Inside: l Will the EU make concessions to Russia? – page 3 l U.N. ambassadors: a welcome, a farewell – page 4 l Chicago marks Ukrainian Day of Unity – page 9

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXXIV No. 7 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 $2.00 Pysanka featured Poroshenko assures IMF he’s committed to reform on $20 Canadian RFE/RL Separately, Ms. Lagarde said Mr. The departure set off a political crisis Poroshenko “reassured me of his unwaver- and highlighted the government’s tepid silver coin KYIV – Ukrainian President Petro ing commitment to reforms, including performance on reforms, which have been Poroshenko assured the International improving governance and fighting corrup- linked to $40 billion in loans from the IMF, Monetary Fund (IMF) he remains commit- tion.” the European Union and the United States. ted to pursuing economic reforms and “We agreed on the principle of a road- Ms. Lagarde in her statement stressed purging corruption from his government. map of actions and priority measures to that she was concerned about slow prog- After receiving a sharp warning from the ensure prompt progress,” she said. ress on corruption. lender that Ukraine’s $17.5 billion bailout is Ms. Lagarde, in a highly unusual state- Ukraine’s Western backers have warned it at risk on February 10, Mr. Poroshenko ment from Washington, had strongly not to repeat the mistakes of the past when spoke with IMF Managing Director Christine warned that “without a substantial new the euphoria of 2004’s pro-European Orange Lagarde by phone and agreed to draw up a effort to invigorate governance reforms and Revolution waned as a result of political “road map” aimed at keeping reforms on fight corruption, it is hard to see how the infighting and a failure to stamp out graft. track. IMF-supported program can continue and Ukraine has been hoping to receive a “The president noted the necessity of be successful.” third tranche of IMF loans worth $1.7 bil- rebooting the government without snap The warning followed the abrupt resig- lion since October 2015, but it was delayed elections, which would only deepen the nation last week of Ukraine’s widely by political squabbles and incomplete political crisis and worsen conditions for praised economy minister, Aivaras reform efforts. carrying out reform,” a statement on Abromavicius, who cited corruption within President Poroshenko’s official website said. the ruling coalition. (Continued on page 16)

Royal Canadian Mint The new coin released by the Royal Canadian Mint. Kremlin-backed militants threaten death sentences for prisoners

by Orysia Paszczak Tracz by Halya Coynash Morozova or other militants suggests they life and are in no hurry to pardon them. They do reflect the position currently taken. are not being handed over, she claims, so the WINNIPEG, Manitoba – It sold out in A spokesperson for the so-called Donetsk a day – even before it was announced Ms. Morozova was asked to comment on militants “try them [their prisoners] within to the general public – and the buzz on People’s Republic (DPR) has claimed that the 30-year “sentence” handed down to the framework of our legislation. We do not social media is still going on. the militants are not holding any civilians or Yevhen Chudnetsov, a Ukrainian soldier in principle have prisoners of war, and the On January 27, the Royal Canadian anybody else illegally. All those in custody, from the Azov regiment who was captured people who are in our custody are all facing Mint announced an “Advance Product Darya Morozova asserts, are “under investi- in February 2015. The militants claim he charges. Procedural matters are under way, Notice” of new coin releases to pre- gation” and could be sentenced to death. surrendered. Novaya Gazeta writes that rel- trials, and they will soon be convicted.” ferred Masters Club Members. These The remarks came on the eve of the first atives of Mr. Chudnetsov, who is from the The interviewer then asks Mr. Morozova: are the coin collectors who spend anniversary of the Minsk II agreement, and Donbas area, missed the “trial” because it “You mean all of those captured as prison- much more than the average numisma- less than two weeks after 60-year-old reli- began half an hour earlier than scheduled. ers of war can be tried?” She answers: tist on the special fine Canadian coin gious specialist Ihor Kozlovsky and volun- The “prosecutor” had demanded the death “Quite right.” releases. In the middle of the long teer Marina Cherenkova were both seized penalty, so an appeal can in theory be Ms. Morozova chillingly goes on to claim e-mail announcement of pure silver by the militants. Prominent DPR militant lodged by either the defendant or the pros- the DPR is holding no more than 30 people and gold coins commemorating Haida Alexander Khodokovsky is reported to have ecution. This seems highly theoretical in (not the 133 cited by the SBU), and that Art, the tundra swan, a bright green asserted that Mr. Kozlovsky, who is a much- the Chudnetsov case, since from the outset there are no civilian hostages. “We have four-leaf clover for St. Patrick’s Day and respected academic, could have been he has not had a lawyer. only prisoners of war who were detained in Reflections of Wildlife (bears) was this involved in “destabilizing the situation” and There is disturbingly little information battle,” she claims, and says that they have had “multiple contacts with various organi- about this so-called trial or what indeed Mr. proof these detainees killed people and (Continued on page 14) zations in Ukraine engaged in destructive Chudnetsov was charged with. There is, were responsible for the deaths of civilians. activities here.” however, a video that was widely shown on She asserts that most of those still being According to the Minsk agreement of all Russian propaganda channels. In it, Mr. held were seized near Ilovaisk, and claims February 12, 2015, all persons illegally held Chudnetsov looks as if he has been beaten that some are accused of rape, murder and must be exchanged, on an “all for all” basis. and has had about half his teeth knocked torture. A recent planned exchange fell through, out. The torture he was almost certainly Many Ukrainian soldiers died near according to the Ukrainian side, because subjected to is not mentioned. Instead, it is Ilovaisk, after the militants’ promise of safe the militants suddenly put forward new claimed that he surrendered and then at a passage proved to be a treacherous lie. and impossible demands. The militants, in press conference he oluntarily provides Neither then, nor on other occasions, was it turn, blame Ukraine. Yurii Tandit from the what is purported to be information about only soldiers who were taken prisoner and Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) center the foreigners supposedly instructing Azov tortured, as the experience of journalist trying to organize exchanges speaks of 130 – from Georgia, Sweden and the U.S. – or Yevhen Vorobyov demonstrated. people on its list of Ukrainians held hos- fighting as mercenaries, and the foreign Her list of prisoners for exchange from tage. The figure for people registered as weapons purportedly used. the militants’ side, she says, comprises missing is much higher – over 600. Ms. Morozova is asked by Novaya Gazeta if 1,490 names. She asserts that the DPR Ms. Morozova, who calls herself the people like Mr. Chudnetsov could be part of knows definitely that these people are in “DPR human rights ombudsperson,” spoke the list of people to be exchanged. She replies detention in government-controlled terri- to Yuliya Polukhina for an article published that, for the moment, that is not possible, and tory, facing criminal charges. The SBU, in the Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta that the DPR is working on the same princi- meanwhile, says that it is aware of only 465 on February 8. Her words have been widely ple as the Ukrainian authorities. She claims The reverse of the pysanka coin people. discussed and commented on in Ukraine, that Ukrainian authorities have 30 people bears an image of Queen Elizabeth. so the lack of any retraction from Ms. sentenced to terms ranging from 15 years to (Continued on page 16) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 No. 7

ANALYSIS

Bypassing Russia, Ukraine becomes Sergeyev quits foreign service tive” foreign policy. “In my 50-plus years in the intelligence business, I cannot recall a KYIV – Former Permanent Representative more diverse array of challenges and crises of Ukraine to the United Nations Yuriy another “Silk Road” terminus that we confront as we do today,” Mr. Sergeyev has announced the end of his diplo- International Sea Trade Port via the route Clapper told the U.S. Senate Armed Services by John C.K. Daly matic career. “My friends, everything that has in early August (Xinhua, August 4, 2015). Committee on February 9 while discussing Eurasia Daily Monitor a beginning has an ending. Today I’ve decid- The train, carrying 82 containers on 41 his agency’s annual worldwide threat ed to retire after many years’ career as a dip- Since an uprising unseated the pro-Rus- railcars, departed Shihezi, China, on July 28 assessment. In his prepared statement to lomat,” he wrote on Twitter on February 8. sian regime of Ukrainian President Viktor (AzerNews, August 3, 2015). the committee, Mr. Clapper said disrup- The ambassador thanked everyone for sup- Yanukovych in February 2014, relations The new route is more expensive than tions in cyberspace and attacks by U.S.- port and noted that, “after all, one can serve between Kyiv and Moscow have gone from transiting goods through Russia. based supporters of violent extremists are Ukraine in other ways.” As reported earlier, bad to worse. Responding to a recent ban Commenting on the launch of the new rail the most imminent security threats faced on December 9, 2015, Ukrainian President of Ukrainian imports and seeking a way to initiative to China through Georgia and by the United States in 2016. Regarding Petro Poroshenko appointed a new perma- reach post-Soviet Central Asian states and Azerbaijan, Ukrainian Prime Minister Russia, Mr. Clapper said that, despite nent representative of Ukraine to the United East Asia without transiting Russia, on Arseniy Yatsenyuk remarked, “In develop- reduced violence between Ukrainian forces Nations, Volodymyr Yelchenko. Ambassador January 15 Ukraine dispatched a 30-car ing the train route, the first step is ensuring and Russia-backed separatists in eastern Sergeyev represented Ukraine at the U.N. container train from Illichivsk along the a route that bypasses Russia and creates Ukraine, the Kremlin will continue to main- from April 2007 to December 2015. (UNIAN) Trans-Caspian International Transport alternatives for exporting Ukrainian goods. tain “long-term influence over Kyiv” and Route (TITR) on a test journey through I’ll be honest, the first phase – is expensive. Lawyer: Deal for Savchenko’s return frustrate “Ukraine’s attempts to integrate Georgia, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan to But if we load the train and increase the with Western institutions.” He added: China, utilizing ferries across the Caspian volume of traffic, we will get the same MOSCOW – The lead defense lawyer for “Events in Ukraine raised Moscow’s per- and Black seas. logistics costs, as before the introduction of Ukrainian pilot and Verkhovna Rada depu- ceived stakes for increasing its presence in While Ukraine’s initial expectations for the transit ban by Russia” (UNIAN, January ty Nadiya Savchenko said Russia and the region to prevent future regime change the route are modest, in time it could 22, 2016). Ukraine have agreed to the conditions of in the former Soviet republics and for accel- become a significant element in the multi- Ukrainian Railways Acting Chairman her return to Ukraine. Mark Feigin told erating a shift to a multi-polar world in vector railway network slowly emerging Aleksandr Zavgorodnii provided particu- Ukraine’s Channel 5 television on February which Russia is the uncontested regional across Eurasia. lars of the new railway initiative, saying, 5 that Ms. Savchenko, 34, will be convicted hegemon in Eurasia.” Mr. Clapper told law- By becoming involved with TITR, cur- “The new Ukrainian ferry-train container “toward the end of February” on charges makers during the hearing that Russia is rently running from China via Kazakhstan, route, which is 3,400 miles, will take that she directed artillery fire in a 2014 “paranoid” about being challenged by Azerbaijan, Georgia and Turkey to Europe, about 10-12 days. The test train is on incident in which two Russian journalists NATO, and that its efforts to challenge Ukraine is forging new economic relations schedule operating in the mode of a pas- were killed. Ms. Savchenko says she was American power could drive it into a new with post-Soviet Caucasian and Central senger train at a speed of 50 miles an kidnapped in Ukraine before being taken Cold War. “They’re greatly concerned about for trial in Russia’s Rostov region. Mr. Feigin Asian states along a route terminating in hour. This is a fairly high speed, which will being contained,” he said. Mr. Clapper said that after she is convicted, it has been China. TITR is a key component in China’s compete with road transport. In launching added that Russia in 2016 will raise pres- agreed that she will be turned over to “One Belt One Road” initiative to establish the pilot train, it was important to work sure on neighboring states to join the Ukraine. He said her trial in Russia was multi-modal transport links across Eurasia. out the ferry logistics. Currently, eight fer- Moscow-led Eurasian Economic Union, “political and propagandistic.” Ms. While Ukraine has had maritime trade with ries are operating on the Black Sea and 13 which former Soviet republics Armenia, Savchenko has been on a hunger strike China, the new rail line bypassing Russia on the Caspian” (Odesskaia Zhizn’, January Belarus, Kazakhstan and Kyrgyzstan have since December 17 and is reportedly suf- has economic potential for both states, as 20, 2016). already joined. He cited his agency’s threat fering health complications. (RFE/RL, well as those along the way in the form of The political fallout from TITR has assessment that Russia’s “willingness to based on reporting by Channel 5) transit fees. already begun, with post-Soviet nations covertly use military and paramilitary forc- es in a neighboring state continues to cause Ukraine’s interest in the route intensi- scrambling to reassure Russia of their Clapper cites ‘assertive’ Russia anxieties in states along Russia’s periph- fied after Russia on January 1 banned benign intentions. On January 15, Kazakh ery.” (RFE/RL, with reporting by Reuters, most Ukrainian food exports and imposed First Deputy Prime Minister Bakytzhan WASHINGTON – U.S. National AP and AFP) higher taxes on the few remaining indus- Sagintayev said, “The issue is not that a Intelligence Director James Clapper said that Russia remains intent on pursuing an trial products that Ukraine exported to the number of countries have gathered togeth- Canadian forces begin new training cycle Russian market, the same day Ukraine’s er and are pursuing a weird policy regard- “assertive foreign policy” in 2016, including free-trade agreement with the European ing Russia aimed at making it break off hampering Ukraine’s Western aspirations. OTTAWA – The new rotation of Joint Union came into force. The free-trade relationship in the area of free trade with He said the U.S. faces an unprecedented Task Force Ukraine (JTF-U) – approximate- deal, signed in June 2014, three months Ukraine. It’s absolutely not the case” (TASS, array of security challenges including ly 200 Canadian soldiers, mostly from the after Crimea joined Russia, is part of the January 15, 2016). cyberattacks, “homegrown” terrorists, 2nd Canadian Division – began a new train- broader EU Association Agreement and How Russia will express its displeasure Islamic State extremists, North Korea’s nuclear saber-rattling, and Russia’s “asser- (Continued on page 12) grants Ukraine tariff-free access to the with Azerbaijan, Georgia and Kazakhstan European Union’s market, with Brussels assisting Ukraine broaden its export expecting it to boost Ukraine’s struggling options beyond Russia will eventually economy. emerge; as for Moscow expressing annoy- Ukrainian participation in TITR is a key ance with China’s participation, Russia has The Ukrainian Weekly FOUNDED 1933 element in the country’s efforts to lessen far fewer cards to play. Russia’s influence on its economy by devel- Ukraine’s intention in dispatching its An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., oping trade routes in conjunction with test train is obvious: to circumvent Russia’s a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. other post-Soviet states seeking to expand previous monopoly of east-west trade via Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. their multi-vector transport options. the Tran-Siberian Railway, which held a Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. Beyond trade, the new route has strategic monopoly on the Eurasian transit of goods (ISSN — 0273-9348) implications for Ukraine. for more than a century after its comple- The Weekly: UNA: Vadim Sidiachenko, the head of the eco- tion. Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 nomic department of the Ukrainian Similarly, Russia’s intentions are equal- Embassy in Azerbaijan, observed, “When ly evident: to hamstring the Ukrainian Postmaster, send address changes to: Russia banned transportation of Ukrainian economy by not only depriving it of access The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz goods through their country, the Trans- to the Russian market, but by banning 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas P.O. Box 280 Caspian corridor became strategic for transit to deny Ukraine entry to the prom- Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] Ukraine. The Ukrainian Embassy is closely ising markets of Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan, cooperating with all Azerbaijan’s transpor- Kyrgyzstan, China and other Asian coun- The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com tation entities, particularly Azerbaijan tries. Railways and the government’s What remains to be seen is the form and The Ukrainian Weekly, February 14, 2016, No. 7, Vol. LXXXIV Coordinating Council for Transit Cargo. We volume of Ukraine’s Asian TITR trade, and Copyright © 2016 The Ukrainian Weekly applaud as good the decision to establish whether it will provide Kyiv with positive the Coordinating Council, because it has trade balances, or simply turn Ukraine into become a single window through which we another emporium of Chinese goods along can solve transit issues, where we have the Silk Road. ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA already solved certain issues on tariffs and Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 transportation” (Trend, January 17, 2016). The article above is reprinted from and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 e-mail: [email protected] The feasibility of the trade route was Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from first demonstrated last year, when China’s Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, e-mail: [email protected] first test container train arrived in the Baku www.jamestown.org. No. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 3

FOR THE RECORD NEWS ANALYSIS Ukrainian bishops issue urgent appeal EU debate initiative sparks to the politicians and people of Ukraine fears of concessions to Russia

Address of the Synod of Bishops of the fidence in the institutions of government – by Rikard Jozwiak The exercise is worrying member states Kyiv-Galician Major Archbishopric of the a situation that under current conditions RFE/RL such as Sweden and Poland, which fear that Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church to govern- can only benefit our enemies. EU unity over Russia’s actions in Ukraine – ment officials, politicians and the civil soci- Ukrainian society wants to see the BRUSSELS – European Union foreign its seizure of Crimea and support for armed ety of Ukraine released on February 4. results of its struggle for a decent life, for policy chief Federica Mogherini initiated an separatists in the Donbas region – is slowly (Source: Euromaidan Press, translated by which our people have paid and continue internal debate last month with a group of eroding. Anna Mostovych.) to pay such a high price in blood and sacri- fellow European commissioners on how to It comes a year after a discussion paper fices on the Maidan and in the east of improve cooperation with Russia, causing endorsed by Ms. Mogherini that suggested We, the bishops of the Ukrainian Greek- Ukraine. However, we must warn you that concern among EU members that want to a proactive approach toward Russia, just as Catholic Church, meeting at the current any government inevitably discredits itself keep up the pressure on Moscow over its the separatists were launching an offensive Holy Synod, cannot remain aloof from the when it acts according to a double stan- interference in Ukraine, sources have told near the crucial government-held city of present hopes and fears of our society. dard and when the actions of certain of its RFE/RL. Mariupol. She has kept a low profile since After all, the common good of the people, representatives are contrary to their own The discussion was held in mid-January then on issues involving the EU’s eastern the true good of man, the freedom and dig- declarations. When people pay with their among European Commission members neighbors, and it is unclear how much trac- nity granted to him by God, is and always blood on the field of battle for the very whose portfolios involve ties with countries tion the new initiative will pick up. will be at the center of the pastoral care of independence of the state, it is unaccept- outside the 28-nation EU. Its purpose, Skeptical commissioners the Church . able to negate their efforts by inhibiting according to a source with insight into the Our country has all the necessary change through internal strife and by trad- meeting, was to prepare a “concept where One EU official, who spoke on condition requirements and possesses all the neces- ing on their good name in the international we perhaps can have some cooperation of anonymity, told RFE/RL that most of the sary resources – social, intellectual, work community. Society expects from govern- without endangering our position on European commissioners who took part in force – to ensure a decent life for every citi- ment officials new and honest laws that Russia sanctions.” the debate where skeptical. “Why should we envisage a scenario [of zen. At the same time, society needs lead- they must respect, as well as responsible The meeting came at the start of a year greater cooperation] now, when Russia isn’t ers who do not waste these resources and transparent actions that provide the that could bring crucial developments in moving?” the official said. The remark was a needlessly, who are ready to assume basis for trust and hope. the standoff between Moscow and the West reference to perceptions that Moscow has responsibility for We send an urgent over Ukraine. Russia wants relief from EU done little to fulfill its obligations under the implementation appeal to those sanctions imposed in response to its inter- Minsk II, a February 2015 deal to end the of the aspirations of Concern for the whom the people ference in Ukraine, and appears to hope war that has killed more than 9,000 people the Ukrainian peo- common good and have entrusted with Europe’s resolve will flag before they come in eastern Ukraine and restore Kyiv’s con- ple. The previous the concentration governmental pow- up for renewal in July. trol over its border. government did not ers not to place per- Details of what such cooperation could Ms. Mogherini’s office did not immedi- carry out this duty of all available sonal, business or look like are scarce, but one source said it ately respond to a request for comment and, under pressure resources toward party interests above might entail boosting economic coopera- lodged by RFE/RL on February 8. from the people and those of the entire tion at a time when the Russian economy is at the cost of the the defense of human nation. Concern for faltering. (Continued on page 4) spilled blood of the dignity and the the common good heroes of the and the concentra- Heavenly Brigade, establishment of tion of all available was forced to leave. social justice in our resources toward the Quotable notes The subsequent defense of human “A full ceasefire, the withdrawal of Russian forces from Ukraine, complete access elections offered nation must become dignity and the estab- for the OSCE SMM [Special Monitoring Mission] all the way to Ukraine’s international hope that the politi- the consolidating lishment of social jus- border, free and fair local elections in the Donbas and the reinstatement of Ukraine’s cal system would be tice in our nation control over its international border are all indispensable elements of Minsk imple- remade and the factors for all of must become the mentation. Sanctions must remain in place until Russia fulfills the commitments it rules of conduct for society and its consolidating factors made when it signed the Minsk Agreements. ... government officials for all of society and “It is unfortunate that the Russian Federation continues to deny that its aggression would be changed. leaders. its leaders. against Ukraine is in violation of its international commitments. On January 26, This is why, after the The latest develop- Foreign Minister [Sergey] Lavrov claimed Russia had not violated the Budapest Maidan, society gave a new vote of confi- ments in Ukrainian politics suggest that Memorandum, because the agreement only obligates Russia not to use nuclear dence to its leaders, for which they bear today the deadline for such a change of very heavy responsibility. weapons against Ukraine. In fact, in signing the Budapest Memorandum, the Russian conscience in the government has arrived, Federation reaffirmed its obligation to ‘refrain from the threat or use of force against However, today it is clear to the naked so that we may cross the point of no return eye that disillusionment and fear are grow- the territorial integrity or political independence of Ukraine.’ This statement is a con- beyond which it will become possible to fession of the violation. International law, as confirmed by the U.N. General Assembly ing in society. These days the Church is par- build a truly independent country without ticularly alarmed by indications that the as well as the Helsinki Final Act, obligate and commit Russia to reverse its actions in the devastating effects of the post-Soviet Crimea.” reforms demanded and needed by our traumas. society are being blocked at the state level. Finally, we want to appeal to all people – U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Kate Byrnes, speaking in Vienna on January 28 at a meeting We, as pastors, will not attempt to offer an of good will in Ukraine. Dear compatriots! of the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, expert evaluation of the political and eco- After the Maidan, under conditions of as quoted by the Ukrainian Canadian Congress in its “Crisis in Ukraine: Daily Briefing.” nomic situation in the country. However, external military aggression against our we share the opinions of our faithful and country, the Ukrainian people do not have the general public about the urgent need “The United States condemns the continued detention of Nadiya Savchenko, Oleh for reforms, which inherently must offer the right to turn into a society of the disillu- Sentsov, Oleksander Kolchenko, Stanislav Klikh, Mykola Karpyuk, Akhtem Chiygoz the Ukrainian people the possibility of real- sioned or the desperate. That would be the and all other Ukrainians unjustly held in Russia and in Russian-occupied Crimea. izing their God-given talents while guaran- biggest defeat for everyone. It is necessary Human rights groups estimate that there are currently at least 20 such cases. teeing them social justice and the fulfill- to keep a cool head and remain calm to “The United States continues to monitor Ms. Savchenko’s trial closely. On February ment of their hopes for a decent life for avoid squandering through rash actions or 1, Ms. Savchenko, who continues her hunger strike in protest of her illegitimate and themselves and their descendants. reckless steps the gains that we have ongoing imprisonment and prosecution, testified in her own defense. She implicated Constitutional changes, especially, must be achieved at such a high price. “It was for a former employee of the Russian presidential administration and the former head of approached with a particular sense of freedom that Christ set us free; therefore the so-called ‘Luhansk People’s Republic’ by name as having abducted her from responsibility. After all, ill-considered keep standing firm and do not be subject Ukraine in June 2014. actions in this area can carry with them again to a yoke of slavery.” (Galations 5:1) “These serious charges should be fairly considered and all evidence examined. damage to the unity of society and a threat Let these words of God serve as encourage- However, the judges have refused a defense motion to summon these individuals to to the sovereignty and integrity of our ment for all of us to further persistent testify and have shown contempt throughout the trial for their obligation to ensure a homeland. work and the guarantee for our hope of fair, equal and transparent process. Groundless delays and deferrals of final victory of the forces of righteousness “…The charges against Ukrainian citizens held for politically-motivated reasons reforms hold back the development of our and truth over the forces of darkness and should be dismissed. These individuals should be released immediately and, in the society. The vested interests and actions of evil. case of those being held within Russia, be allowed to return to Ukraine. The failure of certain politicians and groups present an We call on all the faithful to renewed Russia to do so continues to contravene its OSCE commitments as well as its commit- ever-greater threat because they destroy prayer for our people, our government and ments under the Minsk agreements.” the faith of Ukrainians in the very possibili- all our military, and may the continued – U.S. Chargé d’Affaires Kate Byrnes, speaking on February 4 in Vienna at the ty of vital and necessary changes. blessings of God the Father, the Son and the Permanent Council of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe. Furthermore, they also destroy public con- Holy Spirit be with all of you! 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 No. 7

EU debate... Ukrainian American leaders greet (Continued from page 3) While participants in the discussion Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko were asked to come back with suggestions, the official said there have been few con- by Matthew Dubas crete contributions on the topic since the NEW YORK – Dozens of Ukrainian mid-January meeting. American community representatives gath- But the issue is likely to come back to ered on February 5 at Ukraine’s Permanent the fore this spring, with countries such as Mission to the United Nations in New York Italy and Austria expected to step up pres- for a brief luncheon reception hosted by sure on EU institutions to consider bring- Ukraine’s new ambassador to the U.N., ing Russia in from the cold. Volodymyr Yelchenko, and his wife, Iryna. According to sources in Brussels, EU Ambassador Yelchenko, 56, thanked the diplomats have been briefed in recent Ukrainian American community for its weeks by U.S. diplomats who have indicat- work for Ukraine and its work for Ukraine’s ed that Russia might become more con- democratic evolution, and he urged the structive about resolving the conflict in community to continue to do this work. eastern Ukraine in the coming months. Ukraine’s role as a U.N. Security Council member for 2016-2017 will face challeng- No guarantee of extended sanctions es, Mr. Yelchenko added, noting the compe- The American optimism stems from a tition for attention between the conflicts in five-hour meeting last month in the Syria and Ukraine. The ambassador also Russian exclave of Kaliningrad between called on the Ukrainian community to score Victoria Nuland, the U.S. assistant secretary his performance and said he is open to sug- Matthew Dubas of state for European and Eurasian affairs, gestions. He underscored that the commu- Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko and his wife, Iryna, welcome members of the and Vladislav Surkov, an influential aide to Ukrainian American community to Ukraine’s Mission to the United Nations. nity should continue to speak out against Russian President Vladimir Putin. backsliding on reforms in Ukraine and According to RFE/RL sources, the pair thanked the informal gathering for its sup- spoke in great detail about preparations for port as he assumes the role of ambassador elections in the Luhansk and Donetsk to the U.N. Among the community organi- regions, partially held by the Russia-backed zations represented at the reception was rebels, which eventually could pave the the Ukrainan National Association. way for a settlement of the conflict. A graduate of Kyiv State University in The European External Action Service 1981, since that time Mr. Yelchenko has will also prepare a discussion paper on the worked in the diplomatic service of Ukraine. EU’s relationship with Russia, to be dis- Previously, he worked as Ukraine’s ambas- cussed when the bloc’s foreign affairs min- sador to the U.N. (1997-2000), he served as isters meet in Brussels on March 14. Ukraine’s ambassador to Austria (2005- Member states eager to keep up the 2006), as ambassador to the International pressure on Russia are hoping that will be Organizations in Vienna (2006-2010) and, the final debate on the issue among foreign most recently, as ambassador of Ukraine to ministers, and that heads of government the Russian Federation (2010-2015). will take over the talks – especially on eco- The Permanent Mission of Ukraine to nomic sanctions, which expire on July 31 if the U.N. is located at 220 E. 51st St. they are not renewed. Working hours are Monday through Friday, European Council sources say that 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Readers may contact the renewal of the sanctions last extended in Mission via e-mail, [email protected], or December is far from guaranteed this time, Ukrainian American community leaders discuss efforts to aid Ukraine during the and that the issue is likely to be the subject reception with Ambassador Volodymyr Yelchenko and his wife, Iryna. telephone, 212-759-7003. of tough debate at the EU summit in Brussels in late June. EU diplomats have said that EU leaders may start discussing the issue of extending Community bids farewell to Ambassador Sergeyev sanctions at European Union summit in March, taking the initiative away from EU foreign ministers. A council source told RFE/RL that some nations fear EU foreign affairs ministers who are both more sympathetic to Moscow and tired of the lack of progress of reforms in Kyiv will present a list of proposals for EU-Russia cooperation – and that some of the proposals will have to be accepted in exchange for extending the sanctions. Copyright 2016, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see http://www.rferl.org/content/eu-mogheri- ni-sanctions-debate-russia-conces- sions/27541318.html). LIKE

Lev Khmelkovsky The Ukrainian NEW YORK – Representatives of Ukrainian American community organizations and institutions gathered here at the Ukrainian Restaurant on Sunday, January 10, to bid a fond farewell to Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev, Ukraine’s permanent representative to Weekly the United Nations from 2007 until the end of 2015, and his wife, Dr. Nataliya Sergeyev. Tamara Olexy, president of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, spoke on behalf of the community, thanking Ambassador Sergeyev for his many years of work on Facebook! for the benefit of Ukraine and for his exemplary cooperation with Ukrainian Americans. Among the organizations whose leaders attended the luncheon were several Ukrainian credit unions, the Ukrainian National Association, Ukrainian National Women’s League www.facebook.com/ of America, World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations, Razom for Ukraine and the U.S. representative of the Crimean TheUkrainianWeekly Tatar Mejlis. Seen above after the luncheon are Ambassador and Dr. Sergeyev with Ukrainian community activists. No. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 5

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

UNA extends greetings Young UNA’ers at UNWLA branch Christening

Gabriel Salas Hrabec, son of Larissa Hrabec and Alberto Salas of Danvers, Mass., is a new member of UNA Branch 234. He was enrolled by his grandmother Vera Hrabec.

UNWLA National President Marianne Zajac (second from right)and UNWLA Branch 136 President Natalie Santarsiero (second from left) with UNA representatives (from left) Bohdana Pyzyk, Slavko Tysiak and Olya Czerkas.

by Slavko Tysiak tion to being active UNA’ers, Ms. Czerkas serves as the UNWLA’s national co-liaison for branches-at-large and is NAPLES, Fla. – Members of the Ukrainian National president of UNWLA Branch 124 in St. Petersburg, while Association’s General Assembly joined over 100 members Ms. Puzyk is the new treasurer of UNWLA Branch 56 in of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America and Newport. guests from across Southwest Florida and elsewhere at The UNA representatives extended the UNA Executive Artichoke & Company in Bonita Springs for the Christening Committee’s best wishes to the 29 newly installed found- of the newly formed UNWLA Branch 136 on Sunday, ing members of Branch 136 and greeted all in attendance, January 31. many of whom are also UNA members. As is UNWLA tradition, Branch 136 members adopted a A statement read by Mr. Tysiak expressed the UNA branch patroness, in this case, Yevheniya Yaroshynska, a Executive Committee’s recognition and support for the highly regarded women’s writer in the Bukovyna region of UNWLA’s work on behalf of the Ukrainian community in western Ukraine who gave voice to peasant living condi- southwest Florida, the United States of America and tions at cusp of the 20th century. Ukraine. Representing the UNA at the Christening were: Slavko Tysiak, chairman of UNA’s Auditing Committee, along with Olya Czerkas and Bohdana Puzyk contributed to this UNA Advisors Olya Czerkas and Bohdana Puzyk. In addi- report. William James Hipp, son of Adam and Katherine Hipp of Hilliard, Ohio, is a new member of UNA Branch 112. He THE UNA: 122 YEARS OF SERVICE TO OUR COMMUNITY was enrolled by his great-grandmother Alice Olenchuk. William is seen with his older brother Thomas, who is also a member of Branch 112.

The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund: December 2015 Amount Name City State St. Vladimir’s Ukrainian Tkacz Virlana New York NY $115.00 Olijnyk Thomas Rosedale NY Orthodox Cathedral Parma OH $10.00 Dubinin Svetlana & Wasily Del Mar CA $100.00 Deychakiwsky Yuriy & Irena Wolchasty Anthony Southampton PA Fedorko James Rutherford NJ North Potomac MD $20.00 Diakun Andrew Williamsville NY Lutwiniak P Sunrise FL Gural Joseph Bayside NY Dolinsky Larissa Westfi eld NJ Ochrym Jean Etobicoke ON Hrycelak Maria Park Ridge IL Drozd Roman Broadview Hts OH Pawluk Markian Lansdale PA Kernitsky Roman Colts Neck NJ Hywel Gregory Mansfi eld Twp NJ Serba Eugene Mount Laurel NJ Masiuk George Alexandria VA Kozicky Lilia Bethlehem PA Sokolski Pauline Wilmington DE Senyk Chrystia & Bohdan Yardley PA Kramarenko Mary East Windsor NJ Wasylkevych Paul Cary NC $70.00 Ritter Alexandra Bethlehem PA Krycki Stefan Clifton NJ $5.00 Horodysky Tamara Eugene OR $50.00 Karapetian Mary Roslindale MA Macko Steven Hoffman Estates IL Kopanycia Dorothy Trenton NJ Melinyshyn John Arlington Hts IL Mirchuk Mykola Livingston NJ Melnycky Peter Edmonton AB Myskiw Peter Phoenix AZ Okruch Rosalie Calumet City IL Onyshkevych Larissa Columbia MD Zinych Tania & Walter Yardley PA Pashesnik Irene Coatesville PA Wowczuk Yurij Pittsburgh PA Polansky Larysa Cleveland OH $45.00 Boyko Olena Urbanna VA TOTAL: $1,825.00 $40.00 Blahy Genya Beechhurst NY Shust Nestor Fairlawn OH Pankiw Andrew Upper Arlington OH Sos John Y & Ulana Providence RI Sincere thanks to all contributors $30.00 Kugler Helen Arlington Hts IL Stecyk Orest Uniontown OH $25.00 Kowal Igor Concord MA Sybydlo Bohdan Mississauga ON to The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund. Motyl Alexander New York NY Wawryshyn Michael Toronto ON Nebesh Chrystyna Parma OH Woloszyn Gregory & Maria Forest Hills NY The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund is the only Pawlenko Natalie Princeton NJ $15.00 Kent Robert Riverhead NY fund dedicated exclusively to supporting Soltys George Montreal QC Nebesny Michael & Stefana Clinton IN the work of this publication. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 No. 7

WINDOW ON EURASIA The Ukrainian Weekly Moscow’s promotion of Russian-Ukrainian ‘brotherhood’ Minsk myths If one were to believe Russian Foreign Affairs Minister Sergey Lavrov and won’t succeed without Russian repentance, analyst says President Vladimir Putin, Ukraine is not fulfilling its commitments under the Minsk agreements, while Russia is. “Ukraine sits back and does nothing,” forcing sanctions by Paul Goble would be credible in the future (grani.ru/ to remain in place, Mr. Lavrov charged, adding, “Europe no longer wants to be held opinion/portnikov/m.247707.html). hostage to this situation.” In recent days, Moscow has renewed its Mr. Portnikov says he could deliver a The guiding principle here is: if you repeat a lie often enough, people will come to effort to promote the idea of “Russian- long lecture on history and point out that believe it. It’s all part of the hybrid war that has been waged against Ukraine by Ukrainian brotherhood” and the notion that Russians should not accept the notion that Russia for the past two years. As U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt said at a recent the two form a single nation. It’s an effort “three centuries of occupation will make conference on “Countering Information War in Ukraine:” “It’s economic pressure; it’s that has three goals, none of which have the occupiers one people with the occu- military pressure, the little green men; it’s political pressure; and of course, it is anything to do with promoting the genuine pied. And even centuries of relative equal information pressure and the weaponization of information.” He explained, “The restoration of ties between the two peoples. existence,” he adds, “will not do so either.” most important single principle to understand about this information warfare is that Instead, this new push is intended to “The English and the Scots are not one it’s not the objective of the Russian Federation in this effort to win an argument; the prevent Russians from concluding that people, true?” he asks rhetorically. “And the goal is not to prove the truth. The goal, rather, is to confuse, distract, deny, and to get their own travails are the result of the Castilians and the Catalonians are not either. Kremlin’s policy in Ukraine, to win points Ukraine off track – to keep us off balance.” And even the Russians and the Tatars” – and with the West by putting out what to many Ukraine and the West must not allow themselves to be distracted. he asked “forgiveness” for his “political will seem an anodyne view and then having Unfortunately, some media outlets have already begun reporting it is Kyiv that is incorrectness” – “are not one people Ukrainians reject it, and to lay the founda- holding up implementation of the Minsk II agreement, and some Western leaders, although you still live together in one state.” tion for expanded Russian pressure on too, have taken the bait. They are simply tired of Ukraine, want to normalize rela- But arguing about history is never all Ukraine to address Russian concerns. tions with Russia, and just want to move on… They are now using the slow pace of that useful, Mr. Portnikov says, and so he Ukrainians overwhelmingly have seen reform in Ukraine as an excuse for possibly lifting sanctions against Russia. explains why Ukrainians now view through Moscow’s intentions and rejected They fail to see that Ukraine has legitimate concerns about the future of its terri- Russians as they do by making reference to this latest “friendship” offensive – something tory, indeed, its very existence as an independent state. They fail to understand the his own experience as a member of a family that has prompted those Russians who have that lost many of its older generation in the complexity and controversy surrounding the idea of some sort of “special status” for participated in it to express their regrets and Holocaust and might be expected to hate parts of the “rebel”-held Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts that is to be enshrined in the even anger about the Ukrainians’ failure to Germans but does not. Constitution of Ukraine – a process and a debate that are ongoing. And they appar- accept their outstretched hands. When he became an adult, Mr. Portnikov ently are unwilling to admit that forcing the holding of elections under conditions of In a January 15 commentary on the Grani says, he realized that “German Jews hardly occupation will most certainly not advance peace. portal, RFE/RL commentator Vitaly felt themselves alien among the Germans At the same time, skirmishes along the line of control between Ukrainian forces Portnikov, a Ukrainian journalist, provides a and many of them, indeed, almost all, viewed and the Russian-backed militants have escalated. For example, the Ukrainian army compelling explanation of why that is so and themselves as Germans of the Jewish faith. operations press center reported on February 11 (as these words were being writ- describes precisely what Russians would And I assure you that these people were less ten) that, during the past 24 hours alone, Ukrainian army positions were fired on 50 have to do if they were ever to have any hope times in various locations in Ukraine’s east. The terrorists holding hostages in the that their offer of friendship with Ukrainians (Continued on page 13) Donbas are threatening to impose death sentences (see page 1). The Special Monitoring Mission of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, which also is reporting numerous ceasefire violations, continues to complain of “freedom-of-movement restrictions” and “denial of access” – thus being prevented from fulfilling its tasks outlined in the Minsk accords. Moscow both violates Minsk accords In fact, it is Russia that is clearly violating the Minsk accords, including provisions calling for withdrawal of all “international” armed units, disarming of all illegal armed and shows why Kyiv can’t accept them units, returning control of the border to Ukraine, allowing the entry of international humanitarian aid, and releasing all hostages and detainees. Ukraine’s Ministry of by Paul Goble demands constitutional reform and politi- Foreign Affairs stated this week that Russia “has not implemented a single point of cal processes, and then on the basis of that Western governments and Moscow con- supposedly will be created an atmosphere the Minsk agreements.” The MFA further reported: “Illegally armed groups controlled tinue to press Kyiv to meet the provisions of trust and the completion of all processes by the Russian Federation continue to systematically shell and fire on positions of the of the Minsk Accords, but the Russian side including closing the border.” Ukrainian armed forces. During January 2016 the illegally armed groups fired on continues to violate them and even more to That suggests, the Kyiv analyst contin- Ukrainian positions over 1,200 times; ...The Russian side continues to send weapons, demonstrate in its demands for change in ues, that “Russia has all the possibilities to military equipment and mercenaries across the border into Donetsk and Luhansk Ukraine why no Ukrainian government close the border right now and is using this oblasts.” (It must also be noted that Russia is holding surprise military drills in its could possibly accept them in their current factor exclusively to blackmail Ukraine.” Southern Military District, which just happens to be on the border with the eastern form, Kyiv analysts say. And as far as the specific points of the regions of Ukraine controlled by combined Russian-“separatist” forces.) Mikhail Samus, the director of Kyiv’s Minsk II agreement are concerned, Russia The Washington Post had it right in its February 5 editorial titled “Is Mr. Putin seri- Center for Research on the Army, has not fulfilled any of them. Points 1 and 2, ous about making peace in Ukraine?”: “The necessary first step is an end to the shooting Conversion and Disarmament, tells Kseniya which call for an immediate ceasefire and the and other measures to ensure security, such as the deployment of international moni- Kirillova, writing for RFE/RL, that it should withdrawal of heavy weapons hasn’t hap- tors to all parts of the Russian-controlled territories. …Rather than pressure Ukraine, be obvious to all on the basis of Vladimir pened. Point 3 regarding monitoring by the the Obama administration should enlist the European Union in insisting that Mr. Putin Putin’s January 11 statement that the Organization for Security and Cooperation in demonstrate with acts that he is ready to end the war. If he does, the climate for a Kremlin leader’s goal is “not an end of the Europe (OSCE) has “also been violated. political deal could be set. If not, all will know who is to blame for a frozen conflict.” armed conflict but rather political changes Points 9 and 10 about withdrawal of forces in Ukraine” (ru.krymr.com/content/arti- and weapons haven’t happened either.” cle/27520349.html). “More than that,” he says, “the Russian If one examines Mr. Putin’s statement to side doesn’t even intend to consider them” the German newspaper Bild, he continues, because it argues that this can happen Feb. Turning the pages back... then it is clear that from Putin’s perspec- “only after constitutional reform in Ukraine tive, “if constitutional reform will be carried and the carrying out of elections on the Two years ago, on February 18, 2014, the Revolution of out in Ukraine, then Russia will end the occupied territories.” Meanwhile, Russian Dignity saw the beginning of its bloodiest days in Kyiv, which occupation of Ukrainian territories.” That is forces and Russian-backed forces continue 18 ended three days later with more than 100 civilians dead – many “very interesting logic” from someone who their activities unrestrained. 2014 by gunfire. presents himself as a peacemaker, Mr. “If Russia maintains its present More than 10,000 protesters marched on February 18 to the Samus adds. approach,” the Kyiv analyst says, “Ukraine Parliament in hopes of urging the government’s return to the It shows that “the end of military actions should reject the Minsk accords and pres- 2004 constitutional amendments. Law enforcement fired stun grenades into the crowd is not a condition for the realization of the ent at an international level an initiative for and that set off the escalation of violence. Protesters began to dig up the cobblestones, Minsk accords,” at least as far as Mr. Putin is the creation of a new form of resolving the passed them to the front lines, where activists hurled these broken stones at police. The concerned, Mr. Samus says. “First he Russian-Ukrainian conflict.” protesters set fire to buses that blocked the authorities from advancing, as sniper fire Given the centrality of Ukrainian consti- could be seen from the rooftops. The protesters responded by firing BB guns and fire- Paul Goble is a long-time specialist on tutional reforms in Russian thinking, it is crackers at the snipers, who were shooting bullets at the protesters. ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia important to recognize just what Moscow The Party of Regions headquarters was attacked by the protesters who threw Molotov who has served in various capacities in the wants – and to see that, if Kyiv accepted cocktails. The event resulted in at least one party employee dead and more than a dozen U.S. State Department, the Central them, it would be condemning Ukraine to a injured. Police retook control of the building by firing shots at the protesters and striking Intelligence Agency and the International rickety instability that Moscow could use to protesters with metal bars. Other battles raged at Mariyinskyi Park, as police advanced on Broadcasting Bureau, as well as at the Voice prevent it from achieving stability or pur- the protesters, attacking journalists as well. of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio suing its foreign policy goals. That night, the Berkut launched its attack on Maidan with more stun grenades and Liberty and the Carnegie Endowment for In a blog post, Kirill Sazonov lists the Molotov cocktails that set the tents on fire, and directed water cannons at the protesters. International Peace. The article above is three things Moscow and its forces in the The protesters responded by feeding the fires to create a smokescreen and a firewall to reprinted with permission from his blog Donbas are demanding. First, they want the called “Window on Eurasia” (http://windo- (Continued on page 15) woneurasia2.blogspot.com/). (Continued on page 16) No. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 7

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

doned the president because his record has shown that he is anything but a friend. And Re: Vitvitsky’s letter if Dr. Vitvitsky thinks it will change during about UCCA statement the next 10 months of Mr. Obama’s lame- duck presidency, as he seems to imply, he is Dear Editor: deluding himself. That said, it is Dr. Re: Bohdan Vitvitsky’s letter (January Vitvitsky’s comment that is unhinged 31) regarding UCCA’s statement (January beyond the pale, not the UCCA’s statement as he wrote. Getting personal 24). First, kudos to the Ukrainian Congress Jaroslaw Martyniuk Many of us are aware that Europe’s larg- Many of us have traveled to Ukraine and Committee of America for pointing out Washington est internal refugee crisis since World War visited areas that are now bombed out President Barack Obama’s egregious mis- II is taking place in Ukraine today. Over 5 shells or, worse yet, we know people who statements about Ukraine in his State of million civilians have experienced the trau- have died as a result of Russia’s invasion. the Union address. President Obama did ma of war, the majority of whom are Our friends, teachers and civic leaders need get it wrong when it came to Ukraine. By UCCA statement women, children and the elderly. According to be made aware that for us it isn’t a saying that Ukraine is a client state of to The New York Times, 3.2 million semantic argument. When they say Russia, he demonstrated his shocking igno- was correct Ukrainians are currently living amid “Crimea is lost. Forget about it” or, “the U.S. destruction or are in dire need of humani- has done all that it can, let’s not start World rance of foreign policy and geopolitics. The Dear Editor: UCCA’s statement, therefore, was necessary tarian aid this winter. And according to the War III,” they are referring to our ancestral to correct the record. Bohdan Vitvitsky’s letter (January 31), U.N. Office for the Coordination of homeland, which is literally being erased What made it doubly shocking is that although somewhat accurate, does need Humanitarian Affairs, nearly 2 million citi- from the map. No matter what outdated these words were spoken by the president some clarification. zens of Ukraine have been “forcibly dis- textbooks they cite, or conventional wis- of the United States during a major address He says that the United States has given placed.” These numbers are staggering: 5 dom they espouse, each of us has the right to the nation. Russia has not been pumping Ukraine three-quarters of a billion dollars million people totals more than the com- to ask that our culture be respected and money to prop up Ukraine; it has been in various aid since the Maidan. True, how- bined population of six U.S. states, or 11 of that we as a people need not be diminished doing everything to destabilize it. If this ever, this is the wealthiest country in the the smallest European Union countries. when confronted with Western privilege. was due to sloppy speechwriting, then the world, comprising some 324 million peo- More Ukrainians are living amid the ruin of For the students in our community, president owes Ukraine an apology. ple. Canada, a country with only 36 million, war than live in the entire state of Iowa. there is a wealth of information on the Moreover, instead of slighting Ukraine, has given Ukraine $700 million since While these statistics affect our commu- Internet about how to confront school the president should have underscored January 2014. You do the math. nity beyond just the numbers, it has been a administrators if you feel your cultural her- continuing source of frustration that a itage is being diminished because of your that Ukraine’s sovereignty continues to be Much of the various U.S. aid and non- humanitarian disaster of such historic pro- minority status. As a student, you should violated, followed by an announcement of combatant military hardware promised has portions has been effectively removed from have every right to constantly remind a measures to support Ukraine politically, neither arrived or what has is verified as public discussion both in the mass media professor to mention Ukraine every time economically and militarily. The speech being outdated, non-compliant junk. What as well as in our nation’s political conversa- anything touches upon the territory of should have included a decision to provide Ukraine needs is modern, sophisticated tion. modern-day Ukraine. As Andrew Wilson Ukraine with defensive weaponry – an defensive weapons. These have been The people of Ukraine will require fur- writes in his “The Ukrainians: An action Congress authorized him to carry approved by the U.S. Congress in the ther assistance to overcome this deficit, so Unexpected Nation:” “until the equation of out in December 2014. He also should have Ukraine Freedom Support Act of 2014, but it would serve our community well to take Rus’ and Russia is no longer universal,” stu- ratcheted up pressure on Russia to release President Barack Obama is afraid to sign off. a look at our daily lives and see if we’ve dents will continue to find it difficult to Ukrainian hostages languishing in Moscow And finally, then the UCCA states “shaken every branch” within our reach. engage with the political reality of an inde- prisons. President Obama has a shocking ignorance of foreign policy, they are correct. This has Understandably, we’re about as likely to pendent Ukrainian state. Next I should like to turn to Bohdan find a spare aircraft carrier to donate as we Lastly, I can’t stress enough the impor- Vitvitsky’s letter to the editor, in which he been shown in his dealings with Russia (specifically Vladimir Putin), Syria, Iran, the would be to win the lottery to clear out our tance of making sure that you engage in the claims he was “astounded by UCCA’s state- debts. But if we were to look at this as a political process this year. While politicians ment.” Dr. Vitvitsky still believes that closing of Guantanamo, and the selling out of Israel, among a few examples. decades-long endeavor, and start amortiz- and political parties in the U.S. are forbid- President Obama is a friend of Ukraine. ing this deficit, the individual contributions den from finding out who you voted for, Unfortunately, the president’s words have Michael W. Bohdan across this country could one day pay off in they pay very close attention to the infor- not been backed up by any meaningful Cranford, N.J. the long run. mation that is available to them, namely, actions. If anything, Mr. Obama has shown So, let’s ask ourselves: How often do I who is registered to vote and if those peo- a bizarre disinterest in foreign policy in address Ukraine – its culture, its people, its ple sign-in to vote on Election Day. Political general and Ukraine and its people in par- present state of war – with those I know? futures in this country have more often ticular. Yes, Vice-president Joe Biden did go GUIDELINES FOR LETTERS Have I shared Ukrainian movies or music been swayed by the ability of communities to Ukraine, but why has the president not TO THE EDITOR with a non-Ukrainian in the past month? to get themselves registered to vote in the found the time even once to stop in Kyiv to How often do I now put on a patriotic item first place, rather than the result at the bal- show his solidarity with Ukrainians? The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters of clothing since the revolution began? lot box. Many other communities have to the editor and commentaries on a vari- Moreover, Dr. Vitvitsky writes that “this How often have I reached out to find fellow mobilized to get their names added to the administration has been Ukraine’s stron- ety of topics of concern to the Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian com- Ukrainians or communities that I previous- voting rolls at the same time as they assail gest defender on the international stage… , munities. Opinions expressed by colum- ly hadn’t met before? When was the last the media and public officials to recognize led the movement on sanctions… , given nists, commentators and letter-writers are time I brought up Ukraine in a conversa- the plight of their community. The more we Ukraine three-quarters of billion dollars their own and do not necessarily reflect tion with someone? register and come out to vote, the more since the Maidan? Doesn’t Dr. Vitvitsky the opinions of either The Weekly edito- That’s a good start on being pro-active, we’ll hear a response from elected officials realize that these things happened despite rial staff or its publisher, the Ukrainian but what about our reactions: Do I write and their media pool. President Obama? They happened because National Association. Letters must be signed (anonymous let- letters or e-mails in response to any knuck- Finding out how to register is as simple Congress passed legislation that was large- ters are not published). The daytime phone le-headed portrayal of Ukraine in the as visiting USA.gov. And when you show up ly the result of the UCCA’s advocacy efforts number and complete mailing address of media? (I’m looking at you, “Madam to vote, don’t be too shy to explain to the and events like the Ukrainian Days in the letter-writer must be given for verifica- Secretary.”) How do I react when Ukrainian person across the desk from you why Washington. tion purposes. history is labeled as Russian, either in our you’re wearing an embroidered shirt, or Finally, I find it puzzling that Dr. Please note: The length of letters cannot textbooks or media? Do I let things slide suggest that they check out “Winter on Vitvitsky or others in the Ukrainian com- exceed 500 words. Letters may be edit- when Kyiv is repeatedly referred to as Fire” on Netflix, or tell them a story of a munity still think that Mr. Obama is a friend ed or abridged. Letters should be sent to [email protected] or to The Ukrainian “Kiev,” or when a politician who should brave Ukrainian lieutenant that served in of Ukraine. I am aware of many former sup- Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, know better refers to Ukraine as a client of Iraq alongside U.S. troops now sitting in a porters “Ukrainians for Obama” have aban- Parsippany, NJ 07054, Russia? Russian jail.

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FOR THE RECORD Patriarch Sviatoslav on upcoming meeting Sheptytsky Institute statement on meeting between pope and Russian patriarch between Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill The text below was translated from the nately, to this day has not condemned this Statement of the Metropolitan Andrey tries has hampered inter-ethnic harmony original Ukrainian text, dated February 5, act of coercion, perpetrated by the Soviet Sheptytsky Institute of Eastern Christian and understanding. It evokes the from the Press Office of the Ukrainian authorities. We hope that the meeting of Studies regarding the upcoming meeting of Russification policies of the USSR. Greek-Catholic Church. The English text the pope and the patriarch will create a Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill of Moscow 3. The Moscow Patriarchate’s continued was provided by the Communications new context for movement in the direc- in Cuba. The statement is dated February 5; misrepresentation of ecclesiastical events Office of the Ukrainian Catholic tion of historical justice,” said His the meeting was scheduled for February 12. in Ukraine: Frequently, the free and legiti- Archeparchy of Philadelphia. Beatitude Sviatoslav. mate desire of Christians in Ukraine to The Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky The head of the UGCC also hopes that choose which Church they belong to, is por- Institute of Eastern Christian Studies at St. “I do not expect that the meeting of the very meeting will change the rhetoric trayed by the Moscow Patriarchate as the Paul University in Ottawa, Canada, wel- Pope Francis with Patriarch Kirill, on the part of radical individuals within seizure of her parishes by “illegitimate,” and comes the announcement of the holy planned for February 12, will bring any the ROC, who do not recognize the even “violent,” means. Ukraine does not father’s meeting with Patriarch Kirill in have an established Church or religion. Its particular changes. Although it is good Catholic Church as a true Church, re-bap- Cuba this Friday, February 12. We consider that the meeting will take place and I am tize Catholics and proselytize into legislation in this area is fully pluralistic. this an opportunity for Pope Francis to Consequently, attempts by the Moscow happy that finally there is an understand- Orthodoxy, refuse to take part in joint raise important issues that have been of ing on the part of the ROC [Russian prayer and on the whole describe the Patriarchate in Ukraine to gain privileged grave concern to Eastern Catholics and status run counter to the separation of Orthodox Church] that meetings are nec- entire process of seeking unity of the many others for more than two decades. essary,” remarked His Beatitude Churches as “the heresy of ecumenism.” Church and state in Ukraine. In fact, it is the Among these issues, beginning with the Moscow Patriarchate’s false or exaggerated Sviatoslav, head of the Ukrainian Greek- An example of such intolerance towards most recent, are the following. Catholic Church, on the announcement of the UGCC was given last week in Donetsk, accusations of violence that engender hos- 1. The support by representatives of the tility among Christians who might other- the meeting of Pope Francis with where during a meeting held outside the Moscow Patriarchate for the Kremlin’s Patriarch Kirill in Cuba. walls of a Greek-Catholic church, we were wise resolve these issues of ecclesial alle- aggression in Eastern Ukraine and the giance with far less rancor. The Moscow The head of the UGCC noted that for referred to as “a sect.” annexation of Crimea: The violation of the many years the ROC refused to participate “It is likely that during the meeting of Patriarchate should be apprised of the fact territorial integrity of Ukraine is contrary to that in Ukraine her desire to maintain the in such a meeting and named the UGCC as the pope with the patriarch they will also all international law, in particular, the an obstacle for dialogue. “The meeting speak of the present situation in Ukraine. kind of privileged status that it enjoyed Budapest Memorandum of 1994 of which under Communism is harmful to its own cannot be an end in itself, but must rather I hope that His Holiness, Pope Francis, the Russian government was a signatory. We interests – not to mention the proclamation be an instrument, a necessary means for who always raises his voice in defense of believe that as a Christian institution the of the Gospel. honest and open dialogue. I am, therefore, the wronged, will be a voice for Moscow Patriarchate is obliged to challenge 4. The Moscow Patriarchate’s claims pleased, that we are no longer considered Ukrainians, who are engaged in a battle the Russian government’s violent activity in against the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic an obstacle and aren’t being used to justi- for the unity and integrity of their land. Ukraine, activity that has led to the death of Church: Since the emergence of the fy one’s unwillingness to engage in such May God grant that Patriarch Kirill ulti- thousands of innocent civilians. Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church (UGCC) dialogue,” said the primate of the UGCC. mately be able to send the necessary sig- 2. The Moscow Patriarchate’s promotion from the underground in 1989, the Moscow He emphasized that the meeting nals to the faithful of the ROC and the of the notion of a “Russian World” (Russkii Patriarchate has consistently made menda- between the two primates will take place Russian government, so that the aggres- Mir): This notion has provided an ideologi- cious accusations against the UGCC. These practically days before 70th the anniver- sion of Russia against Ukraine can cease cal foundation for the Russian govern- began with claims of “violent takeovers” of sary of the Lviv pseudo-sobor, during and that a just peace may be achieved,” ment’s aggression in Ukraine. The idea of a parishes in Western Ukraine and continued which the UGCC was forcibly liquidated. concluded His Beatitude Sviatoslav, head “protectorate” to be exercised by Russia “The Russian Orthodox Church, unfortu- of the UGCC. within Ukraine and other sovereign coun- (Continued on page 15) No. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 9

Borys Potapenko, vice-president of International Council in Support of At the commemoration (from left) are: Michael Kos, board chairman of Selfreliance Walter Tun/Selfreliance Ukraine and co-chair of America Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union; Rep. Danny Davis; Kyiv-Mohyla Deputy Consul General of Poland in Ukraine Committee. Foundation President Marta Farion; SUAFCU President Bohdan Watral. Chicago Robert Rusiecki. Chicago community marks Unity Day, honors heroes defending Ukraine

UCCA Illinois Division CHICAGO – The annual event marking Ukraine’s independence of January 22, 1918, and the unification of eastern and western Ukraine of January 22, 1919, was held at the Ukrainian Cultural Center on January 24. As in previous years, the com- memoration was organized by the Illinois Division of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA). For decades, these dates honored past history and past heroes, but for younger generations they felt distant and discon- nected from current events. Now history resonates in the lives of all generations of Ukrainians throughout the world. The Maidan Revolution, the killing of innocent protesters in Kyiv and then soldiers and civilians in eastern Ukraine, Russia’s inva- Consul General of Ukraine Larysa Gerasko (at the podium) and event emcee Consul General of Lithuania Marius sion of Crimea and the ongoing Russian-led Bohdana Bahrij Gudynas. war in Donbas against Ukraine has brought home the significance of the century-long billion Euro credit line to Ukraine, and at the Lithuanian Independence Day con- Sloviansk, Kramatorsk, Krasnoarmiisk, struggle. As these assaults on Ukraine con- Poland will support Ukraine’s entry into cert, and in support of Ukraine the choir Pisky, Kurakhove and Mariupol, where they tinue, a new generation understands that the European Union and visa-free travel will sing a new composition, ‘Ukrainian met with residents of the towns and mili- the past struggles form the basis for the provisions.” Alleluia’, by America composer Craig tary personnel on the front. Mr. Potapenko road for independence and sovereignty Congressman Danny K. Davis, who is a Courtney.” described the work of volunteer organiza- that Ukraine has had to endure to this day. fervent advocate of coalition-building and Other greetings were presented by tions in many of the same towns and cities. The commemoration in Chicago opened human values in Congress and with his Mariyana Spyropoulos, president of the Both emphasized their admiration of the on a patriotic note with the posting of col- constituents, has been a continuous sup- Metropolitan Water Reclamation District. highly motivated individuals in the volun- ors by the Ukrainian American Veterans porter of the Ukrainian American commu- Ms. Spyropoulos is a friend of the teer sector and the military. In the presen- Post 32, led by Commander Peter Bencak, nity in Illinois. He travelled to Ukraine, and Ukrainian community and on many occa- tation of slides from their trips, the mes- and the singing of the American and is thoroughly familiar with the political, sions welcomed delegations from Ukraine sage that came across was one of hope and Ukrainian national anthems by Nazar economic and social issues faced by the that are working on water management the positive spirit of the fighting units and Karabynovych. Members of Congress, city country. Rep. Davis mesmerized the audi- projects for safety, quality and use, and has volunteers. Both confirmed the need for and county administration officials attend- ence as he recalled his experience of visit- shared her department’s expertise with assistance to the people of the Donbas ed the event, as did representatives of eth- ing Ukraine and seeing the changes taking specialists from Ukraine. region who are struggling to rebuild their nic communities and consulates of place. Honorary Consul of Lithuania Dr. John lives in the territories destroyed by Ukraine’s neighboring countries. Members Larysa Gerasko, consul general of Prunskis thanked Ukrainians for coming to Russian-led terrorists. A special point was of the Ukrainian community, along with the Ukraine, who was recently appointed to defend Lithuania’s Parliament 25 years ago made about the need for psychological pastors of the churches that serve the com- serve in Chicago, reminded everyone that at the moment it declared independence assistance for those suffering post-trau- munity, came together to honor the heroes just as the people of eastern and western from the Soviet Union, and that matic stress. who fight and give their lives for their Ukraine united in 1919, today the invasion Lithuanians shall never forget that support. A brief video prepared by Motria country. A first-time emcee of the program, by Russia united the people of the coun- Greetings from Sen. Mark Kirk, Reps. Bob Melnyk reviewed the struggle for Bohdana Bahriy led the proceedings in try’s east and west regardless of language Dold and Mike Quigley, and from Chicago Ukraine’s independence since 1991, and both the Ukrainian and English languages, or ethnic differences, and provided a Mayor Rahm Emanuel were presented as the current military response to the war impressing everyone with her ability as a national identity and sense of dignity. well. instigated by Russia. Another video fea- public speaker. The consul general of the Republic of The keynote speakers of Unity Day were tured statements and greetings from peo- In his address to the audience, Robert Lithuania, Marius Gudynas, who joined the Marta Farion, attorney, president of the ple living in the area. Donations were col- Rusiecki, deputy consul general of the Ukrainian community in each of the pro- Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation and vice-president lected for humanitarian aid to the Donbas Republic of Poland in Chicago, noted that tests during the freezing Chicago winter in of the Illinois Division of UCCA, and Borys area. last year’s election of President Andrzej support of the Maidan in 2014, expressed Potapenko, vice-president of International An awards presentation conducted by Duda and a new government did not his own and his country’s support of Council in Support of Ukraine and co-chair Dr. Maria Korkastch Groszko, vice-presi- change Poland’s position of support for Ukraine at this difficult time, and spoke of of the America Ukraine Committee. Each dent, and Dr. Alex Striltschuk, president, of Ukraine. Mr. Rusiecki specifically stated the important role of unity. He explained speaker described recent trips through the the UCCA Illinois Division recognized the four points of support that reaffirm his that unity is a tool to reach many goals to Donbas. Mr. Potapenko met with civil soci- many years of dedicated contributions to country’s position. He emphasized, “Poland change lives and bring about a different ety groups and volunteers, and Ms. Farion the Ukrainian community by Ivan Derkach, will support Ukrainian independence and future enshrined in human dignity. He con- visited the military points on the border Volodymyr Bratkiv and Kalyna Wasiunec. sovereignty, Poland will be vigilant on the tinued, “When we stand together, we can- with occupied territories. They were presented with plaques capsu- observance of a ceasefire as provided in the not be defeated. Lithuania stands with Ms. Farion described her route with vol- lizing their activities as an expression of Minsk agreement, Poland will extend a 1 Ukraine. Our Lithuanian choir will perform unteers, starting in Kharkiv, then south to sincere appreciation by the community. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 No. 7 No. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 11

Save the Date! July 8 -10, 2016

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level, the Ukrainian soldiers and officers Prime Minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk have statement on February 10. “Ukraine risks a NEWSBRIEFS are there to learn how to modify their pro- raised expectations of a major ministerial return to the pattern of failed economic cedures and methods to enable them to reshuffle. The government also could face a policies that has plagued its recent history,” (Continued from page 2) work with Western countries. JTF-U is no-confidence vote in Parliament in the she added. Ms. Lagarde’s comments come ing cycle as part of Operation Unifier. working with its partners to determine middle of February. Ukraine has been wait- two days after Ukrainian Finance Minister Canada’s Department of National Defense what institutional changes are needed to ing since October 2015 for the IMF to dis- Natalie Jaresko said the IMF had put aid to noted: “JTF-U, commanded by Lt. Col. Tim ensure that training continues and to make pense more aid as part of a $40 billion Ukraine on hold until it becomes clear Arsenault, replaces the 4th Canadian the Ukrainian military’s structures and package from the IMF, the European Union whether the current government, which is Division to continue the collaborative work work methods compatible with those of its and the United States. Aid payments are reeling from the abrupt exit of its economy of providing military training and capacity allies.” (Ukrainian Canadian Congress) linked to Ukraine adopting reforms that minister last week, survives. (RFE/RL, building to the Ukrainian armed forces. The make its economy more competitive and based on reporting by Reuters and AFP) Jaresko: IMF aid on hold due to crisis reduce corruption. Even before the political Canadians are working alongside U.S., U.K., EU warns Kyiv about Russia sanctions Latvian and Lithuanian military instructors KYIV – The International Monetary Fund crisis resistance to the reforms had delayed at the International Peacekeeping and (IMF) has put aid to Ukraine on hold until it the disbursement of a third tranche worth COPENHAGEN – Denmark’s foreign $1.7 billion. Minister Jaresko said Ukraine Security Center (IPSC) in Starychi, Ukraine. becomes clear whether the current govern- affairs minister has said that, if Ukraine is paying a heavy price for the political tur- Op UNIFIER is part of the whole-of-govern- ment survives, the country’s finance minis- does not implement modernization moil set off by the abrupt resignation of ment effort involved in Canada’s support to ter says. The government is reeling from reforms, it risks undermining European Economy Minister Aivaras Abromavicius, Ukraine, which focuses on development, the abrupt exit of its economy minister last Union support for maintaining sanctions who cited corruption within the ruling security, democracy and humanitarian aid. week, and Finance Minister Natalie against Russia. In an exclusive interview party. The IMF “is not political, but they will Specifically, the Canadian Armed Forces are with Reuters on February 5, Danish Foreign Jaresko’s comments on Ukrainian ICTV on wait until it becomes clear who the execu- mandated to support the efforts to enhance February 8 show how the political crisis Affairs Minister Kristian Jensen said tive authorities are and whether these Ukraine must fully carry out the reforms the Ukrainian Armed Forces’ capacities. … threatens to derail Ukraine’s relationship authorities will take the responsibility to Everything taught during the training is with creditors that have provided a lifeline outlined by the Minsk process for regulat- fulfill the conditions under which they have ing the conflict between Kyiv and Russia- contributing to the transformation of the to the recession-wracked country. Low already provided us with $6.7 billion,” she backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. Ukrainian armed forces. On the tactical approval ratings for the government of told ICTV. “They can provide [aid] to anoth- Otherwise, “it will be very difficult for er government, but another government Europe to continue united in support of must take the responsibility and commit- sanctions against Russia.” The European ment that we took on a year ago,” she Union is concerned about political infight- added. (RFE/RL, with reporting by Reuters, ing in Kyiv and its failure to implement seri- ICTV and Ukraine Today) ous reforms, a failure that was highlighted TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 Lagarde warns Kyiv on stalled reforms by the resignation of Economy Minister or e-mail [email protected] Aivaras Abromavicius. The European Union WASHINGTON – The head of the imposed targeted sanctions against International Monetary Fund (IMF) has Russia’s energy, banking and defense sec- SERVICES PROFESSIONALS told Ukraine that it must enact promised tors in July 2014. The sanctions are sched- reforms and root out corruption or risk los- uled to expire in July, but could be extend- СТЕФАН ВЕЛЬГАШ ing the support of the financial organiza- ed. Under the Minsk process, Kyiv has Ліцензований Продавець tion. “Without a substantial new effort to agreed to adopt constitutional amend- Страхування Життя invigorate governance reforms and fight ments to decentralize power. (RFE/RL, STEPHAN J. WELHASCH corruption, it is hard to see how the IMF- based on reporting by Reuters) Licensed Life Insurance Agent supported program can continue and be Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. successful,” Christine Lagarde said in a (Continued on page 13) 548 Snyder Ave., Berkeley Heights, NJ 07922 Tel.: 908-508-1728 • Fax: (973) 292-0900 e-mail: [email protected] SELF RELIANCE NEW YORK FEDERAL CREDIT UNION

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on the front line. (RFE/RL, based on exists in your own country.” NEWSBRIEFS reporting by AFP and TASS) Moscow’s promotion... “It isn’t important whether there is one people or two; it isn’t important what (Continued from page 12) Turchynov: Russia preps for more aggression (Continued from page 6) Ukrainians say or write to you – you can’t Abromavicius gives evidence of corruption OTTAWA – On February 8, on the order prepared for the wholesale destruction of even imagine what Jews could have written of Russian President Vladimir Putin, their compatriots than Ukrainians were for to the federal chancellor of Germany in KYIV – Former Ukrainian Economy Russia’s attack on them.” 1970,” Mr. Portnikov says. What is impor- Minister Aivaras Abromavicius says he is Russian armed forces in the Rostov Oblast (Southern Military District of the Russian The commentator says that he did not tant is that you have the desire to “fall on providing anti-corruption investigators your knees at the grave of every Ukrainian” Federation) began snap combat readiness come to terms with the Germans because of evidence of influence peddling involving any collective repentance by them. In gener- who has died in this conflict. exercises involving 8,500 troops, over 900 key government officials and state compa- al, he says, he doesn’t believe in such collec- Only a desire is necessary. “Nothing else,” military vehicles, 200 airplanes and 50 nies. Mr. Abromavicius made the com- tive repentance and especially repentance he says. Ukrainians don’t need anything else ships. Speaking in Kyiv, Secretary of the ments on February 8 ahead of his expected by those who have been defeated. Instead, from the Russians, and “this is the only thing testimony to Ukraine’s top anti-graft inves- National Security and Defense Council of he came to terms with the Germans which can, perhaps sometime decades tigation agency and just days after his res- Ukraine Oleksandr Turchynov stated: “All of because of “one single man, Willy Brandt.” from now, reconcile us: your repentance ignation brought the government to the these military exercises are taking place in When Brandt came to the memorial to and your understanding of our pain.” brink of collapse. The Lithuanian-born close vicinity to the eastern border of our the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, he got down It is possible that Russians can’t under- minister was one of several foreign-born country. Moreover, within the context of the on his knees before these victims of the stand this and still view the war as some- officials brought in by President Petro snap combat readiness exercises of the Nazis; and the picture of him doing so, Mr. thing alien to them, especially if they per- Poroshenko as part of efforts to clean up armed forces of the Russian Federation, on Portnikov says, reconciled him with the sonally opposed it. But they must ultimate- endemic government corruption. But the the temporarily occupied territories of Germans. ly recognize that, for Ukrainians, this is push to improve transparency and elimi- Donetsk and Luhansk oblasts training of “Brandt did not have any relation to the their war, and they know who caused it and nate problems like bribery, kickbacks and the so-called 1st and 2nd army corps are crimes of Hitlerism. None at all. He left inflicted the pain they feel so intensely now. preferential hiring for wealthy insiders has taking place. This once again shows that Germany immediately after Hitler came to Those Russians who have supported Ukraine at this difficult time do themselves proceeded at a glacial pace, resulting in these occupation units are an integral part power. He struggled against Nazism all the years of its existence. He became a honor, “no matter what they think about growing frustration both inside Ukraine of the Russian armed forces. In summary, Norwegian citizen and returned to his Russians and Ukrainians being one or two and among Western officials and lenders. we can state that the armed forces of motherland in a Norwegian military uni- peoples. But please grow up. Learn at long In his February 3 resignation letter, Mr. Russia, together with the 1st and 2nd army corps and other units of the occupying forc- form,” Mr. Portnikov continues. last to take responsibility for your own Abromavicius singled out Ihor Kononenko, Consequently, “he could calmly and even state, for its crimes and its mistakes. And a wealthy tycoon who is a member of Mr. es deployed on territory temporarily not under the control of Ukrainian authorities, dispassionately look on a memorial to peo- understand that the level of your responsi- Poroshenko’s political party, saying he had ple with whose murder he had no relation. bility is 100 percent greater than that of the lobbied to get his people appointed to head are undertaking active preparation to con- duct aggressive military actions, which is a More than that, he did everything he could criminals and fools” who do not under- state companies and to top government that that would not occur… But [Brandt] stand, Mr. Portnikov states. positions. Mr. Kononenko rejected the alle- direct threat to our country.” (Ukrainian Canadian Congress) felt a responsibility because the more your And there is an additional reason, Mr. gations as “completely absurd.” Mr. non-involvement, the more your responsi- Portnikov says: “On this understanding Abromavicius told reporters in Kyiv that he Ships join Russian military exercises bility before the victims of the regime that depends not our future but your own.” had collected ample information that he intended to share with the National Anti- MOSCOW – Russia says more than 20 Corruption Bureau. (RFE/RL) warships and support vessels have depart- With deep sorrow we announce that ed from their bases in the Caspian Sea and Prime minister threatens to quit begun training as part of massive combat Halyna Barniak readiness exercises across the country’s KYIV – Ukrainian Prime Minister née Skrut Arseniy Yatsenyuk on February 5 threat- southwest. The military says the snap drill, ened to quit along with his entire Cabinet of which kicked off on February 8, will involve passed away on February 1, 2016. Ministers if the Verkhovna Rada pushes for up to 8,500 troops and 200 aircraft. She was born on July 15, 1930, in Dobriany, Ukraine. Defense Minister Sergei Shoigu said the a government reshuffle. “We all came in as maneuvers are intended to check the Halyna immigrated to the US in 1950. In 1951 she one team, and we will continue working in troops’ ability to respond to extremist married Wolodymyr Barniak, and in 1960 son Roman the future as one team,” the 41-year-old threats and other challenges. They involve was born. The family lived at rst in New York, and later in Chester, NJ. She leader told a televised session of forces stationed in the Southern Military was employed at Henri Bendel in New York. Halyna was a parishioner of Parliament. “And if it is decided that this District, which includes southwestern St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Whippany, NJ. team should be changed, then we will all regions near the border with Crimea – the Funeral services were held at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic leave together.” Mr. Yatsenyuk’s comments Ukrainian peninsula which was annexed by Church in Whippany, NJ. Interment took place at Holy Spirit Ukrainian come after President Petro Poroshenko on Russia in 2014 – the North Caucasus, the Catholic Cemetery in Campbell Hall, NY. February 4 said it is essential to “reset” the Black Sea and the Caspian Sea. The exercis- government amid a growing political crisis Halyna was predeceased by husband Wolodymyr. es are the latest in a series of major drills heightened by the shock resignation of conducted in the past two years amid an Left in deep sorrow... son Roman. reformist Economy Minister Aivaras increase of tension between Russia and the May her memory be eternal. Abromavicius, who said his resignation was West. (RFE/RL, based on reporting by borne out of frustration over the “sharp Interfax and AP) escalation in efforts to block systemic and important reforms.” His resignation has EuroParliament resolution on Crimea sparked concern among Ukraine’s Western STRASBOURG, France – The European allies and prompted President Poroshenko To commemorate the 2nd Anniversary Parliament on February 4 passed a resolu- to hold a meeting with ambassadors from of the passing of tion, in which it: “recalls its severe condem- the G-7 group of leading industrialized nation of the illegal annexation by Russia of nations in a bid to allay their concerns. the Crimean peninsula and the commit- (RFE/RL, based on reporting by AFP and Wolodymyr Barniak ment of the EU, its member states and the Interfax) international community to implement Three killed as minibus hits land mine fully the policy of non-recognition of the born February 7, 1924, Chlypli, Ukraine - February 9, 2014, Morristown, NJ illegal annexation of Crimea; highlights also KYIV – Ukraine says three civilians were that the restoration of Ukrainian control let us remember him in our prayers. killed and two others wounded when a over the peninsula is one of the prerequi- Wolodymyr Barniak served in the UPA, participated in the Raid in the minibus hit a land mine in the country’s sites for re-establishing cooperative rela- West in 1947. He immigrated the US in 1949, married Halyna Skrut in east. The blast took place on February 10 tions with the Russian Federation, includ- 1951. Subsequently son Roman was born. The family lived rst in New some 25 kilometers southwest of Donetsk ing the suspension of related sanctions.” York and later in New Jersey. He was a member of St. John the Baptist when the minibus was leaving separatist- The resolution also: “Strongly condemns Ukrainian Catholic Church in Whippany, NJ. For almost 40 years he controlled territory. Ukrainian military the unprecedented levels of human rights worked at Chase Manhattan Bank, in the position of art preparator in the spokesman Andriy Zadubinnyi said two abuses perpetrated against Crimean resi- corporate art collection. civilians were killed at the scene and one dents, most notably Crimean Tatars, who more died on the way to a hospital. do not follow the imposed rule of the so- May his memory be eternal. According to preliminary information, he called local authorities...; Welcomes the said, the bus driver ignored warning signs Ukrainian initiative to establish an interna- and drove out onto a field to overtake a tional negotiation mechanism on the re- queue of vehicles near a Ukrainian check- establishment of Ukrainian sovereignty DEATH ANNOUNCEMENTS point. Fighting between government forces over Crimea in the ‘Geneva plus’ format, Death announcements should be sent to the Advertising Department by and Russian-backed separatists has killed which should include direct engagement by e-mail to [email protected] or by fax to 973-644-9510. more than 9,000 people in eastern Ukraine the EU… and calls on Russia to start negoti- since April 2014. A ceasefire agreement ations with Ukraine and other parties on Deadline: Tuesday noon before the newspaper’s date of issue. has helped to significantly reduce the vio- the de-occupation of Crimea.” (Ukrainian For further information call 973-292-9800, ext. 3040. lence, although sporadic clashes continue Canadian Congress) 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 No. 7

communications, Royal Canadian Mint, this unprecedented event, and contacted Pysanka... explained that “in general, coins take Alexandre Reeves, asking for more infor- between one and two years to go from idea mation about how this project began. (Continued from page 1) to production. We began work on the proj- During this time, I vaguely remembered spectacular image of a full-color pysanka. It ect about 12 months ago, which would that long ago I had written to the Mint with was a 99.99 percent silver egg-shaped coin mean it was on the radar six to 12 months a suggestion about just such a coin. of a Hutsul pysanka, with the obligatory prior to that development. We are always On August 11, 2014, I had written: “In Queen Elizabeth (not in color) on the verso. looking for new Canadian artists to work 2016 Ukrainian Canadians will be celebrat- One of the bands in the pysanka design is with, and we came across Ann Morash on ing the 125th Anniversary of Ukrainian set- embossed in the silver: “20 DOLLARS 2016 the web while researching pysanky.” tlement in Canada. I’m sure you are aware CANADA.” The selling price: $114.95 Can. Ms. Morash has been writing pysanky of the major contributions this community This is the text of the press release, since the age of 3 or 4. She was born and has contributed to Canada. I was thinking which included images of the coin: raised in Dartmouth, just outside of Halifax, that a commemorative coin for this anni- “2016 $20 Fine Silver Coin – Traditional Nova Scotia, on the east coast of Canada. versary would be most appropriate. My Ukrainian Pysanka. With its handcrafted Her family arrived in Canada sometime in husband is a regular customer of the Royal beauty, rich symbolism and colorful pat- the early 1920s. Her grandfather worked in Mint’s beautiful commemorative coins, and terns, the pysanka egg is one of the beloved the steel mill in Sydney, Cape Breton. Ms. I thought that a Ukrainian-themed coin forms of traditional Ukrainian folk art, and a Morash’s uncle, John Huk, edited “Strangers would definitely be memorable, as well as a unique celebration of spring! On the 125th in the Land: the Ukrainian Presence in Cape best-seller internationally as well as nation- anniversary of Ukrainian settlement in Breton” (Sydney, Nova Scotia: Center for ally. Just think of a pysanka – a Ukrainian Canada, the Royal Canadian Mint celebrates Cape Breton Studies, Cape Breton Easter egg on a loonie or toonie. If a pysan- this time-honored Easter tradition and the University, 2011). She enjoys the cultural ka design were to be chosen, it would have awe-inspiring artistry behind each master- aspects of her heritage, including Ukrainian to be from western Ukraine, from which piece. Launch date: February 2, 2016. Royal Canadian Mint dance, embroidery and cooking. the first immigrants came. There are very “Special features: A side view of the pysanka coin. But it is pysanky that she loves most. For many regional designs.” I received an the final project for her IT diploma, Ms. acknowledgement at the time. EVER egg-shaped coin issued by the Royal tion of the symbolism of the pysanka and Morash created what would later become Mr. Reeves acknowledged my question Canadian• Unique Mint; opportunity to own the FIRST- its colors. www.LearnPysanky.com, a comprehensive about my e-mail, but cautiously replied: While this Canadian coin is the first egg- website where people can learn how to cre- “We get ideas from many places and, design recreates the breathtaking hand- shaped and color pysanka coin in the ate their own pysanky at home, start to finish, though we did hear from you in regards to crafted• Vibrant artistry color of athroughout Ukrainian Easterthe elaborate egg; world, Ukraine had produced two pysanka- with free designs provided. This has this commemoration, it’s quite possible themed coins in the traditional round form: expanded over 20 years to include informa- there were other suggestions received in Ukrainian tradition on the 125th anniversa- a 5 hrv (copper-nickel) and a 20 hrv (sil- tion on where to buy supplies, take work- that time frame. Still, there is no harm in ry of• AUkrainian cultural settlement celebration in Canada;of a beloved ver) in 2009. shops in person, and about Ukrainian recipes. pointing out that you made the suggestion The day the advance notice came out via Ms. Morash said that “I wanted to make to the Mint as long as you don’t claim sole symbolic as many cultures consider the egg e-mail and in the serial catalogue “Coins the design as authentic and traditional as I ownership of the idea.” (I certainly had not to represent• The coin’s life shapeand rebirth, is itself which powerfully is often from the Royal Canadian Mint,” numerous could, while also having a little leeway for planned to do that at all, but was pleased associated with spring; dealers and speculators began advertising artistic expression. I submitted several that this came to fruition, especially in a sil- - on eBay and Kijiji. They had ordered imme- designs, and the one that was chosen was ver $20 coin, and not a “loonie,” $1, or a ning gift to celebrate Easter, spring birth- diately, and were taking pre-orders created into this lovely coin. I’m tremen- “toonie,” $2 coin. Canada no longer has days,• A or deeply any special meaningful occasion; and visually stun (although they had not yet received the dously honored to be chosen to represent paper currency for these values.) It would actual coins). Within hours, the bidding my heritage in this way.” be good to hear from others who had writ- with a low mintage set to just 4,000 coins; began and, a day before launch, the bids * * * ten. Readers may contact me at orysia. • Crafted from 99.99 percent pure silver were up to $200. Two weeks later, the bid- CORRESPONDENT’S NOTE: We ordered [email protected]. reminder of spring to your collection!” ding was up to $300 on some sites. our coins immediately. I began outlining I am now anxiously awaiting the delivery •The A wonderfulrelease continued way to addwith a anyear-round explana- Alexandre Reeves, senior manager for the article for The Ukrainian Weekly about of my own silver pysanka coin. No. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 15

NOTES ON PEOPLE

great hospital.” state comprising 1,717 beds, more than Ihor Sawczuk named president HackensackUMC, a 775- bed nonprofit 10,000 team members and 3,300 creden- teaching and research hospital located in tialed physicians. HackensackUMC was of Hackensack University Medical Center Bergen County is the largest provider of once again listed as the number one hospi- inpatient and outpatient services in New tal in New Jersey in U.S. News & World HACKENSACK, N.J. – Hackensack Jersey. Founded in 1888 as the county’s Report’s 2015-2016 Best Hospital rankings University Health Network announced on first hospital, it is the flagship hospital of – maintaining its place atop the state’s January 28 that Ihor S. Sawczuk, M.D., FACS, Hackensack University Health Network, rankings. has been selected as the new president of one of the largest health networks in the Source: PRNewswire-USNewswire. Hackensack University Medical Center effective April 4. Dr. Sawczuk will transition from his current role as executive vice- president and chief medical officer. Since mid-2015, the network has been Szeremeta joins otolaryngology department conducting a nationwide search for the new HackensackUMC president. The search at University of Texas – Medical Branch was extensive, and many candidates from GALVESTON, Texas – Wasyl Szeremeta, around the nation were considered by the M.D. has joined the Department of search committee. Six final candidates were Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at interviewed by a diverse group of the the University of Texas – Medical Branch HackensackUMC family and community. (UTMB) at Galveston as professor of otolar- HackensackUHN President and CEO yngology – head and neck surgery. Robert C. Garrett has held both the health A cum laude graduate of Harvard network and medical center president and University, he received his M.D. in 1989 CEO positions and will continue in his role from Jefferson Medical College in as president and CEO of Hackensack Dr. Ihor Sawczuk Philadelphia. He subsequently completed University Health Network, and ultimately of Hackensack Meridian Health once the During his tenure as chief academic offi- his internship in general surgery at the merger is complete. cer, his commitment to academic advance- Medical Center of Delaware in Christiana, “For 15 years, HackensackUMC has been ment was evident in his leadership role in and his residency in otolaryngology at the fortunate to have Dr. Sawczuk as not only a the creation of the upcoming school of Henry Ford Health System in Detroit. physician – but as one of our most well- medicine with Seton Hall University, and In 1996, Dr. Szeremeta completed his fel- respected executive leaders,” said Mr. the oversight of HackensackUMC’s affilia- lowship training in pediatric otolaryngolo- Garrett. “His various roles – as executive tion agreements with Georgetown gy at the Children’s Hospital of Pittsburgh. vice-president, chief medical officer, vice- University School of Medicine and Stevens He then joined the faculty at Temple president of Academic Affairs and chairman Institute of Technology. University, where he remained until 2010. of the Department of Urology – are a direct Dr. Sawczuk has been frequently and Prior to coming to UTMB, Dr. Szeremeta reflection of his influence and demonstrated continuously listed as a top doctor in was a member of the Division of leadership within our medical center and national and local publications, reflecting Otolaryngology – Head and Neck Surgery at beyond.” He also recently received the first his positive professional reputation among Stony Brook University in Stony Brook, N.Y. Wasyl Szeremeta, M.D. academic appointment as professor of sur- colleagues and patients alike. He has been In addition to his clinical education, Dr. gery at the upcoming school of medicine the recipient of numerous awards and Szeremeta earned an MBA in healthcare modulators in otitis media; and measures with Seton Hall University. accolades from prestigious academic and management, plus an M.S. in healthcare of otolaryngology resident education and Dr. Sawczuk began his time with medical associations, and his research and finance, from Temple University’s Fox evaluation. HackensackUMC in 2001 as chairperson of publications are referenced throughout the School of Business in 2002. Dr. Szeremeta is a longtime activist of the the Department of Urology. Since then, he country. Dr. Szeremeta’s research interests Ukrainian National Association, having has helped guide the medical center on a “We are proud to have a physician of Dr. include molecular biology of chronic sinus- served three terms on the General Assembly path of clinical, research and academic Sawczuk’s stature as an integral part of our itis and adenoiditis; the effect of adenoton- as a member of the Auditing Committee, excellence. His emphasis on cutting-edge leadership team,” added Mr. Garrett. “The sillectomy on voice and vocal production; before he resigned in order to accept a posi- technology has elevated the Department of board and I are confident that the new pain control in pediatric otolaryngologic tion on the board of directors of the Urology to become one of the leading pro- HackensackUMC president is someone who procedures; predictors of obstructive sleep Ukrainian National Foundation. He is a mem- grams in the country. shares in the values and mission of our apnea in the pediatric population; immune ber of UNA Branch 247 of Wilmington, Del.

facts. The request fell on deaf ears. Consequently, we ask Sheptytsky Institute... His Holiness Pope Francis to propose such a conference Turning the pages back... to Patriarch Kirill, and hereby assert our desire to coop- (Continued from page 6) (Continued from page 8) erate in its realization. We believe that such a confer- with false reports of proselytism, which have never been ence could foster the “Dialogue of Truth” suggested by prevent an advance by the government troops and police. Later, substantiated. Meanwhile, the parishes that chose to the Balamand Statement of 1993. It would also provide assaults included attacks by state-sponsored thugs known as break with Moscow in the early 1990s were all parishes an opportunity for Eastern Catholics and Eastern “titushky.” that had been part of the UGCC until 1946. In that year Orthodox, more specifically, Ukrainian Greek-Catholics On the morning of February 19, the Maidan’s headquarters – the Soviet government, with the complicity of represen- and Russian Orthodox, to move in the direction of a the Trade Union building – was set ablaze and government tatives of the Moscow Patriarchate, forcibly liquidated broader dialogue. responders directed their water cannons at the people rather than the UGCC throughout the USSR. The unwillingness of We hope that Patriarch Kirill’s willingness to over- the burning building. More than 40 people were injured. the Moscow Patriarchate to honestly discuss these mat- come the reluctance to meet the pope – a reluctance On February 20 – the deadliest day of the fighting between pro- ters is another impediment to the healing of memories, that has inevitably led to the perception that the testers and government forces – more than 70 people were killed. promoted so eloquently by St. John Paul II. Moreover, Moscow Patriarchate fears the truth and avoids open Since February 18, as Zenon Zawada reported, more than 1,000 every time that the Moscow Patriarchate has been dialogue – will also lead to a willingness to confront people were injured, 77 people were arrested, 19 of them impris- asked to provide a list of the victims of violence – with the issues listed above in a fair and truly Christian oned for at least two months. Ukraine’s Internal Affairs Ministry medical reports, etc. – it has failed to do so. manner. The cause of the Gospel and the credibility of claimed that it had suffered 10 deaths of its officers, who were also 5. An unwillingness of institutions associated with Christ’s Church can only benefit from such dialogue – if killed by gunfire, and more than 445 of its agents had been injured. the Moscow Patriarchate to publicly study the events the dialogue is indeed sincere and open. Other regions of Ukraine – Lviv, Ternopil, Khmelnytsky and oth- of March 1946 in an objective manner: Next month It is reported that among the chief aims of the meet- ers – responded to the government-sponsored violence against the marks the 70th anniversary of the pseudo-synod of ing of Pope Francis and Patriarch Kirill will be to dis- protesters with similar actions and seizure of buildings. Lviv of 1946. It was at that gathering that the Soviet cuss support for the persecuted Christians of the By February 21, President Viktor Yanukovych and most of his government declared the Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Middle East. The Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky entourage had fled from Ukraine to Russia, fearing criminal prose- Church illegal. This led to the forced deportation of Institute of Eastern Christian Studies is truly gratified cution. In the confusion of the transitional government, Moscow, tens of thousands of Catholics and the countless deaths to hear this. We believe that the suffering of our through its Russian Security Service agents, seized the Crimean Parliament. of those who refused to leave the Catholic Church and Christian brothers and sisters in the Middle East has The U.S. State Department issued visa bans against nearly 20 join the Russian Orthodox Church. been virtually ignored in some circles, including cer- government leaders whom it identified as responsible for the vio- In view of the constant misrepresentation of these tain Western governments. lence against the protesters. The EU Council, after failed negotia- events by representatives of the Moscow Patriarchate, In conclusion, we shall indeed be praying for God’s tions with President Yanukovych before he fled to Russia, issued last year the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Institute blessing on this historic meeting between the pope visa and financial sanctions against those Ukrainian leaders who of Eastern Christian Studies invited an academic institu- and the patriarch. We ask that the Spirit of Truth guide were determined to be responsible for the use of excessive force tion with ties to the Moscow Patriarchate to co-sponsor all those involved in this meeting and those reporting against Ukrainian citizens. an international conference on the events of 1946. The on it. May the Heavenly King indeed come and dwell conference would have provided an excellent opportu- within us and purify all our intentions and actions (cf. Source: “Ukraine becomes war zone as violence escalates,” by nity for both sides to objectively and fairly study the Byzantine-Rite Prayer to the Holy Spirit). Zenon Zawada, The Ukrainian Weekly, February 23, 2014. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 No. 7

state treason, spying and desertion, as well Kremlin-backed... as looting, robbery, etc. Former Russian military intelligence (Continued from page 1) officer and militant leader Igor Girkin in Ms. Morozova, in fact, calls 500 from the January confirmed extrajudicial executions, almost 1,500-strong list “political prisoners” although in fact, his senior aide Igor Druz and claims they are in detention either for had confirmed this to the BBC back in involvement in the so-called referendum of August 2014. The main difference was that May 11, 2014, or because they spoke out in Mr. Girkin admitted only to killing “looters,” support of the self-proclaimed republics. while Mr. Druz was entirely open, saying Asked about the prosecution’s demand that the militants had killed a number of for the death penalty in Mr. Chudnetsov’s people “to prevent chaos.” case, Mr. Morozova confirms that yes, Now the militants are claiming that they according to the “DPR Criminal Code,” the are not holding any hostages or others ille- death penalty can be used, and may well be. gally, and say that any people in their custo- The DPR introduced its own “criminal dy are under criminal investigation. code” back in August 2014, with the death Like Ihor Kozlovsky, one presumes. Or penalty for particularly grave crimes. In a people like Yevhen Chudnetsov, “sen- second resolution passed by the DPR tenced” to 30 years without a lawyer in a “Council of Ministers” on August 17, 2014, “trial” his family missed because it hap- military courts and a system of military jus- pened half an hour ahead of schedule. tice were introduced. More about these so- called military courts was revealed in Halya Coynash, a journalist, is a member November of that year with the list of capi- of the Kharkiv Human Rights Protection tal offenses including insubordination, Group in Ukraine.

any influence. All power in the region Moscow both violates... would be independent of the center, but would have the possibility of controlling (Continued from page 6) the Verkhovna Rada,” conditions that Donbas to have a fixed “quota of seats in would give the Donbas something more the Verkhovna Rada,” thus giving the region than “full independence.” a veto not only over actions with regard to Moscow and its minions, he continues, itself but over actions for Ukraine as a “want full independence, plus free access to whole (blogs.lb.ua/kirill_sazonov/326559_ the territory of Ukraine, plus the right of a minske_postavili_tochku.html). veto in the Verkhovna Rada, as well as an Second, they want a total amnesty for all open corridor for the Russian army and con- the militants in the Donbas, something that traband” given that the siloviki and border would allow those people to continue to guards would not be subordinate to Kyiv. function and undermine the Ukrainian “This is more than Chechnya received state. And third, they want autonomy for after its de facto victory over Russia” as this region so broad that it, and not Kyiv, Grozny “doesn’t have a veto in the State could decide on relations with Russia, have Duma.” Kyiv has rejected these demands; its own independent police and security but pressure from Moscow and the West services and even border guards. for it to fulfill the Minsk accords continues, “In general,” Mr. Sazonov writes, “all the even though the fulfillment of such provi- militants would find work in the siloviki sions in the Russian understanding would structures over which Kyiv would not have mean the end of the Ukrainian state.

ings have plummeted and it could face a Poroshenko... no-confidence motion in the Verkhovna Rada in mid-February. (Continued from page 1) The political crisis has weighed heavily Ukraine’s central bank urged the gov- on the Ukrainian bond market and has ernment to work with the IMF to ensure helped push the hryvnia currency close to the country’s financial stability and give it a 11-month lows. chance to recover from a deep recession. “Further delay in resuming cooperation With reporting by Reuters and TASS. with the IMF could have negative conse- Copyright 2016, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted quences as much for the financial stability with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ of our country as for the welfare of citi- Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, zens,” it said. Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see While President Poroshenko expressed http://www.rferl.org/content/poroshenko- his preference for a reshuffle of the Cabinet assures-imf-he-is-committed-to-reform- of Ministers, his government’s approval rat- after-warning/27544434.html). No. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 17

BOOK REVIEW With volume II of ‘100 Nahirny Churches,’ a family legacy is restored “100 Nahirny Churches: The Churches Romantic, Constructivist, and folk – while of Evhen Nahirny,” by Khristina Lew, Vasyl also experimental in its unlikely and Slobodyan and Natalka Filevych. Lviv: 2015. intriguing combinations of different design 131 pp. $40. features. His works consist of over 190 by Kristina Lucenko projects, including churches, belltowers and chapels, but also cultural centers, read- Evhen Nahirny (1885-1951) was one of ing rooms, schools, apartment buildings the most important and prolific architects and villas. As such, Nahirny’s creative working in Ukrainian sacral architecture in impact on Ukrainian public spaces in the early 20th century. In “100 Nahirny Halychyna – sacred and secular alike – is Churches: The Churches of Evhen Nahirny,” extensive and wide-ranging. a collaboration by Natalka Filevych, archi- The first volume of the two-part series vist at the Lviv Gallery of Art; Khristina was published in 2013 and featured Lew, photojournalist and Nahirny’s great- Evhen’s father, Ukrainian architect and civic granddaughter; and Vasyl Slobodyan, organizer Vasyl Nahirny (1848-1921), who senior scholar at the Western Ukrainian built more than 200 churches in western Restoration Institute; his life and work have Ukraine, Poland and Romania in the first been returned to prominence. half of the 20th century. As important as This multifaceted compendium offers the history of Vasyl and Evhen Nahirny and architectural drawings, photographs and their work is the story of the discovery and extensive descriptions of churches, as well recovery of the Nahirny archive by Borys as detailed analysis of the social, political Voznytsky, the director of the National Art amount of architectural renderings and Twenty years after first working together and cultural forces in Ukraine that shaped Gallery of Lviv, who is credited for saving plans, photographs, letters and personal on the family archive, Ms. Filevych and Ms. Nahirny’s sacral forms throughout his the Nahirny family archive. documents, and eventually connected with Lew, with Mr. Slobodyan, have brought to fru- career. In his preface, Mr. Slobodyan frames Working alongside Mr. Voznytsky and the Nahirnys’ descendants in the United ition the restoration of the Nahirny legacy. the architect’s work as rooted in a wide also after his death in 2012, Ms. Filevych States: Wasyl Lew Jr. (grandson of Vasyl As Ms. Lew writes: “Our journey to range of traditions – Baroque, Art Moderne, sifted through and researched the vast Nahirny) and his daughter Khristina. restore their contribution to Ukrainian sacral architecture has taken us from the archives of the Lviv Gallery of Art, which houses the original architectural drawings and photographs rescued from a dumpster on Okruzhna Street in Lviv in 1989, through the villages of Lviv, Ternopil and Ivano-Frankivsk oblasts to photograph 45 Nahirny churches in 2011-2013.” With help from the Shevchenko Society in the U.S. and the support of family, friends, priests, parishioners, scholars, architects and archivists, this two-volume project serves as a historical record of sacral architecture in Ukraine, and Vasyl and Evhen Nahirnys’ contributions to that national history. “100 Nahirny Churches: the Churches of Evhen Nahirny” will be presented by the authors on February 20 at the Shevchenko Scientific Society, 63 Fourth Ave., New York, at 5 p.m. For more information readers may call 212-254-5130. For more information about the 100 Church of St. Michael the Archangel, Nahirny Churches project, or to purchase Pobuk, Skoliv region. Designed in 1927, the books, visit the companion website at built in 1927-1928. Torn down in the Church of the Assumption of the Holy Mother of God, Ripne, Rozhnyativ region. http://100nahirnychurches.com/. early 1960s. Designed in 1931, built in 1932.

Plast Newark is grateful to all the plastuny that went Christmas caroling this year, upholding this beautiful tradition, as well as to the Ukrainian community for welcoming the carolers into their homes and in this way showing their support of Plast. If we were unable to visit you this year, or if you were not home to receive us, please accept our apologies – we will make sure to visit next year. SKOB plastun senior Oleh Holynsky, Head of Plast Newark plastun senior Zezya Zawadiwska, Spartanka – Koliada chair 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 No. 7

February 14 Illustrated lecture by Vasyl Kosiv, “The National Costume February 25 U.S.-Ukraine Security Dialogue VII, “Taking New New York as a Manifestation of Ukrainian Identity in the Graphic Washington Measures of Russia’s ‘Near Abroad’: Assessing Security Design of the Ukrainian SSR, and Diaspora (1945-1989),” Challenges Facing the ‘Frontline States.’” Russell Senate Ukrainian Academy of Arts and Sciences, 212-222-1866 Office Building, 646-704-1463 or [email protected]

February 17 Presentation by Sergei Zhuk, “Academic Diplomacy and February 25 Carpe Diem Club luncheon, Ukrainian American Cultural New York Cultural Cold War in Soviet Ukraine,” Columbia Whippany. NJ Center of New Jersey, 973-590-8026 or University, 212-854-4697 [email protected] February 18 Film screening, “The Ukrainians” by Leonid Kanter and Toronto Ivan Yasniy, Bloor Hot Docs Cinema, February 26- Art exhibit, “The Tales and Myths of Yohann Petrovsky- www.dopomoha-ukraini.org March 9 Shtern,” Ukrainian Institute of America, New York www.ukrainianinsttute.org or 212-288-8660 February 19 Commemorative evening to honor the Heavenly Washington Brigade, with charity concert performed by Gerdan, February 27 Skiing championship, Carpathian Ski Club, Hunter Mountain, pianist Oksana Skidan, violinist Solomia Gorokhivska Hunter, NY www.klkusa.com or [email protected] and flutist Andrei Pidkivka, Embassy of Ukraine, www.heavenlyhundred2016.eventbrite.com February 27 Family Perogy Night, Knights of Columbus – St. Vladimir Ottawa the Great Council, Ukrainian Catholic Women’s League February 20 Book launch, “100 Nahirny Churches: The Churches of New York Evhen Nahirny” by Khristina Lew, Shevchenko Scientific of Ottawa, 613-731-4453 Society, 212-254-5130 February 28 Pysanka celebration, featuring Ukrainian artists from February 20– Art exhibit, “Ukraine Exists,” Consulate General of Ukraine San Diego southern California, Balboa Park, March 6 in Chicago, Ukrainian National Museum, www.houseofukraine.org or 619-742-2720 Chicago www.ukrainiannationalmuseum.org February 29 Seminar with Mykola Riabchuk, “’Cotton Head’ vs ‘Dills’: February 21 Performance, “Afternoon at the Opera: Ukrainian Opera Cambridge, MA Ethnic Othering and Stereotyping During the Russo- Chicago Arias and Songs,” with bass-baritone Stefan Ukrainian Conflict,” Harvard University, Szkafarowsky, soprano Marta Zaliznyak-Dezhko and www.huri.harvard.edu or 617-495-4053 pianist Jeffery Panko, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, www.uima-chicago.org or 773-227-5522 March 5 Presentation, “Mykola Dyletsky: A Musical Grammar in February 21 Film screening, “The Ukrainians” by Leonid Kanter and Ivan New York 17th-Century Krakow and Kyiv,” Ukrainian Ottawa Yasniy, Ukrainian Canadian Film Festival, St. Paul Amphitheater, Institute of America, www.ukrainianinstitute.org or www.dopomoha-ukraini.org/theukrainiansmovie2016 212-288-8660

February 22 Seminar with Vasyl Kosiv, “Visual Representation of a March 5 Live and silent auction (annual fund-raiser), Ukrainian Cambridge, MA Dream: Ukrainian Identity in Graphic Design of the Chicago Institute of Modern Art, [email protected] USSR and the Diaspora, 1945-1989,” Harvard University, www.huri.harvard.edu or 617-495-4053 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events February 23 Presentation, “Documenting My Ukrainian Ancestors” advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Ottawa by Donna Law, St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Shrine, 613-723-1673 and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected].

Family history group to present program on World War II and DP-era records

Ukrainian Historical and Educational ly search the ITS Central Name Index and Center of N.J. provide copies of digitized documents. In addition to giving presentations, the SOMERSET, N.J. – The Nashi Predky – Our USHMM staff members will be bringing Ancestors family history conference series their computers to the March 19 event, and at the Ukrainian Historical and Educational the entire afternoon will be devoted to one- Center of New Jersey in Somerset, N.J., will on-one research sessions with conference continue its programming with a very spe- attendees. Research slots are strictly limit- cial event on Saturday, March 19. This full- ed, and will be assigned first come-first day event will feature staff members of the served based on how early a participant U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum, who will registers for the event. give presentations on documenting the During that time, Nashi Predky organiz- experiences of Ukrainians and other ethnic ing committee member Justin Houser will groups during and after World War II, and give a talk on basic genealogy research explain how to make use of the research methods and Ukrainian Historical and resources at the USHMM and the Educational Center archivist Michael International Tracing Service. Andrec will give an overview of the history The morning presentations will include of the World War II era. information on the USHMM’s Oral History In addition, there will be a dedicated Collection, the research materials and ser- time slot during which participants will be vices available at the USHMM and the able to get help from experts on decipher- International Tracing Service. The Oral ing their mysterious, illegible, or trouble- History Collection has been making a major Wikimedia Commons some family documents. Attendees will have the ability to mingle, effort to interview Ukrainians and other Female forced laborers wearing “OST” [Ostarbeiter] badges are liberated from a non-Jews who suffered or witnessed perse- camp near Lodz, Poland. network and/or get help from experienced cution during World War II. genealogists throughout the day. The museum defines a “Holocaust vic- presentation will explain how to partici- The ITS was established in Bad Arolsen, The USHMM is supported by the U.S. fed- tim” very broadly as anybody who was “dis- pate in the Oral History Collection and the Germany, after World War II to serve as a eral government, and outreach efforts such placed, persecuted or discriminated against other documentation efforts of the USHMM. repository for the millions of pages of docu- as this are part of its mission. This allows due to the racial, religious, ethnic, social, The USHMM also holds extensive ments that were captured by the Allied the Nashi Predky group to offer this event and political policies of the Nazis and their research materials, and presenters will armies, as well as DP and other post-war for a special discounted fee of only $40 per collaborators between 1933 and 1945.” explain how to search the museum’s collec- records. Ukrainian Americans who have person. This includes a light breakfast and This includes the millions of Ukrainian tions and even get research help from made inquiries to the ITS have often been lunch, all talks, a 30 minute one-on-one Ostarbeiters (forced laborers) who were museum staff. Among the most important surprised and even shocked by the level of research session (if you register early), and compelled to work under brutal conditions resources at the USHMM for genealogists detail that these records can provide about networking opportunities. Readers may in Germany during the war. A person need and family historians is their ability to their family history. register at NashiPredky.org. For more infor- not have been an inmate of a Nazi death directly access the holdings of the The USHMM is the only institution in mation or to register by phone, call 732- camp to qualify as a “Holocaust victim.” The International Tracing Service. North America that has the ability to direct- 356-0132. No. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 19 UKELODEON FOR THE NEXT GENERATION At the U.N.: honoring victims of genocide by Ruslana Makar NEW YORK – The United Na- tions was honoring all genocide victims of the world during the week of December 7, 2015. On Wednesday, December 9, I was among a group of students from the Self-Reliance Ukrainian School of New York City who were invited to honor and remember victims of the Ukrainian Famine-Genocide of 1932-1933, the Holodomor, at the U.N. Students from Grades 3, 4, 6 and 12 presented a solemn prayer and poem. We held candles, and two sixth grade students held a cross and sheaf of wheat. Our prayer and poem reminded the audience attending how more than 7 million Students of Self-Reliance Ukrainian School in New York. Ukrainians died during a forced that many other countries have also starvation planned by the Commu- suffered and died due to genocide, nist ruler Joseph Stalin. and I am glad that the United Na- New York Plast celebrates I was very sad and could not tions takes time to remember these believe that Ukraine suffered so horrible events. feast day of St. Nicholas much. It is a very fertile land, We must never forget what hap- where everything grows, yet such pened in Ukraine, as this is our horror occurred. On purpose, a gov- history. We must not let it happen ernment forced a death of starvation again. and destruction. I learned about this in Ukrainian Ruslana Makar, 9, attends Sacred School and was fortunate to visit Heart School in Hartsdale, N.Y., the United Nations and honor our and is a student at Self-Reliance Ukrainian people. It was sorrowful Ukrainian School.

KLK Cordially Invites Members, Family & Friends To Our Annual KLK Winter Ski Races Date: Saturday, February 27, 2016 Place: HUNTER MOUNTAIN , NY Registration: 8:00 a.m. - 9:30 a.m. Ski Lodge

Lift Tickets and Races: Adults $60.00 Seniors (65 & up) $45.00 Young Adults (13-18) $45.00 Juniors (7-12) $35.00 Toddlers (6 & under) $15.00 Race Tickets only : Adults & Seniors $15.00 Children (2-18) FREE NEW YORK – Saturday, December 19, marked the feast day of St. Nicho- las according to the Julian calendar, and the New York Branch of Plast Lift Tickets only: Ukrainian Scouting Organization celebrated “Sviato Mykolaya” with a Adults $55.00 Young Adults $40.00 Seniors $40.00 children’s play organized by head counselors Dianna Shmerykowsky and Juniors $30.00 Toddlers $10.00 Ostap Gladun, and directed by Ivan Makar. “Ptashata,” the youngest, Races begin at approximately 10:00 a.m. 5-year old members of Plast, “novatstvo” (cub scouts age 6-11) and “yu- Opening Ceremony 9:45 a.m. natstvo” (scouts age 11-18) participated in an enchanting story about a young girl who had to decide between good and evil. The fi rst scene began with the sprinkling of snowfl akes, and the Ptashata danced a short dance Dinner and Awards Ceremony: Hunter Ski Lodge Time: 6:30 p.m. choreographed by counselor Chrystia Gorski-Makar. Seen above are “Ptas- hata” who played the roles of snowfl akes in the play “Eve of St. Nicholas”: Adults: $50.00; Children, ages 14 & under - Free, if accompanied by an adult. (front row, from left) Sofi ya Mato, Marta Rak, Zoryana Popadynew, Nicolas Please wear your embroidered blouses or shirts to the Awards Ceremony Mychalczak, (back row) Karina Decherytsia, Lev Ferencevych, Taras Rusy- Please visit our website www.klkusa.com for registration forms or contact nyak, Martin Pedragosa, Alexa Chwyl and Boyan Makar. (Anna Hlum is [email protected] for more info or forms. missing from the photo.) 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 2016 No. 7

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Wednesday, February 17 will take place at the society’s building, 63 NEW YORK: The Ukrainian Studies Program Fourth Ave. (between Ninth and 10th at the Harriman Institute, Columbia streets) at 5 p.m. For additional information University, invites you to attend “Academic call 212-254-5130. Diplomacy and Cultural Cold War in Soviet Saturday, March 19 Ukraine,” a presentation by Dr. Sergei Zhuk (Ball State University). Using personal histo- SOMERSET, N.J.: A program on researching ries of Soviet Americanists, the experts in World War II and displaced persons-era U.S. and Canadian studies in Soviet Ukraine, records will be presented by the Nashi Dr. Zhuk explores their various functions in Predky Family History Group of the “academic diplomacy” between the United Ukrainian Historical and Educational Center States and the Soviet Union during the Cold of New Jersey. The conference will feature War. The talk will take place at noon in the presenters from the U.S. Holocaust Marshall D. Shulman Seminar Room (Room Memorial Museum. Talks will focus on the 1219, International Affairs Building, 420 W. USHMM’s Oral History Collection, research 118th St.). The event is free and open to the materials and services, the International public. For additional information call 212- Tracing Service, overview of World War 854-4697. II-era history and basic genealogy strategies. Limited one-on-one 30-minute research Saturday, February 20 appointments with USHMM researchers will NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific be available. Participants will be able to get Society invites all to a book launch of “100 help in deciphering family documents. The Nahirny Churches: The Churches of Evhen event will take place at 9 a.m. to 4:30 pm at Nahirny” (Lviv, 2015), presented by the Ukrainian Cultural Center, 135 Davidson Khristina Lew. The book was partially spon- Ave., Somerset, NJ 08873. Cost: $40, break- sored by the Shevchenko Scientific Society, fast and lunch included. To register go to Natalia Danylchenko Fund. The book launch www.nashipredky.org or call 732-356-0132.

PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES Preview of Events is a listing of community events open to the public. It is a service provided 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 publi- cation (i.e., they must be received by 9 a.m. Monday). 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.