The Ukrainian Weekly, 2018
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
INSIDE: l Serhii Plokhii wins Shevchenko Prize – page 4 l Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford – page 10 l Bishop pays a visit to Perth Amboy school – page 11 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXVI No. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2018 $2.00 Suspicions of ‘bots’: Kyiv fends off renewed Russian gas war ‘Dislikes’ of Russian stories by Mark Raczkiewycz KYIV – Ukraine averted another full- increase ahead of election blown natural gas war with Russia after a by Alan Crosby Stockholm arbitration court ruled in favor RFE/RL of energy conglomerate Naftogaz Group over its three-year dispute with Gazprom. When Zmitser Yahorau saw the After the Russian government majority- number of “dislikes” for a Belsat TV story on YouTube about life in a owned company was ordered to pay Russian village, something looked Ukraine’s state-run Naftogaz $2.56 billion wrong. Once the independent online on February 28, Moscow refused on the news station’s deputy editor in chief next day to supply Kyiv with gas for which saw the data behind the numbers, he it had prepaid. knew the problem – “bots.” Gazprom also reduced pressure by at After the story was posted on least 20 percent from what is required by January 30, it took only two days for the transit contracts at the point connecting to video to receive some 24,000 dislikes, the Ukrainian pipeline system, said Ihor compared with fewer than 2,000 likes. Kravchyshyn, spokesperson for Ukrtransgaz, A week later, as the station dug the state-owned company that manages the pipeline system. deeper into the numbers, they said all Naftogaz Group of the evidence pointed toward a “bot” He said the firm faced “a critical situation.” A natural gas pipeline over a Ukrainian waterway. Ukraine’s western neighbors To ensure Russian gas supplies to attack against the story, most likely by Hungary and Slovakia, as well as European countries located in the south, are highly pro-Russian sources unhappy with the Europe, Kyiv was forced to maintain pres- dependent on gas supplies that flow through Ukrainian pipelines from Russia. content put out by the Warsaw-based sure at its own expense. It also cut gas channel for its Belarusian-language domestic usage by 14 percent overnight The U.S. urged Russia to provide Ukraine Naftogaz was ordered to pay Gazprom broadcast and online programs. amid subzero temperatures, while securing with gas. $2 billion for gas supplies through the end “The proportion between dislikes emergency supplies from Poland. “Gas supply and transit must never be a of 2019, but was awarded $4.6 for its gas and views looks very suspicious. As a “Thanks to our Polish partners, yet political weapon,” State Department spokes- transit contract. rule, people rarely click ‘like’ or ‘dis- another attempt by Moscow to use gas as a person Heather Nauert tweeted. “We expect Gazprom CEO Alexey Miller wasn’t like’ on YouTube. The disproportion political weapon against Ukraine has failed, Gazprom to supply gas to Ukraine’s transit happy with the latest ruling and said the was evident, and we decided to find Naftogaz CEO Andriy Kobolyev said on pipeline as per the Stockholm arbitration company is applying to the Stockholm arbi- out from which countries people who March 2. decision. Russia should prove it is a reliable tration court to terminate its gas contracts actively disliked the post are. And we Naftogaz also stated that it is charging gas supplier.” with Naftogaz. Gazprom $500 million for each day it The Stockholm award stems from two (Continued on page 9) doesn’t pay the billions in debt. separate disputes: for gas supply and transit. (Continued on page 3) A day of gratitude celebrates restoration of historic cathedral by Lidia M. Wasylyn Three young parishioners, Melania and Daria Antoszko and Danylo Kichma greeted EDMONTON, Alberta – St. Josaphat Metropolitan Lawrence, formerly bishop of Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Edmonton, Edmonton, with the traditional bread and Alberta, observed a day of gratitude and re- salt at the church entrance. The parish dedication celebrating a major restoration choir directed by Dr. Melanie Turgeon sang involving both exterior and interior ele- a particularly lovely liturgy that incorporat- ments of the historic structure built in what ed liturgical compositions by Oleksander is known as Prairie Cathedral Style. Koshetz, Roman Hurko and Myron Fedoriv. The successful completion of the project “The Nicene Creed” was powerfully sung by called for a special event on February 11 – a tenor soloist Lyubomyr Pastuszenko. hierarchical divine liturgy followed by a In his homily, Metropolitan Lawrence gala benefit luncheon. recounted his happy childhood days at St. The celebrants included Metropolitan Josaphat, the parish where he began to Lawrence Huculak of Winnipeg and Bishop develop love for his Church and God. He David Motiuk, eparch of Edmonton. Joining recalled how the cathedral was both a reli- them were priests who currently or former- gious and community focal point. He was ly served at St. Josaphat Cathedral, including very happy to return to his spiritual home the Very Rev. Father Stephen Wojcichowsky, as bishop of the Edmonton Eparchy years procyncellus and chancellor; the Rt. Rev. later. Metropolitan Lawrence focused on William Hupalo, retired; the Rev. Peter the importance of maintaining the cathe- Babej, cathedral rector; the Rev. Andrij dral for future generation and continuing to Nykyforuk, assistant pastor of the cathedral; Lidia M. Wasylyn build the parish community. and the Rev. Terry Cherwick, military chap- At the hierarchical divine liturgy of thanksgiving and re-dedication of St. Josaphat Following the liturgy, a gala fund-raising lain. Many lectors and altar servers partici- Cathedral, celebrated by Metropolitan Lawrence Huculak, Bishop David Motiuk and pated in this well-attended bilingual liturgy. parish clergy. (Continued on page 14) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, MARCH 11, 2018 No. 10 ANALYSIS Ukraine details claims against Russia State Department OKs Javelin sale state informed the U.S. vice-president of the current situation in the Donbas and the The U.S. State Department has approved ongoing provocations on the part of Russia- in maritime dispute, says Russia steals gas the proposed sale of Javelin antitank mis- controlled militants who do not stop violat- siles and launch units to Ukraine in a deal Crimea, which Russia plans to launch in ing the announced complete ceasefire by Oleg Varfolomeyev worth about $47 million, the U.S. military regime. In this regard, Petro Poroshenko Eurasia Daily Monitor December of this year, may be more impor- says. “The Javelin system will help Ukraine underlined the importance of further pres- tant for Moscow than Odesskoye (see build its long-term defense capacity to sure on Russia for ensuring proper imple- Kyiv claims Russia has been siphoning Eurasia Daily Monitor, October 12, 2017; defend its sovereignty and territorial integ- mentation of the security aspects of the off natural gas from offshore fields it seized February 12, 2018). Having failed to carve rity in order to meet its national defense Minsk agreements. He expressed gratitude from Ukraine in 2014, after forcibly annex- out a land corridor to Crimea via the south- requirements,” the Pentagon said in a state- for the recent decision by U.S. President ing Crimea. The Ukrainian government eastern Russian-speaking areas in Ukraine ment on March 1. “The proposed sale of this detailed its claims in a memo submitted to by military force in 2014, Moscow will rely equipment and support will not alter the Donald Trump to roll over respective sanc- the International Tribunal for the Law of on the bridge as the first and only road/rail basic military balance in the region,” it tions against Russia for a year. Vice- the Sea (ITLOS) in Hamburg. Moscow has link between the Crimean Peninsula and added. In December, Washington prompted President Pence emphasized the importance nine months to come up with arguments to Russia. As such, the Kerch Strait Bridge can protests from Russia when it decided to of preserving sanctions against Russia until reject Kyiv’s claims. Alternatively, it has be expected to strengthen Crimea’s eco- provide lethal defensive weaponry, which full implementation of the Minsk agree- three months to prove that ITLOS has no nomic ties with Russia proper and cement some U.S. officials said would include the ments and return of Crimea to Ukraine. ... jurisdiction over the case. the occupation. Javelin anti-tank missiles, to support Kyiv in The Head of State emphasized that the pro- Kyiv says that, on top of the gas fields, In addition to being a strategic defeat for its nearly four-year conflict with Russia- vision of U.S. defensive weapons to Ukraine Moscow also stole Ukrainian drilling rigs, Ukraine, the bridge will increase the isola- backed separatists in eastern Ukraine. The was an important positive signal for other and that the con- tion of Ukraine’s Defense Security Cooperation Agency said partners of our country and a clear warning struction of a bridge ports on the Sea of that Ukraine had requested 210 Javelin mis- for the Russian aggressor. Vice-President to Crimea from Kyiv has strived to Azov, important siles, 37 command launch units, and related Michael Pence stressed that U.S.A. would Russia over the use legal disputes in especially for the hardware. Training, technical assistance, keep supporting Ukraine in its fight for terri- Kerch Strait is illegal. order to raise Russia’s metals and mining transportation and other aspects of logistics torial integrity and sovereignty. He also Ukraine initiated sector, which domi- will be included in the deal, it said. Officials noted Ukraine’s progress in the implementa- arbitration proceed- costs of occupying nates Ukraine’s in Ukraine and the United States had indi- tion of reforms, particularly establishment of ings at ITLOS in Crimea and the industry.