (Continued on page 14) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 No. 24

THE POWER VERTICAL

Savchenko’s detention extended, again Chechotkin said on June 10 that the mas- What Putin got wrong sive fire at a fuel depot near the town of MOSCOW – A Russian court has extend- Vasylkiv, some 30 kilometers from Kyiv, had So when Parliament passed a series of ed the pretrial detention of Ukrainian pilot killed five people and injured 12 others. He by Brian Whitmore and parliament member Nadia Savchenko RFE/RL laws in January 2014 restricting freedom of said six tanks were still burning. The fire speech and assembly, they had the opposite until September 10. Russian news agencies started late on June 8 in one tank and Since the Ukraine crisis erupted, effect. reported that the Moscow City Court issued spread to at least 16 neighboring contain- Vladimir Putin has befuddled his foes with Protests in Kyiv swelled, demonstrators the ruling on June 10. Ms. Savchenko, 34, ers, most of them storing gasoline. A large hybrid-war tactics, poisoned discourse in western Ukrainian cities began occupy- has been jailed in Russia since July 2014. explosion occurred in the morning of June with a sophisticated disinformation cam- ing government buildings, and Mr. She says she was illegally brought into 9. Internal Affairs Ministry official Zoryan paign and alarmed the West with a series of Yanukovych was forced to backtrack. Russia after being abducted by Russian- Shkiryak has said police were investigating provocative moves aimed at probing Parliament annulled the laws and Mykola backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. She three possible causes of the fire – “viola- NATO’s defenses. Azarov, the adamantly pro-Moscow prime is charged with complicity in the killing of tions of fuel storage regulations, technical The Russian president has kept his minister, resigned. two Russian journalists who died in the malfunctions, or arson.” The depot’s own- opponents off balance and on the defen- Then on February 20-21 – after Russian Ukraine conflict, as well as illegal border ers said they suspected arson. (RFE/RL, sive; and he’s kept everybody guessing Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev warned crossing. Ms. Savchenko denies her guilt based on reporting by UNIAN, Interfax, what he will do next. Mr. Yanukovych to stop allowing his oppo- and says Russia has no right to detain her. Reuters and the Associated Press) But while it is seductive to think that the nents to walk all over him “like a doormat” (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Interfax wily Kremlin leader is a chess master in a – Kyiv witnessed its worst violence in near- and TASS) ‘Inconceivable’ for Russia to rejoin G-7 ly seven decades when police again clashed global arena full of checkers players, he’s Soviet-era dissident Plyushch dies BERLIN – German Chancellor Angela also gotten some important things spectac- with protesters. Merkel has once again said it is “inconceiv- ularly wrong. On February 22, Mr. Yanukovych fled PRAGUE – Communist-era Soviet dissi- able” for Russia to rejoin the Group of And when all is said and done, Mr. Putin’s Ukraine for Russia shortly after signing an dent Leonid Plyushch, who was forcibly Seven (G-7) economic powers after its costly errors may turn out to be more con- agreement with the opposition to end the committed to a psychiatric ward for nearly annexation of Crimea. “Russian participa- sequential than his little green men, armies crisis. three years, died in France on June 4 at the tion at the moment is inconceivable. The of trolls, and slick propaganda machine. Mr. Putin’s miscalculation, which cost age of 76. Arina Ginzburg, a fellow dissident G-7 is a group of states that share values So what did Mr. Putin get wrong? him his man in Kyiv, is rooted in what who was friends with Mr. Plyushch, said “he like democracy and the rule of law,” she appears to be a deep fear of – and complete was a remarkable man who went through said in an interview with Germany’s Money can’t buy you love lack of understanding of – civil society. terrible trials.” A mathematician who was Deutsche Presse-Agentur news agency. “The attempt to break up the Maidan Well, for one thing, he thought he could born into an ethnic Ukrainian family in “Our principles include the fact that we was not just an attempt to break up some- buy Ukraine. Soviet Kyrgyzstan, Mr. Plyushch was defend international law and the inviolabil- thing that would be a threat if it were cop- The crisis began in November 2013 when detained in 1972 in Kyiv for “anti-Soviet ity of national borders, because they form ied and exported to Russia. It is that kind of Viktor Yanukovych, then Ukraine’s pro-Mos- activity.” The next year, he was committed to the basis of our world order. By contrast, threat. But it also poses a deeper kind of cow president, backed out of a landmark a psychiatric hospital in Dnipropetrovsk Russia’s annexation of Crimea was an threat by representing something called where he underwent chemical treatments infringement of international law.” Ms. free-trade agreement with the European civil society,” Prof. Timothy Snyder of Yale that damaged him emotionally and physi- Merkel said Russia can continue to partici- Union in favor of closer ties with Russia. University said in a speech at the Chicago cally. He later wrote that under the drugs he pate in global economic decisions through The EU deal was six years in the making Humanities Festival last year. and hugely popular; its abandonment “sunk into a state of deafness – emotional the broader G-20, which includes develop- enraged much of the public. Weeks later, Ethnic Russian doesn’t equal and moral. I lost my memory [and] stam- ing countries like China and India that have mered incoherently.” He was released in Mr. Putin announced that Russia would pro-Moscow large economies but are not fully industri- 1976 after an international campaign and invest $15 billion in Ukraine and give the alized. “We cannot solve certain conflicts at When Mr. Putin decided to intervene in he emigrated to France. The Plyushch case country a one-third discount on gas all, such as the one in Syria, without Russia. Ukraine after Mr. Yanukovych fled, it was one of the first to become public and imports. For that reason I maintain regular contact appeared to be predicated on the assump- showed how Soviets under leader Leonid The tactic was typical of Moscow’s with [President] Vladimir Putin,” she said. tion that Russian speakers and ethnic Brezhnev abused psychiatry for political approach to spreading its influence: buy (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Deutsche Russians would automatically back Moscow. purposes, committing sane people to psy- the elites and own the country. Presse-Agentur) And while this was the case in Crimea chiatric wards. (RFE/RL, with reporting by In a 2012 report for Chatham House, and to some extent in the Donbas, else- Agence France-Presse) Carter on Russian aggression in Ukraine James Greene wrote that a key part of Mr. where in Ukraine the assumption was Putin’s method is to use corrupt business deeply flawed. Firefighters battle deadly blaze WASHINGTON – The United States schemes to make elites in former Soviet Language and ethnicity, it turned out, do needs to take new steps to respond to the states compliant. It is an extension of his strat- not necessarily translate into political loyal- KYIV – Emergency crews were continu- Ukraine conflict because economic sanc- egy for controlling his own Kremlin elite. ty. ing to battle a fire southwest of the tions and other Western actions have failed “Putin used the carrot of corruption in The Kremlin’s much-hyped Novorossiya Ukrainian capital, Kyiv, but officials say to get Russian President Vladimir Putin to conjunction with the stick of ‘compromat’ project to unite Russian-speaking regions there is no threat of the blaze spreading. to establish patron-client political relation- of eastern Ukraine into a single pro-Mos- State Emergency Service chief Mykola (Continued on page 12) ships” inside Russia, Mr. Greene wrote. “By cow separatist entity failed spectacularly. broadening this approach to the corrupt In Russophone cities like Odesa, Mariupol, transnational schemes that flowed seam- Dnipropetrovsk, Zaporizhia, Kharkiv and lessly from Russia to the rest of the former elsewhere, the vast majority of Russian- The Ukrainian Weekly FOUNDED 1933 Soviet space – and oozed beyond it – Putin speakers turned out to be loyal Ukrainian could extend his shadow influence beyond citizens. An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., Russia’s borders and develop a natural Many have their complaints about Kyiv, a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. ‘captured’ constituency for maintaining a of course. But they also prefer to be citizens Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. common Eurasian business space.” of a free – albeit imperfect – Ukraine, rather Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. But the approach failed. While Mr. Putin than subjects of Mr. Putin’s autocratic klep- (ISSN — 0273-9348) succeeded in buying off Mr. Yanukovych, tocracy. Democracy and human rights, it turns out, trump language and ethnicity. The Weekly: UNA: Ukrainian society was another matter Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 entirely. Residents of Odesa have even been The aid package only served to inflame known to boast that theirs is the freest Russian-speaking city in the world. Postmaster, send address changes to: the anti-Yanukovych demonstrations that The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz Mr. Putin’s flawed assumption that eth- erupted in Kyiv. The protesters’ message 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas was plain and simple: We cannot be bought. nicity is destiny cost Moscow dearly. Russia P.O. Box 280 may have gained Crimea and two economi- Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] Ukraine isn’t Russia cally devastated exclaves in the Donetsk And this led to Mr. Putin’s second miscal- and Luhansk oblasts – but it has lost The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com culation. He encouraged Mr. Yanukovych to Ukraine, perhaps forever. crack down on Euro-Maidan demonstra- Getting Germany wrong The Ukrainian Weekly, June 14, 2015, No. 24, Vol. LXXXIII tors, apparently assuming that the same In addition to getting Ukraine wrong in a Copyright © 2015 The Ukrainian Weekly repressive tactics Russia used at home number of ways, Mr. Putin also misread would work in Ukraine. Russia’s most important ally in Europe – But Ukraine is not Russia. Its civil society Germany. ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA is far more developed and more assertive Prior to the Ukraine crisis, Berlin was Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 than Russia’s. Its press is freer and its elite Moscow’s main advocate on the continent. more pluralistic. Dissent and antigovern- and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 Germany advocated accommodating e-mail: [email protected] ment protests had long been tolerated, and Russia’s interests and resisted U.S. efforts to common. And Ukraine had scant history of Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 e-mail: [email protected] using force against political demonstrations. (Continued on page 12) No. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 3 NEWS ANALYSIS: Aborted offensive in Donbas on eve of G-7 summit

by Pavel K. Baev ness of sanctions and possible further mea- ers – that the Western pillar of world order Some had hoped that the last meeting of Eurasia Daily Monitor sures in response to probable further remains solid (Gazeta.ru, June 4). The the Organization of the Petroleum moves by Russia (Rbc.ru, June 4). The spasm of hostilities in Ukraine’s eastern Exporting Countries (OPEC) would decide It was hardly surprising that the fragile Kremlin indicated it was concerned about region of Donbas received due attention to prop up the oil price, allowing Russia – ceasefire in eastern Ukraine was broken the media reports of U.S. plans to deploy but did not distract the summit partici- which has desperately expanded domestic last week by an exchange of artillery and missiles in Europe if multiple Russian viola- pants from discussing such matters – production – to continue to benefit from tank fire after weeks of deployment of tions trigger the breakdown of the entirely irrelevant from Mr. Putin’s point of free riding (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, June 3). Russian troops and heavy weapons in the Intermediate-Range Nuclear Forces (INF) view – as empowering women (Rbc.ru, Predictably, no good news on OPEC quotas war zone. What was unexpected, however, Treaty (1988) (Kommersant, June 5). June 5). came from Vienna last week, so the ruble was the direction of the Moscow-backed Even greater resonance was generated Nobody in this time-tested institution has resumed its inevitable downward slide rebel attack on Maryinka to the west of by the report “The Russian Challenge,” pro- has any interest in entrenching the West’s (Gazeta.ru, June 5). This economic feeble- Donetsk and the rebels’ readiness to fall duced by the Royal Institute of confrontation with Russia. But with ever- ness reduces Mr. Putin’s power politics to back after meeting stiff resistance from International Affairs (Chatham House), growing acknowledgement of the pre- high-risk military bluffs and extra-high-vol- Ukrainian forces (Polit.ru, June 4). generally not known for radicalism in its determined failure of the Minsk agree- ume propaganda campaigns, which can It was not possible to hide the fact that assessments (Nezavisimaya Gazeta, June 5). ments, the G-7 increasingly understands paper over Russians’ falling incomes for the separatists initiated this surge in hostil- The Chatham House report’s sober conclu- that high-precision sanctions on Russia will only so long. ities, but the war managers in Moscow sion that the West must prepare for a long- need to be combined with military contain- Another topic on the G-7 agenda, showed they could terminate the escala- term confrontation with a weakening but ment. emphasized particularly by the re-ener- tion. Therefore, President Vladimir Putin’s dangerous Russia was condemned by the Moscow has good reasons to worry gized British Prime Minister David statement on continuing the ceasefire, State Duma. Russian deputies charged that about these sanctions, and Prime Minister Cameron, is the global struggle against cor- which was released last Saturday, reflected the report served to justify the North Dmitri Medvedev has already issued a ruption. And Russia has every reason to the reality on the battlefield, even if it had Atlantic Treaty Organization’s (NATO) pur- warning about a “symmetric response” to worry about being on the receiving end of been recorded a few days prior (RIA ported master plan to subjugate Moscow any new punitive measures from the this “zero tolerance” policy. These worries Novosti, June 6). In trying to control the (Newsru.com, June 4). European Union (Forbes.ru, June 2). were accentuated in the last couple of clashes while maintaining a denial of Yet, the main focus of Mr. Putin’s anxiet- Russian consumers will be harmed by such weeks by the devastating scandal in the responsibility, Mr. Putin seeks to show both ies was, arguably, the G-7 summit on June “counter-sanctions” much more than International Federation of Association resolve and flexibility in order to counter 7-8, in Schloss Elmau, Germany European businesses. But the plain fact is Football (FIFA), which Russian mainstream the perceived increase in the threat on (Kommersant, June 6). The Russian presi- that Russian political ambitions undercut media tends to present as a plot aimed at Russia’s western flank. dent’s Crimean gamble was based on the every professional effort to steer the econo- denying Russia the privilege of hosting the Moscow is quite nervous about the premise that U.S. leadership had slackened my through the crisis, which refuses to fol- 2018 World Cup (Slon.ru, June 3). Many “secret conference” that the U.S. Secretary and NATO unity had eroded, but the G-7 low orders from the Kremlin and keeps government officials know, however, that of Defense Ashton Carter held in Germany leaders have established – without promis- breaking through false bottoms (Rbc.ru, in order to discuss the insufficient effective- ing miracles or cracking down on protest- June 3). (Continued on page 5) Members of Congress urge support Sen. Portman offers amendments to provide for Nadiya Savchenko’s release military assistance to Ukraine, assess efforts WASHINGTON – Co-chairs of the have been concerned about her deteriorat- WASHINGTON – Sen. Rob Portman the U.S. military. It would require an assess- Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Reps. Sander ing condition. Savchenko has been subject- (R-Ohio), co-chair of the Senate Ukraine ment of U.S. and NATO efforts in eastern Levin (D-Mich.), Mike Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.) and ed to psychiatric evaluations, solitary con- Caucus, announced on June 4 that he has Ukraine based on lessons learned from the Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), and caucus member finement, and callous treatment by Russian filed two amendments to the National tactics, techniques and procedures used by Rep. Bill Pascrell Jr. (D-N.J.), on June 9 urged authorities. She also did not receive ade- Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) for the Russians and Russian-backed separat- the co-chairs of the Tom Lantos Human quate medical care, especially since her Fiscal Year 2016 to help Ukraine as it con- ists. This assessment will include, among Rights Commission to support the release of commencement of hunger strikes to pro- tinues to face Russian aggression. other things, a report of the implications of detained Ukrainian pilot and Member of test the terms of her detention. We urge the The first amendment authorizes funds Russia’s information war and the implica- Parliament Nadiya Savchenko. commission to support Nadiya Savchenko’s to provide a number of critical capabilities tions the conflict has for armored warfare The commission, formerly known as the release and facilitate passage of H. Res. 50.” the Ukrainians need to defend themselves, equipment, such as Abrams tanks made in Congressional Human Rights Caucus, was Ms. Savchenko is a female fighter pilot including real-time intelligence, counter- Lima, Ohio. named in honor of the late Rep. Thomas for Ukraine’s armed forces. During her mis- artillery radars, defensive lethal assistance, “Ukraine has reached a pivotal moment,” Peter Lantos (D-Calif.), the only Holocaust sion in eastern Ukraine, she was captured drones (UAVs), secure communications, Sen. Portman stated. “The Ukrainian people survivor to ever serve in the U.S. Congress by rebel forces, and illegally transferred to and training to develop key combat, plan- have made incredible sacrifices in the (1980-2008). The congressman dedicated the Russian Federation to stand trial on ning, and support capabilities. The amend- hopes of securing a democratic future for all of his efforts to raise awareness and unsubstantiated charges of complicity in ment requires that at least $60 million be their country. However, sustained econom- respect for human rights around the world murder. While in detention, Russian courts used on the most important capabilities the ic, political and military support from the and became a leading human rights cham- have repeatedly delayed her hearing dates Ukrainians need and have requested: real- United States and NATO is absolutely cru- pion in the Congress. In 1983, he co-found- for apparently politically motivated rea- time intelligence, defensive lethal assis- cial to ensuring that their vision comes to ed the Congressional Human Rights Caucus sons. Recently, a Moscow court again tance and counter-artillery radars. fruition.” with then-Congressman John Edward extended her pretrial detention to June 30. The second amendment studies the Porter (R-Ill.). [On June 10, the court further extended her In their letter to the commission, the detention to September 30.] implications of the conflict in Ukraine for Source: Office of Sen. Rob Portman four members of Congress wrote: “Since her capture and detention in July 2014, we (Continued on page 5) Quotable notes “The United States and NATO must do more to strengthen Ukrainian military capa- bilities. In the short-term, Ukraine needs anti-tank weapons, secure communications, FOR THE RECORD: U.S. statement night vision and thermal optics, UAVs, and air defense systems. Equally important is effective monitoring of U.S. assistance to ensure it reaches the front-line troops. on combined Russian-separatist attacks “...Congress has voted repeatedly to increase military assistance to Ukraine, most notably through the Ukraine Freedom Support Act, which was signed by President Following is the statement on Ukraine by Russian-separatist forces are on the Obama. However, the president hasn’t used the authorities granted to him by this leg- Marie Harf, State Department senior advisor Ukrainian side of the ceasefire line. They islation. The debate in Congress is over. We are simply waiting for President Obama for strategic communications, made on June have reportedly utilized Grad rockets and to demonstrate leadership. 3 in reference to the latest fighting in eastern other heavy weapons that should have Ukraine. been withdrawn under the February Minsk “...Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and recent winter offensive all happened despite plan, and they’ve reportedly killed at least Western attempts to force a negotiated settlement. Each temporary ceasefire has And lastly on Ukraine, we are disturbed one and injured 20 Ukrainians. Any new merely legitimized Putin’s actions by essentially accepting Russia’s gains on the by reports, including those from the OSCE attack or aggressive action by combined ground. Russian aggression in Ukraine won’t go away or resolve itself simply because that combined Russian-separatist forces Russian-separatist forces is unacceptable we wish it to be so. … launched coordinated attacks overnight and contravenes the Minsk agreements. “Confidence in America and our European allies’ commitment to uphold these against Ukrainian positions near Donetsk – Russia bears direct responsibility for pre- norms deters bad actors and incentivizes other countries to play by the rules. If our near Donetsk city in Pisky, Luhansk and venting these attacks and implementing a credibility is in doubt, the chance for violence and instability increases. Nearly every Maryinka. We are now seeing unconfirmed ceasefire. Any attempts to seize additional Ukrainian official I met with understood this. It’s time the White House did as well.” reports that the town of Maryinka may Ukrainian territory will be met with – Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), in a May 31 article published on cleveland.com. have fallen. These attacks by combined increased costs. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 No. 24 No. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 5

there is no quick solution. But the solutions Yatsenyuk makes... are on the table. We are pursuing then. And I expect that if everything goes according to (Continued from page 1) our plans, then 2016 will be the first year – was unprecedented,” he said. of growth in our economy.” On Capitol Hill, Mr. Yatsenyuk met with Prime Minister Yatsenyuk also expressed House Speaker John Boehner (R-Ohio) and his understanding of Russia’s intentions Sen. Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and other mem- with respect to Ukraine and Europe at the bers of the Senate Ukraine Caucus, co- Atlantic Council think tank July 9: “We chaired by Rob Portman (R-Ohio), who understand that the best way to resolve then called for providing Ukraine with this conflict is diplomatically, but it has to additional U.S. aid. be supported by strong military (assis- The prime minister’s first meeting in tance), including defensive weapons.” Washington was at the Embassy of Ukraine And as for President Vladimir Putin’s with representatives of prominent Russia being willing to implement the Minsk Ukrainian American organizations, who agreement, which is intended to resolve the have been in the forefront of calling for military crisis in Ukraine, he added: “My more U.S. assistance to Ukraine: the take is that Russia is not eager, and this is Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, not the desire of Russia to have peace and Ukrainian American Coordinating Council, stability neither in Ukraine, nor in Europe.” U.S. Ukraine Foundation, Ukrainian Yaro Bihun The conflict has had a tremendous nega- National Women’s League of America, With Finance Minister Natalie Jaresko standing beside him in front of the tive effect on the Ukrainian economy, Mr. International Monetary Fund headquarters building, Prime Minister Arseniy among others. Yatsenyuk recounts the Ukrainian military and economic issues discussed during Yatsenyuk said. “But despite this, we are In his first major public appearance their three days of talks in Washington. still floating.” soon after arriving in Washington, the The Ukrainian prime minister stressed prime minister did not mince words in also noted that high on his Washington in the first quarter of this year. And resolv- that it should not be just Ukraine’s objec- describing Ukraine’s major problem: “We agenda was preparing for the July 13 bilat- ing this critical situation, he said, will tive to succeed in this endeavor. “This is to are facing a real war with Russia,” he said in eral U.S.-Ukraine conference with the goal require: be the project of the free world,” he said, his address at the AJC (American Jewish of getting American businesses and inves- and added: Council) Global Forum 2015. “Ukraine is tors involved in Ukraine’s economic devel- foreign debt, the interest payments for “If we succeed, this will be the best the only country in the world that is fight- opment. After his talks at the IMF, he said which• Economic equal Ukraine’s assistance defense to decrease costs, or its 5 answer to the dictatorship regime of ing against the Russian regular army.” he expected that the Ukrainian Parliament, percent of the budget. President Putin – that the free world sup- The prime minister pointed out that, in in the following week, will pass the laws - ports Ukraine, and that we are ready to stay so doing, “Ukraine is defending not only necessary to get IMF cooperation in nomic reform program, which the West united and to respond strongly, boldly and Ukraine. We are defending Europe and we Ukraine’s economic development. now• Continuingrecognizes itsas havinggovernment created and a neweco wisely in tackling Russian-led aggression.” are defending international law and order.” “Ukraine is in a situation that cannot be and different country. Prime Minister Yatsenyuk also present- That war is not just between Ukraine compared with any other country,” he said. ed his position on these issues in an opin- and Russia, Mr. Yatsenyuk stressed. “This is Ukraine is in a state of war with a nuclear in Ukraine, to create new businesses and ion piece published in The Washington a war between the past and the future, power – Russia. And there is no other way jobs,• Increasing and to expand Western the economy. private investment Post on June 9, as did President Petro between the dark and light, between free- out than by restructuring its foreign debts Poroshenko in The Wall Street Journal on dom and dictatorship.” and giving Ukraine a way out of its dire agriculture and taxation issues, as well as June 11. Also on June 11, The Washington “And to win this war, we have to be unit- economic situation.” in combating• More and corruption. improved reforms in energy, Post’s lead editorial was headlined ed… with the United States and the He pointed out that, as a result of “There is no simple remedy,” he said. “Defending the free world: Ukraine needs European Union,” he stressed. Ukraine’s economy losing Crimea, Donetsk “The situation is so complex that one has to more than meetings and kind words from In his final press briefing, Mr. Yatsenyuk and Luhansk, the country lost 17.5 percent proceed step-by-step to its resolution. And the United States.”

war.” While the Russian battalions concen- Read the Ukrainian Members... Aborted offensive... trated in the war zone appear far from National Association’s eager to go into battle, the assorted war- (Continued from page 3) (Continued from page 3) bands of local thugs and Russian “volun- newspapers online: In January, Rep. Levin was joined by the investigation will likely uncover plenty teers” of invariably aggressive persuasions Reps. Pascrell, Fitzpatrick and Kaptur in of dirty deals and financial flows leading have nothing else to do but to resume fight- www.ukrweekly.com introducing a House resolution that calls directly to the Kremlin (Forbes.ru, June 3). ing. It seems Mr. Putin’s support base is www.svoboda-news.com for Ms. Savchenko’s release. The compan- This helps the EU to erect new barriers eager to cheer for new victories but abso- ion Senate resolution, S. Res. 52, passed by against the export of Russian corruption to lutely not ready to keep waiting for them Our online archives are made unanimous consent on February 12. Europe. For instance, Deutsche Bank has while experiencing Russian-style austerity, possible by our In their letter to the commission, the expanded its internal investigation of even if it is explained away as caused by the generous sponsors: House members also wrote: “Savchenko is alleged Russian money laundering to the economic “aggression” of the hostile West. Self Reliance New York a member of the Parliament Assembly of impressive sum of $6 billion (Newsru.com, Every picture from the top-level the Council of Europe, and was elected in Federal Credit Union June 5). A new set of U.S. and EU sanctions schmoozing in the Bavarian Alps presum- absentia to Ukraine’s Parliament in specifically targeting the flows of Russian ably reminds Mr. Putin that there is no way Shevchenko Scientific Society, October 2014. The call to end her illegal “dirty money” would reinforce the brave back for him, and every opinion poll tells U.S.A. detention has received overwhelming sup- effort of anti-corruption blogger and oppo- port from the international community. In him that the time for the next strike is now, Selfreliance Ukrainian American January 2015, the Parliamentary Assembly sition leader Alexei Navalny, who keeps before his loyal subjects tire of the chronic Federal Credit Union uncovering spectacular cases of fraud and deadlock. There is really no point in waiting of the Council of Europe called for her Anonymous donor immediate release… In April, members of embezzlement – for example, the failed for the European Council meeting in late the European Parliament passed a resolu- project to create an international financial June, where the sanctions are certain to be SUMA (Yonkers) tion demanding her immediate and uncon- center in Moscow (Navalny.com, June 4). prolonged; but it is quite tempting for Federal Credit Union The swiftly terminated rebel attack on ditional release. And in May 2015, the Moscow to try to reshape its agenda. Heritage Foundation of 1st Maryinka was probably meant to be Mr. United States Ambassador to Ukraine Security Savings Bank called on Russia to release Savchenko. In Putin’s “warning shot” to the Western lead- The article above is reprinted from addition, officials at the State Department ers. But he only succeeded in reminding Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from Bahriany Foundation have repeatedly spoken about their con- them about the near certainty (rather than its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, and others cern for her detention.” risk) of a summer spasm in the “hybrid www.jamestown.org.

The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund: March 2015 Amount Name City State $25.00 Bilynsky Walter Baldwinsville NY $100.00 Maleckyj Andrew Toronto ON Kusznir John Douglassville PA TOTAL: $785.00 Pankiw Andrew Upper Arlington OH Pawlyk Oksana Chicago IL Stakhiv Zenon Fairfax Station VA $20.00 Boychuk John Ewing NJ Sincere thanks to all contributors Nebesny Michael & Stefana Clinton IN Zubrycky Zenon & Vera Cupertino CA $50.00 Deychakiwsky Orest Beltsville MD $15.00 Nebesny Michael & Stefana Clinton IN to The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund. Howansky Mary Wilton CT $10.00 Fedirko Olga Camden DE Sydor Ihor & Olga Cos Cob CT Siokalo Zoriana Newtown PA The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund is the only $40.00 Boyko Lieda Port Charlotte FL $5.00 Czumak Natalie Johnson City NY fund dedicated exclusively to supporting $35.00 Yaremko Mary Cape Girardeau MO Simon L Poway CA the work of this publication. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 No. 24

The Ukrainian Weekly IN THE PRESS: Ukraine’s PM on what’s at stake in Ukraine Explore our new online edition “What is at stake in Ukraine if Russia con- Ukrainians are united in rejecting this Those who are subscribers to our online edition already know this, but for most tinues its onslaught,” by Arseniy Yatsenyuk, choice. We know that the only way to of our readers this will be news: The Ukrainian Weekly has a newly redesigned prime minister of Ukraine, The Washington regain control over our future is to create a website. The web address (www.ukrweekly.com) is the same, but the look and Post, June 8: modern Western society based on account- functionality are entirely different. able government, a free-market economy For the last few weeks, via our regular weekly e-mails to our subscribers, we Ukraine is fighting a war on two fronts. and rule of law. Instead of slowing the pace had announced the upcoming new website. Last week, all online subscribers were The one you see on television is taking of political and economic change, we are automatically sent an e-mail from our new third-party subscription system, place in the east of our country, where accelerating it. Tinypass, informing them that The Ukrainian Weekly had granted them access to thousands of Russian troops are engaged in …we need the support of our partners to “premium content” via a temporarily password. They were also given instructions an armed aggression against Ukraine’s ter- help us stabilize our economy and deter on how to obtain a permanent new password. By now, online subscribers should ritorial integrity, including the illegal further Russian aggression while we carry have their new passwords giving them access to all parts of our news website. annexation of Crimea. them out. …We also need international Now, for those online subscribers who have become accustomed to reading Less visible, but just as important, is sanctions on Russia to remain in place until each week’s issue in PDF – which retains the original layout of the newspaper – Ukraine’s war against the Soviet past and the Minsk agreement has been fully imple- that option remains available. Just click on the image of the latest front page of The the legacy of corruption and misrule that mented. Weekly that appears on the top right of our webpage and, voila, you will be taken has held us back for so many years. … … The great achievement of a “Europe to the section of our website labeled “Latest issues in PDF.” There you will find all Russian President Vladimir Putin wants whole and free” that marked the end of the the issues published in the current year. A little hint: you can also download the us to fail because he knows that democratic Cold War is under direct attack from resur- issue you’d like to read and then read it at your leisure whether or not you have an ideas are contagious and that a free gent Russian authoritarianism and imperi- Internet connection. Ukraine would set an unwelcome example alism. Ukraine is bearing the brunt of that The new online Weekly has sections, as befits a newspaper: Ukraine, at home. Russia’s military intervention is an attack, but the consequences of allowing Community, Opinion, U.S., Canada, Culture/Arts, Sports, Community Events, as attempt to prevent change by forcing us to our independence to be crushed would not well as subsections, for example: Columnists and Editorials under Opinion, and choose between security and reform. be contained within Ukraine. …” Community Chronicle and Generation Uke under Community. In addition, high- lighted are special issues: The Years in Review, Debutante Balls, A Ukrainian Summer. Most of the current content provided on the new website is “premium” and, U.S. AT THE OSCE therefore, available on a regular basis to subscribers only. Online access to premi- um content is on a metered basis; thus, readers who visit more than four times a month are asked to subscribe to gain further access. The Ukrainian Weekly’s fascinating archives have also moved to the new web- On Russia’s ongoing violations in Ukraine site. To peruse them, go the to “Archives” link that appears in the bar atop the web- Following are excerpts of the statement surprise considering that Russia continues page. That’s how you will find PDFs of all our issues published since 1933 through delivered by U.S. Ambassador Daniel B. Baer to foment instability in eastern Ukraine by 2014. Also handy is the table of contents for each individual issue. The Archives, to the Permanent Council of the Organization providing the separatists with weapons, we should note, are open to all, subscribers and non-subscribers. for Security and Cooperation in Europe material and manpower. …As we have On the right-hand side of the page, visitors will also see a box labeled “Find us on Facebook,” where they can quickly take a look at the latest posts on The (OSCE), meeting in Vienna on June 4. pointed out before, thanks to massive sup- Weekly’s Facebook page. (Just in case you’re wondering, our Facebook page does ply of men and weapons from the Russian not contain the news we publish in our newspaper. It is meant to be used to share …The United States believes in dialogue Federation, the separatists have a larger interesting items from other news sources, as well as to alert our Facebook friends and engagement as a central and primary military force than some NATO members. about what’s in the latest issue of The Weekly.) approach to problem solving. Dialogue The attack by combined Russian- This redesign of The Ukrainian Weekly online has been completed thanks to the must be more than an exchange of words – separatist forces outside of Donetsk city truly Herculean efforts of our webmaster and tech guru, Ihor Pylypchuk. He notes it must be an exchange of words in good was not the only disheartening news we these advantages of the new design: it is mobile-ready for handheld devices faith, with an intent to solve problems, and received yesterday. We were disappointed (smartphones, tablets, iPhones, iPads); all the articles are presented as separate that connects credibly to action. by the report that the Trilateral Control full-text stories that can be easily printed, with high-quality photos included; navi- There are at least two kinds of dishones- Group had to be postponed after a Russian gation is intuitive, and related articles are categorized by topics. And, Mr. ty that are attacks on dialogue – and often walk-out over the status of the separatists. Pylypczuk promises, “We will be constantly improving user experience.” fatal to the potential of dialogue to produce …Russia’s insistence on focusing on the sta- If you have a problem or a question: click on the Webmaster link on the bottom solutions. First there is dishonesty of the tus of the separatists is to the detriment of left of the webpage, under the list of Contacts. familiar kind – untrue statements or efforts the Trilateral Contact Group’s efforts to find To conclude, we invite you to visit us at www.ukrweekly.com and explore! We to purposefully mislead partners. The sec- a peaceful solution to the crisis in Ukraine hope you enjoy your experience and join the growing ranks of our online subscrib- ond kind is saying that you will do some- and raises questions about Russia’s com- ers. (PS: You can subscribe via our website.) thing, and then failing to do so or taking a mitment to the implementation of the different action. Minsk agreements. Both of these kinds of dishonesty under- Let’s recap what a disappointing recent mine the potential of dialogue. Both of two weeks we’ve had: these kinds of dishonesty destroy trust. June Turning the pages back... Both of these kinds of dishonesty reflect a on the territory of Ukraine. lack of respect for dialogue partners. • We’ve had Russian military captured- Before the unveiling of the Taras Shevchenko monument in Mr. Chair, as I said, we were saddened to ers with Russian military insignia reported Washington that took place on June 27, 1964, journalist Philip learn of new attacks carried out by com- in SMM• We’ve reports. had Russian vehicles and fight 20 bined Russian-separatist forces on June 3 Love of the North American Newspaper Alliance had his com- 1964 mentary on the matter published in The Ukrainian Weekly’s June just outside of Donetsk city in Pisky, reports of vehicles and weapons moving 20, 1964 issue. Luhansk and Maryinka. Combined Russian- inside• We’ve Russia hadtoward multiple Ukraine. open source Mr. Love noted the propaganda war raging over the separatist forces reportedly amassed over Shevchenko legacy, with Moscow claiming that Shevchenko was a Communist before his 1,000 personnel and 20 tanks in this area. weapons and vehicles being used by com- time, some Americans seeing Shevchenko as a nationalistic reactionary, and Ukrainians The Special Monitoring Mission (SMM) bined• And Russian later, we’veand separatist had reports forces of similar inside viewing him as a national hero, poet and freedom fighter. observed combined Russian-separatist Ukraine. Mr. Love stated: “It’s a confused and confusing age we’re living in. Alice could come forces using battle tanks, armored vehicles, back Through the Looking Glass and – unless somebody like the walrus should tell her – artillery, multiple rocket launch rocket sys- the Trilateral Contact Group. never know that she’d left Wonderland. What we know to be dictatorship, Communists tems and Grad rockets. The Ukrainian mili- • We’ve had Russian obstructionism of describe as ‘democracy.’ When Reds take over a country they say they are ‘liberating’ it, tary sent a message of regret to the SMM separatist attack on Ukraine including at and any nation that opposes them is an ‘aggressor.’ [Soviet military intimidation dictates that in order to defend themselves they Maryinka• We’ve yesterday,had a new large-scaleneedlessly Russian-costing that] any other country that tries to remain strong enough to defend itself is ‘militaristic.’ would need to move weapons toward the more lives. Any nation that refuses to give the Communists their way is ‘imperialistic’ and protection line of contact to respond to this attack by When Russia says one thing in dialogue of a country they covet is ‘colonialism.’” combined Russian-separatist forces. The and does another, when it claims to want Quoting President John F. Kennedy after his meeting with Soviet Premier Nikita SMM reported that its attempts to contact peace but pursues conflict, it undermines Krushchev in Vienna, Mr. Love wrote: “The facts of the matter are that the Soviets and our- several “leaders” of the so-called “Donetsk efforts to find a political solution. The com- selves give wholly different meanings to the same words: war, peace, democracy and pop- People’s Republic” to facilitate a ceasefire bination of Russia’s unconstructive behav- ular will. We have wholly different views of right and wrong.” were rebuffed. A ceasefire was eventually ior in Minsk and its ongoing participation Mr. Love continued, “To the Free World, Shevchenko was a leader in the struggle for in place by nightfall, but the situation in violent attacks in Ukraine makes it chal- human liberty against all forms of tyranny and sought national Ukrainian independence remains tense. lenging for those of us who have hope – from Russian despotism.” Mr. Chair, colleagues, while such a bla- and who have hoped – for a political solu- tant attempt to change the facts on the tion, to believe that Russia is serious. … Source: “American journalist on Shevchenko” by Philip Love (North American Newspaper ground in eastern Ukraine is shockingly Alliance), The Ukrainian Weekly, June 20, 1964. brazen, it should not come as a complete (Continued on page 14) No. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 7

FOR THE RECORD UCC condemns off ensive against Ukrainian forces intentionally violated the terms of the UCC ceasefire on a daily basis. The Kremlin has The following communiqué was released used the ceasefire to re-supply, re-position Th e UCCA at 75 by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress on and strengthen its invading forces in “Having duly considered the plight of the the top sources of insightful analysis of June 4. Ukraine. Numerous sources, including Ukrainian people in their native but for- Ukrainian and Central European affairs; high-ranking NATO officials, have stated eign-occupied and enslaved Ukraine, we, The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) that Russian actions during the ceasefire representatives of American-Ukrainian Congressional Ukrainian Caucus, which strongly condemns the offensive launched are consistent with preparations for fur- political, fraternal and cultural organiza- currently• promoting boasts thea roster establishment of 50 members of the of by Kremlin-backed terrorists on June 3 ther offensives against Ukraine. tions, convened in the Congress of Congress; against Ukrainian forces at Maryinka, “Today’s attack on Maryinka demonstra- American Ukrainians in Washington on, Donetsk Oblast in eastern Ukraine. bly shows that Russia has no intention of Friday, May 24, 1940, do regard it our privi- port of Ukraine’s independence by elected In blatant disregard for commitments abiding by the Minsk II ceasefire agreement lege and duty, at this time when our kins- legislatures• garnering on annualthe local, resolutions state and infederal sup- made under the Minsk II ceasefire agree- to which it is a party. Every day, Ukrainian men over there are gagged by their oppres- levels; ments, Kremlin-backed terrorists of the so- soldiers and Ukrainian civilians are being sors, to take a stand in defense of their right called Donetsk “people’s republic” began a killed and injured by Russian artillery to free and independent national existence, granting federal land in Washington to erect massive artillery bombardment of shells,” stated Paul Grod, national president and to declare that the Ukrainian people a monument• advocating to for the a resolution victims of in Ukraine’s Congress Ukrainian positions at Maryinka. An attack of the UCC. “This assault against Ukrainian will never cease their centuries old struggle Genocide of 1932-1933 (Holodomor); and by some 1,000 troops, with artillery, tank forces and Russia’s continued flagrant vio- until they have achieved the establishment and armored vehicle support was launched. lations must be answered with a robust of a free, independent and democratic state demning Russia’s latest efforts to enslave As of 3 p.m. Kyiv time, Ukraine’s Ministry of response from Ukraine’s allies – Canada, of Ukraine.” Ukraine• spearheading and the passage legislative of theefforts Ukraine con- Defense reported that Ukrainian forces had the United States and NATO countries.” These are the words of the preamble of Freedom Support Act of 2014. repelled the assault. The UCC calls on Canada, the United the first Memorandum of the Ukrainian These accomplishments, and so many Ukraine’s Prime Minister Arseniy States and NATO allies to: Congress Committee of America, the more, came to be through countless volun- Yatsenyuk stated, “Today, Russia has once 1. Immediately provide Ukraine with nation’s oldest unifying assembly of teer hours, including those of the UCCA again violated the Minsk agreements. defensive weapons, including anti-tank Ukrainians and Ukrainian organizations. leadership and its presidents – Nicholas Ahead of a meeting of the G-7, yesterday weapons and equipment it needs to defend When our community’s fraternal associa- Muraszko, Stephen Shumeyko, Dmytro Russia deliberately scuttled a meeting of its territorial integrity and the lives of the tions – led by the Ukrainian National Halychyn, Lev Dobriansky, Ignatius the trilateral contact group, and today it has civilian population. Association and including the Ukrainian Bilinsky, Askold Lozynskyj, Michael Sawkiw instructed its terrorists to begin a military 2. Significantly increase sectoral sanc- Workingmen’s Association, Providence and Tamara Olexy – who have guided this operation. …I am hopeful that the interna- tions against Russia’s defense, security, Association and Ukrainian National Aid organization over the years. Together, tional community will give a proper and energy and financial services sectors – in Association – saw fit to convene such a con- Ukrainians in America accomplished many adequate response to Russian aggression at particular banning Russia from the SWIFT gress, a host of socio-political, cultural, such goals for our Ukrainian homeland and the G-7 summit.” banking system. scholarly and regional associations – over the Ukrainian American community. Since the signature of the Minsk II agree- 3. Declare the so-called Donetsk and 800 delegates – joined the movement to Perhaps some of you came to know our ments on February 12, 2015, the Russian Luhansk “people’s republics” as terrorist unite in spirit and deed to develop the polit- organization by registering for election Federation and the terrorists it leads, sup- organizations and designate the Russian ical capital necessary to help our people. monitoring in Ukraine. The UCCA has orga- plies, trains and directs, have blatantly and Federation a state sponsor of terrorism. And in 1940, the people of Ukraine nized and led delegations of international needed all the help that could be mustered: election observers monitoring every presi- LETTER TO THE EDITOR the country having recently been decimat- dential and parliamentary election in ed by genocide, and invaded by the forces Ukraine since 1994, including the largest of both Nazi and Soviet totalitarianism. delegation of observers ever registered Our goal in July will be to reinforce Coming together to unite as one in our with Ukraine’s Central Election Ukraine’s most pressing need for security nation’s capital, the groundwork was laid Commission (over 2,400) to monitor the Next Ukrainian Day assistance in order to preserve its territori- for the eventual enactment of the federal 2004-2005 presidential elections. al integrity and safeguard its independence law admitting displaced persons from Perhaps you own DVDs of Ukrainian his- scheduled for July 15 against the continued Russian threat. Europe in the aftermath of World War II, torical films such as “Metropolitan Andrei” More details will be announced at a later Dear Editor: which was adopted by Congress in 1948, or “The Undefeated,” not knowing that the date. and resulted in over 100,000 Ukrainians UCCA co-produced these films and others The Ukrainian National Information Should readers have any further ques- Service (UNIS), the Washington public tions, they should feel free to contact UNIS being admitted into the United States. with director Oles Yanchuk, to educate the affairs bureau of the Ukrainian Congress at 202-547-0018 or [email protected]. Since 1940, 20 further Congresses have public about important Ukrainian historical Committee of America (UCCA), will spon- Looking forward to seeing you in come together quadrennially, continuing events. sor the second in a series of Ukrainian Day Washington in July 2015. the UCCA’s goal of finding common ground I have met many of you face-to-face advocacy events on Wednesday, July 15. across a politically and geographically through our Ukrainian Days of advocacy, This Ukrainian Day event is extremely Michael Sawkiw Jr. diverse community. In the intervening 75 where busloads of Ukrainians converge on important, as it will be coincide with the Washington years, significant goals were realized: Washington up to four times a year to per- first anniversary of the shooting-down of Michael Sawkiw Jr. is director of the sonally ask our representatives and sena- Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 over Ukraine. Ukrainian National Information Service. American Relief Committee in 1944, which tors in Congress to support Ukraine to •this establishing day continues the to United provide Ukrainian for the through legislative initiatives. needs of Ukrainians affected by war and In many ways, the work of Ukrainian YOUR E-MAIL MESSAGES tragedy, coordinating efforts throughout Americans organizations is needed more the American diaspora with that of our sis- now by our family and friends in Ukraine TO THE WEEkLY ter organizations in the Ukrainian World than in recent memory. And so the work of Congress and the government of Ukraine; the UCCA continues, as we begin prepara- Due to the quantity of messages The Ukrainian Weekly tions for the 22nd Congress of Ukrainians in receives at its address ([email protected]), we kindly ask ument to Taras Shevchenko in Washington; America in 2016. I believe we can look to senders to have consideration for those on the receiving end. • initiating the public law to erect a mon- 1940 and those early delegates for inspira- 1. If you send us a message by e-mail, please expect that we will respond likewise. of Captive Nations Week, recognizing all tion, finding common ground and purpose, Therefore, please do not block our responses or ask us to fill out request forms in order to nations• initiating imprisoned the government under communist recognition gov- and unity in making a stand for our kinsmen. become “approved senders.” (We simply haven’t got the time to fill out such requests.) ernments; 2. Please include a specific subject in your subject line. For example, NYC festival article Andrij Dobriansky is an executive board (not simply “article”). English-language scholarly journal on member and media spokesman for the 3. If you send us information in attachment form, please do not label the attachment “The Ukraine• initiating for itsthe time publication – The ofUkrainian the only Ukrainian Congress Committee of America Ukrainian Weekly,” “Ukrainian Weekly,” “The Weekly,” any other variation thereof, or “article.” Quarterly – which continues to be pub- (ucca.org), the largest organized representa- Please use an appropriate label for your attachment that will distinguish it from others. (Do lished, and is consistently listed as one of tion of Americans of Ukrainian descent. you know how many attachments we receive each week that are called “Ukrainian Weekly”?) 4. Please do not ask us to visit sites online in order to download photos that go with your stories. Please send good quality jpg files to us directly. (Please do not send us digital photos that are low resolution and therefore not suitable for reproduction – most photos taken at low resolution are suitable for the web only.) Opinions in The Ukrainian Weekly 5. When e-mailing photos, please make sure the photos are labeled and that captions Opinions expressed by columnists, commentators and letter- correspond to those labels (these may be numbers or names, but the photos and captions writers are their own and do not necessarily reflect the opin- must match). Do not expect that photos will be downloaded in the order that you attached them in your e-mail message – that is why labels are key. ions of either The Weekly editorial staff or its publisher, the Thank you for your anticipated cooperation. And do keep in touch! Ukrainian National Association. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 No. 24 No. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 9 Svyatoslav Vakarchuk visits Yale University, shares views on Ukraine by Myron Melnyk NEW HAVEN, Conn. – He is not your typical rocker. Svyatoslav (Slava) Vakarchuk, who holds an advanced degree in physics, has served in the Verkhovna Rada and leads the most popular rock band in Ukraine, recently visit- ed Yale after completing a successful concert tour in the U.S. Engaging a packed room of Yale students and faculty in a casual question and answer conversation, Mr. Vakarchuk displayed a far-ranging knowledge of history and deep understanding of events in Ukraine today. Blunt and some- times controversial, he presented interesting personal views, as well as the views of younger people in Ukraine, which he understands well. Ukraine turns to Europe Mr. Vakarchuk is ambivalent about Ukraine joining the European Union. According to him, it’s not that the EU is bad, but rather that Ukraine is far from ready and will not be accepted now. In his view, the EU will not help Ukraine if it cannot help itself; from his perspective, talking about the EU is a distraction from the vital internal hard work of true nation-building, which in Mr. Vakarchuk’s view, continues Natalia Korenovska to be lacking. Svyatoslav Vakarchuk engages Yale students in discussion on Ukraine. Prof. Marci Shore is seen against the wall on Despite this view, when the Euro-Maidan protests began his right. in 2013, Mr. Vakarchuk understood the reaction of stu- reintegrated. But to accomplish this Ukraine needs, in the He also said he believes that vibrant grassroots civic dents and young people who viewed President Viktor words of Mr. Vakarchuk, “a Confucius whose legacy of wis- engagement is needed and he noted an absence of it. In his Yanukovych’s abrupt turn away from Europe towards dom over the centuries helped form a unified Chinese cul- view, people are impatient and are easily disappointed; Russia as a betrayal. For him, the Euro-Maidan was about ture that absorbed the Hans, Manchus, Mongols and other complain a lot, yet show little initiative; and seem unwilling an endorsement of Western values and the choice that groups into today’s integrated whole.” to assume civic and personal responsibility to improve youth was making: to go forward with the West, not back society. Civic engagement in Ukraine is below the needed How to help Ukraine to a future with Russia. Mr. Vakarchuk was supportive of critical mass to make a meaningful difference in Ukraine. In the protesters and his band, Okean Elzy, performed a New When asked by a student how Ukraine can be helped, Mr. the U.S. and Europe, Mr. Vakarchuk said he sees many Year’s concert on the Maidan. Vakarchuk replied, “You should do nothing!” He stressed NGOs, church and volunteer groups, community organiza- As a witness to the violence that took place on the that Ukraine’s internal problems are like those found in a tions and civic societies helping out and engaging with gov- Maidan, Mr. Vakarchuk movingly described how the violence family and that Ukraine has to “fix itself.” He expressed ernment at all levels to effect change. affected him emotionally. “It was not like the movies,” he indignation and embarrassment for his country, which is Mr. Vakarchuk estimated that in the West, some 10 to 15 said. ”History is cruel and violence is often a part of it.” But “always asking for help… unable to stand on its own.” percent of the population is engaged in this “bottom up” Mr. Vakarchuk was not prepared to see people beaten or But from Mr. Vakarchuk’s perspective, there is potential. effort to build a society. In Ukraine, he said, civic activity to killed, and the experience has left an indelible mark on him. While Mr. Vakarchuk said he sees regional and language build society is just beginning and there is a real question Post-Maidan Ukraine differences in Ukraine, he does not believe the obstacles to about how well it can be sustained given the growing eco- building a true nation are insurmountable. The country’s nomic pressures and the struggle for daily survival for Mr. Vakarchuk said he believes that after the events of people are well-educated and hard-working. Language is many citizens. the Euro-Maidan, Ukraine found itself back at the drawing not divisive, nor should it be. For Mr. Vakarchuk, the biggest Organizers and participants board, as it did in 1991 and again in 2004. Ten years later, divide is across age groups, with the older generations still he feels that Ukraine is again at a crossroads, at a new reflexively reverting to past practices. Unfortunately, they Mr. Vakarchuk’s visit was organized by Marci Shore, pro- beginning, and wonders if this latest change is “coherent.” still wield most of the power. fessor of history at Yale and wife of Prof. Timothy Snyder. Among his many concerns is the lack of a clear transi- Mr. Vakarchuk spoke eloquently about what is missing Prof. Shore is currently working on a manuscript on the tion plan and a compelling and well-articulated vision, as today in Ukraine – what he calls “the word,” as well as a Maidan movement. well as the apparent disconnect between what is being “book of rules.” The word, which Ukraine lacks, refers to a Many of the students present were members of the U.S.- articulated and what is being implemented. Mr. Vakarchuk shared historical experience to bond east and west. The Ukraine Academic Consortium, jointly organized by the illustrated this with the example of the fight against cor- book of rules is the law as the guarantor of civilized and European Studies Council at Yale and the Building Bridges ruption, which is moving at a glacial pace, and the seeming progressive behavior. For him, the word is desirable, but a Global Advocacy Network (BBGAN), which is headed by unwillingness to radically restructure the government or to good book of rules would be sufficient. Stephen Rediker. The BBGAN seeks to engage students in take strong steps to rebuild the economy. Using Israel as an example, Mr. Vakarchuk said that, for promoting international communication, social justice and Mr. Vakarchuk noted that he feels the problems in east- several thousand years, disparate small tribes and later a participatory democracy. ern Ukraine were self-inflicted by prior Ukrainian govern- dispersed diaspora developed and maintained a cohesive Currently the BBGAN is in contact with more than 200 ments who ceded control of these regions to oligarchs. In and powerful identity united around “the word,” the Old students of Ukrainian universities in Kyiv, Kharkiv, Lviv and his view, the government made little effort to unite the Testament and a shared religion. But Israel follows laws as Luhansk who are engaging directly with Yale students. For eastern and western portions of Ukraine around a com- well, and respects a democratic Constitution. Both have more information readers may visit http://www.yale.edu/ mon vision. Mr. Vakarchuk related that he does not blame helped tiny Israel to become a prosperous and democratic macmillan/europeanstudies/ukraine/index.html. the people in the Donbas for their attitudes, which he says nation. Named a Yale World Fellow were shaped by years of neglect and influenced by Russia’s In Mr. Vakarchuk’s view, countries in the EU have no great skilled use of propaganda to win the hearts and minds of unifying historical bonds, yet share a constitution and func- In late April, Yale University announced that Mr. the people there. tion effectively based on the rule of law. The United States Vakarchuk had been selected to the prestigious Yale World As for the actual war that started in the early summer of has no common “word” because it is composed almost Fellows Program Class of 2015. last year, Mr. Vakarchuk said he is certain it was instigated entirely of immigrants. But it operates democratically and The Yale World Fellows program seeks to cultivate and by external forces. He recalls time spent in Donetsk in the successfully based on its respect for law and order. empower a network of globally engaged leaders commit- late spring of 2014 and his appearances in front of large And, Mr. Vakarchuk noted, a people can have a common ted to positive change through dialogue and action. Created crowds, where mostly pro-Ukrainian sentiment expressed “word” yet function differently based on different rules, as in 2002 as part of Yale’s efforts to become a more globally in the Russian language was prevalent, and where no large- in the case of North and South Korea. Here the people’s cul- focused university, the program engages mid-career think- scale separatist sentiment was apparent. His belief is rein- ture and mentality are the same – the “word” is what binds ers and doers who are on a clear trajectory of success. forced by his current and regular contact with friends them. But they function very differently based on their dif- These creative practitioners are invited to come to Yale throughout the Donbas region. ferent legal systems. for a four-month stay to explore critical global issues, par- According to Mr. Vakarchuk, the Poroshenko administra- Mr. Vakarchuk said he believes that, first and foremost, ticipate in cross-disciplinary studies, sharpen leadership tion faces the monumental task of reorienting the mindset Ukraine needs to observe the rule of law. skills and build relationships with other emerging leaders of the people in the Donbas, a process that will take a long throughout the world. Mr. Vakarchuk will be at the univer- Government and the people time. Citing American Reconstruction efforts, Mr. sity from mid-August to mid-December. Vakarchuk compared Ukraine’s task to the efforts of the Mr. Vakarchuk gave good marks to President Currently there is an active network of some 250 World U.S. to reintegrate renegade states back into the Union. Mr. Poroshenko in his foreign relations, especially in his rela- Fellows in 81 countries. This year’s class includes 16 lead- Vakarchuk said he is not confident that the Ukrainian gov- tions with the West. But he finds Mr. Poroshenko weak as a ers, among whom are: an anti-corruption activist from ernment is up to the task leader at home at a time when his mandate for dramatic Ethiopia, a journalist from India, a Reuters photographer, a Nor does he believe that guns will convince the local change is rapidly waning. He has become too embroiled in TV producer from Kenya, a trade policy expert from China, population in the east to be loyal to Ukraine. In his view, politics, is too willing to compromise and has used the war an inter-denominational faith leader from the United the Donbas needs to be made safe and prosperous, and the as too much of an excuse to delay the implementation of Kingdom and a development economist from South Africa. region’s local cultural and language traditions respected in major changes. And, Mr. Vakarchuk said, a good top-down For more information readers may visit http://worldfel- order to build trust. Only in this manner can the Donbas be approach to governing is desperately needed now. lows.yale.edu/about/program . 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 No. 24

Irina Danilova Michael Szafran leaps into action during the Boston performance of “Zaporozhets za The combined choruses of the Commonwealth Lyric Theater and the Yevshan Dunayem” as members of the Syzokryli Dance Ensemble and combined choruses look on. Ukrainian Vocal Ensemble gather for the finale of “Zaporozhets za Dunayem” Commonwealth Lyric Theater wins praise for U.S. revival of “Zaporozhets za Dunayem”

by Roma Thibodeau exiled the Zaporozhtsi to Romania. The classic Poltava regional style that Ukrainian audiences are familiar with NEWTON, Mass. – The Commonwealth Lyric Theater emerged in the 1800s, but during the 1700s, the (CLT) under the direction of artistic director Alexander Zaporozhian exiles wore costumes that resembled the Prokhorov has developed a reputation in the Boston area modern Lemko style from the Carpathian region. for its bold and ambitious revivals of relatively unknown There were several other unusual features incorporated operas such as Sergei Rachmaninoff’s “Aleko” and Nikolai into the CLT production of “Zaporozhets”: For example, to Rimsky-Korsakov’s “Mozart and Salieri.” This year, Mr. add a flare of authenticity, the aria of the Sultan sung by bass- Prokhorov and the CLT recruited internationally renowned baritone Bulent Guneralp was sung in Turkish, not soloists from Ukraine, Germany, Russia and Turkey, and Ukrainian. In the Hartford/Albany performances, this aria joined forces with Ukrainian choirs and dance ensembles was again sung in Turkish by bass Sean Currlin. However, the to present New England’s first professional production of Sultan’s edict was sung in Ukrainian by Polish-German bass Semen Hulak-Artemovsky’s masterpiece “Zaporozhets za Pawel Izdebski. Dressed in full Turkish regalia with a huge Dunayem” (Kozak beyond the Danube). turban, Mr. Izdebski sang with tender authority. His stage The first two performances (May 14 and 15) were held presence and 6-foot-8 frame left an indelible impression. in the imposing First Baptist Church of Newton, built in As part of its core mission, the Commonwealth Lyric 1798. These were followed with a performance at the Theater seeks to nurture and promote young talent. So for Mandell Jewish Community Center in Hartford on May 17, the May 15 performance, the part of Oksana was sung by and a finale at the State University of New York (SUNY) 17-year-old sensation Jean Furman. Ms. Furman exhibited Albany Theater for the Performing Arts on May 22. mature artistry, along with a youthful, coquettish style, and On May 15, Boston Globe music critic Jeremy Eichler she more than held her own in the duet with accomplished warmly praised the opening night performance: “The well- Russian tenor Mikhail Urusov. attended community event was full of color and charm. Though he had a much smaller role, boy-alto Clark ‘Zaporozhets’ abounds in earthy, tuneful music. The danc- Rubinshtein mesmerized the audience in all four perfor- ing and singing (both solo and choral) was vivid, skillfully mances with his rendition of the Ukrainian folk lament “Do executed, and full of ardor.” Galina Ivannikova as “Odarka” is consoled by Jean not Chatter, Nightingale” (Ne shchebechy, soloveiku). Mr. Eichler commented on the poignant political context Furman (left) and Olha Lisovskaya (right) as “Oksana” Mr. Prokhorov added several other captivating features for the theater’s decision to present the work while war during the May 14 presentation of “Zaporozhets za to each of the four performances. In Newton, he recruited continues to rage in eastern Ukraine: “Members of the Dunayem” in Newton, Mass. six dancers from the renowned Syzokryli Dance Ensemble Commonwealth Lyric Theater made a touchingly earnest statement on the current conflict, and more like a commu- under the direction of Orlando Pagan to perform a suite of gesture, simply mounting the work this year with a cast nal bridge backward – in a way that only music can do – to dances accompanied by Ms. Yankovskaya’s orchestra. The that included both Ukrainian and Russian singers.” an earlier time and place.” Boston Musical Intelligencer carried a riveting photo of Prior to each performance, Kyiv-born soprano Olha Mr. Eichler’s positive impression of the opera was Michael Szafran in full airborne leap with arms and legs Lisovskaya, who sang the role of Oksana and who encour- echoed in a review penned by Lee Eiseman that appeared fully extended in a horizontal Hopak-style split towering aged CLT to take on this project, told the audience that this in the May 15 edition of the Boston Musical Intelligencer. over the heads of the chorus. In Hartford, Stephan Zaets was an opera she dreamed of presenting in the United “Though [Zaporozhets] comprises some fine arias, duets, and Alina Kuzma performed a humorous folk song on the States. “This performance is dedicated to peace,” she said. choruses and ensembles, long swaths are entirely spoken. bandura, followed by a dance duet performed by high The opera chorus for the production comprised two Conventional comic dialogue in Ukrainian of henpecked school senior Terenia Kuzma and Yevshan chorister Katja choirs: 25 singers from the Connecticut-based Yevshan husbands and sultans in disguise sometimes went on too Kolcio, professor of dance at Wesleyan University. In the Ukrainian Vocal Ensemble, and 25 singers from the long for non-native speakers un-steeped in the tradition. Albany show, the audience was delighted with the perfor- Commonwealth Theater’s diverse choir of Boston-area Yet the ending, with a call and answer chorus of Ukrainian mance of a large contingent of children and teenagers from singers. aspiration for homeland reached even this skeptic of the Zorepad Dance Ensemble under the direction of Peter Alexander Kuzma, music director of Yevshan remarked, nationalism.” and Adrienne Fil. “Some of the text for this opera is not easy to master, even Mr. Eiseman recalled several other high points: According to Mr. Eiseman, “the most commanding figure for native Ukrainian speakers.” He noted the harrowing “Oksana’s ‘Angel of the Night’ (Anhel Nochi) took poignant on stage was the bass Dmytro Pavlyuk. His star turn as scene when the villagers rush onto the stage in a state of wing over some of the most developed orchestration of the Karas was complete. In powerful tones that could fill any great agitation as they wait to hear the fate of the impris- evening… Her duet with Andriy, ‘A Black Cloud from the opera house, he invoked both the heroic and the comic oned lovers Andriy and Oksana. Woods’ rose to verismo passion.” qualities of his role. Galina Ivannikova interpreted his stage Mr. Kuzma explained: “Those lines have to be delivered Adding to the star power of the production was Adam wife Odarka in a plummy mezzo with soaring tones that very quickly and crisply, in a tragic-comic style reminiscent Klein, an accomplished tenor who has sung Don Jose in carried beautifully.” of Rossini or Gilbert and Sullivan. We were really impressed “Carmen” with 14 different opera companies, and has per- In Albany, the lead roles were performed by impressive with the way our new friends from CLT pronounced those formed as a soloist at the Metropolitan Opera and with the local baritone Kevin Kees, a veteran of the Chicago Lyric lines with impeccable Ukrainian articulation.” New York Choral Society. Mr. Eiseman lamented the fact that Opera, and Irina Petrik, a graduate of the Gliere Music Mr. Prokhorov, born and raised in St. Petersburg, Russia, in the role of Andriy, Klein had little to do until the last act, College in Ukraine and San Francisco Conservatory of went to great lengths to ensure that the large Russian émi- “but what he did was extraordinary. With clarion tenor and Music who delivered a strong and endearing portrayal of gré contingent in the CLT chorus would be sensitive to the absolute engagement he stopped the show with an ardent Odarka. correct Ukrainian pronunciation, and he was able to coach ‘Lord of Heaven and Earth’ (Vladyko Neba i Zemli), which Mr. Eiseman raved: “What was great about the show was his singers with the help of native speakers like Ihor Kowal, the chorus answered with a fine wall of sound in their aspi- the talent onstage: the combined Yevshan Ukrainian Vocal the choir director at Boston’s Christ the King Ukrainian ration for the day of return to the Ukrainian homeland.” Ensemble, under Alexander Kuzma, and Commonwealth Catholic Church. Mr. Eiseman took issue with some of the staging and Lyric Theater Ensemble, Olga France – chorusmaster, made The end result was rewarding. Said Mr. Eichler: “The decorations, but was impressed with Anastasia a huge visual and sonic impact.” choral sound was full and rich and the orchestra crisply Grigorieva’s “intensely colored and layered costumes” that Ms. Lisovskaya expressed the hope that with this suc- directed by Lidiya Yankovskaya.” he said were “exuberant in the extreme.” Ms. Lisovskaya cessful U.S. revival, more opera companies in North Mr. Eichler ended his review by reflecting on the opera’s explained that the costumes were based on detailed histor- America and Europe will be persuaded to include impact: “Ultimately the night felt like less of a political ic research of the period when the tsarist government “Zaporozhets” in their repertoire. No. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 11

Natalka Petroff and Markian Fil in a Poltava-style dance in Lana Ortiz Photography “Zaporozhets za Dunayem.” The Zorepad Ukrainian Dance Ensemble of Watervliet, N.Y. REVIEW: “Zaporozhets za Dunayem” in Albany

by Don Dobbs help prepare the young dancers for the performance. All three are former Syzokryli ALBANY, N.Y. – On May 22, a fortunate Ukrainian Dance Ensemble members con- audience in this city was treated to a rare tinuing the legacy of their mentor, the leg- performance of the Ukrainian comic opera endary prima ballerina Roma Pryma “Zaporozhets za Dunayem” (Kozak Beyond Bohachevsky. the Danube) by Semen Hulak-Artemovsky. This perfect storm of talent and resourc- The local Ukrainian community came out es resulted in a performance that provided in force to listen, laugh and reflect on their delightful insight into the humor, fierce rich heritage. Dressed in “vyshyvanky,” personal and nationalistic pride, talent and Ukrainians young and old brought their beauty of the Ukrainian people. The opera families to SUNY Albany’s Main Theater to follows the timeless challenges faced by enjoy an entertaining evening dedicated to this proud culture that ultimately are over- this masterpiece of Ukrainian classical come by the simple, compassionate inter- music. action between two strong-willed patri- The event was a complex collaboration archs, aided by a certain well-known social between Commonwealth Lyric Theater lubricant, “horilka.” based in Boston and Zorepad Ukrainian Ironically, it was the American Mr. Kees, Dance Ensemble of Watervliet, N.Y. The deftly vacillating between nearly flawless opera starred Ukrainian American soprano Ukrainian song and English dialogue full of Irina Petrik as Odarka, American baritone effortless charisma and comic timing, who Kevin Kees as Karas, Ukrainian soprano Olga compelled the production. The chemistry Lisovskaya as Oksana and Metropolitan between Mr. Kees and his fiancée, Irina Opera tenor Adam Klein as Andriy. Petrik, was palpable and sometimes play- A 20-piece orchestra was conducted by ful, giving even more credence to the char- Lidiya Yankovskaya, a Capital District acter’s marital bickering. Ms. Petrik, a con- native who is currently serving as music summate professional, delivered a heartfelt Kevin Kees, baritone, and Irina Petrik, soprano, as Odarka and Karas in director of Lowell House Opera at Harvard performance, engaging the audience with “Zaporozhets za Dunayem.” University. Several members of the Yevshan every swirl and sly smile. Clearly a gifted Choral Ensemble, led by Alexander Kuzma, actress, she managed to sing beautifully ship had the audience emotionally invest- orchestra and the music director, Ms. traveled from Hartford, Conn., to Albany to even while beating sense into her drunken ed. That emotion was even more evident in Yankovskaya. provide strong choral support for the piece. yet beloved husband. the repeated roars of approval at the sight As an American who appreciates culture Zorepad artistic directors and choreog- Ms. Lisovskaya and Mr. Klein were of the meticulously choreographed and art, I couldn’t help but be moved by raphers Peter and Adrienne Fil worked invigorating as Oksana and her lover Zorepad dance ensemble. Delicately weav- what I witnessed at this unique perfor- tirelessly with ensemble president and Andriy. The superbly delivered angst of ing their way among the entire cast at mance. Not only was this a night of true local News-10 co-anchor Lydia Kulbida to their clandestine and unrequited relation- times, no more evident was the dignity, tal- theater magic created by seasoned profes- ent and physical grace of the Ukrainian sionals, it was also a moment of hope and people than when these young performers inspiration provided by the new generation were working their magic. Bravi! of young performers. The children of This ambitious project, dedicated to pre- Capital District School of Ukrainian Studies serving and celebrating national musical and Zorepad dancers undoubtedly heritage, was brought to upstate New York breathed new life into this beloved staple audiences by the generous support of the of Ukrainian comic opera; their contagious Ukrainian American Cultural Center in enthusiasm and excitement stole the show. Watervliet and the Ukrainian National In the midst of continuing unrest in Federal Credit Union in Boston. A truly rare Ukraine, I was humbled by an opportunity collaboration between American and to experience firsthand the beauty and Ukrainian resources, geographically sepa- strength of the Ukrainian spirit. United by rated opera talents, orchestra, chorus, the power of music, language barriers com- dance ensemble and professional produc- pletely dissolved, we shared one heart in an tion staff, it was ultimately woven together opera about their pursuit of freedom. as intricately and perfectly as the highly detailed and brightly colored embroidery Don G. Dobbs, a computer scientist at on the traditional costumes of the cast. In New York State’s Department of Criminal the end, the audience cried out for an Justice, has an extensive arts background encore, with standing ovations lasting sev- and is a freelance writer for the Times eral minutes, barely satiated by the numer- Union, Berkshire Review and Hudson Behind the scenes, Irina Petrik and Kevin Kees are transformed into Odarka and Karas of “Zaporozhets za Dunayem.” ous curtain calls for those on stage, the Sounds. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 No. 24

based on reporting by Reuters, the told a news conference in Bavaria, nalists killed in Syria alone last year, several NEWSBRIEFS Associated Press and Agence France- Germany, that the Russian people were suf- of them beheaded publicly by the Islamic Presse) fering severely because of Mr. Putin, who State. Those killed in the Charlie Hebdo (Continued from page 2) was not present with other world leaders attack in January are also not listed. (RFE/ reverse course, Defense Secretary Ash Obama and Poroshenko confer because he was ousted from the exclusive RL, based on reporting by the Associated Carter said June 5. Speaking after confer- WASHINGTON – The White House, club of economic powers after Russia’s Press and Poynter.org) ring with U.S. diplomats and military offi- takeover of Crimea last year. “As we’ve seen Office of the Press Secretary, on June 5 Clashes spotlight rifts over gay rights cers in Stuttgart, Germany, Mr. Carter said released the following readout of President again in recent days, Russian forces contin- the Pentagon was concerned about “further Barack Obama’s telephone call with ue to operate in eastern Ukraine, violating KYIV – Petro Poroshenko last week things happening” after the worst upsurge President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine. Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integ- became Ukraine’s first president to publicly in fighting in months broke out this week in “President Obama spoke today with rity,” Mr. Obama said. “Russia is in deep voice support for sexual minorities. eastern Ukraine. “What’s clear is that sanc- Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko recession. So Russia’s actions in Ukraine Speaking at a news conference ahead of a tions are working on the Russian economy,” about the conflict in eastern Ukraine and are hurting Russia and hurting the Russian gay-pride march in Kyiv on June 6, he said it causing considerable hardship for ordinary the upcoming discussions about Ukraine at people,” he said. “Ultimately, this is going to should go ahead as planned and upheld Russians and a deep recession this year, Mr. the G-7 Summit. The president and be an issue for Mr. Putin. He’s got to make a “the constitutional right of every citizen of decision. …Does he continue to wreck his Carter told reporters on his plane back to President Poroshenko expressed their deep Ukraine” to participate. Anti-gay activists country’s economy and continue Russia’s Washington. “What is not apparent is that concern about the recent assault by com- hurled stones and smoke bombs at the isolation in pursuit of a wrong-headed that effect on his economy is deterring bined Russian-separatist forces across the march, spat on the participants, ripped desire to re-create the glories of the Soviet Putin from following the course that was current line of contact near Donetsk, posters from their hands, and shouted empire, or does he recognize that Russia’s evidenced in Crimea last year,” when Ukraine, and once more called on Russia homophobic slurs. Up to 30 people were greatness does not depend on violating the Moscow annexed the Ukrainian territory, and the separatists it backs to abide strictly detained and several police officers were he said. “It’s a sign of how heedless the territorial integrity and sovereignty of by the terms of the February Minsk reportedly injured in the clashes. Zoryan Russian government seems to be about the other countries?” More sanctions will be Implementation Plan. The president reaf- Kis, an activist for the lesbian, gay, bisexual, long-term welfare of its own people that the consequence if Mr. Putin chooses to firmed the strong support of the United and transgender (LGBT) community who [the sanctions have] not yet resulted in a continue his current course, Mr. Obama States for Ukraine’s sovereignty and terri- took part in the “Equality March,” says the change, in a reversal… of course, which is said. “If Russia, working through separat- torial integrity, and reiterated his determi- violence highlights deep rifts over gay what we want out of Russia,” he said. But it ists, doubles down on aggression inside of nation to continue working with interna- rights among supporters of the pro-Euro- means NATO needs to rethink its strategy, Ukraine,” then the United States and tional partners to provide the support pean Maidan protest movement that oust- Secretary Carter said. “There are other European Union will increase their sanc- Ukraine needs as it undertakes transforma- ed former President Viktor Yanukovych things we need to be doing in recognition tions, he said. A communiqué issued by the and brought Mr. Poroshenko to power. Mr. of the fact that... Putin does not seem to be tional reforms. The president also under- G-7 said that the broad economic sanctions scored the commitment of the United Poroshenko, in his comments on June 5, reversing course.” U.S. officials said no deci- already in place will continue until the said: “As far as the ‘March of Equality’ is sions were made during the Stuttgart meet- States to supporting a diplomatic resolu- Minsk ceasefire accords signed between tion to the conflict in eastern Ukraine and concerned, I view it from both the perspec- ing, but one action discussed was boosting the Ukrainian government and pro-Russian tive of a Christian and a pro-European pres- the need to maintain costs on Russia and the number of U.S. and NATO military train- rebels are fully implemented. “We expect ident. I believe these are two completely the separatists until they fulfill all provi- ing exercises. Another was to invest in mili- Russia to stop trans-border support of sep- compatible ideas.” But Kyiv Mayor Vitali sions of the Minsk agreements. (White tary capabilities in Europe that could help aratist forces and to use its considerable Klitschko, a key figure in the Maidan pro- House) NATO respond to the kind of asymmetric influence over the separatists,” the declara- tests, called on organizers to cancel the warfare used in Ukraine, where forces in Obama accuses Putin of seeking glory tion said. (RFE/RL, with reporting by rally, citing possible provocations and “bad unidentified uniforms – so-called little Reuters, Deutsche Presse-Agentur and timing.” The march, he argued, risked fur- green men – joined the conflict. Agence SCHLOSS ELMAU, Germany – U.S. Agence France-Presse) ther dividing Ukraine as it battles separat- France-Presse reported that Mr. Carter and President Barack Obama has accused Newseum honors journalist from Ukraine ist rebels in the east. The Right Sector other U.S. officials in Stuttgart also dis- President Vladimir Putin of wrecking movement vowed to derail the march. “It’s cussed bolstering U.S. missile defenses, or Russia’s economy in a doomed drive to re- WASHINGTON – The Newseum has not only aimed at causing the moral decay even deploying land-based missiles in create the glories of the Soviet empire. In memorialized 14 journalists killed while of the Ukrainian people, it also amounts to Europe, in response to Russia’s alleged vio- some of the strongest rhetoric to come out working in 2014, including four who met spitting on the graves of those who died in lation of a nuclear arms treaty. (RFE/RL, of the Group of Seven summit, Mr. Obama their deaths in Afghanistan, Pakistan and the fight for Ukraine,” Right Sector leader Ukraine. The journalists were added to the Dmytro Yarosh, who is now a member of museum’s memorial wall in Washington. Parliament, wrote in a Facebook post Vyacheslav Veremiy, 32, a journalist for the ahead of the rally. While Right Sector has newspaper Vesti, was shot when he not been explicitly tied to the attack, the stopped to film a group of armed masked Ukrainian media has described assailants TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 men in Ukraine. Among those honored as far-right activists. (Claire Bigg and or e-mail [email protected] were Associated Press reporter Anja Mykhaylo Shtekel, RFE/RL) Niedringhaus, 48, who was killed at a secu- rity checkpoint in Afghanistan; Nils Horner, U.S. downplays Russian bombers’ flyover SERVICES PROFESSIONALS 51, who was shot in the head while on his WASHINGTON – The Pentagon has taken way to conduct an interview in the unusual step of releasing a video of a Afghanistan; and Irshad Mastoi, 34, who Russian Su-24 bomber flying past a U.S. was killed when two gunmen burst into the warship in the Black Sea to dispel what it offices of the Online International News called inaccurate reports in the Russian Network in Pakistan. At least 60 journalists media. In the video, an Su-24 aircraft died while doing their jobs in 2014. The honorees do not include all of the 17 jour- (Continued on page 13)

despite a Herculean lobbying effort from What Putin... Moscow. Mr. Putin “has used his extensive busi- (Continued from page 2) ness and criminal network, including a expand NATO to include former Soviet number of former members of the East republics like Georgia. Germany is also German secret police who worked for him Russia’s most important trading partner in when he was a KGB agent in East Germany, Europe. to foster corruption and to buy favor That Mr. Putin, a German speaker who among German decision-makers. This spent five years as a KGB agent in Dresden, effort has largely failed,” wrote Mr. Szabo. would get this country so wrong is mind- The result of this was that Western unity boggling. But get it wrong he did. on sanctions ended up being far stronger Somehow, Mr. Putin failed to grasp that than anyone expected. HELP WANTED Germans would be deeply disturbed by the So, yes, Mr. Putin has indeed managed to first forceful change in borders in Europe baffle, bewilder and distract everybody since World War II. As the crisis continued, with his hybrid war in Ukraine. But the NANNY (full or part time) For 2 children (ages 9 and 6) based German Chancellor Angela Merkel report- consequences of his failures and mistakes in Philadelphia (downtown). edly became increasingly frustrated – and will likely be much more enduring than his Strong English language required / furious – with Mr. Putin. shock-and-awe tactics. Ukrainian speaking preferred. As a result, Berlin was transformed from Call Katya at 215-284-1568 Russia’s biggest advocate in Europe into Copyright 2015, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted one of its harshest critics. with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ And as Stephen Szabo, author of the Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Run your advertisement here, book “Germany, Russia and the Rise of Geo- Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see in The Ukrainian Weekly’s CLASSIFIEDS section. Economics,” wrote in a commentary in U.S. http://www.rferl.org/content/what-putin- News & World Report, this happened got-wrong/27041667.html). No. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 13

than expected, partly due to temporary fac- NEWSBRIEFS tors.” (Ukrainian Canadian Congress) With deep sorrow we announce that (Continued from page 12) Kyiv ends military cooperation with Russia Ihor Alexander Gerus zooms by the USS Ross, a guided-missile KYIV – President Petro Poroshenko has destroyer, while other Russian bombers not signed into law measures renouncing five passed away on May 29, 2015 depicted also flew within sight of the ship, bilateral defense-cooperation agreements He was born March 30, 1936 in Poland officials said. The U.S. Navy posted the between Ukraine and Russia. He signed the video “because we were unsatisfied with measures on June 8 after they were adopt- Remaining in deep sorrow the press reporting, and we wanted to ed by Ukraine’s Parliament on May 21. The wife - Neonila Maria née Lewycky show exactly what happened,” Pentagon nullified agreements include one on the son - Alexander Roman spokesman Col. Steven Warren said. Some transit across Ukraine of Russian military Russian media said the Russian aircraft had personnel stationed “in the Republic of daughter-in-law - Maria née Gecha forced the U.S. destroyer to shift course Moldova.” Russia maintains troops and grandson - Roman Alexander away from waters off the coast of Crimea, peacekeepers in Moldova’s breakaway nephews - George Michael and Robert Lewycky which Russia illegally annexed last year. But Transdniester region, although the cousins - Eugene Kolankowsky with wife Carolina those reports were “erroneous,” as the USS Moldovan government has repeatedly and son in the US Ross was in international waters and asked for them to be removed. The other - Chrystyna Kozak with family in Ukraine “never changed course,” Col. Warren said. voided pacts include one on “organizing extended family in the US, Ukraine and Australia Moreover, none of the Russian aircraft that military interstate transportation,” “on flew by the ship was armed and neither mutual protection of secret information,” May His memory be eternal! side took any aggressive action, he said. “on military-intelligence cooperation” and He will always be remembered with love by his family. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by Agence “on defense cooperation.” (RFE/RL, based France-Presse and CNN) on reporting by Interfax and ITAR-TASS) IMF concludes mission to Ukraine OSCE supports environmental risk assessment KYIV – An International Monetary Fund KYIV – The concluding meeting of the It is with deep sorrow that we share the passing (IMF) mission to Ukraine on the first project “Assessment of Environmental Risks of our beloved husband, father, grandfather, review under the Extended Fund Facility in the Exclusion Zone along the Ukrainian and brother, uncle and US Army veteran was held 12-29 May 12-29. Nikolay Belarusian Borders” was organized by the Gueorguiev, mission chief for Ukraine, stat- OSCE Office of Economic and Environmental Jaroslaw Czernyk ed: “Understandings were reached on most Activities on June 9 in Kyiv. With some 500 on May 21, 2015 after a long illness. issues, and discussions will continue in the kilometers of the common border crossing comings days to finalize a staff-level agree- the Chornobyl Exclusion Zone, Belarus and Jaroslaw Czernyk was born on October 13, 1926, in Jakymczyci ment than can be taken for approval to the Ukraine face the challenge of ensuring the Komarno, Ukraine. He immigrated to the United States in 1950 and IMF management and the executive board. settled in New York City, N. Y. He served on active duty in US Army from safety of border guards and other personnel March 13, 1951 to March 12, 1953. Jaroslaw and Lidia Mruczkewycz were The authorities’ commitment to the reform during the border demarcation in radioac- married in 1953. Corporal Czernyk was honorably discharged from US program remains strong. All performance tively contaminated areas. Since 2013 the Army Reserve on February 8, 1957. criteria for end-March were met and all Organization for Security and Cooperation in structural benchmarks due in the spring Europe (OSCE) has supported both countries Jaroslaw was Past Post Commander of the Ukrainian American are on course to be met, albeit some with a in strengthening the capacity of relevant Veterans Post 7 in NYC, and was a member of American Legion Post delay. This good program implementation national authorities to address such risks to 1260 and Catholic War Veterans Post 401. He was also active in various has been achieved notwithstanding an people through this project. Attended by over Ukrainian and professional organizations. In 1960 he earned B. S. degree exceptionally difficult environment, in part 30 government representatives and research- in Accounting and Finances from NYU, thus opening the door for his long related to the unresolved conflict in the ers, this expert-level meeting presented the career in corporate America. East, which took a heavier than expected main outcomes of the project, including maps Funeral Services for Jaroslaw were held on May 27, 2015, at Leo F. toll on the economy in the first quarter of of radioactive contamination on the border Kearns Funeral Home of Rego Park, N. Y. officiated by Rev. Vasile Tiradar. 2015. Accordingly, the mission has revised and regulations for personnel radiation safety Rev. Vasile Tivadar and Rev. Taras Chaparin celebrated the Funeral Mass at down growth projections for 2015 to -9 jointly developed by Belarusian and Ukrainian Catholic Church of Holy Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, percent and projects end-year inflation at Ukrainian experts. Results of the project were Ozone Park, N. Y Responses were beautifully sung by Anna Bachynska, for 46 percent.” The IMF mission chief also welcomed by representatives of both coun- which we are very thankful. noted: “In recent months, signs that eco- tries as a valuable contribution to trans- nomic stability is gradually taking hold are Memorial service (Panakhyda) at the gravesite at St. Andrew Cemetery boundary cooperation. The meeting included in South Bound Brook, New Jersey was officiated by Rev. Chaparin, steadily emerging. The foreign exchange a discussion of necessary follow-up steps to followed by traditional full Military Honors by the US Army N. J. National market has remained broadly stable. Gross be taken by authorities in both countries. In Guard that ended with bugler playing Taps. international reserves, although still very particular, the importance of addressing for- low, have increased to $9.6 billion at end- est fires in the Chornobyl exclusion zone was On the 40th day after the passing, Memorial Masses will be served for April. Banks’ deposits in domestic currency highlighted as one of the priority areas. This the late Jaroslaw Czernyk at the Holy Protection of the Mother of God have been recovering. The budget outturn project is supported under the Environment Ukrainian Catholic Church in Mt. Kisco, N. Y., at the Ukrainian Catholic in the first months of 2015 was stronger and Security Initiative. (OSCE) Church of Holy Protection of the Blessed Virgin Mary, Ozone Park, N. Y., St. Mary Protectress Ukrainian Catholic Church in Bronx, N. Y., in Canada and in Ukraine. It is with great sorrow that we share the news of the Jaroslaw is survived by: passing into eternity on June 6, 2015 of our beloved wife - Lidia husband, father, grandfather, brother, and uncle sons - Borys with wife Mary and son Mark - Ihor Andrew with wife Natalia and their children Franz Samochval Julianna, Katherine and John Franz was born on November 15, 1924 in Prague, brothers - Myron with son Ihor and his wife Larysa Czechoslovakia. After the outbreak of the Second World War he - Zenon with wife Slava and family immigrated to Germany, Brazil, and nally to the United States. nephew - Dr. Ihor Sawczuk with wife Alexandra and family sister-in-law - Renata Mruczkewycz and family Franz died in his home in Astoria, New York at the age of 90. cousins - Maria Kos with family in Canada He is survived by his family: - Lubomyr Hrynnyk with family in Canada - The Tershakovec family wife: Eugenia daughters: Eugenia Holak and Tamara Horbachevsky with Our gratitude has no bounds when it comes to Pastor Vasile Tivadar her husband Myron and his frequent visits, prayers, and spiritual guidance during Jaroslaw’s grandchildren: Stephanie Holak, Danylo Horbachevsky, and long illness. We are grateful to him for the funeral services, Panakhydas Joanna Holak and parting words at Leo F. Kearns Funeral Home and in church. great granddaughter: Olivia Holak The Czernyk family extends gratitude to all who offered support and sister: Anna Demkiw comfort during a very difficult time for all of us. We would like to thank brother-in-law: Michael Demkiw those who participated in the services at the funeral home and at the nieces and nephews: Ludmila Golad, Roman Kanuiga, Kalyna church, during the internment services and at the luncheon. We thank Cybyk, Bohdan Cybyk, Nestor Demkiw, Oleh those of you who sent sympathy cards, Mass cards, beautiful flowers, Demkiw, and their families comforting phone calls and charitable donations in Jaroslaw’s memory. A special note of thanks to Peter Polney, UAV NY State Department Funeral services were held at Thomas M. Quinn & Sons Funeral Home Commander, for leading the UAV Final Salute ceremony and UAV PNC in Astoria, NY, and at St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Church in NYC, Anna Krawczuk for the final farewell at the funeral home, and to the New NY. He is interred at St. Andrew Ukrainian Cemetery in South Bound Jersey National Guard for the Military Honors given our beloved Jaroslaw. Brook, NJ. Вічна Йому пам’ять! Please keep Jaroslaw in your prayers. Memory Eternal. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 No. 24

Putin’s lies... (Continued from page 1)

Finally, it says that Russian forces in Ukraine have, during key offensives, received cover from Russian territory – a find- ing based on a combination of satellite data, crater analysis and open source materials. The report’s conclusions contradict claims by Russian offi- cials that there are no Russian troops in Ukraine – a claim Mr. Putin repeated April 16 on Russian TV. It recommends that Western governments counter the Kremlin’s “hybrid war- fare” and formulate “a more comprehensive transatlantic strategy to deter Russia’s aggressive actions.” Putin’s secret war Why is Russia determined to keep its role in Ukraine a secret? Putin has two reasons for doing so, said John Herbst, director of the Atlantic Council’s Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Atlantic Council Center and another of the report’s co-authors. At the launch of the Atlantic Council’s report “Hiding in Plain Sight: Putin’s War in Ukraine” and the release of “He’s playing both to Western weakness and the strong the English version of “Putin. War”: (from left) Susan Glasser, editor of Politico and moderator of the discussion; feelings of his own people against war in Ukraine,” Mr. Ilya Yashin, a leader of the pro-democracy Republican Party of Russia-People’s Freedom Party; Damon Wilson, Herbst said in a panel discussion moderated by Susan executive vice-president at the Atlantic Council; Sergey Aleksashenko, a non-resident senior fellow at the Brookings Glasser, editor of Politico. Institution; and Ambassador John Herbst, director of the Atlantic Council’s Dinu Patriciu Eurasia Center. Mr. Wilson said Mr. Putin’s hybrid warfare is not just “Putin.War” tary personnel are fighting and dying in eastern Ukraine limited to Ukraine, but extends to countries such as The report’s launch coincided with the release of the and that the Russian government is denying it,” State Moldova, Georgia, and Kazakhstan, and is aimed at pre- Department spokesman Jeff Rathke told reporters at the venting their shift toward the West. English version of a separate report based on material gathered by slain Russian opposition leader Boris Nemtsov. daily briefing on May 28. “Most dangerously, we see some of these tactics aimed Sergey Aleksashenko, a non-resident senior fellow at the at NATO allies and European Union members to divide “Putin.War” details Russia’s annexation of Crimea, and the deployment of Russian troops in eastern Ukraine. Brookings Institution and part of the Atlantic Council them by exploiting divisions within our nations and among panel, said Mr. Putin’s decree is likely aimed at intimidating our allies, and perhaps an ultimate goal of undermining the “Putin destroyed the reputation of our country by back- stabbing Ukraine,” said Ilya Yashin, a leader of the pro-democ- the families of Russian soldiers dying in Ukraine. solidarity that is at the core of our alliance,” he said. Russian authorities already pay between 1 million and 3 The United States and the 28-member European Union racy Republican Party of Russia-People’s Freedom Party (RPR-Parnas). Mr. Nemtsov led RPR-Parnas until his death. million rubles to buy their silence, Mr. Aleksashenko said. “If slapped sanctions on Russian officials and entities in Mr. Yashin discussed the collection of evidence of this war continues and if the number of casualties grows, it response to the March 2014 annexation of Crimea. The EU Russia’s involvement in Ukraine from the families of will not be possible to hide this information,” he added. will take a formal decision on whether to extend sanctions Russian troops. “We put together this report because we against Russia’s financial, defense and energy sectors at a Aggression continues are patriots of Russia. We believe Putin’s war in Ukraine is summit in June. EU leaders agreed in March that those destructive for our country both politically, economically, Mr. Nemtsov had been documenting Russia’s military sanctions would remain in place until the Minsk peace and morally,” he said. involvement in Ukraine when he was assassinated near the agreement is fully implemented. Mr. Yashin’s RPR-Parnas colleague, Leonid Martynyuk, Kremlin in Moscow on February 27. His associates com- Mr. Herbst, a former U.S. ambassador to Ukraine, said it discussed evidence linking the July 17, 2014, downing of pleted the report after his death. was highly unlikely that Mr. Putin would conduct a new Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 to a Russian Buk missile system, “Many people believed that after Nemtsov’s murder … offensive inside Ukraine at least until after the EU summit. which was in separatist-controlled territory in Ukraine. they will stop all this aggression,” said Mr. Yashin. However, “It serves Mr. Putin well to destabilize the government in that may not be the case. This week a Nemtsov ally, Kyiv by seizing small increments of land in Ukraine’s east,” he Putin’s decree Vladimir Kara-Murza, was clinging to life in a Moscow hos- said. “That prevents the government in Ukraine from focusing “Putin.War” concludes that at least 150 Russian soldiers pital after mysteriously falling sick. on reform, on the one hand, and it does not cross the thresh- were killed in Ukraine in the summer of 2014, and that at “Putin.War” concludes that Russia spent $1 billion in the old, which might provoke a stronger Western response.” least 70 Russian soldiers died trying to help pro-Russian first 10 months of the war in Ukraine. Mr. Wilson said he hoped the Atlantic Council report separatists take control of the strategic town of Debaltseve “The ongoing war in Ukraine’s east is not just about would encourage policy makers to extend the sanctions. in January and February 2015. Ukraine,” said Frederick Kempe, president and CEO of the The report’s other co-authors are Maksymilian Czuperski, Mr. Putin this week signed a decree to make secret the Atlantic Council. “It’s about the global order, it’s about the special assistant to the president of the Atlantic Council; Alina losses of Russian troops during “special operations” in future of Europe whole and free, and it’s about the future of Polyakova, associate director in the Dinu Patriciu Eurasia peacetime. Russia itself.” Center; and Eliot Higgins, a visiting research associate in The decree is a “misplaced effort to cover up what the Department of War Studies at King’s College London. everyone knows, and that is that Russian active-duty mili- Ashish Kumar Sen is a staff writer at the Atlantic Council.

Minister of Foreign Affairs Rob Nicholson Foundation,” said Victor Hetmanczuk, pres- Canadian doctors... visited the Ukrainian Military Hospital, ident of the Canada Ukraine Foundation. On Russia’s... where he met with patients, and Canadian “These funds will go towards much needed (Continued from page 1) and Ukrainian medical professionals. Just equipment to increase their capacity to (Continued from page 6) “Multiple procedures were done in many prior to his visit, the government of Canada treat wounded Ukrainian soldiers.” Peaceful resolution of the violence in patients, by one or two surgical teams, had announced $1.2 million in support for Funding for both medical missions eastern Ukraine depends on the full imple- working concurrently or consecutively. And building additional health care capacity in comes largely from United for Ukraine, a mentation of the Minsk agreements. Russia perhaps most importantly, we have already the Ukrainian military. fund-raiser organized by the Canada bears direct responsibility for preventing identified 10 patients for major reconstruc- “I am grateful to the Canadian govern- Ukraine Foundation in September 2014, attacks and implementing a ceasefire. tive surgery on our next mission,” he added. ment for supporting the Ukrainian Military attended by Prime Minister Stephen Russia must release all hostages, including During this medical mission, Canada’s Hospital through the Canada Ukraine Harper and Wayne Gretzky. The Toronto Nadiya Savchenko and Oleg Sentsov. Russia event was attended by almost 1,200 people must fulfill its commitment to cease arm- and raised more than $200,000. Eugene ing, training, and equipping separatists Melnyk and Bohdan Onyschuk co-chaired inside Ukraine. Russia must allow the SMM the fundraising efforts for the mission. access to monitor the entire international “I am grateful to the Canada Ukraine border, and restore Ukrainian sovereignty Foundation and to the thousands of over that border. And, finally, Russia must Canadians who donated to our mission,” withdraw all Russian forces from Ukrainian said Dr. Antonyshyn. territory, respect Ukraine’s sovereignty, The Canada Ukraine Foundation and end its occupation of Crimea. expressed thanks for the support of Stryker Russia must live up to its commitments Canada, which once again awarded the or face additional costs for its ongoing vio- medical mission a grant that provided for lations of Ukraine’s sovereignty and territo- virtually all surgical hardware and implant rial integrity. materials for the medical procedures. The Canada Ukraine Foundation was established by the Ukrainian Canadian SVOBODA Congress to coordinate, develop, organize + and deliver assistance projects generated by Canadians and directed to Ukraine. It is The Ukrainian Weekly = a registered charitable foundation. OVER 200 YEARS Department of Foreign Affairs, Canada Donations for the next medical mission OF SERVICE TO OUR Canada’s Foreign Affairs Minister Rob Nicholson meets with Dr. Oleh Antonyshyn and other projects may be made at http:// UKRAINIAN COMMUNITY from Canada and officials from Ukraine. www.cufoundation.ca. No. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 15

Soccer Bogota, Columbia, on April 13 against Martial Arts Tournament 2015 held in San start and relay races for men and women Teliana Pereira of Brazil 7-6(7), 6-3. Francisco. Representing his PN Martial and mixed relay. Arts Academy in the U.S.A., his two stu- A with Greece, Austria and France for the WTA, lost on May 17 in Strasbourg, France, dents also won gold and silver medals. women’s mass start and third place in the UEFA• Ukraine’s U-19 Championship. U-19 team has Matchesdrawn Group will in •the Lesia second Tsurenko, round ranked against 64th Samantha by the Mihalchan won the top spot in the overall women’s• Valj Semerenko sprint atwon the first IBU place World in the run July 6-19 in Greece. The drawing was Stosur of Austria in a walkover. In Rome, on competition. Championships in Kontiolati, Finland, on conducted on June 9 in Katerini, Greece. May 11, Tsurenko lost in the second quali- March 3-15. Group stage matches – set to be played in fying round against Alexandra Dulgheru of Orienteering Katerini, Larissa and Veria, Greece – are Romania 6-2, 4-6, 6-3. In Madrid, on May 2, 10-kilometer individual event (30:09.1 scheduled for July 6-7, 9-10 and 12-13. The Tsurenko lost in the first qualifying round Merserlig Mulismilen race in Bergen, seconds)• Anna atKryvonos, the Junior 17, Worldwon gold Biathlon in the four best teams advance to the semi-finals against Richel Hogenkamp of the Norway.• Vyacheslav In the Mukhidinovunder-35 division, won the Championship in Belarus on February 18. on July 16. The final is set for July 19. Group Netherlands 7-5, 6-2. Mukhidinov ran 11 kilometers in 37 min- B includes Germany, Spain, the Netherlands utes, 21 seconds. Mukhidinov has partici- Cycling and Russia. ATP, lost to Alexander Dolgopolov, ranked pated in five world championships in orien- 60th,• Sergiy and was Stakhovsky, eliminated ranked in the 54th first byround the teering and was a past European Champion. traditionally was held in Yalta, Crimea, has against Georgia in an international friendly during the outdoor clay tournament in Working in Norway, Mukhidinov is a coach been• A moved downhill to Bukovelmountain – bikeknown race as thatthe match• Ukraine’s on June national9 at Kunstrasen team won Linzer 2-1 Nice, France, on May 17. Dolgopolov lost to for the junior team Varegg at the Kristianand Bukovel Horizon Cup DHI 2015. The Stadium in Linz, Germany. Artem Kravets Ernestes Gulbis of Latvia (5-7, 6-4, 1-6) in opened the scoring in the 57th minute after Orienterings kluub (KOK). Crimean organizers wanted to register it as the second round. Stakhovsky lost to a Russian event despite the Ukrainian capitalizing on an error by Georgia’s Lasha Jonathan Eysseric of France (6-7 (7), 0-6) at Weightlifting Dvali’s pass to Georgii Loria (goalkeeper) license. The Federation of Ukrainian the outdoor tournament in Bordeaux, Cyclists appealed to the Union of Cyclists that rebounded off the post. That goal was France, on May 11. At the ATP World Tour followed by a cross by Mykola Moroziuk eight gold, three silver and one bronze for a International to sort the situation out. UCI Masters 1000 in Rome on May 10, total• Ukraine of 12 toppedmedals the at medal the Europeantable with designated Bukovel as the venue for from the right side to Yevhen Konoplyanka, Dolgopolov lost to Guillermo Garcia-Lopez who found the near corner of the goal in Weightlifting Championship in Tbilisi, Bukovel Horizon Cup DHI 2015 that is of Spain (4-6, 3-6). Stakhovsky lost in the Georgia, on April 10-18. Yulia Paratova (53 scheduled for August 22-24. the 67th minute. Georgia responded after first qualifying round at the ATP World Levan Kenia moved the ball up the left flank kg) and Yulia Kalyna (63 kg) won three Masters 1000 stop in Madrid on May 3 gold medals in their respective divisions. Gymnastics and crossed the ball headed in by Mate against Alejandro Falla of Columbia (3-6, Vatsadze in the 81st minute. Anastasia Lysenko (+75-kg) won three sil- 2-6). Stakhovsky also was eliminated from ver medals in her debut. Oleg Proshak World Challenge Cup final in Ljubljana, the second round against Lukas Rosol of (+105 kg) won two gold and one bronze. Slovenia,• Oleg Verniaievon April 3-5.won In gold the atall-around, the 2015 against Shakhtar Donetsk in the final of the the Czech Republic (5-7, 2-6) at the out- Ukraine• Dynamo Cup Kyivon June won 5 5-4 in inKyiv penalty in the kicks last Verniaiev, 21, from Donetsk, was best in the door tournament in Munich, Germany, on Martial arts pommel horse, with a total score of 15.275. game of the 2014-2015 season of the April 27. Dolgopolov lost in the second Ukrainian Premier League. Dynamo’s goal- round at the ATP World Tour Masters 1000 European Games keeper, Oleksandr Shovkovskiy, was key in the National Combat Hopak Championships in Monte Carlo on April 12, losing to Gael in •Lviv More in than late 1,500 April. competitors Athletes tookfrom part nine in blocking a penalty kick by Shakhtar’s Monflis of France 6-7(5), 6-7(6). At other Oleksandr Hladky. This was Dynamo’s 11th regions of Ukraine participated, with plans Zhdanov told officials during a Cabinet stops on the World Tour Masters, win of the Ukraine Cup (fifth time in eight to hold international competitions. meeting• Minister that Ukraine of Youth is training and Sport 250 Ihorath- Dolgopolov lost in the fourth round in finals between Dynamo and Shakhtar), and letes to compete at the European Games to Miami on March 25, to Novak Djokovic of Donetsk has won it nine times (three times Freestyle skiing be held in Baku, Azerbaijan, on June 12-28. Serbia 7-6 (3), 5-7, 0-6. in the last eight meetings between the final The competition is expected to attract teams). In the final standings, Dynamo Freestyle Skiing World Cup in Minsk on 6,000 athletes from 49 countries, vying for and Alexandr Dolgopolov (69th ranked by topped the board with 66 points, and March• Oleksandr 3. He scored Abramenko 117.70 and won 122.62 the 253 medals. ATP)• Elina played Svitolina at the (21stIndian ranked Welles by tourna WTA)- Shakhtar in second place with 56 points. points. Abramenko’s latest win was his ment on March 7-20. Dolgopolov was elim- Dynamo and Shakhtar are set to compete third podium finish at the World Cup. In Hockey in the 2015-2016 UEFA Champions League, inated in the third round by Milos Raonic of 2012 and 2014 he won second place, and and Vorksla Poltava will join Zorya Luhansk Canada 6-7(2), 4-6, while Svitolina was he won third place in January this year dur- year $9 million contract with HC Donbas and Dnipro Dnipropetrovsk in the 2015- eliminated in the fourth round by Timea ing the competition in Deer Valley, Calif. (now• Ruslan defunct Fedotenko, due to the who war) signed in the a Russia- three- 2016 UEFA Europa League. Bacsinszky of Switzerland 4-6, 6-1, 6-1. led KHL, now plays for Iowa Wild of the Sergiy Stakhovsky lost in the second round Biathlon America Hockey League. Fedotenko, who Petersburg defensive midfielder, is set for against Tomas Berdych of the Czech played for the Ukrainian national hockey release• Anatoliy from the Tymoshchuk, Russian club after a Zenit his con St.- Republic 1-6, 4-6. Lesia Tsurenko retired in women’s 12.5-kilometer mass start with team during the 2002 Winter Olympics, tract expires this summer. Andre Villas-Boas, the quarterfinal round against Jelena clean• Valentyna shooting, Semerenkofinishing in 34:32.9won gold seconds in the used to play in the NHL with the Zenit’s coach, said on April 30 the Russian Jankovic of Serbia 6-1, 4-1. at the World Championships in Kontiolahti, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning, - Premier League would be unlikely to offer Finland, on March 5-15. The competitions Pittsburgh Penguins and New York gles in the future category at the Egypt F8 contract extensions. Ukraine’s news sources included sprint, pursuit, individual, mass Rangers. have suggested that the contract was not Futures• Dmytro international Badanov, tournament 27, won in inmen’s Sarm sin el- extended because Tymoshchuk refused to Sheikh, Egypt, on March 9-15. In the final, accept Russian citizenship. Tymoshchuk, 36, Badanov, who is ranked 621st in the world, joined Zenit in 2013 after advancing to the defeated Marko Tepavac from Serbia 6-4, 6-4. Ukraine’s U-20 team wins 3-0 against U.S.A., UEFA Champions League final with Bayern Karate Munich (who lost to Chelsea). Tymoshchuk has played 21 games this season with Zenit, gets knocked out by Senegal 3-1 in PKs whereas his teammate Andrey Arshavin, 33, a fifth title in the 90 kg division at the 29th Kyokushin Karate European Championship who is the Russian national team captain, • Oleksander Yeremenko of Kherson won by Matthew Dubas made 17 appearances this year, mostly as a on May 9 in Berlin. Eldar Ismailov (under- substitute player and is also not being 90 kg) won a third title at the competition. PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Ukraine’s U-20 team won 3-0 against the U.S.A. on June 5 at North offered a contract extension. Arshavin joined Mykyta Peshenko (80 kg) won silver, Anton Harbor Stadium in Aukland during the 2015 World Cup New Zealand. Viktor Kovalenko Zenit in 2009. Khyzhnytskyi (70 kg) won silver, Tatian scored a hat-trick of goals during the second half, scoring in the 56th, 74th, 79th minutes. Nemtseva (65 kg) won a bronze medal. In The first goal was scored off a free-kick after Kovalenko was taken down by Tennis the junior category, Olha Voskoboinyk (60 Cameron Carter-Vickers at 30 yards from goal. Kovalenko’s strike curled into the bot- kg) won silver, and in the Kata division tom-left corner. The U.S.A. had a chance to equalize after Pavlo Polehenko took down Ivanovic of Serbia (3-6, 2-6) in the quarter- (boys 12-13), Nazar Ivakhiv won silver, Jordan Allen in the penalty area, but Ukraine’s goalkeeper Bohdan Sarnavskyj denied finals• Elina of the SvitolinaFrench Open lost that against runs May Anna 19 Ilona Aratovska (14-15 girls) won bronze. Emerson Hyndman the chance. The 74th-minute goal came as Eduard Sobol cut through June 7. In the fourth round, In the boys 14-15, Serhii Korogodskyi (65 through the U.S. defense, and Kovalenko put the ball in the lower right corner. Five min- Svitolina defeated Alize Cornet of France kg) won bronze, Sergi Zhydko (-75 kg) won utes later, Kovalenko netted another goal in the lower right corner of the net, after (6-2, 7-6, 11-9). Sergiy Stakhovksy lost in silver, Vladislav Gerko (+75 kg) won bronze; Artem Biesiedin’s footwork set up the shot. the second round against Steve Johnson and in the boy’s 12-13 division, Mykyta There was another Ukrainian connection in this match-up, as the U.S. men’s U-20 (6-2, 3-6, 6-7, 6-7) of the U.S.A. Kapustin (+50 kg) won silver. team is coached by Omid Namazi, director of coaching for the Ukrainian Nationals of Wrestling the Ukrainian American Sports Center Tryzub. WTA tournament in Rome on May 11 dur- Ukraine finished in the top spot for Group A with seven points. In the Round of 16 ing• Elinathe secondSvitolina roundwas knocked against out Venus of the Ukraine lost 3-1 on penalty kicks against Senegal on June 10 after drawing 1-1 in regu- Williams of the U.S.A. 6-4, 6-3. Svitolina also Freestyle Wrestling European Championship lation. Artem Biesiedin opened the scoring in the 70th minute, and Senegal’s Sidy Sarr lost in the second round in Madrid on May (under-23)• Andriy inSveryd Walbrzych, (61 kg) Poland. won silver In the at final the equalized in the 83rd minute. Ibrahim Ibou Sy, Senegal’s goalkeeper, shocked Ukraine 2 against Anna Ivanovic of Serbia 6-3, 6-4. Sveryd lost to Armenia. Ivan Kusik, (70 kg) after saving three of the shots during the shootout. Senegal advances to the quarterfinal Svitolina was victorious at the WTA tourna- also won silver. against Uzbekistan on June 14. ment in Marrakech, Morocco, on April 27, Wushu The U.S.A. finished in second place in Group A with six points, won against Columbia winning the final 7-5, 7-6(3) against Timea 1-0 in the Round of 16, and advances to the quarterfinal against Serbia on June 14. Babos of Hungary. Svitolina lost in the - The final match is set for June 20 at North Harbor Stadium in Auckland. semifinal at the WTA tournament in als and one silver medal at the Chinese • Victor Mihalchan won three gold med 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 No. 24 Ukrainian Nationals U-13 Rangers crowned Eastern Pennsylvania State Cup champions

Ukrainian Nationals U-13 Rangers: (top row, from left Assistant Coach Mike Moyer, Ryan Bradby, Dane Harmaty, Bailey Moyer, Flannan Riley, Brendan Hasson, Jared Huzar, Jeremy Smithline, Assistant Coach Skip Morris, Coach Dan Harmon, (front row) Jordan Madise, Danny Sanchez, Jayden Morris, Matty Harmon, Justin Ruth, Caleb Herring, Jordan Naim and JD Mallinder.

by Steve Krysko HORSHAM, Pa. – On Saturday, May 16, the Ukrainian Nationals Rangers U-13 boys’ soccer team captured the National Championship Series (NCS) Eastern Pennsylvania State Cup Championship. A perennial contender, the Rangers’ champi- onship run was outstanding. The team allowed only one goal (a follow-up from a penalty kick that was saved by goalie Flannan Riley) in four cup games. This is another impressive mark on the Rangers’ resume that also includes three Delco League Championships, several high- level tournament championships and an invitation to last year’s Dallas Cup. They will now go on to represent Eastern Pennsylvania in the NCS Regional Championships being held in June in West Virginia. Most recently, GotSoccer magazine ranked the Ukrainian Nationals Rangers as No. 1 in Pennsylvania East, ninth in U.S. Region 1 (there are four regions) and 17th in the nation. Coach Dan Harmon and his assistants, Skip Morris and Mike Moyer, have done an outstanding job with these boys and obvi- ously the boys have responded. The team captains, Dane Harmaty and Bailey Moyer, led the way with exceptional play. Harmaty scored five of the eight cup goals and assist- ed on the two championship game goals. Moyer played injured the entire way and never missed a beat. This level of success does not go unno- ticed in the soccer world. One of the Rangers, Brendan Hasson, has been picked to play for the Philadelphia Union Academy team. (Philadelphia Union is the area’s pro- fessional soccer franchise.) Justin Ruth and Jared Huzar, on the other hand, earned spots with local academy programs. While Tryzub will certainly miss these three play- ers, it is proud to have promoted them to distinguished academy programs. Readers may visit the respective web- sites to learn more about the Ukrainian American Sport Center (www.tryzub.org) and its Ukrainian Nationals Soccer Club program (http://www.ukrainiannationals. com).

Visit our archive online: www.ukrweekly.com No. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 17 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 No. 24

June 19 Golf classic, United for Ukraine charity, Whitetail June 27-28 Lemko Vatra, Organization for the Defense of Mundare, AB Crossing Golf Course, 780-497-4373 Ellenville, NY Lemko Western Ukraine, Ukrainian American Youth Association camp, www.lemko-ool.com or June 19-21 Yonkers Ukrainian Heritage Festival, St. Michael 845-647-7230 Yonkers, NY Ukrainian Catholic Church, www.yonkersukrainianfestival.org June 27-28 Great Lakes Cup soccer tournament, Ukrainian Sport June 21 Father’s Day Ukrainian Fest, U.S. Adult Soccer Brighton, MI Club Chernyk, Dibrova Park, Horsham, PA Association’s Region 1 U.S. Open Cup and U.S. www.ukrainiansportclub.com Amateur Cup matches, Ukrainian American Sports Center Tryzub, 267-664-3857 or www.tryzub.org June 28 Ukrainian Night, Ukrainian Congress Committee of East Meadow, NY America – Long Island Branch, Eisenhower Park, June 21 Ukrainian Culture and Heritage Festival, St. Nicholas 516-428-1381 Wilmington, DE Ukrainian Catholic Church, 302-762-5511 or www.st-nicholas-church.org June 28 Golf outing, Ukrainian Sport Club Chernyk, Brighton, MI Huntmore Golf Club Brighton, 513-607-6450 or June 23 Father Michael Luchka Memorial Golf Classic, Royal [email protected] Toronto Woodbine Golf Club, www.delasalleoaklands.org/golf2015 June 28 Picnic, Ukrainian Sport Club Chernyk, Dibrova Park June 26 Film screening, “Animated Shorts from Ukraine,” by Brighton, MI www.ukrainiansportclub.com New York Oleksandr Danylenko and Kateryna Zabavko, Film at the Institute, Ukrainian Institute of America, 212-288-8660 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events June 27 Ukrainian Festival, Assumption of the Blessed Virgin advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Perth Amboy, NJ Mary Ukrainian Catholic Church, from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors www.assumptioncatholicchurch.net or 732-826-0767 and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected].

Program all set for Soyuzivka’s ninth Ukrainian Cultural Festival

KERHONKSON, N.Y. – The ninth annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival at the Soyuzivka Heritage Center is being held on July 10-12 with the help of its sponsor, the Ukrainian National Foundation (UNF). The Embassy of Ukraine is the festival’s patron. This year’s festival, emceed by Serhiy “Foma” Fomenko of the rock group Mandry and Marta Czurylowicz of the Canadian TV program “Kontakt,” has a packed schedule of performers. New this year will be the Lehenda Ukrainian Dance Company from Melbourne, Australia, in its first U.S.A. tour. Acts from Ukraine include the humorous lam- poon artist Dzidzio, “Ukraine Has Talent” winner Pavlo Tabakov, singer Oksana Bilozir, as well as Foma, who in addition to his emcee duties will also perform. From Canada, Vasyl Popadiuk will enchant with his fiery gypsy Justine Chudiak violin music. Lehenda Ukrainian Dance Company of Australia in front of two iconic Aussie landmarks: the Sydney Harbor Bridge, with the Opera House in the background. A brief rundown of the acts Universal Music Group (after winning “The Voice of the benefit concerts, both in Ukraine and across the diaspora, The Lehenda Ukrainian Dance Company, founded in country” competition in Ukraine in 2012) and studied pro- to support those affected by the war in Ukraine. More 2014, includes 40 dancers under the direction of Melanie fessionally on accordion, piano and guitar. His latest CD (of information about Mandry can be found at www.mandry- Moravski Dehnicz, a Merited Artist of Ukraine (2009). Ms. five), “Myi Svit” (My World), was released in 2013 and fea- music.com. Moravski Dehnicz has also been an instructor at the Roma tures a range of songs from slow ballads to energetic pop. Friday evening, beginning at 8:00 p.m., will feature a Pryma Ukrainian Dance Workshop and is the artistic direc- In 2010 he was a semifinalist in the “Ukraine Has Talent” star-studded Charity Gala Fund-Raiser and Reception to tor for Lehenda’s latest production “Kazka” – a fairytale of show as a member of the Orfei (Orpheus) male octet cho- support a center for prosthetic rehabilitation for the war love, loss … and a mysterious blue fox. Excerpts from this rus. More information can be found at http://pavlo-taba- victims of Ukraine. The UNF has partnered with the production will be performed at the festival. For more kov.com. International Alliance for Fraternal Assistance (IAFA), a information, readers may visit www.lehenda.com.au. Ms. Bilozir, a former Minister of Culture and Tourism of registered NGO, which was awarded recently as one of the Dzidzio (Mykhailo Khomo) is an irreverently humorous Ukraine (2005), has 15 albums to her credit. Her popular best charitable organizations working in Ukraine. Tickets performer from Lviv, who combines his vocals with that of music varies from traditional favorites to originals appeal- for the Charity Gala, sponsored by the UNF, a charitable Lesyk (Oleh Turko), on guitar and back-up vocals, and Julik ing to a wide audience. 501 (C) (3) corporation, will be $200 per person The eve- (Nazar Huk), keyboardist and back-up vocalist. Dzidzio has Foma, who is the lead vocalist and guitarist for Mandry, ning includes a meet and greet with some of the featured done numerous concerts to benefit Ukraine in the face of combines folk-rock, blues and ska to liven its sound. The artists and a lively private show featuring the festival stars. Russian aggression, and performed during the Euro- band’s 2006 hit “Ne spy, moya ridna zemlia” (Do not sleep, The festival atmosphere, in addition to the featured per- Maidan Revolution of Dignity in Kyiv. More information can my native land) had become an anthem following the formers and dancers, will be filled with music, song, dance be found on the website www.dzidzio.com. Orange Revolution and then again during the Euro-Maidan and of course traditional Ukrainian food. And there is the Mr. Tabakov, who also hails from Lviv, is signed with Revolution of Dignity. Foma has regularly performed at Varenyky-Eating Contest for those brave enough to take on the challenge. Festival vendors will also highlight folk art and souve- nirs, as well as an all-day film festival that will focus on all things Ukrainian. An exhibit, “A Day in the life of a Ukrainian village,” will also be on display. Sunday will feature the “Young Artists Concert,” which will spolight emerging talent from the diaspora. Roma Lisovich, treasurer of the Ukrainian National Association and the Ukrainian National Foundation, stated: “The festival is an opportunity to unite all Ukrainians around the world in support of Ukraine’s struggle for democracy. It is the hope to cultivate a spirit of ‘solidarity with Ukraine’ and increase the public’s awareness about the war in Ukraine. Many community organizations will be present to provide information and background materials on Ukraine.” For more information, readers may visit Soyuzivka’s pavlo-tabakov.com dzidzio.com Singer Pavlo Tabakov, a winner of “Ukraine website, www.soyuzivka.com, or contact Oksana Trytjak, The pop group Dzidzio from the Lviv region of Ukraine. Has Talent.” [email protected], or [email protected]. No. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 19 UKELODEON FOR THE NEXT GENERATION

Plast cub scouts and their parents during an assembly at which they brought Kalyna Leshchuk (center) and Plast parents pack boxes of gifts for children gifts for children in Ukraine. in Ukraine. “Child to Child” project aims to bring hope and happiness by Kalyna Leshchuk tions that had the children’s ages helped me pack the gifts into large feels good to see smiles on the chil- and names on them. During a Plast boxes, which I then sent to Ukraine. dren’s faces in the pictures. WHIPPANY, N.J. – When I heard assembly at the Ukrainian American I paid for the shipping costs myself I am very grateful to all the Plast about the war in Ukraine and how Cultural Center of New Jersey in with money I had collected over the families that supported my project, so many people were dying, I was Whippany, I introduced my project past year. and I am proud to be a member of devastated. When I heard stories to the children and parents of the of such a wonderful organization. about children’s parents being sent The children in Ukraine received the Newark Plast branch’s cub scouts off to fi ght in the war and being killed, the gifts and several of the “adopted” (“novaky” and “novachky”). I asked Kalyna Leshchuk, 16, is a member of my heart ached with pain for these children in Ukraine wrote back letters the parents and children to “adopt” a the Newark, N.J. branch of Plast Ukrai- children. I imagined how I would feel thanking the families who sent them nian Scouting Organization. She is work- if I lost my parents… child for Christmas. gifts. Some families also sent pictures. ing toward attaining Plast’s eagle scout These stories made me want to I wasn’t sure how the people would I am very happy to know that I made a rank (that of “plastunka virlytsia”). somehow reach out to these children respond, but everybody was so sup- difference in these children’s lives. It and help them. I wanted to bring some portive! Each family chose the name hope and happiness into their lives. of a child from the Christmas tree. As a member of Plast Ukrainian I received multiple phone calls and Mishanyna Scouting Organization, I decided to do e-mails from the Plast parents asking a “Treta Proba” (eagle scout) project me if all the children had been “ad- June brings the end of the school year. Find the following, all opted.” At the following week’s Plast called “Child to Child” in December associated with the end of school. of 2014. I contacted an organization meeting, each family brought a gift, in Ukraine called Yellow-Blue Wings such as clothes or toys, for the child DIPLOMA RECITAL they had picked. The novaky and CELEBRATE that provides aid and support to chil- EXAMS novachky placed the gifts under the CEREMONY TESTS dren whose parents are either fi ghting FINALS in the war or were killed in the war. same Christmas tree. Some families COMMENCEMENT GRADUATION VACATION I received the names of 53 children even wrote letters to the children and from the organization in Ukraine. sent their family photos. Prior to our weekly meeting, I set After I collected all the gifts from up a Christmas tree with decora- the families, several of the parents

One of the children in Ukraine who Kalyna Leshchuk decorates a Christ- received gifts from Plast families in mas tree with the names and ages of New Jersey. children in Ukraine. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 14, 2015 No. 24

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Saturday, June 27 732-826-0767 or visit www.assumption- catholicchurch.net PERTH AMBOY, N.J.: A Ukrainian Cultural Festival will be held at Assumption Sunday, June 28 Catholic Church, 684 Alta Vista Place, EAST MEADOW, N.Y.: The Long Island from noon to 9 p.m. The festival will fea- Branch of the Ukrainian Congress ture dazzling performances of traditional Committee of America, along with Self Ukrainian dances by school and parish Reliance Federal Credit Union and the dancers at 1 p.m. and 3 p.m. in the school Nassau County Department of Parks and hall. There will also be delicious home- Recreation will host an annual event at made Ukrainian food, Ukrainian beer, deli- Eisenhower Park in East Meadow, N.Y. cious desserts, vendors, a church tour, live (Parking Field 6 and 6A) featuring virtuoso music throughout the event by singer xylophonist Roman Lankios, the Syzokryli Pavlo Doskoch, a Merited Artist of Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, violinist Inessa Ukraine, a beautiful baskets raffle and Dekajlo and vocalist Yulia Stupen. This is a 50/50 raffle. Admission to the festival is free event and the shows starts at 7 p.m. free. To register for a vendor’s table ($75 Contact Andrea Pyszczymuka at 516-428- per table) or for more information call 1381 for further information.

PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a service pro- vided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian community. To have an event listed in Preview of Events please send information, in English, written in Preview format, i.e., in a brief paragraph that includes the date, place, type of event, sponsor, admission, full names of persons and/or organizations involved, and a phone number and/or e-mail address to be published for readers who may require additional information. Items must be no more than 100 words long. Preview items must be received no later than one week before the desired date of publication (i.e., they must be received by 9 am Monday morning). Please include payment for each time the item is to appear and indicate date(s) of issue(s) in which the item is to be published. Also, senders are asked to include the phone 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 – simply 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.

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