INSIDE: l Ukraine becomes NATO Enhanced Opportunities Partner – page 3 l Churches reopening as pandemic restrictions are lifted – page 4 l Soyuzivka’s overnight camps cancelled for 2020 season – page 5 The Ukrainian Weekly Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association

Vol. LXXXVIII No. 25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 $2.00 Chicago’s Ukrainian Village gradually reopens Record number of new COVID-19 cases results as pandemic restrictions begin to be eased in extension of quarantine restrictions in Ukraine by Roman Tymotsko “Each of these leaders, within the frame- work of their responsibility, understanding KYIV – For the last week, Ukrainians the level of threat and the morbidity rate, found themselves in an uncertain state of takes concrete measures and has all the quarantine. On the one hand, the govern- tools to make decisions …to introduce ment plan of lifting restrictions continued in tougher measures,” explained Mr. Shmyhal. most regions, and life was returning to nor- He underlined that local authorities mal. On the other, the number of new should carefully pay attention to public COVID-19 cases spiked and set new records. transport issues. Queues to board buses In the last seven days, 4,853 people con- and small minibuses with a lot of people tracted the coronavirus in Ukraine, which is inside are high-risk places for possible the highest rate yet since the pandemic hit infection. The prime minister separately Ukraine. Consequently, on June 17, the addressed the minister of infrastructure Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine extended with a demand that he pay attention to the quarantine restrictions until July 31. what is being done in suburban trains to “The weakening of quarantine measures exercise control and ensure compliance was taken by many as the abolition of quar- with requirements for the number of peo- antine. Hence, it resulted in a worsening of ple in train cars, the wearing of face masks Mark Raczkiewicz the situation,” Prime Minister Denys and other measures required by the gov- A maximum of 50 people were allowed to attend two morning liturgies at Ss. Shmyhal said at the government’s meeting ernment. Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic Church on June 14 as per city and state on June 17. “The coronavirus has not disap- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy report- guidelines. peared, and the threats posed by it to our ed that the number of tests for COVID-19 medical system and the Ukrainian economy had increased, and on average about by Mark Raczkiewycz economy and social routines of the coun- have not diminished. I understand that peo- 20,000 tests are carried out per day. The try’s third most populous city. ple are tired of quarantine in any variant, increase in the number of coronavirus CHICAGO – Tears began running down The usual second or mid-morning but there is currently no more effective way cases could be caused by the rise in the the faces of parishioners at the Saints Sunday service wasn’t held to allow for all to counter the spread of the virus. I urge number of tests administered; therefore, Volodymyr and Olha Ukrainian Catholic surfaces of the church to be disinfected and Ukrainians not to relax and to keep it real!” before deciding on more severe restrictive Church’s early morning liturgy on June 14. what would’ve been the third liturgy of the The head of government urged measures, it is necessary to understand the They hadn’t had the chance to pray as a day took place at the customary time, close Ukrainians to wear face masks, maintain reasons for the increase in the number of congregation for more than two months, to noon. social distancing and employ disinfection patients, he explained. including on Easter, and were limited to Two bottles of hand sanitizer stood on a measures, as only these measures “will help The president added: “All relevant attending services virtually amid a corona- (Continued on page 5) each of us to protect ourselves from this authorities should focus the public’s atten- virus pandemic that has disrupted the infection, at least until drugs and effective tion on the need to comply with the mask treatment protocols are invented.” regime and social distancing on the street. I Moreover, Mr. Shmyhal said that the govern- see that people walk around without NEWS ANALYSIS ment would consider the Health Ministry’s masks. Only the observance of security proposed updated approach to an adaptive measures will protect us from the threat of quarantine, which envisages the possibility getting sick and save our economy from Ukraine’s energy wars continue of reinforcing the quarantine in particular quarantine.” regions. “We need to carefully check shops, mar- by Bohdan Nahaylo tion of nuclear energy reduced in favor of a The prime minister said the government kets, public transport – places where greater temporary reliance on coal. is working closely with regional heads, city KYIV – While other significant develop- These maneuvers are having an impact heads and other local government officials. (Continued on page 11) ments have dominated the news in recent not only on industry and the domestic con- weeks, such as the responses to the COVID- sumer but also the already severely 19 pandemic, or the much-awaited release strained state budget. Given Moscow’s of new financial support for Ukraine by the direct interest in how Ukraine handles its International Monetary Fund, the enduring strategic policy aimed at consolidating sov- saga of competition among stakeholders ereignty and security in the energy sector, and profiteers within and around Ukraine’s there are other far-reaching implications. lucrative energy sector also merits atten- First, some background and information tion. on the key players. Naftogaz, as Ukraine’s Even a cursory overview of this complex main state company dealing with the trans- subject shows that extraordinary things portation, extraction and refinement of have been happening. natural gas and crude oil, was created in Since the spring, a struggle for influence 1998, towards the end of a decade in which and control in this vital area has intensified this entire area had become a magnet for among the oligarchic stakeholders, Ihor unscrupulous and corrupt businessmen Kolomoisky, Rinat Akhmetov and others, and politicians. This was the era, as the including perhaps interested parties in Kyiv Post put it recently, of “crony capital- President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s political ism, rent-seeking, rigged privatizations and entourage. Government posts have been assassinations.” Cabinet of Ministers reshuffled. Imports of electricity from Denys Shmyhal at the Cabinet of Ministers meeting of June 17, when it was decided Russia have been renewed and the produc- (Continued on page 14) to extend coronavirus quarantine restrictions in Ukraine. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 No. 25

ANALYSIS

Ukraine and Hungary move to settle U.S. Embassy warns Ukraine on justice system EU extends Crimea sanctions by a year The U.S. Embassy in Kyiv has expressed The European Union has rolled over for differences over national minority legislation concerns about Ukraine’s justice system at another year sanctions imposed over a time when the State Bureau of Russia’s annexation of the Crimean stalemate either, as initial Hungarian objec- by Vladimir Socor Investigations (known by its Ukrainian Peninsula from Ukraine. EU member states Eurasia Daily Monitor tives remain unfulfilled. Meanwhile, Budapest interprets the political changes in acronym as DBR) and the Prosecutor “decided to renew the sanctions introduced PART I Ukraine as having brought to power a “less General’s Office are considering arresting in response to the illegal annexation of nationalistic” president and parliamentary former President Petro Poroshenko amid a Crimea and Sevastopol by the Russian Kyiv and Budapest have initiated an majority. Consequently, Budapest sees an spate of investigations involving him. In a Federation until June 23, 2021,” the effort to resolve their differences over the opportunity to secure certain entitlements statement posted on Facebook on June 18, European Council said in a statement on impact of Ukrainian language and educa- for the Hungarian national community on the Embassy wrote in a thinly veiled mes- June 18. The restrictive measures were tion laws on the Hungarian national minor- school education, language use and, possi- sage that didn’t mention Mr. Poroshenko by introduced in 2014 as a response to ity in Ukraine’s Zakarpattia Oblast (see bly, the legalization of dual citizenship in name that all “citizens in a democracy Russia’s forcible seizure of Crimea in March Eurasia Daily Monitor, June 3). Ukraine. The Hungarian government pro- deserve to be treated equally and fairly 2014 after Moscow sent in troops and Budapest’s position is based on a sui poses to attain these objectives by agree- under the law” and that “The justice system staged a referendum dismissed as illegal by generis conception of Hungarian national ment between Kyiv on one side and the should not be used for the purpose of set- at least 100 countries. The sanctions community entitlements in Carpathian Carpathian Hungarian representatives and include prohibitions targeting the imports Ukraine. Versions of that conception also tling political scores.” Ukraine’s Prosecutor Budapest on the other side. apply to Hungary’s kin communities in General’s Office and the DBR have said that of products originating in Crimea into the Both Kyiv and Budapest now seem to other neighboring countries. Budapest, Mr. Poroshenko was officially informed that EU, as well as infrastructural or financial envisage possibilities for normalizing rela- however, has exacerbated its controversy he is a suspect in one of more than 20 cases investments and tourism services on the tions on two tracks: Ukrainian accommoda- with Ukraine by injecting this problem into implicating his possible involvement, add- peninsula. Goods and technologies for the tion of some Hungarian national minority the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s ing that they are seeking Mr. Poroshenko’s transport, telecommunications and energy grievances, in correlation with Budapest’s (NATO) high-level deliberations. Since late pretrial arrest. However, on June 18, prose- sectors also cannot be exported to Crimean support for economic and infrastructure 2017, Hungary has been blocking NATO- cutors said at the hearing on possible pre- companies or for use on the peninsula. programs in Ukraine’s Hungarian- Ukraine meetings at the presidential, min- trial restrictions for Mr. Poroshenko at the Separately, the EU has imposed a raft of eco- inhabited Carpathian districts (see EDM, isterial and flag-officer levels, jeopardizing Pechera District Court that they were not nomic sanctions related to Russia’s support June 3). The linkage is implicit but fairly NATO-Ukraine cooperation programs seeking the pretrial arrest of the former for militants in eastern Ukraine in a conflict apparent on both sides. amidst the Russia-Ukraine war. That said, president, but other restrictions instead. that has killed more than 13,000 people Hungary’s complaints have centered on there are no indications of coordination since April 2014. These sanctions targeting three Ukrainian legislative acts: The hearing was then adjourned until July between Budapest and Moscow and no - 1. The U.S. Embassy post came a day after Russia are set to expire on July 31. Reuters grounds for suspicion in this regard. work law adopted in September 2017, and Donald Tusk, the president of the European quoted diplomatic sources and officials as To generate pressure on Ukraine to fall seized• Ukraine’s upon by Law Budapest on Education, to raise athe frame ante People’s Party (EPP), expressed his party’s saying that the 27 national EU leaders are into line with that conception, Budapest at the diplomatic level and at NATO. concerns over probes launched against Mr. expected on June 19 to back extending the seeks, in effect, to misuse NATO and divert Poroshenko after he lost a 2019 presiden- restrictive measures for another six months it from its purposes (not overly ambitious Functioning of the Ukrainian Language as tial election to the current Ukrainian leader, – until the end of January 2021. In Moscow, in the first place) regarding Ukraine. the• State Ukraine’s Language, Law adopted on Ensuring in April 2019 the Volodymyr Zelenskyy. “The EPP is very the head of the Russian Foreign Affairs Hungary’s political leaders seem oblivious and promulgated the following month. It concerned by political cases against former Ministry’s European Cooperation Depart­ to the risk that their tactics may set a prec- enshrines Ukrainian as the lingua franca in President Poroshenko. The charges should ment, Nikolai Kobrinets, told Interfax that edent whereby other NATO member coun- the legal and the practical sense for the first not resemble politically motivated persecu- “life under sanctions can be hard, and tries would inject parochial issues into the time in the nation’s history. At the same tion, nor be politically motivated against they’re doing a lot of harm to our economy, alliance unrelated to its mandate and mis- time, it guarantees the free public use of the yet we adapt.” (RFE/RL, with reporting by sions. For its part, the North Atlantic select political opponents,” Mr. Tusk wrote languages of Ukraine’s national minorities, Reuters and Interfax) Alliance collectively takes the position that on Twitter on June 17. Last week, the as well as the official languages of the this dispute is only for Hungary and Orthodox Church of Ukraine issued a state- European Union. The Hungarian language Poroshenko blames Yanukovych for weak army Ukraine to settle bilaterally. Yet, NATO’s ment saying that any political motivation in qualifies on both of these counts, alongside consensus-based decision-making has left the activities of law enforcement agencies Former Ukrainian President Petro the Romanian, Bulgarian and Polish nation- the alliance with no choice but to accept and the initiation of criminal cases, in par- Poroshenko says that only 20 percent of al minority languages in Ukraine (see EDM, Budapest’s veto against senior-level meet- ticular, against the former president is inex- the country’s armed forces were combat- May 16, 2019). ings with Ukraine (see EDM, July 30, 2018 cusable. A billionaire confectioner, Mr. efficient when Russia annexed Crimea fol- and November 7, 2019). Poroshenko currently serves as a member lowing the toppling of Russia-friendly Education, adopted in January 2020, pursu- The controversy over Carpathian of Parliament. His party ran on a pro-Euro- ant• to Ukraine’s the framework Law on law Secondary-Level on education. Ukrainian President Viktor Yanukovych in Hungarian minority entitlements can also pean, anti-Russian ticket in July 2019 par- Both of these laws ensure that the state lan- early 2014. Mr. Poroshenko told the Kyiv complicate Ukraine’s position in the context liamentary elections, winning 25 seats. guage functions (as it does in any European of the European Union. As an EU-aspirant (Continued on page 10) state) as the main language of instruction, (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) country, Ukraine must in its own interest of graduation examinations and of admis- accept Brussels’ assessments of Ukrainian sion tests, in secondary-level and vocation- domestic legislation and policies. EU institu- al schools. However, here as well, scope is tions, among them the European provided for elastic implementation, transi- he krainian eekly FOUNDED 1933 Parliament’s advisory Venice Commission on T U W tional periods, some exceptions and possi- Democracy Through Law, would be loath to bilities for teaching one or several disci- side with one EU member country against An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., plines in one or more languages of another member country, but might deem it a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. European Union countries (including unproblematic politically to go along with an Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. Hungarian). This law is not about restrict- EU country’s perspective against that of a Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. ing the teaching of national minorities’ lan- non-member. Furthermore, current notions (ISSN — 0273-9348) guages and culture as subjects in the cur- of multiculturalism in Western Europe may riculum. It is about ensuring that the other The Weekly: UNA: complicate the understanding of Ukraine’s subjects are taught in Ukrainian as the lan- Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 nation- and state-building tasks. As a late- guage of instruction. Minority languages comer to statehood, Ukraine must, of necessi- remain the languages of instruction in pri- Postmaster, send address changes to: ty, focus on the national language and educa- mary-level schools for national minorities The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz tion, as was the case everywhere in Europe (Ukrinform, January 16, 2020). 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas earlier, during the state-building phase. The Ukrainian government has changed P.O. Box 280 While Ukraine is keen to overcome the Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] three ministers of education in close suc- two-and-a-half-year-old stalemate at NATO, cession in the last 10 months. The current Hungary cannot be comfortable with that government will be taking the Venice The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com Commission’s recommendations under serious consideration. The Ukrainian Weekly, June 21, 2020, No. 25, Vol. LXXXVIII Correction Copyright © 2020 The Ukrainian Weekly Lubomyr Luciuk, author of the com- PART II mentary “The story of Nick Sakaliuk” (June For almost three years, the Hungarian 14), has informed us that he made an error government has sought to instrumentalize ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA in one date mentioned in his article. The NATO and some European Union institu- correct date for the article about the War Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 tions to pressure Ukraine into legislating and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 Time Elections Act published in The Daily certain entitlements for the Hungarian e-mail: [email protected] British Whig in 1917 is September 7 (not national community in Carpathian Ukraine. Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 8). The correction has been made in our e-mail: [email protected] online edition. (Continued on page 15) No. 25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 3

NEWS ANALYSIS Ukraine designates legitimate representatives of Donetsk and Luhansk in Minsk process

by Vladimir Socor “certain areas of the Donetsk and Luhansk “people’s republics,” but only refer to diplomats at the OSCE and elsewhere dis- Eurasia Daily Monitor oblasts” (known by the official Ukrainian- ORDLO as a geographical territory. played copies of the Russian passports of based acronym ORDLO as per the Minsk Nevertheless, those two “republics” have Donetsk and Luhansk leaders and their Kyiv has appointed pro-Ukraine refugees agreements). acted on behalf of ORDLO as political enti- representatives in the Minsk process as from the Russian-occupied Donetsk and Ukraine’s government simply notified ties from 2015 onward. Top leaders of the added evidence of their illegitimacy. Luhansk regions to represent those territo- the other two full-fledged members of the “people’s republics” from time to time par- As a corollary, Kyiv argues that it needs ries in the Minsk Contact Group, the forum Minsk Contact Group – Russia and the ticipated in the Minsk process negotiations. legitimate “representatives of ORDLO” (as that negotiates the implementation of the Organization for Security and Cooperation Those leaders’ appointees (confirmed, per the Minsk agreements) with whom to Minsk agreements. in Europe (OSCE) – that Kyiv has appointed moreover, by the “people’s republics’ par- discuss the implementation of those docu- For the first time in almost six years, these new delegates and has invited them liaments”) permanently represented ments’ political clauses: mainly a “special pro-Ukraine delegates, acting on behalf of into the Minsk forum. This procedure mir- ORDLO in the Minsk Contact Group from status of ORDLO,” local elections and the those territories, sat in the Minsk Contact rors Russia’s and the OSCE’s procedure 2015 onward. The OSCE characteristically return of IDPs to their homes. The Group’s session (held by video-conference) with ORDLO’s representatives. The Contact went along with this Moscow-staged farce, Ukrainian delegation’s newly appointed on June 9-10 and technically continuing Group is officially named Trilateral, but conflating the territorial ORDLO with the members could be legitimate representa- today (June 15) (Ukrinform, June 9-15). nevertheless operates “with the participa- political “republics,” even as Kyiv refused to tives, both of ORDLO’s remaining resident Russia’s proxies in Donetsk and Luhansk tion of representatives of ORDLO.” The lat- deal with them. population and of the IDPs currently in had, from 2014 until now, monopolized the ter are “invited” by Russia and approved by The Minsk agreements (and subsequent Ukraine’s interior. representation of those territories in the the OSCE as the moderator (Ukrayinska negotiating record), however, do not speci- This argument amounts to strict-con- Minsk Contact Group. They will remain Pravda, June 11). fy who “ORDLO’s representatives” may be, structionism of the Minsk agreements. As entrenched there. Ukraine’s move, howev- Unlike Kyiv’s newly appointed delegates, nor do they indicate who would designate such, it might even restore some degree of er, de-monopolizes those territories’ repre- who are integral to Ukraine’s delegation, or appoint them. Nowhere is it written that credibility to these justly discredited docu- sentation and explicitly challenges those ORDLO has two delegations (Donetsk and the “people’s republics’ ” representatives ments. Russia and its proxies interpreted proxies’ legitimacy. Luhansk) ostensibly distinct from Russia’s have a right – let alone an exclusive right – these agreements at their discretion, with Kyiv has selected “internally displaced delegation. This ambiguous construction to represent the ORDLO territory in the the OSCE’s tacit consent. They disguised persons” (IDP), native to the Donetsk and allows Moscow to pose as mediator Minsk process or anywhere. This is the the two Minsk-violating “people’s repub- Luhansk territories and forcibly displaced between Kyiv and Donetsk-Luhansk, even starting premise to Kyiv’s argument about lics” under the Minsk-abiding ORDLO’s to Ukraine’s interior, to speak for the IDPs as as Kyiv rejects any official dialogue with de-monopolizing ORDLO’s representation mantle; consigned the territory’s popula- well as for the occupied territories’ popula- them and would only negotiate officially in the Minsk Contact Group. tion to being represented by Moscow’s tion in the Minsk Contact Group. Their offi- with Russia’s delegation in the Minsk Next, Kyiv points out that ORDLO’s-cum- proxies; and deprived the IDPs of any rep- cial status is that of members of Ukraine’s Contact Group. Under the Minsk agree- “people’s republics’ ” representatives are resentation in the Minsk negotiating pro- delegation, as invited guests with the title ments, however, the legal and political citizens of Russia as well as politically sub- cess. of advisors. They are not there as govern- parameters of conflict resolution must be ordinated to it. They are legally unqualified Kyiv’s creative gamble stands some ment employees but as independent citi- negotiated and agreed upon between Kyiv to represent ORDLO within Ukraine’s polit- chance of rectifying this situation. zens, representing not the Ukrainian state and the “representatives of ORDLO” (giving ical system (as is their official goal and but the people of this territory, displaced or these the veto power on Moscow’s behalf). Moscow’s in the Minsk process) since The article above is reprinted from non-displaced (Liga.net, June 9-14). ORDLO was and remains the designa- Ukrainian law precludes Ukrainian-Russian Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from Their participation does not in any way tion of a physical territory (that has been citizenship. In the run-up to the Contact its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, reduce or impair the Ukrainian govern- under Russian control de facto since 2014- Group’s June 9 convening date, Ukrainian www.jamestown.org. ment’s sovereign prerogative to represent, 2015). Russia, however, set up the Donetsk and speak for, the Russian-occupied and Luhansk “people’s republics” as politi- Donetsk and Luhansk and the population cal, proto-state structures on the ORDLO there. These advisors will, however, add territory through “elections” in 2014 and Ukraine recognized as NATO’s expertise, political credibility and authen- 2018. The Minsk agreements and the ensu- ticity to Kyiv’s legal title to speak for those ing Minsk process do not recognize the Enhanced Opportunities Partner

Euromaidan Press “This is a special format of coopera- tion that NATO offers to its closest allies, On June 12, the North Atlantic Council who are ready to work closely with the Ukraine gets U.S. military recognized Ukraine as an Enhanced Alliance to counter global threats. This Opportunities Partner. This status is part format allows each country to choose of NATO’s Partnership Interoperability areas for cooperation that will be most aid worth over $60 M Initiative, which aims to maintain and beneficial to it and NATO,” the deputy Ukrinform territorial integrity in the face of Russian deepen cooperation between allies and prime minister’s office said in an info- aggression,” the Embassy said. partners that have made significant con- graphic on its Facebook page. On June 11, the U.S. Congress approved a In late 2017, Washington for the first tributions to NATO-led operations and The program opens up greater oppor- military assistance package worth $250 time approved a plan to provide the Armed missions. tunities for sectoral interoperability with million for Ukraine for 2020, and Ukraine Forces of Ukraine with lethal weapons, Ukraine is now one of six Enhanced NATO in the areas of logistics, communi- received over $60 million in military aid including Javelin anti-tank missile systems. Opportunities Partners, alongside Aust­ra­ cations and troop management. from the United States, which includes In the spring of 2018, the United States lia, Finland, Georgia, Jordan and Sweden. As explained by the office, as a result Javelin anti-tank missiles. delivered these anti-tank missile systems to In a press release, NATO stated that of membership in the Program, Ukraine “U.S. security assistance and cooperation Ukraine and, in May, they passed their first Ukraine provided troops to Allied opera- will be able to participate in the planning efforts with Ukraine during #COVID19 con- tests. tions, including in Afghanistan and of NATO operations, gain access to all tinue! Yesterday, the U.S. Embassy’s Office On June 11 of this year, the U.S. Congress Kosovo, as well as to the NATO Response NATO exercises, access to best practices, of Defense Cooperation received more than approved a military assistance package Force and NATO exercises, and that as an and priority certification of forces and $60 million of equipment to transfer to our worth $250 million for Ukraine in 2020. On Enhanced Opportunities Partner, Ukraine equipment. Ukrainian partners, including radios, May 15, the United States provided will benefit from tailor-made opportuni- Representatives of Ukraine will also ammunition and Javelin anti-tank missiles,” Ukraine’s Armed Forces with materiel ties to help sustain such contributions. be able to hold positions at NATO head- the U.S. Embassy in Kyiv said on Facebook assistance totaling $25 million for better This includes enhanced access to quarters and command structures. on June 17. equipment of Ukrainian military units interoperability programs and exercises, In addition, Ukraine will have an in- “The United States stands strongly with deployed in the Joint Forces Operation zone and more sharing of information, includ- depth and faster exchange of intelligence Ukraine in support of its sovereignty and in the country’s east. ing lessons learned. with NATO member countries. “This decision recognizes Ukraine’s Participation in the program also strong contributions to NATO missions, envisages deepening cooperation in Quotable notes and demonstrates the Alliance’s contin- maintaining security in the Black Sea ued commitment to its partnerships and joint counteraction to cyberthreats, “I am pleased to see that the North Atlantic Council has accepted Ukraine as an despite the COVID-19 pandemic,” said international terrorism and organized Enhanced Opportunities Partner. Ukraine’s status as an Enhanced Opportunities NATO Spokesperson Oana Lungescu. crime. Partner is a recognition of the tremendous sacrifices made by the brave men and However, the press release notes that Ukraine became an aspiring member women of the Ukrainian armed forces in support of NATO operations and the dedica- Ukraine’s new status does not prejudge of NATO in 2018, declaring its aspira- tion of the Ukrainian government to continue to make serious structural military any decisions on NATO membership. tions to become a full-fledged NATO reforms. I strongly support Ukraine’s NATO integration and eventual full partnership Ukraine’s Office of the Deputy Prime member. Other NATO aspiring members and I will continue to advocate on their behalf. ” Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic include Bosnia and Herzegovina, Georgia – U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) in a statement released on June 12, the day Ukraine Integration gave more details about the and the former Yugoslav Republic of was recognized as an Enhanced Opportunities Partner of NATO. new status, Evropeyska Pravda reported. Macedonia. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 No. 25

Ukrainian Catholic churches reopening as pandemic restrictions are lifted PHILADELPHIA – The Ukrainian fecting the golden spoon(s) were among Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia the precautions of public health safety announced on June 11 that all its churches being observed due to the coronavirus pan- in the state of New Jersey will be open for demic.” the faithful and public divine liturgies start- A list of the updated guidelines for open- ing on Saturday and Sunday, June 20-21. ing parish churches and resumption of ser- Earlier, the archeparchy had announced vices was posted on the archeparchy’s that all churches in Pennsylvania would be website and Facebook page. Among the able to resume services on June 6-7, items noted: although parishes in some parts of the * The church should be cleaned/sani- state were able to open their churches for tized before each service when the public religious services as early as May 16-17. may be present, especially those areas and Some churches in Delaware, Maryland and surfaces that are commonly used and Virginia also were open by mid-May. touched (bathrooms, railings, doors, backs Two churches in Virginia, Annunciation of pews, etc.). of the Blessed Virgin Mary Church in * In order to observe social distancing Manassas and Ss. Joachim and Anna for laity while in church, please consider Church in Front Royal, announced in May one-third of total church capacity as the that they would begin holding outdoor lit- maximum number of persons that may be urgies on Saturdays. present at any given divine liturgy or ser- The seat of the archeparchy, the vice (the total seating capacity of the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in church divided by three). In the state of Philadelphia, celebrated the first liturgy Pennsylvania, there is no limit to the num- that was open to the public on June 7. As ber of participants at the services as long as reported in The Way, the archeparchy’s norms of social distancing are maintained. official publication, “Due to new guidelines, Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia social distancing, using marks and disin- The Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception in Philadelphia. (Continued on page 12)

OBITUARIES Doris Kule, generous supporter of Ukrainian studies Oleh Hornykiewicz, world-renowned neurologist

EDMONTON, Alberta – The Ukrainian by Daria Darewych Diaspora Studies Initiative (UDSI) at the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies TORONTO – Prof. Oleh Hornykiewicz, (CIUS) lost a close friend and supporter internationally renowned brain researcher with the passing of Doris Kule on March 15. and one of the world’s leading neuroscien- She was 99. The UDSI is but one of many tists, passed away May 26 in Vienna, scholarly projects and programs across Austria. He was 93. His greatest achieve- Canada that she and her husband, Peter ment and contribution to humanity came Kule, made possible through their generous early in his career, in 1960, when he discov- philanthropy. ered the cause of Parkinson’s disease. A Such contributions were recalled in sev- year later he initiated the first clinical trials eral tributes. Dr. Lesley Cormack, dean of of medication to treat this disorder. the Faculty of Arts at the University of His development of L-dopa for the treat- Alberta, described Mrs. Kule as a “passion- ment of Parkinson’s disease revolutionized ate and beloved community leader and a treatment and remains the cornerstone of true champion of education,” who, together therapy today. Thousands of patients with her husband, “left an indelible mark worldwide have benefitted from his on the University of Alberta through their University of Alberta research and discoveries. For his work Prof. generous support of world class, interdisci- Doris Kule Hornykiewicz received numerous presti- Prof. Oleh Hornykiewicz plinary research.” gious international honors, awards and dis- The Rev. Dr. Peter Galadza, director of ing a successful and innovative accounting tinctions. University of Toronto. the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky practice and eventually becoming a char- In 2000 Prof. Hornykiewicz was nomi- In 1976 Prof. Hornykiewicz returned to Institute of Eastern Christian Studies at the tered accountant. In the meantime, Mrs. nated for the Nobel Prize in Medicine. Vienna as professor and head of the newly University of St. Michael’s College, Kule pursued a career as an elementary When the award was given to others, even founded Institute of Biochemical University of Toronto, noted that Mrs. Kule school teacher in the Beverly district of though it was he who had made the crucial Pharmacology of the University of Vienna. has been called the “Mother of the Edmonton, until her retirement in 1974. link between the discovery of the neu- He continued to maintain his concurrent Sheptytsky Institute.” He mentioned the As Mr. Kule’s accounting firm grew and rotransmitter dopamine in Parkinson’s dis- position with the University of Toronto. In traits that marked her character as a teach- his business interests prospered, the Kules ease and its treatment, 230 scientists wrote 1978 he established the Human Brain er – her “kindness and eagerness to help began increasingly to turn their attention to an open letter to the Nobel Prize Laboratory, a new research section at the others” – and that even today her “students philanthropy, focusing in particular on sup- Committee expressing their regret that he Clarke Institute of Psychiatry in Toronto, recall her warm smile and soothing gaze.” porting educational endeavors, many in the had been overlooked. which he directed until his retirement in She was born on a farm near Boian, field of Ukrainian studies. In total, they He was born in Sykhiv (now part of Lviv) 1992. Alberta, on January 1, 1921, to Usten and have donated more than $14 million to in 1926 into the priestly family of reverend At the University of Vienna, he was Maria Radesh, who had immigrated to post-secondary institutions across Canada, Teofil and Anna Hornykiewycz. His family instrumental in founding the Center of Canada from the Bukovynian village of including $1 million to establish the Kule fled western Ukraine in 1940 when the Brain Research at the Medical Faculty, now Shubranets, now in Zastavna raion, Ukrainian Canadian Studies Center at the Soviet Army invaded. They settled in the Medical University of Vienna. Officially, Chernivtsi Oblast. CIUS, along with an initiative devoted to Vienna, where his uncle, the Very Rev. he retired as professor emeritus in 1995, One of 10 children (a sibling died in studying the worldwide Ukrainian diaspo- Myron Hornykiewicz, was the parish priest but continued to serve as interim head infancy), she was bright and athletic, and ra. at St. Barbara Ukrainian Catholic Church in until 1999. quickly became fluent in English. Eager to “The Ukrainian Canadian community 1923-1959. Mr. Hornykiewicz studied med- Widely acknowledged as the leading pursue an education, she completed nine joins the Kule family in grief and sadness icine in Vienna and received his M.D. from authority on neurotransmitter function in grades at the local school and then attend- on the news of the passing of Mrs. Doris the University of Vienna in 1951. diseased and normal brains, Prof. Hor­ ed high school in nearby Willingdon, after Kule. Mrs. Kule’s kindness of spirit, gener- Dr. Hornykiewicz began his academic nykiewicz­ continued to pursue his research which she took teacher training at the osity and vision in supporting our commu- and research career in the Department of into the human brain until recently. University of Alberta. She then taught at nity were an example for us all to emulate,” Pharmacology of the University of Vienna With his death, the world has lost an rural schools in Derwent and Shalka, before stated Alexandra Chyczij, national presi- in 1951. He held a British Council Research internationally renowned neuroscientist deciding to move to Edmonton after visit- dent of the Ukrainian Canadian Congress. Scholarship at the Department of and the Ukrainian community has lost a ing an older sister while on holiday in the “Many programs, scholarships, and institu- Pharmacology of the University of Oxford famous son. He is survived by his daughter, city. tions have benefited immensely from the from 1956 to 1958. In 1967 he was Maria Hentosz in Ottawa, and three sons, It was in Edmonton that she met Peter Kule family’s support. Through her sub- appointed head of the Department of Nicholas, Stephen and Joseph in Austria. Kule (Kuleba), a public accountant, in 1943, stantial contributions and leadership, Mrs. Psychopharmacology at the Clarke Institute and they married a year later. As a couple of Psychiatry and in 1973 full professor of Daria Darewych, Ph.D., is president of the they worked hard together, Mr. Kule build- (Continued on page 12) pharmacology and psychiatry at the Shevchenko Scientific Society in Canada. No. 25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 5

Mark Raczkiewicz A woman gets her hair cut at Celebrity Lashes salon on Western Avenue, where there Zhytomyr region native Oleksandr Firov stands outside his organic food grocery on is a one-week waiting list for such services. June 16 after returning from his weekly trip to neighboring Indiana to buy produce at farms run by Amish families. from the municipal government. Chicago’s... The Chicago Park District eased restric- my family… then the pandemic hit.” month following the killing of a Black sus- First, there was a fear “for my family’s pect, George Floyd, by a white police officer (Continued from page 1) tions at certain parks, including Smith Park, the Ukrainian Village neighborhood’s main health and the future of the business,” which in Minneapolis. table in the foyer. The enclosed, soundproof destination for recreation. relies on catering events as its main cash Owner Myron Lewyckyj said he has children’s room was closed and the service “Social distancing ambassadors” were cow rather than indoor dining inside the plans to open his patio next week with a took place without a choir. Confession was deployed “to manage the flow of patrons,” café’s small premises. But, “I overcame the “reconfigured menu with an emphasis on administered on stairwells to allow for according to the municipal body’s June 8 fear,” she said, adding, “I stopped living in the seasonal ingredients but not as expansive” physical distancing, and the centrally placed statement. future and started to live in the present.” as before. icon and cross in between the columns of On a visit four days later, The Ukrainian “We survived,” she said, while mention- Even for essential businesses that were pews were removed to prevent church- Weekly saw children on swings, people ing that orders are picking up and that she allowed to stay open, like the Amish & goers from kissing common surfaces. playing softball and tennis, as well as oth- was trying to be “responsible as much as Healthy Food grocery, times were tough “This was our first day of reopening, so ers relaxing on the expansive lawn. possible to not make any sanitation mis- and still are. we’re in trial mode,” said parishioner Olga Chicago has nearly 50,000 confirmed takes” for the outdoor patio she opened on Owner Oleksandr Firov, originally from Bozio. “Even the after-mass coffee and cases and 2,427 deaths related to COVID- June 13 because she doesn’t want to “risk rural Zhytomyr Oblast in Ukraine, said his sandwiches in the church basement won’t 19, the disease caused by the novel corona- the lives of customers and employees.” client base is only slowly coming back. be offered, and all the exits will be opened virus, the city government said on June 17. Dr. Allison Arwady, head of the Chicago When the pandemic struck the city, he for people to leave without having to bunch The two zip codes that mostly encom- Department of Public Health, said last week closed for three days “out of fear,” but then up together.” pass the Ukrainian Village neighborhood that Chicago could move to phase four as reopened to witness “panic buying.” As per the city’s third of five phases for had 1,200 confirmed cases as of June 17, early as July 1 if coronavirus figures stay He even had trouble placing orders with emerging from the nearly three-month according to the local TV affiliate of CBS. low or continue declining. his suppliers at Amish farms in neighboring lockdown, 50 church-goers were allowed Hair salon owner Tetiana Patryshevska, This would see gyms, museums and Indiana and further in Michigan, where he inside, although places of worship are whose business on Chicago Avenue was indoor dining return, and people would be goes once a week for pick-ups, because local allowed to be filled at 25-percent capacity, shuttered for 75 days, said she sees cus- able to gather in groups of up to 50. residents there “were panic buying” as well. which would’ve allowed for up to 125 peo- tomers “come in one after the other.” Bars that serve food opened on June 17 for Even during his latest run on June 16, Mr. ple to attend at Ss. Volodymyr and Olha. Typical of a small business owner, she indoor seating, and the City Council approved Firov said he had planned to buy 12 crates Holy communion was administered with told The Weekly that, since emigrating from a measure on the same day to allow pur- of strawberries only to purchase two. what appeared to be a common golden Ukraine 26 years ago, she has not more than veyors of alcohol to sell cocktails to go. In addition, he noticed that “customers spoon. The chalice’s contents were being 10 vacation days in any given year and The Ukrainian restaurant Tryzub has have temporarily moved away either to deposited in a contactless manner without wasn’t accustomed to not working. restarted food delivery after the looting shelter elsewhere in less populated areas touching lips or mouths. If contact was Now, Ms. Patryshevska said, with so that also hit the community earlier this or to their summer homes.” made, there were extra spoons nearby and much work, my knees hurt and I’m disinfectant for any used spoons. exhausted when I get home.” The coronavirus, according to the CDC, is During the lockdown, she said her rou- known to spread through droplets that are tine was “[opening] the refrigerator and Soyuzivka overnight camps expelled through mouths and nasal pas- watching television… and when it got sageways, among other ways of transmis- warmer I finally went for walks.” She added cancelled for 2020 season sion. that if the shelter-in-place orders had last- The pastor wasn’t wearing a mask, like ed longer, “I would’ve died of hunger… the by Wasyl Szeremeta his counterparts in Ukraine do, and he $1,200 [federal] aid check wasn’t enough.” didn’t opt for disposable wooden spoons Similarly, at Celebrity Lashes, which The Ukrainian National Foundation board and Soyuzivka management have made that were later burned as was done, for offers haircuts, facials, eyebrow and eye- the difficult but necessary decision to cancel all overnight camps at Soyuzivka for the example, at a counterpart parish, St. Joseph lash services, owner Valentyna Parashchak upcoming summer 2020 Season. This difficult decision was made to comply with the the Betrothed Ukrainian Catholic Church said she was glad to reopen her business. order issued on Friday, June 12, by New York State Commissioner of Health Dr. on the northwest side of Chicago, or in A mother of two children, she said she Howard Zucker, citing the risks of COVID-19 and the difficulty in enforcing social dis- some churches in Canada. could have deferred her lease payments tancing and mask use. “It’s good to see everyone in person and until July 1 but managed to pay during the “Overnight camps have congregate settings and sleeping arrangements in close not virtually,” said Pastor Oleh Kryvokulsky, quarantine, adding that “we prepared ahead quarters that present too many risks,” Dr. Zucker said in a statement. “In such a set- adding that daily prayer services would of time, bought masks… and remained ting, even a single positive case in a camper or staff member could create an unten- resume on June 15. “Your safety is our closed from March 21 until June 3.” able quarantine situation and overwhelm camp health personnel that may not be number one priority.” Because disinfecting the salon is time- able to handle a serious infectious outbreak of this nature.” As prayers blared from outdoor speak- consuming, Ms. Parashchak said business Although a large portion of the country has begun to reopen and engage in activi- ers for those who couldn’t enter, Ms. Bozio hours have been reduced. A backlog of one ties that do not focus on social distancing as strictly as during the quarantine period, said that, given the tight-knit nature of month exists for eyelash treatment and this is not as true in the New York region. Cases continue to climb as more testing is Chicago’s Ukrainian community, it was there is a one-week waiting list for haircuts. occurring, and the risk is still real, especially in an environment where activities allow “exciting to be back at church… not only to “I expect to make the money I lost [dur- for too many people to be congregated in close quarters. pray but to get together and socialize.” ing the lockdown] in two to three months… Furthermore, there is a newer risk in some children who have developed MIS-C, Chicago’s gradual reopening is based on I now value working more than ever,” she which can lead to a serious illness requiring intensive care treatment. Unfortunately, rules set by the state government that fol- said. three children in New York have died from this condition. low guidelines from the Centers for Disease At the neighborhood’s favorite pastry As president of the UNF, and speaking for the board, we had great hopes to salvage Control and Prevention (CDC). shop just two blocks west of the community’s some of the summer season, particularly the summer camps, as this is a vital cultural Accordingly, certain non-essential busi- unofficial boundary, Shokolad café owner link for our extended family. But as a physician, I have to agree with the conservative nesses were allowed to reopen on May 30, Halyna Fedus took advantage of the federal assessment put forth by Dr. Zucker and err on the side of caution in order to protect including hair salons and food establish- government’s small business loans program our children. ments – now able to offer outdoor dining in to cover salaries and utility expenses. We thank you for your support and patience during these trying times, and we addition to delivery and curb-side pickup. Before the lockdown in mid-March, Ms. promise to return to normal as soon as it is medically and logistically feasible. Yet, area commerce didn’t reopen until ear- Fedus, an immigrant from Ternopil, said Wasyl Szeremeta, M.D., is president of the Ukrainian National Foundation. lier this month due to unclear guidelines “all was going well in terms of planning and 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 No. 25

COMMENTARY The Ukrainian Weekly Our community copes COVID-19 used to block OSCE monitors, It’s late June, and many places here in the United States are beginning to reopen after two and a half to three months of restrictions imposed to stop the spread of the while Russia continues war on Ukraine novel coronavirus. Back on April 12, in our editorial titled “Hope is not cancelled,” June 4-5, 2020 we cited some examples of how our community organizations were continuing their by Halya Coynash The above was nothing in comparison activities despite the pandemic. We also invited readers to inform us, and through us Kharkiv Human Rights Protection with the flurry of activity involving military the community at large, about how you’re handling things in your area. To those Group vehicles during the night of June 4-5. On who have done so: Thank you! The Russian-controlled militants in the The Ukrainian American Veterans in Philadelphia, wearing face masks, remem- June 6, the OSCE reported that its UAV had Donbas are actively using coronavirus seen “a convoy of trucks entering Ukraine bered fallen comrades on Memorial Day. Community members in upstate New York, quarantine restrictions as an excuse for also sporting face masks, came together for their annual clean-up around the Taras and another convoy exiting Ukraine on a denying access to monitors of the dirt road, in a non-government-controlled Shevchenko monument in Troy. Yara Arts Group of New York scheduled a series of Organization for Security and Cooperation virtual poetry and folk arts events. The U.S.-Ukraine Foundation held an online film area of Luhansk region near the border in Europe (OSCE), while Russia continues screening and discussion related to the anniversary of the Chornobyl nuclear disaster. with the Russian Federation where there its secret night convoys across the border The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus held virtual streaming rehearsals for its musicians. are no border crossing facilities.” quite unimpeded. Even if there is no direct Editor Matthew Dubas has tried to keep track of coronavirus-related develop- The first sighting was at 20:40 [the mili- proof that the most recently spotted cargo ments in our Ukrainian American organizations. Early on, his front-page story tary time for 8:40 p.m.] on June 4 when the and military-type vehicles brought military reported how our community was coping amid COVID-19; among the adaptations “UAV spotted at least 12 probable military- technology, ammunition or other instru- he cited were online Ukrainian school classes and online sing-alongs organized by a type trucks and an escort light utility vehi- Plast member. One of his stories was about the Ukrainian Institute of America orga- ments of death into occupied Ukraine, it is cle in a stationary convoy pointing east on a nizing a virtual pysanka workshop. He also reported that Plast Ukrainian Scouting reasonable to ask why else would such dirt track and five persons walking in Organization and the Ukrainian American Youth Association had cancelled their movements occur at night, on dirt roads, in between the trucks.” All of this was around summer camps for 2020, but that both said they will take their camp experiences places where there are no border crossing 120 meters west of the border with Russia online in order to serve their young members. Among other information he com- facilities nearby. and, needless to say, “in an area where piled: the Ukrainian Educational and Cultural Center in Jenkintown, Pa., was work- Recent reports of the OSCE Special there are no border crossing facilities.” ing hard to connect with its Philadelphia-area community via an e-newsletter that Monitoring Mission (SMM) drones coming Soon afterwards, three other military- contains a music, theater and film playlist, and it was offering online Ukrainian lan- under gunfire in the non-government-con- type vehicles and another vehicle joined guage classes thanks to a partnership with the School of Ukrainian Language and trolled Donbas may have nothing to do the convoy after arriving on the same dirt Culture at the Ukrainian Catholic University in Lviv. Most recently, Mr. Dubas shared with the convoys, but this would not be the track from a westerly direction. Then, information about how the Ukrainian National Home of Syracuse, N.Y., is supporting first time that the long-range unmanned between 20:52 and 21:22 two of the mili- its activities with take-out food sales and how the Ukrainian American Sports Center aerial vehicles (UAVs) had been jammed or tary-type trucks crossed the border out of Tryzub in Horsham, Pa., had reopened with outdoor service of food and drinks. downed after sighting military hardware Ukraine, with this leaving 14 military-type Our colleague Mark Raczkiewycz has filed stories from Chicago’s Ukrainian crossing into militant-controlled Ukraine trucks, vehicles and escort remaining sta- Village neighborhood to let us know what’s happening there and how our fellow from Russia. tionary. Shortly afterwards, two light utility Ukrainians, among them local businesspeople, are handling the pandemic restric- Russia has never stopped trying to deny vehicles entered Ukraine and went up to tions. Some of the interesting info he provided: yoga classes were held via Zoom, its active military and other involvement in the 14-military-type vehicles and escort. online exhibits were presented by the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art and the the Donbas war and its control of the two One stopped near the convoy, while the Ukrainian National Museum, and the comprehensive Ukrainian exams of Ukrainian proxy “Donbas and Luhansk people’s other continued on, via the dirt track to studies schools took place online. Now, he reports, the faithful can attend liturgies republics.” During the preliminary hearings near Cheremshyne. and businesses are coming back. into Ukraine’s suit against Russia at the At around 22:10, a second convoy of five Sadly, some events have had to be cancelled, among them the summer sleepaway United Nations International Court of military-type trucks entered Ukraine, camps at Soyuzivka Heritage Center, as noted on page 5 of this issue. Though the Justice in March 2017, in part over alleged passed by the stationary convoy and Ukrainian Congress Committee of America celebrated its 80th anniversary with a virtual violation of the International Convention moved westwards. gathering, inviting the community to join in, its XXIII Congress of Ukrainian Americans, for the Suppression of the Financing of All of this was clearly coordinated, with the quadrennial convention traditionally held during the years of U.S. presidential elec- Terrorism, one of the Russian representa- the five military-type trucks being joined at tions, has been postponed to next year. Likewise, the Lemko Vatra will skip a year and tives claimed that the militants’ weapons 22:55 by three probable military-type vehi- promises to come back in 2021. We’re sure there are many other organizations and and military hardware were stockpiles institutions that have made adjustments to their programming. Keep us posted! cles and two others that had arrived from inherited by Ukraine in 1991 from the an easterly direction. This convoy, now FYI, we publish basic information about upcoming Ukrainian events in our Out & Soviet Army, as well as “the retreating About column, a free listing, so that the community at large can participate. (A pet made up of 10 vehicles, eventually arrived Ukrainian army.” in militant-controlled Luhansk. peeve of ours: Why do folks think that, if an event is held online or is virtual, no Russia failed to convince the Court at the advance notification is needed?) We encourage others to make use of this communi- The other convoy had, in the meantime, Hague that the latter did not have jurisdic- left Ukraine via the uncontrolled border ty newspaper to get the word out about their worthwhile work. tion over this claim, and Ukraine now has In the meantime, we feel some words of praise are due to our organizations and with the Russian Federation. the chance to prove violation of the conven- This appears to have been the first such institutions for their creativity and hard work at this extraordinary time of isolation tion, including through direct supplies to and social distancing. Thank you for keeping our community going! sightings, at least in this area, since early the pseudo “republics.” All such evidence is October 2019. also important for the International Criminal Court, which is still investigating October 3, 2019 to what degree the conflict in the Donbas In the night of October 3, 2019, a UAV June constitutes an international armed conflict. “spotted three probable trucks arriving on Turning the pages back... The following are doubtless not the only a dirt road from the direction of Manych convoys of military trucks that travel by and leading to the border in a place with- Last year, the editorial that appeared in The Ukrainian Weekly in night in places where they are clearly not out border crossing facilities.” One 25 the June 30/July 7 issue noted that on June 25, 2019, the supposed to be observed, but even the remained at the border, a second crossed 2019 Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) had voted number of those that have been spotted is into Russia, while the third, which was to reinstate the Russian delegation and its voting rights, which incriminating. probably a KamAZ military truck, returned were revoked in response to Russia’s annexation of Crimea in 2014. westward. June 7-8, 2020 The assembly voted 116 in favor, 62 against and 10 abstaining. The same UAV also spotted “six vehicles Russia did absolutely nothing to justify its reinstatement, the editorial underscored. In its daily report on June 10, the OSCE (possible trucks) arriving in a convoy from In 2014, PACE declared Russia’s actions a “clear contradiction of the Statute of the SMM reported that its long-range UAV had, an easterly direction on a dirt road and Council of Europe.” Russia’s delegation was allowed to continue to attend sessions, and on the night of June 7-8, spotted three cov- stopping near agricultural buildings, about vote in committees, but its members were not allowed to head committees, and Russia ered cargo trucks on the southern edge of 1.7 kilometers east of Cheremshyne.” was prohibited from participation in various PACE bodies and mission. Russia refused to Manych (76 kilometers east of Donetsk). participate in PACE in 2016, and in 2017 stopped paying its membership dues. One of the vehicles was driving along a dirt August 22, 2019 In 2019, PACE then backtracked on its position, opening the door to Russia’s reinstate- road towards the border with Russia, stop- The UAV sighting during the night of ment. During the PACE session on June 24-28, 2019, the Ukrainian delegation walked out ping around 200 meters from the border. of the session in protest. President Volodymyr Zelenskyy voiced his dismay on Facebook, August 22, 2019, was more modest, though This was in the area that is not under still of note given the fact that there were and said he had tried to convince the leaders of France and Germany that “the return of Ukrainian government control, and where the Russian delegation to the PACE is possible only after Russia’s compliance with the two, possibly three, cargo trucks travelling there are no border crossing facilities. The between an area adjacent to the border with Assembly’s fundamental requirements,” adding, “Unfortunately, our European partners UAV also detected a car driving away from did not hear us and acted differently.” Russia and where there is no border cross- the border towards these cargo trucks in The PACE website stated, “…the Assembly called on Russia to fulfill a series of recent ing facility and a junction outside Manych. Manych. Assembly recommendations, citing among other things the release of Ukrainian sailors, Two kilometers southeast of Stepne, the July 22, 2019 cooperation on bringing to justice those responsible for downing Flight MH17, and taking UAV “also spotted nine probable vehicles measures to end violations of the rights of LGBTI people, especially in Chechnya.” PACE On that occasion, eight trucks were spot- was to debate a report on Russia’s fulfillment of those obligations at its April 20-24, 2020, near a tree line near about 160 meters west ted by the UAV, with three probably tanker of a dirt road leading to the border with the (Continued on page 8) Russian Federation.” (Continued on page 14) No. 25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 7

LETTER TO THE EDITOR FROM FAR focused on the personalities of writers and A clarification about the general evolution of Ukrainian literary AND WIDE culture. Thus, his books did not make the by Marco Levytsky books of George Luckyj kind of contribution to Ukrainian literary scholarship that Dmytro Chyzhevsky’s Dear Editor: writings did. This, however, does not I read with interest Dr. Thomas diminish their importance. Prymak’s article about the conference ses- In fact, Prof. Luckyj’s books were exactly Marking the centenary of Canada’s sion “The Generation of 1919: Omeljan what was needed by the emerging field of Pritsak, George Luckyj and Ivan Lysiak Ukrainian literature studies in the English- first national internment operations Rudnytsky” (May 24). I would like to make speaking world of the time. In the field of Slavic studies in North America that was June 20 marks the 100th anniversary of regarded as their unjust confinement was two corrections to this article. the close of Canada’s first national intern- widespread, provoking resistance, some Firstly, Dr. Prymak mentions me as affili- dominated by Russian specialists with Russo-centric views, it was necessary to ment operations. Under this policy carried passive such as work slowdowns. Other ated with the University of Toronto. I am out between 1914 and 1920, 8,579 men, efforts were more determined, including affiliated with the Canadian Institute of define and legitimize the very concept of a Ukrainian literature as a cultural phenome- and some women and children, were escape attempts and even a massive riot Ukrainian Studies at the University of interned as “enemy aliens” by the Canadian involving some 1,200 internees at Alberta. non worthy of a serious study. And George Luckyj managed to do just that. government, acting under the authority of Kapuskasing in May 1916 that required the Secondly, Dr. Prymak suggests that I the War Measures Act. That number includ- intervention of 300 armed soldiers before expressed a view that Prof. Luckyj’s books All three papers presented at this con- ference session have now been published ed 5,954 Austro-Hungarians, most of it was put down. were “ ‘unoriginal’ and perhaps even deriv- whom were ethnic Ukrainians, although In total, 107 internees died in captivity, ative.” I have not expressed such a view. I in the 1/2020 issue of the journal Ab Imperio. they were not recognized by that name at six were shot dead while attempting to stated that, by choice, Prof. Luckyj did not that time. Most often they were referred to escape, others succumbed to infectious dis- write literary scholarship per se; he did not Marko Robert Stech as Ruthenians, or by the region they came eases, work-related injuries and suicide. In provide analyses of literary texts but Toronto from, as Galicians or Bukovynians. many cases, they were buried in unmarked That the majority of the internees were graves or cemeteries far from their commu- Ukrainian was no accident. They were sin- nities and loved ones, their final resting GUIDELINES FOR LETTERS TO THE EDITOR gled out because they were considered the places all but forgotten. The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters to the editor that react to articles pub- lowest of the low in Canadian society at As is often noted, both by politicians and lished on its pages. Opinions expressed by letter writers are their own and do not that time. As a clergyman, Father Moris, Ukrainian Canadian leaders, the Ukrainians necessarily reflect the opinions of either The Weekly editorial staff or its publisher, stated in Calgary’s Daily Herald on January were imprisoned not for anything they had the Ukrainian National Association. 27, 1899: “As for the Galicians I have not done, but for where they had come from. met a single person in the whole of the The experience was to leave a deep-rooted Letters must be signed (anonymous letters are not published) and the city from North West who is sympathetic to them. trauma for several generations. “The crip- which they are sent will be published under the author’s name. However, the day- They are, from the point of view of civiliza- pling legacy of what happened to them time phone number, e-mail address and complete mailing address of the letter- tion, 10 times lower than the Indians. They would endure and would be detected writer must be given for verification purposes. have not the least idea of sanitation. In decades later by an RCMP informant who, THE LENGTH OF LETTERS CANNOT EXCEED 250 WORDS. Letters may be edited their personal habits and acts [they] in August 1941, told his superiors how or abridged. The Weekly reserves the right to edit for clarity, civility and accuracy. resemble animals, and even in the streets some Ukrainian Canadians were still ‘in Letters should be sent to [email protected] or to The Ukrainian Weekly, of Edmonton, when they come to market, fear of the barbed wire fence,’ ” stated 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. men, women and children, would, if Borys Sydoruk, chair of the Ukrainian unchecked, turn the place into a common Canadian Congress National Internment sewer.” Centenary Committee and the chair of the What is also significant is that they were Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties IN THE PRESS: Russia interned by the government of Sir Robert Foundation, in opening “Twenty Days of Borden against the advice of British author- Remembrance” on June 1. ities who urged Canada not to act indis- Little was known about this dark chap- and the Human Rights Council criminately against subject nationalities of ter in Canadian history until 1978, when “Vladimir Putin’s Russia doesn’t rights” as one of its “overarching priori- the Austro-Hungarian Empire as they were Nick Sakaliuk provided testimony to deserve a seat on the U.N. Human ties,” the Russian government commits in fact friendly to the British Empire. And it Lubomyr Luciuk about his experiences as Rights Council,” by Vladimir Kara- to ensuring “strict compliance by states was quite unusual for Ottawa to buck an internee at Fort Henry in Kingston, Murza, The Washington Post, May 13 with their international human rights London at that time since Canada had not Ontario, and then in the Petawawa and (https://www.washingtonpost.com/opin- obligations”; “involv[ing] civil society yet become independent and its foreign Kapuskasing camps. Yet, almost a decade ions/2020/05/13/vladimir-putins-russia- institutions in addressing international policy was guided by the United Kingdom. would pass before a concerted campaign to doesnt-deserve-seat-un-human-rights-cou issues”; and “enhanc[ing] cooperation When Britain declared war on Germany on right this historic injustice began, spear- ncil/?fbclid=IwAR1UXCrV61Ohui8j981v4y with ... human rights organizations.” … August 4, 1914, Canada was automatically headed by the Ukrainian Canadian Civil d7bqo82Wi9i0H6YWkRQFQb-e8pSS1Rx- …The reason for establishing the U.N. at war as well. Having gained indepen- Liberties Association (UCCLA) under the 8bbzww): Human Rights Council to replace the dence under the 1931 Statute of chairmanship of John B. Gregorovich. defunct (and widely discredited) Westminster, Canada waited a full week to On May 9, 2008, the Canadian govern- Last month, U.N. Watch, a Geneva- Human Rights Commission was to declare war on Germany in 1939, and that ment established a $10 million fund for based human rights group, released a avoid the offense of the top human came after a parliamentary debate and projects that commemorate the experience report on the upcoming election to the rights watchdog being led by human vote. It is also significant to note that the of thousands of Ukrainians and other United Nations Human Rights Council. rights abusers. internment operation ended almost two Europeans interned between 1914 and According to the group, governments … even a quick glance at the Putin years after the end of World War I. 1920 and the many others who suffered a seeking a place on the top human rights government’s record shows that it falls Held in 24 receiving stations and intern- suspension of their civil liberties and free- watchdog at the General Assembly ses- well short of the acceptable minimum. It ment camps across the country – from doms. The funds are themselves held in sion in October will include some of the holds hundreds of political prisoners. It Nanaimo on the Pacific, to Halifax on the trust by the Ukrainian Canadian world’s worst human rights abusers – blacklists civic groups as “undesirable Atlantic, the internees were used as virtual Foundation of Taras Shevchenko. among them Cuba, Saudi Arabia and organizations.” It holds elections “with- slave labor. Much of their work was con- So why should we remember the intern- Vladimir Putin’s Russia. out real competition” and conducts ducted in the national parks of western ment operations 100 years after they were …The government in Moscow has crackdowns on peaceful protesters. And Canada, building roads, clearing bush, cut- closed? Because racism is still widespread long been eager to return to the forum, that’s not even mentioning the indis- ting trails and even building a portion of around the world. Countries that acknowl- from which it was dropped nearly four criminate bombing of civilians during its the golf course at Banff, Alberta. Others edge the dark periods of their history are years ago. … military operations in Syria, or its whole- helped carve experimental farms out of the countries can learn from their mistakes The Kremlin has also been trying to sale annexation of Crimea from neigh- boreal wilderness at Kapuskasing, Ontario, and move forward towards establishing play up its own record. The position boring Ukraine. Indeed, if there ever and Spirit Lake, Quebec. Conditions were pluralistic and tolerant societies. Countries paper drafted by [Sergei] Lavrov’s were an embodiment of the proverbial trying, the guards were sometimes brutal, that don’t, remain pariah states, Russia [Foreign Affairs] ministry reads like a fox guarding the henhouse, it would be and therefore resentment at what many being the best example. As the renowned novel from George Orwell. Asserting Putin’s regime regaining a seat on the philosopher George Santayana put it: “promotion and protection of human U.N. Human Rights Council. … Marco Levytsky may be contacted at “Those who cannot remember the past are [email protected]. condemned to repeat it.”

Cost of an annual online subscription: The Ukrainian Weekly archive To start your online $90 ($80 for UNA members). LOG ON TO (1933-2013) is open to the public. subscription call our our Subscribers to our print edition can subscription department, The current year’s issues, however, get an additional online subscription 973-292-9800, ext. 3040. www.ukrweekly.com are reserved for online subscribers. for only $5. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 No. 25

FOR THE RECORD Statement of UOC-U.S.A. Council of Bishops: Is our nation at the threshold of change? The statement below was posted by the Ukrainian forces seem to have abandoned the necessity of “wasting” When demonstrations and protests become something Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. on June 11. hours or days on negotiation toward resolution rather than other than peaceful, however, there can be little hope for death and destruction, with individual members of those any positive consequences. Some ascribed the violence we Dearly beloved Brothers and Sisters in our Lord: agencies acting in a rogue fashion. As the result, we have have witnessed at the beginning of the present-day dem- Christ is among us! Is and ever shall Be! the consequences of the murder of George Floyd appearing onstrations to anarchists, to gangs, to racist agitators, to “This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against before us day and night, on all forms of mass media. foreign governments, among others. Regardless of how the you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and Fortunately, this may prove to be beneficial for the world. violence was initiated, it is wrong and self-defeating. It only curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may In spite, however, of what “seems” to be fact, the vast distracts from and destroys the integrity of those demon- live.” (Deuteronomy 30:19) majority of police officers still comprehend their responsi- strating peacefully and properly in the effort to bring about “The evil deeds of a wicked man ensnare him; the cords bility as peacemakers. It is the small minority that we are change. Violence, riots and property damage serve only to of his sin hold him fast. He will die for lack of discipline, led confronted with almost daily in the news. There are no reinforce racial bias and distrust, and to undermine the astray by his own great folly.” (Proverbs 5:22-23) “big” headlines broadcasted, or given sustained coverage authority of the police and other agencies charged with As your hierarchs, we have agonized over all that we relating the positive consequences, when police officers maintaining law and order. Violence, riots and property have witnessed during the past two weeks since the death slowly and sometimes painfully bring to a successful con- damage kill the hopes of the majority about the real possi- by asphyxiation of George Floyd at the actions of a police clusion a life-threatening situation. We normally see no bility of change and reform, not only of the system, but also officer, the details and video of which have been repeatedly mass demonstrations in support of the good that the of individual human beings and societal psychology or broadcast by mass media throughout the entire world. Our majority of police officers accomplish for society. We must mental processes – our mental and emotional make-up. initial reaction to this horrific and unjustifiable death was recognize, however, that following the death of Mr. Floyd, The whole of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ’s teaching abject outrage and we considered an immediate response the many recent positive actions and support given by encompasses the sanctity of life from the moment of con- that would have been in agreement with so many other police officers in all aspects of life under their jurisdiction ception to natural death. We have no way around this mes- responses, but without consideration of the profound con- have been somewhat highlighted, even if it is presented sage. We cannot adapt the message to our “changing societal sequences resulting from that death. only as a human-interest story. norms.” We cannot look into the eyes of any other human We categorically state for all to know that we consider We cannot ignore here the muted response we see in being, thinking that he or she is somewhat different or less Mr. Floyd’s death completely unjustifiable, regardless of society, beyond perhaps a few hours or days, to the attacks than we are – for any reason. We cannot ignore that he or the alleged crime for which the police stopped him and upon and the death of police officers at the hands of those she is made also in the “image and likeness of God.” We can- most certainly regardless of his previous history with the they attempt to arrest or control in dangerous situations. We not ignore the commandment that we are to love him or her law. No man should ever be subjected to such a slow and seldom see massive demonstrations protesting these deaths as we love ourselves – made in the image and likeness of agonizing death with a knee to his throat, begging to be with the goals of change or reform. There seems to be an God. His or her soul is filled with the same light and love of allowed to breathe and still being held so long after he attitude of “this happens in the line of duty.” Our nation’s God as is ours. Anything – anything – that casts doubt in our became silent and had no pulse. This was just as horrific as system of law and order is expected to prohibit such deaths. hearts, minds and souls about this is pure evil. We cannot anything we have learned about from the history of our Unfortunately, however, those laws and the courts have con- ignore, each of us, what our own personal attitude has been own people at the hands of the Soviet regime in the torture centrated on imprisonment, creating an extremely over- toward racism. Are we able to sympathize with those of a and mass murder of the people of Ukraine for over seven crowded prison system with more inmates than any other different color as fellow human beings? Or do we simply decades. Racial attacks or discrimination under any cir- country in the world. Upon leaving prison, these inmates turn a deaf ear and wear blinders to block our peripheral cumstances is an abomination before God. The scene of a have experienced no real reformation and they have not vision so as to avoid seeing that which makes us uncomfort- white knee on a black neck is horrifying and so very remi- learned how to cope with life and all its frustrations. able? Are we unconsciously biased, perhaps to protect what- niscent of images seen all too often even into the 1960s of Adding to all this, we are confronted with undeniable ever our self-perceived position of privilege may be? Is ours the 20th century – a hundred years after the Civil War and racism on the part of some police officers in dealing with the attitude of the Pharisees talking to God about how good the Emancipation Proclamation – when lynching took black citizens and other people of color. Ours is not to they are, how they contribute to worthy causes, and thank- place without consequence. In the video exhibiting in full determine whether this racism is systematic throughout all ing Him that they are not like the Publican standing behind the death of George Floyd, the white police officer often levels of these police forces, but in many instances this has them in humility before the same God? proven to be true. This will be revealed over time as the We have celebrated the Day of the Holy Spirit. If we truly stared directly into the camera recording his actions with aftermath of Mr. Floyd’s death and those of many other consider ourselves to be God’s children, we must allow that his hands in his pockets and yet, he still refused – even at race-related deaths. Our prayer is that Mr. Floyd’s death Holy Spirit to work in and through us so that we can reflect the urging of fellow officers – to lift his knee. Is that and those others will finally open the eyes of all to the need the image of God into the world and the lives around us. because he simply thought he could get away with it for change – and not just political nods of the head, hoping We must begin, each of us, an honest interior reflection unscathed? to get through an upcoming election. If the call of so many about whether or not our psychological make-up enables Unfortunately, Mr. Floyd’s death in such a manner is not demonstrations – in which tens of thousands of people of us to live with our own perhaps unconscious versions of an isolated example of increased brutality on the part of many races participate – are ignored, we fear for the future discrimination or bias toward any other human being. We those who are supposed to serve and protect all the citi- of our nation. George Floyd did not want to become a mar- must determine whether or not in our own minds, we con- zens of their cities, towns and villages across our nation. tyr. George Floyd did not want to have his life end so sense- tribute to society’s inequality by our silence or unwilling- We are deeply concerned about the continued militariza- lessly. Through it, however, his loss may prove to be an ness to become involved. Unless we are willing to do so, we tion of our nation’s police forces. This militarization seems influential factor in the improvement of our life, perhaps fight a losing battle and may even become part of the prob- to have transformed many of those forces into something bringing more unity to our nation. lem. What we witness today in the response to the death of foreign to what they are supposed to be – peacemakers Every single American citizen has the right to demon- George Floyd – at all levels of society – social, political, serving with the goal of turning radically dangerous and strate and protest given by the First Amendment of the legal, etc., may just be the threshold of one of the defining threatening situations into a shared vision of calm during Constitution. Any government agency or individual that moments of history for us all and even for the world. the resolution of the problem at hand. Militarized, these attempts to deny that right or to attack it, must cease or be And so, we pray: stopped immediately. Peaceful demonstrations and pro- “O Heavenly King, the Comforter, the Spirit of Truth, tests have been the bedrock of our self-identity as citizens everywhere present and filling all things. Treasury of bless- of the U.S.A. – all the way from one of the original protest ings and Giver of Life come and dwell in us and cleanse us Ukrainian Canadian Congress demonstrations, the Boston Tea Party, the first widely from every impurity – and save our souls O Good One.” acclaimed action leading to the Declaration of Help us, O Comforter, to open ourselves up to the Grace You “Statement on Anti-Black Racism” Independence. We can trace through our history to see have inspired into us through all the Holy Mysteries, Grace how such peaceful protests have accomplished real change that will enable us to live with pure love for all. The following statement was issued on June 2 by in our political, legal and social life. Thus, we cannot be +Antony, Metropolitan Alexandra Chyczij, national president of the Ukrainian more adamant in expressing the rights of all citizens to Canadian Congress. The UCC posted its “Statement on Anti- demonstrate and protest, whatever the reason behind it. +Daniel, Archbishop Black Racism” on its website.

The Ukrainian Canadian Congress stands with the Black poisoning of individuals, does not observe human rights of community in denouncing anti-black racism. Turning the pages... its citizens and does not promote but seeks to destabilize Racism has no place in Canada, yet is experienced every democracies throughout Europe.” day by many Canadians who are mistreated because of the (Continued from page 6) Founded 71 years ago and comprising 47 countries, color of their skin and their ethnic background. In this time PACE, which is supposed to be dedicated to upholding of pain and grief, we stand in solidarity with those who session (which was cancelled due to the coronavirus pan- human rights, democracy and the rule of law – has peacefully protest for the cause of racial justice. We recom- demic), but in the announcement in 2019 there was no betrayed its principles. mit ourselves to work to combat racism and hate. The right mention of Russia’s annexation of Crimea or Russia’s war This year, international observers at the Atlantic Council of equal treatment before the law and the right to justice in Ukraine’s east. warned that PACE’s actions of reinstating Russia could lead are fundamental and inalienable for every human being. The PACE delegations of Ukraine, Estonia, Georgia, We must recognize that as a nation, we do not always live Latvia, Lithuania, Poland and Slovakia issued a statement to the organization becoming a watchdog without any bite. up to our highest ideals – but we must strive for them, on June 26, 2019, that underscored: “The unconditional More recently, Atlantic Council observers noted that together. And we must speak out forcefully against racism, restoration of the Russian delegation’s rights without the President Donald Trump’s invitation for Russia to rejoin intolerance and hatred wherever we see it. For we recall the Russian Federation honoring any of the Assembly’s numer- the G-7 would also send the wrong signals and invite fur- words of Dr. Martin Luther King: “The ultimate tragedy is not ous demands runs counter to the core values of the Council ther Russian aggression. the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence of Europe and its Statute. This step sends a very wrong sig- Source: “PACE betrays its own principles,” The Ukrainian over that by the good people.” nal to the country that has resorted to armed aggression, Weekly, June 30-July 7, 2019. No. 25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 9 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 No. 25

Yanukovych has called the sentence “illegal” and Ukraine, and the significant measures process. Mr. Sternenko injured one of the NEWSBRIEFS and denied guilt in several other probes being taken to protect the health and well- assailants who later died in hospital. Mr. (Continued from page 2) launched against him after he fled Ukraine being of their citizens. President Zelenskyy Sternenko and his supporters have insisted for Moscow in late-February 2014 in the thanked Prime Minister Trudeau for the that it was self-defense. But investigators Court of Appeals on June 15 during his testi- wake of deadly pro-European rallies known humanitarian support Canada has provided say that after Mr. Sternenko defended him- mony at a hearing into an appeal by Mr. as the Euro-Maidan, during which more to assist Ukraine in fighting the disease. The self using his knife, the attackers fled the Yanukovych against his high-treason convic- than 100 protesters were killed. Weeks after two leaders spoke about the deep and scene. Mr. Sternenko, whose life and health tion that the Ukrainian Army at the time of Mr. Yanukovych’s flight to Russia, Moscow strong bonds shared by Canada and were no longer in danger, then reportedly the invasion was extremely weak, a state Mr. seized and illegally annexed Ukraine’s Black Ukraine. Prime Minister Trudeau reaffirmed chased one of them and stabbed him sever- Poroshenko blamed on Mr. Yanukovych. Sea peninsula of Crimea and fomented Canada’s ongoing commitment to Ukraine’s al times, inflicting wounds that led to the “The army did not have enough gasoline, unrest and backed militants in Ukraine’s prosperity, security and territorial integrity. man’s death, investigators say. The attack batteries, clothes, bulletproof vests,” Mr. eastern regions of Luhansk and Donetsk, They agreed on the importance of was the third against Mr. Sternenko in three Poroshenko said, adding that Mr. where some 13,200 people have been killed Operation UNIFIER and the good news that months. (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) Yanukovych bears full responsibility for the in the ensuing conflict since April 2014. Canadian Armed Forces personnel are returning to Ukraine this month to resume Clash with Pro-Russian activists in Kyiv situation in 2014. Mr. Yanukovych’s lawyers (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) training in support of the Security Forces of filed the appeal challenging a Kyiv court’s Hundreds of activists supporting the Canada’s PM speaks with Ukraine’s president Ukraine. The Office of the Prime Minister pro-Russian Party of Shariy have clashed January 24 decision to sentence the former also noted that Messrs. Trudeau and leader in absentia to 13 years in prison on a The Office of Canada’s Prime Minister with Ukrainian nationalist groups in Kyiv Zelenskyy look forward “to continuing near the office of President Volodymyr high-treason charge. In early February, they reported on June 15: “Today, Prime Minister Canada and Ukraine’s strong partnership – Zelenskyy. Some 500 activists from the also filed a lawsuit against the State Bureau Justin Trudeau spoke with the president of at the United Nations, at NATO, and in other Party of Shariy, which was founded by the of Investigation, alleging crimes by govern- Ukraine, Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Prime international organizations – in order to controversial pro-Russian Ukrainian blog- ment officials, including judges who took Minister Trudeau and President Zelenskyy advance shared priorities.” (Ukrainian ger Anatoliy Shariy, rallied in front of the part in trials against Mr. Yanukovych. Mr. discussed the COVID-19 situation in Canada Canadian Congress Daily Briefing) president’s office on June 17, urging him to Canadian troops to leave for Ukraine stop police brutality toward protesters. Some 200 activists of the radical nationalist The Canadian Press reported on June 14 group Democratic Ax had also gathered at that the Canadian Armed Forces are the site for what they called for “a moraliz- deploying military trainers back to Ukraine ing talk on the theme Kyiv – the Ukrainian TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL WALTER HONCHARYK (973) 292-9800 x3040 as it looks to restart some of the many mis- city.” Reports say activists from the nation- or e-mail [email protected] sions and exercises temporarily suspended alist group started throwing firecrackers or scaled back because of COVID-19. and smoke grenades at the activists from Canada first deployed around 200 troops to the Party of Shariy after they began march- SERVICES PROFESSIONALS Ukraine to train local forces in the basics of ing toward the Internal Affairs Ministry, soldiering in 2015, but that mission and which led to clashes between the two ОКСАНА СТАНЬКО several others were suspended in early groups. Police intervened to restore order. Ліцензований продавець April as COVID-19 forced countries around The pro-Russian group was upset about Страхування Життя the world into lockdown. While a skeleton what happened on June 15 outside a court OKSANA STANKO force of about 60 service members has in Kyiv, when a former leader of a far-right Licensed Life Insurance Agent been holding the fort for the past two Ukrainian paramilitary group in Odesa, Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. months, Forces spokesperson Capt. Leah Serhiy Sternenko, was placed under house Tel.: 908-872-2192 Campbell said another 90 soldiers will arrest. After the June 15 demonstration, email: [email protected] soon join them with an eye to resuming the photos and videos appeared online show- mission. “Following a reassessment of the ing police beating the demonstrators. Kyiv situation, including an analysis of force police officials say they have launched an health protection measures and the risk internal investigation into the incident. SERVICES posed by COVID-19, the decision was made (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) to deploy another 90 of these members,” Capt. Campbell said in an e-mail on June 15. McDonald’s says ‘no’ to Russian language “These personnel will deploy in June 2020, A move by McDonald’s in Ukraine to say and observe a 14-day isolation period on “nyet” to the Russian language on its elec- arrival in Ukraine. On completion of this tronic kiosks has left a bad taste in the isolation period, they will be prepared to mouths of some of its customers. resume their mission of supporting the McDonald’s new language policy quietly Security Forces of Ukraine.” Another 50 took effect over the weekend until it was troops will remain in Canada for now, she noticed by noted Ukrainian blogger Anatoliy OPPORTUNITIES added, “and will deploy to engage in train- Shariy, who is well-known for his strong ing as soon as conditions permit.” The deci- pro-Russia stance. Some defended the deci- sion to restart the Ukraine mission repre- sion by McDonald’s, while Mr. Shariy and EARN EXTRA INCOME! sents the latest move by the Armed Forces others criticized the fast-food chain, claim- The Ukrainian Weekly is looking to resume some of the many activities that ing that the policy discriminates against for advertising sales agents. were suspended because of the pandemic, Ukraine’s Russian-speaking population. For For additional information contact The Canadian Press noted. (Ukrainian its part, McDonald’s said in a statement that Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, Canadian Congress Daily Briefing) the move was made in accordance with the The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. Sternenko placed under house arrest law, which establishes Ukrainian as the main language of communication in the A court in Kyiv has placed under house country. “All official documentation, adver- The Ukrainian Catholic Education Foundation is hiring a Director of arrest the controversial former leader of a tising communication, communication on Marketing. Deadline for submissions is June 30. For further information, far-right Ukrainian paramilitary group sus- social networks, information on the website please go to: https://ucef.org/2020/05/11/careers-director-of- pected of premeditated murder and pos- and in the consumer’s corners are conduct- marketing-and-analytics/ or call 1-773-235-8462 session of an illegal bladed weapon in the ed in the state (Ukrainian) language,” killing of a man he claims was self-defense. McDonald’s said, adding that Ukrainian is After violent protests by his supporters also a priority in communicating with cus- outside, the Shevchenko district court ruled tomers but that “employees are always late on June 15 that Serhiy Sternenko, who ready to switch to Russian if asked.” once led the Right Sector group in the city Ukraine’s Embassy in the United States of Odesa, will remain under house arrest found the move to its liking, thanking for 60 days as investigations into the high- McDonald’s for giving priority to Ukrainian: profile case continue. Police said that five “We totally understand @McDonalds, demonstrators were detained. Lawmaker names of food in Ukrainian sound much Roman Lozynsky, who came to the site of yummier. Many thanks to the company for the protests, said the police did not allow their firm position regarding Ukrainian lan- him to meet with detained individuals and guage in the menus of McDonald’s stores in assaulted him. After photos and videos Ukraine. Now we can say: Learn Ukrainian appeared online showing police beating the with McDonald’s.” (RFE/RL, with reporting demonstrators, Kyiv police officials said on by Hromadske and the BBC) June 15 they had launched an internal investigation. Mr. Sternenko was attacked Official ‘detained’ over fatal acid attack by two men late in the evening on May 26, Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) offi- Run your advertisement here, 2018, while walking with his girlfriend. He cers have reportedly detained the head of in The Ukrainian Weekly’s CLASSIFIEDS section. fought off the attackers, suffering numer- ous head injuries and a cut to his arm in the (Continued on page 11) No. 25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 11

Black Sea port city of Kherson, died in ($37 million U.S.) to two brothers who lost actions. Mr. Kolomoisky lost control over NEWSBRIEFS November 2018, three months after she their savings in the 2016 nationalization of PrivatBank in 2016, when the central bank (Continued from page 10) was severely injured in an acid attack. Ukraine’s largest lender. The victory came took it over after it failed stress tests and Prosecutors arrested Mr. Manher in days after Ukraine struck a $5 billion agree- was deemed to be undercapitalized. An the regional council in Kherson and are February 2019 and charged him with ment with the International Monetary independent audit later concluded that bringing him to Kyiv, where his pretrial ordering the attack. Mr. Manher was later Fund (IMF) that was partly contingent on PrivatBank had conducted “large-scale and arrest will be decided in a case where he is released on bail. In June 2019, five men its handling of the PrivatBank issue. coordinated fraud” for at least 10 years suspected of ordering a deadly attack on were sentenced to prison terms of between Resolving lingering issues over PrivatBank before its takeover by the state. U.S.-based anti-corruption activist Kateryna three and six and a half years for organizing and securing the IMF deal are viewed as corporate investigative firm Kroll and attor- Handzyuk in 2018. A member of Kherson’s and executing the attack, after they made key tests for President Volodymyr neys at AlixPartners also found a hole of at Dnipro District Council, Oleksandr Vlasov, plea deals with investigators. Human rights Zelenskyy to deliver on promised reforms least $5.5 billion in the bank’s balance said on June 16 that Vladyslav Manher was activists have accused Ukrainian law and tackling deep-rooted vested interests. sheet. Mr. Kolomoisky has denied wrong- detained while at a hospital early in the enforcement agencies of failing to thor- Ukraine’s central bank had recognized the doing and maintains that he is the rightful morning and is being transported to Kyiv. oughly investigate the growing number of tycoon brothers, Ihor and Hryhoriy Surkis, owner of the bank, which he has vowed to Mr. Manher, who has denied any involve- attacks on activists, and even of collusion as related parties and included money from regain control over. The central bank and ment in the attack, has failed to show up at with the perpetrators in some cases. (RFE/ their deposits at PrivatBank in a bail-in. PrivatBank had worried that a victory for the Pechera district court in Kyiv twice RL’s Ukrainian Service) The Surkis brothers, known as associates of the Surkis brothers would have opened up the former owner of PrivatBank, Ihor other claims, particularly from Mr. since last week, citing his own health prob- Ruling in favor of government in PrivatBank case lems, as well as those of his daughter. On Kolomoisky, challenged that decision in Kolomoisky. (RFE/RL, with reporting by June 15, after Mr. Manher’s representatives Ukraine’s Supreme Court has reversed a court, forcing the central bank to defend its RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service and Reuters) told the court that he was at a Kherson hos- lower-court decision in favor of the govern- pital and therefore unable to attend the ment in a landmark case related to state- hearing, the court ruled that he must be owned PrivatBank. The top court’s ruling brought by force. Handzyuk, a 33-year-old on June 15 means the government does not civil activist and adviser to the mayor of the have to pay back more than 1 billion hrv

lady said she had followed all the quaran- Record number... tine rules of the Ministry of Health, includ- (Continued from page 1) ing wearing a mask and gloves and mini- Dr. Zirka Maria Derlycia mizing contacts. Ms. Zelenska also cau- Slavic philologist: crowds are possible. The institutions and tioned that the country’s easing of quaran- platforms that are supposed to ensure the tine restrictions does not mean the end of With deep sadness, after a long illness, we security stipulated by the Cabinet of the epidemic and noted that the danger is announce the passing of our beloved cousin Zirka Ministers are responsible for these still present. She stressed the importance of Maria Derlycia, on May 5th, 2020 at New York-Presbyterian Lawrence crowds,” Mr. Zelenskyy said. wearing a mask in public to protect other Hospital in Bronxville, New York. The chief of the National Police of people and as a sign of respect for others. Father Petro Shyshka performed Panakhyda services on May 14th, Ukraine, Ihor Klymenko, reported that After the first lady tested positive for the 2020 at Peter Jarema Funeral Home and at her grave site at St. Andrew more than 12,500 administrative protocols coronavirus, President Zelenskyy switched Ukrainian Orthodox Cemetery, South Bound Brook, NJ, where she is were drawn up for violations of quarantine to a special work mode. Under the Constitu­ buried close to her mother, Anna Derlycia. restrictions, and the courts have ruled on tion of Ukraine, the president cannot dele- Zirka was the daughter of Ostap and Anna (née Ilewycz) Derlycia. She fines totaling 4.5 million hrv. gate his powers to anyone. Situations of self- was born in Poznan, Poland on November 13th, 1942. In 1945, Zirka and Most cafes and restaurants have opened isolation and quarantine were not envisaged her mother did not know the fate of her father and they fled to Germany up in the form of summer terraces. This in the Constitution. That is why a special and spent several years in various displaced persons’ camps until they was easily noticed in Kyiv, where newly protocol for the president’s work mode was arrived in America in 1952. They settled in New York City, where Zirka has opened terraces often blocked pedestrian adopted, meeting both the norms of the cur- lived her entire life. walkways with tables and chairs. Crowds rent legislation and the sanitary-epidemio- Zirka attended the following schools: were seen gathering in the city center, and logical requirements of the day. masks were usually not in evidence. Mr. Zelenskyy’s health status allows him St George’s Ukrainian Catholic School, June 1958. Most people feel as if the quarantine has to perform his official duties. He undergoes Cathedral High School, June 1962. ended. Some cafes even allowed customers daily testing, as well as medical examina- Hunter College, Magna Cum Laude, June 1966. to enter and sit inside; their managers say tions. He limits his range of physical com- New York University, MA 1969, PhD 1978 (Slavic Philology). that they either have special permission or munication and holds meetings online. Additional studies: that they did not understand that Kyiv is Face-to-face meetings involving personal Indiana University, 1969-1970 among those cities where the quarantine interaction with the president are not Ukrainian Free University, Munich, Germany, 1969. restrictions are not being eased. Kyiv allowed. Participation in mass events also City College, 1962-1963. Mayor Vitali Klitschko stated that cafes and is excluded, and working trips outside the Zirka taught Ukrainian at St. George School in New York from 1968 to restaurants are not open for indoor service. capital are canceled. The circle of persons 2017. She also taught at Manor Junior College in Jenkintown, PA, New The chief state sanitary doctor of with whom the president communicates in York University, and Indiana University. Ukraine, Viktor Liashko, said on June 10: person is narrowed down to security staff and his closest aides. Singing was her passion. She was a lifelong member of the Metropolitan “Right now, we have several regions that Andrey Sheptytsky choir at St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church in New show [coronavirus] rates above 12 cases The Cabinet of Ministers is preparing procedures for insurance payments to the York until 2019. She performed in many Ukrainian community events, per 100,000 population. In particular, these and notably gave song recitals in honor of the Bicentennial at two New are Kyiv city, and the Volyn, Zhytomyr, families of deceased and affected health- York City landmarks, Federal Hall and Theodore Roosevelt’s birthplace. Zakarpattia, Lviv, Rivne and Chernivtsi care workers struggling with the COVID-19 For three years Zirka was the soprano in an opera cabaret. She studied regions. These regions cannot loosen quar- epidemic. According to Prime Minister «musical theatre» with Helen Gallagher and Technique and Scene Study antine measures.” Moreover, Dr. Liashko Shmyhal, payments will be made depend- with Rochelle Oliver. stressed that, in all areas that are allowed ing on whether the health-care worker to open within the framework of the adap- became infected directly when counteract- Her translation of Maxim Gorky’s “Children of the Sun” into English tive quarantine, temporary recommenda- ing the coronavirus or in other circum- was performed at the Actor’s Theatre of Louisville, Kentucky in 1989. In tions for anti-epidemic measures have stances. Among other things, this includes 1993 Audio-Forum published her “Everyday Ukrainian”, a self-teaching Ukrainian textbook. been instituted. payments of 1.567 million hrv. to the fami- First Lady Olena Zelenska was hospital- lies of health-care workers who died of Zirka is survived by cousins: ized in Kyiv with COVID-19, just four days coronavirus contracted while performing - Zenon Deputat and his wife Ksenia, and their sons Myron, after she tested positive for the coronavirus their professional duties; 210,000 if a Yurij with his wife Katheleen and sons Adrian and Alexander. on June 12, the Presidential Office health-care worker fell ill and died, but not - Oleh Deputat announced. “I feel good, but I am in outpa- as a result of his work with COVID-19 - Marta Chapelsky Jarymovych and her sons, daughters-in-law and tient treatment, isolated from other family patients; as well as payments to health-care grandsons: Marko, members in order to not endanger them,” workers in cases of disability caused by the Alexander and Vanessa, Justin, Lev, and Damien. she wrote on her Instagram account when it coronavirus infection. Borys and Taisa, Sonya and Theodore first became known she had tested positive. According to the Public Health Center of - cousins in the Baczynsky, Borzemsky, Hawryluk, Holuka, Ms. Zelenska’s current diagnosis is bilateral Ukraine, as of 9 a.m. on June 17, in Ukraine, Knahynycky, Nedilsky, and Zwil families. polysegmental pneumonia of moderate there were 33,234 officially confirmed She also leaves behind dear friends and students. COVID-19 cases, 943 patients died, and severity. She is in stable condition and does May her memory be eternal. Vichnaya Pamyat! not require supplemental oxygen. 14,943 people recovered. There were 2,445 On June 15, her husband and their two COVID-19 cases among children and 5,650 Donations in Zirka’s memory may be made to: children tested negative for the coronavi- cases among health-care workers. During • St. George Ukrainian Catholic Church, 30 E. 7th St., NY, NY 10003. rus. the previous 24 hours, 758 new cases were Ms. Zelenska said it is unclear how she confirmed. • United Ukrainian American Relief Committee (UUARC), contracted COVID-19 as she had tested Over 615,000 tests for the coronavirus 1206 Cottman Ave., Philadelphia, PA 19111. negative at the beginning of June. The first have been administered in Ukraine. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 No. 25

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE UMANA Foundation awards medical scholarships during COVID pandemic

by Maria Hrycelak has been very active in the Ukrainian Canadian Students Organization. She is a CHICAGO – March, April and May 2020 board member of the Ukrainian National have been difficult and unprecedented Federation of Canada, and took the time to times for the world. The COVID pandemic is teach biology at the Saturday Ukrainian disrupting and altering the lives of patients school. Ms. Naumova worked with a group and health-care professionals, as well as of Harvard students to translate COVID medical and dental students. Every day information sheets into 34 languages. She brings changes in regulations and guide- is now involved in a McGill University/Kyiv lines. Students’ classes are delayed or held Hospital “Epidemiology of Trauma” project. online, and their graduation ceremonies She begins her third year this fall at McGill went virtual with minimal celebration. University College of Medicine in Montreal. Potential students wait eagerly through the Every summer, the UMANA Foundation uncertain times for their letters of accep- enables camp counselors to learn cardio- tance into medical or dental schools. pulmonary resuscitation (CPR) skills in The UMANA Foundation is a 501(c)(3) preparation for unforeseen accidents and not-for-profit organization established to health-related events at Ukrainian summer improve medical literacy and knowledge youth camps. To date, the foundation has among Ukrainians worldwide. It is the edu- provided training for over 600 camp coun- cational and instructive arm of the Hanna Markewycz Darya Naumova selors in these basic life support skills. By Ukrainian Medical Association of North performing simple procedures and follow- America (UMANA), awarding scholarships, as well as working directly on the front Pittsburgh on the volleyball team. Despite ing certain guidelines, it is possible to save sponsoring CPR classes, and supporting lines of health care. dedicating 20-30 plus hours a week train- lives until medical professionals arrive. educational conferences. Each recipient receives $3,000 to defray ing and competing, she graduated in three Unfortunately, this year all the summer During the 2020-2021 academic year, some of the expenses of medical or dental and a half years. Ms. Markewycz found time camps have been cancelled and classes the UMANA Foundation and its Dr. Walter school tuition. The cost of one year of medi- to tutor elementary students in underprivi- postponed. The UMANA Foundation hopes and Olha Prokopiw Scholarship Fund have cal education nears $50,000. Many stu- leged neighborhoods. She worked as a lab to again offer support for these classes next awarded two scholarships, encouraging dents incur large debts upon graduating. To technician as well as a physical therapy year. Organizations that would like to offer and supporting students who have chosen help relieve their financial burden, the assistant. When she lived in Chicago, she CPR and/or first aid classes are encouraged a profession in the healing arts. Since 2007, foundation seeks to assist students of was a member of the Hromovytsia to apply to the UMANA Foundation for a the foundation has awarded scholarships to Ukrainian descent who show promise and Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. She will begin grant to help offset course expenses. E-mail 61 deserving medical and dental students commitment in their health-care careers. her medical studies this fall at either the [email protected] or call 773-278- studying in the United States and Canada. The following are this year’s scholarship Peoria or Chicago campus of the University 6262 for more information. During this COVID pandemic many of our recipients. of Illinois College of Medicine. former scholars are involved in preparing Hanna Markewycz (class of 2024) was a Darya Naumova (class of 2022) moved Maria Hrycelak, M.D., is president of the educational resources for the community, student athlete at the University of to Canada from Ukraine 10 years ago. She UMANA Foundation.

Doris Kule... (Continued from page 4) Kule has made our community stronger and more united. May Her Memory Be Eternal. Vichnaya pamiat.” Rank, and its owner, Bob Arum. Rumors have also cir- TENNIS Among the many endeavors generously supported over the culated that Gvozdyk had health problems and this years by the Kule family is the Peter and Doris Kule Center for Svitolina to play in Berlin in July was the main reason for his retirement from boxing. Ukrainian and Canadian Folklore at the University of Alberta, one of Ukraine’s top-seeded tennis player, Elina Svitolina, Usyk seeks mandatory fight the most important and pre-eminent institutions for the study of will perform at an exhibition tournament in Berlin in Ukrainian culture in the world. In 2005, the Kules became the first July, according to the BTU tennis news site. Svitolina’s Alexander Krassyuk, Usyk’s co-promoter, tells Sky joint recipients of honorary doctorates from the University of opponents could be Julia Goerges and Andrea Sports that Ukrainian heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk Alberta. In 2007, Doris and Peter Kule were awarded the UCC’s Petkovic from Germany, or Kiki Bertens from the (17-0, 13 KO) fully intends to enforce his WBO shot, Taras Shevchenko Medal, the highest form of recognition granted Netherlands. According to media reports, participants and that they’ve already been lenient about the timing by the UCC, for their outstanding national contributions in the field in the men’s tournament will be German Alexander once to allow Kubrat Pulev (28-1, 14 KO) of Bulgaria of education. Zverev, Austrian Dominic Thiem, Italian Jannik Sinner to take his mandatory IBF shot against WBO, IBF, Surviving are Mrs. Kule’s husband of 75 years, Peter, and her sis- and Australian Nick Kyrgios. The competition is to WBA, IBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua ter, Vera. A private service was held in consideration of current pub- start on July 13 and will be held without spectators on (23-1, 21 KO) of Great Britain. Mr. Krassyuk explains: lic health concerns. A public celebration of Mrs. Kule’s life is to be grass and hard courts. The prize fund of the competi- “Usyk’s WBO mandatory had to happen before AJ vs announced later in 2020. tion will be 100,000 euros for each tournament. Pulev. But we were flexible and did not put much pressure on, allowing AJ to complete his IBF mandato- Sources: Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies, Ukrainian BOXING ry while Usyk fights [Derek] Chisora (32-9, 23 KO) [of Canadian Congress. Lomachenko fight postponed Great Britain]. But (Joshua-Pulev) was made with regards that the WBO champ has to make his manda- Ukrainian WBA, WBC, WBO lightweight champion tory versus Usyk. It means that either Joshua fights Vasyl Lomachenko is tentatively scheduled to fight Usyk first or fights [Tyson] Fury (30-0-1, 21 KO) [of against IBF lightweight champion Teofimo Lopez (15- Great Britain] without the WBO belt.” Since his Ukrainian Catholic churches... 0, 12 KO) of the U.S.A. in September, according to Top delayed move up to heavyweight last year, the (Continued from page 4) Rank promoter Bob Arum. The unification bout hopes 33-year-old Usyk and his team have been clear that to crown an undisputed lightweight champion. The they didn’t intend to wait around for too long. The * Social distancing of six feet must be maintained. fight had been postponed due to the coronavirus pan- WBO made him mandatory challenger before he even * Wearing masks is mandatory for laity. Priests are obliged to demic and was originally scheduled for May 30 at fought at the weight. wear masks while distributing Holy Communion. Madison Square Garden in New York. * There should be no social gatherings after the services. People Gvozdyk announces retirement SOCCER should leave the church promptly upon the completion of services. Shakhtar wins 3-1 against Dynamo At the same time, the archeparchy said that live streaming of Ukrainian light heavyweight boxer Oleksandr divine liturgies and other services is still highly recommended. Gvozdyk, 33, has decided to retire from boxing. The Ukrainian Premier League (UPL) resumed The Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia, which governs Gvozdyk last fought on October 19, 2019, when he lost matches in empty stadiums on May 31. Shakhtar all Ukrainian Catholic eparchies and churches in the United States, the WBC championship title to Russian Artur Donetsk won 3-1 against Dynamo Kyiv, with advised readers to contact parish offices for more information. The Beterbiev (14-0, 14 KO). Gvozdyk (17-1, 14 KOs) had Dynamo’s Vitaly Buyalskiy’s 38th-minute goal open- Philadelphia Archeparchy itself has 63 parishes, one mission parish 18 fights as a professional and is a 2012 Olympic ing the scoring. Shakhtar’s Marlos Bonfim quickly and over 14,000 officially registered members in Pennsylvania, bronze medalist. Boxing experts cited contributing equalized in the 39th minute, then he secured the lead New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland, Virginia and the District of factors of the coronavirus pandemic. Boxers’ fees are with another goal in the 67th minute. Marcos Bahia Columbia. expected to no longer be the same as they were last finished the scoring in the 74th minute. Shakhtar year. Experts also underscored that the Ukrainian was leads the UPL standings with nine points, followed by Compiled based on information posted by the Ukrainian Catholic no longer a priority boxer with his promoter, Top Desna and Dynamo Kyiv with seven points each. Archeparchy of Philadelphia. No. 25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 13 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 No. 25

president in April 2019 was being investi- This appeared to be a mutually conve- On May 29, the State Property Fund, Ukraine’s energy... gated by the National Anti-Corruption nient settlement. Naftogaz settled its debt, which owns 78.3 percent of Centrenergo, (Continued from page 1) Bureau (NABU). Rotterdam Plus was and Ukrnafta was to use the proceeds to appointed Oleksandr Korchynsky as gener- stopped the following month, and a new pay off its own massive tax debt to the al director to block Mr. Kolomoisky’s con- Among those who profited from the energy market model was implemented state. Nevertheless, taxpayers were to be tinuing influence. murky gas and oil deals in the 1990s were that restricted the regulator’s role in fixing left footing the bill for Ukrnafta’s tax debt. On June 8 the Bihus.info investigative former Prime Minister Pavlo Lazarenko, his pricing elements. Apparently, Mr. Kolomoisky was unhappy news outlet reported that since 2017 Mr. associate who later also became prime As a result, the competition between that the compensation was not to go to him Kolomoisky had allegedly engaged in sell- minister, Yulia Tymoshenko, tycoon Dmytro Messrs. Kolomoisky and Akhmetov heated directly, and it still apparently has not been ing coal from Russia and Russian-occupied Firtash and his close associate turned pro- up. Mr. Kolomoisky wanted cheap electrici- paid out. territories of eastern Ukraine to Russian politician Yuriy Boyko, who headed ty for his ferroalloy plants through imports On March 4 Prime Minister Oleksiy Centrenergo, which provides 15 percent of Naftogaz from 2002 to 2005. from Russia and Belarus. Mr. Akhmetov, Honcharuk was suddenly replaced by Ukraine’s energy needs. Mr. Kolomoisky, together with his part- who dominates thermal generation, was Denys Shmyhal, a former manager for Mr. Interestingly, on June 15 the government ners in the business group called Privat, also interested in selling electricity at high pric- Akhmetov, and most of the ministers also registered a bill on amendments to the law obtained considerable assets in the energy es and opposed this move. were dismissed. Justifying the change, on the electricity market that proposes sector. The most valuable are Ukrnafta, the In September 2019 the Verkhovna Rada President Zelenskyy told Parliament that once again to restrict imports of electrical country’s largest oil-producing company, the approved a proposal from National Deputy the Honcharuk-led government had not energy from Russia and Belarus. controlling stake in which is owned by the Andriy Gerus to allow the purchase of elec- been able to cope with the economic chal- Also in June, after nine months of negoti- state via Naftogaz, and Ukrnafta’s tricity from countries not belonging to the lenges facing the country and its mandate ations, a compromise deal has been Kremenchuk Refinery, which provides about European Energy Commission. This to reduce utility bills. reached concerning the “green tariffs,” feed- 50 percent of gasoline on the fuel market. opened the way for the resumption on At the end of March, Ukraine’s largest in incentives that are so important for With Russia using gas as a political weap- October 1, 2019, of the commercial import private producer of electricity and coal, Mr. investors in Ukraine’s growing “clean” on, shady deals were made in 2009-2010 of electricity from Russia that had been Akhmetov’s DTEK, announced it was energy sector. On June 10, the Cabinet of between Kyiv and Moscow, which were stopped in 2015. defaulting. Yet, in 2019 the company had Ministers agreed to cut wind tariffs by 7.5 damaging to Ukraine’s interests but were Mr. Kolomoisky’s structure supplied this restructured its debts and received a net percent and solar tariffs by 15 percent, and profitable for those involved on both sides. coal to Centrenergo, an important state- profit of 2.55 billion hrv ($89 million U.S.). to pay out the $500 million debt owed to After the Revolution of Dignity in 2014 owned energy company. Mr. Akhmetov’s This occurred exactly at the time when a green power producers. According to the and the ouster of pro-Russian President mines suffered losses. Mr. Kolomoisky also new minister of energy and the environ- Ukraine Business News, a 15 percent tariff Viktor Yanukovych, under the new leader- challenged him in “green energy” genera- ment was to be appointed. Informed sourc- cut entails a 50 percent cut in profits, which ship of Andriy Kobolyev and his associate, tion, where Mr. Akhmetov owns a large es noted that the choice was between can- would deprive Ukraine of 250-300 million the troubleshooting and Western-educated share of renewable energy assets. didates representing either Mr. Kolomoisky euros (about $281-$337 million U.S.) in maverick Yuriy Vitrenko, Naftogaz was All this was temporarily overshadowed or Mr. Akhmetov. annual taxes. revamped and cleaned up. by Naftogaz’s historic successes in the President Zelenskyy and his office set- Significantly, one of the first actions of Ukraine’s dependence on Russian gas Stockholm arbitration in 2017-2018 and tled on Olha Buslavets, a veteran from the controversial new acting minister has was terminated thanks to alternate sources especially when, as a result, at the end of inside the ministry, which indicated a fur- been to reduce the output of electricity found via the country’s Western neighbors, December 2019, a new Russian-Ukrainian ther buttressing of Mr. Akhmetov’s influ- from the country’s atomic power stations. secured through “reverse flows” utilizing gas deal was finally concluded. Moscow ence. But on the day of the vote in the The acting president of national nuclear- the existing pipeline network through agreed to supply Europe for at least anoth- Verkhovna Rada to confirm the appoint- generating company Energoatom, Petro which Russia had continued to supply gas er five years via Ukraine and to pay a $2.9 ment, March 30, it was clear that Mr. Kotin, declared on May 27: “the restrictions to Europe. billion settlement. Kolomoisky’s supporters would be able to imposed on us by the government in elec- The new management of Naftogaz also Following this critical breakthrough, it block it. So the president abruptly suspend- tricity generation have fallen to historic took on the Russian colossus Gazprom in seemed that Ukraine could breathe again on ed her nomination. lows, namely, to 6.63 GW from 9.49 GW international arbitration in Stockholm – a the energy front and that it was time to put On April 16, during an emergency session available.” hugely risky venture. Moscow, in the mean- more of its own house in order. But not all of the Cabinet of Ministers, Ms. Buslavets Lawmaker Serhii Nahorniak from Mr. time, prepared to deal Ukraine a devatating were happy with this victory, as it threat- was quietly appointed acting minister, there- Zelenskyy’s Servant of the People party has economic blow by rerouting its supply of ened to cut out the middlemen who had by circumventing the need for the demanded that the controversial Ms. natural gas to Europe through new pipelines been profiting from the previous system. Parliament’s endorsement. She acknowl- Buslavets be summoned to answer before that circumvented Ukraine: the Nord Stream Observers, preoccupied with Mr. edged at the time that, “At this moment, the Parliament. “Why is the cheaper nucle- 2 pipeline to Germany under the Baltic Sea Kolomoisky’s attempts to regain ownership we’re living through one of the biggest crises ar power generation limited, but the ther- and the TurkStream pipeline to Turkey. of the country’s largest bank, PrivatBank, in all of Ukraine’s history, and the crisis in mal – expensive and non-environmentally Under President Petro Poroshenko, cor- after it was nationalized at the end of 2016 the energy sector is an integral part of that.” friendly generation [using coal] – increas- ruption in different areas of the energy following large-scale fraud, apparently In mid-May, Mr. Vitrenko, a chief execu- ing? As of June 1, 10 out of 15 [atomic] market continued. The most notorious missed the fact that the rogue tycoon was tive at Naftogaz, who had spearheaded the power units are operating, five of which example was the Rotterdam Plus scheme, simultaneously seeking massive compensa- fight against Gazprom and introduced operate with restrictions,” he says. whereby coal ostensibly bought in tion in the energy sphere. major internal reforms, was abruptly Despite these concerns and increasing Rotterdam, because of Russia’s occupation Since 2015, Mr. Kolomoisky’s Privat informed that his post was being cut. calls for Ms. Bulavets to be replaced because of coal-producing areas of the Donbas, was company had been demanding in a He told the Kyiv Post: “The real reason she is allegedly promoting Mr. Akhmetov’s “imported” at inflated prices. In fact it origi- Stockholm court that Ukraine pay $4.7 bil- for my firing is [that] this fight with interests, on June 17 the Cabinet of nated from within Ukraine, the occupied lion due to the loss of dividends, fines and Gazprom is not a priority for the govern- Ministers formally stipulated that the use of territories or Russia itself. The main benefi- the decline in the value of Ukrnafta’s shares. ment as well as the fight against corruption coal be given priority in electricity genera- ciary was the secretive Mr. Akhmetov, the In January of this year, Naftogaz reached and some reforms.” Mr. Vitrenko added: tion at thermal power plants. country’s richest oligarch, and his energy an amicable agreement with Ukrnafta, “The oligarchs never left. They feel much What to make of all this? The dust needs company DTEK. which entailed the state covering part – an more comfortable... When you start fighting to settle. But the obvious question is: Are This scam was exposed and by the time estimated $1.2 billion – of the compensa- powerful people and powerful vested inter- the president and the government in charge, Mr. Zelenskyy replaced Mr. Poroshenko as tion owed by the former to the latter. ests, they will fight back.” or are the oligarchs calling the shots?

drone saw five military trucks at the train same time as they detected such convoys, Luhansk people’s republics” (DPR, LPR). COVID-19 used... station itself, “in a position to load and and once a drone was shot down. The incident on October 27 was the sec- unload cargo,” and also eight military On October 27, 2018, a UAV was first ond that month when jamming was used in (Continued from page 6) trucks parked at the front and to the east of jammed and then brought down after it connection with sightings of sophisticated trucks, and four with trailers attached. the main train station building. spotted a Russian military weapon system, military hardware. They were stationary and on a dirt road as well as “a convoy of seven trucks on a On October 10, 2018, the jamming began May 30 to June 3, 2019 close to the border with Russia, around 2 dirt road near the border with the Russian after the UAV spotted a Ural truck mounted kilometers southeast of non-government- On the night from May 30 to June 1, an Federation where there are no border with an anti-aircraft-gun (ZU-23, 23mm) controlled Stepne. SMM drone saw three military type trucks crossing facilities.” on a dirt road around 2 kilometers from the on an unpaved road near Cheremshyne (2 The downing of the drone prompted a border, as well as other movement. On that July 5, 2019 kilometers from the border). Then another strongly worded Joint Statement from occasion, the SMM managed to recall the The OSCE SMM reported on July 13 that such truck and car were seen coming from France and Germany. This condemned the UAV “due to multiple instances of GPS sig- aerial footage from July 5 showed at least a dirt track running in parallel to the first. downing of the UAV, and stated that: nal loss assessed as jamming.” five trucks, also around 2 kilometers south- All these vehicles formed a convoy that “Evidence collected by SMM suggests There have also been sightings on (at the east of Stepne. Aerial footage was also headed to a place on the outskirts of non- Russia and the separatists it backs bear very least) the following dates: August 7, detected in two places of either five or three government-controlled Luhansk where responsibility for the targeting and down- 2018; September 4-5, 2018; October 9-10, fresh vehicle tracks leading to the border. there were other military-type trucks and ing of the LR UAV, blinding the mission at 11-12 and 16-17, 2019. where men could be seen unloading the this particular spot.” The joint statement It should be stressed that these are only June 14, 2019 trucks. then elicited a rather bizarre response from the secretive night convoys. Since August Over a space of one and a half hours There were smaller sightings near the Marina Zakharova, Russian Foreign Affairs 2014, Russia has been bringing effectively (from 01:01 to 02:42) during the night of border during the night of June 2-3 as well. Ministry spokesperson. She claimed that unchecked convoys by day, claiming these June 14, an SMM drone spotted military The drones make it impossible for the route of a drone whose very purpose is to be “humanitarian.” There are reasons to trucks travelling between a railway station Russia to rely solely on darkness and dirt to detect what might otherwise remain believe this is not the case. Russia has also and a warehouse in Sukhodilsk, near the roads. There have been several occasions safely concealed should have been agreed made sure that the OSCE Mission’s man- border with the Russian Federation. The when drones were jammed at around the in advance with the so-called “Donetsk and date was seriously limited. No. 25 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 15

laration that sets out the path for the Ukraine and Hungary... future, including provisions for the (Continued from page 2) Hungarian language, schools and other entitlements in Carpathian Ukraine; and for While still using these external pressure the Ukrainian Parliament to adopt the law tools, Budapest currently seeks to achieve on national minorities (which is also fore- its objective through bilateral negotiations seen by Ukraine’s 2019 law on the state Through Exhibit, “Embroidered Memories: Featuring over 750 with Ukraine; and Kyiv is showing itself language) (Evropeiska Pravda, May 29; June 30 embroidered pillows created by 150 Ukrainian Canadian receptive to Budapest’s overtures (see MTI, Hirado.hu, Ukrinform, May 27–30). Edmonton, AB artisans,” curated by Larisa Sembaliuk Cheladyn, Alberta EDM, June 3, 4). Hungarian and Ukrainian positions, as Council for the Ukrainian Arts, 780-488-8558 or Budapest proceeds from a sui generis expressed through each side’s talking [email protected] conception of Hungarian national commu- points, show not only differences but also nities’ entitlements in all neighboring coun- certain convergencies, with enough overlap Through Harvard Ukrainian Summer Institute, Harvard University, tries where these kin communities com- to identify some common ground. August 8 [email protected] or pactly reside. This conception includes fair Budapest’s positions, voiced during Online www.huri.harvard.edu/husi access to native-language education, use of these meetings, include: the native language in the local administra- June 19-23 St. Nicholas Program Special Needs Families Camp, tion, the right to fly the Hungarian flag and or other revisionist goals. Online Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. Office of Youth • Hungary seeks no territorial changes other national symbols, an open door for and Young Adult Ministry, www.uocyouth.org Hungarian economic aid and investments community in Carpathian Ukraine is more targeted to the kin communities, due repre- important• For Budapest, than Ukraine’s the Hungarian relations national with NATO. June 22 Online discussion with Agnieszka Holland and Andrea sentation of these communities in local and Online Chalupa, “Mr. Jones: Unmasking the Cult of Stalin,” Atlantic central bodies of power, as well as Council and Harvard University, www.huri.harvard.edu Hungarian passportization of members of Hungarian language of instruction in those kin communities (dual citizenship). Carpathian• The complete Ukraine school is a system time-honored with the Most of these elements exist to a full or “acquired right” that may not be taken June 25 Book presentation by Sonny Patel, “Manual for Survival: partial extent, de jure or de facto, in all of away through Ukraine’s education law. Online A Chernobyl Guide to the Future” by Kate Brown, Harvard Hungary’s neighboring countries, including University, http://huri.harvard.edu or [email protected] Ukraine. Seeking fuller implementation de that are acceptable to the Carpathian jure, Budapest has singled out Ukraine, Hungarian• Budapest community would accept leaders any as wellsolutions as to June 25 Online presentation by Marta Dyczok, Adrian Karatnycky and partly because a non-member of NATO and Kyiv (this seems to devolve blocking pow- Online Alexander Motyl, “Ukraine Under Zelenskyy: Where Is it Heading?” the EU is a more convenient target, and ers to intransigent community leaders). Ukrainian Institute of America, www.ukrainianinstitute.org partly because Ukraine (unlike Hungary’s or https://zoom.us (registration required) other neighbors) has inherited a complete overdue law on national minorities in con- system of primary and secondary schools sultation• Hungary with expectsthe Council Ukraine of Europe’s to draft advi the- July 5-18 Diocesan Church School Camp, Ukrainian Orthodox with Hungarian language of instruction sory Venice Commission on Democracy Online Church of the U.S.A. – Office of Youth and Young Adult throughout, which Budapest wants to see through Law ahead of the draft law’s con- Ministry, www.uocyouth.org preserved as an acquired right of its kin sideration by the Ukrainian Parliament, not community in Carpathian Ukraine. after the Parliament had already adopted it. July 19- Teenage Conference, Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Budapest deems Ukrainian President August 1 U.S.A. – Office of Youth and Young Adult Ministry, Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s government and Carpathian Hungarians and to Budapest as Online www.uocyouth.org the parliamentary majority as “less nation- well• Pendingas to Kyiv solutions on these satisfactory issues, Budapest to the alistic” compared with the previous admin- will continue raising them in the EU and Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events vetoing NATO-Ukraine senior-level meet- istration of President Petro Poroshenko advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions ings. The aim, however, is not to maintain and, therefore, more amenable to negotiat- from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors the veto, but to achieve agreements. ing bilateral solutions on that whole range and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. of issues. Kyiv is also keen to overcome the stalemate and stop the spillover effect into ($56.5 million U.S.) tied loan for infrastruc- Ukraine’s relations with NATO and the EU. ture• Hungaryprojects, to offers be implemented a 50 million jointly euro On January 9, Hungarian Prime Minister with Ukraine in Carpathian Hungarian- Viktor Orbán declared that a personal inhabited districts. meeting between himself and Mr. Kyiv’s positions, voiced during these Zelenskyy would benefit state-to-state rela- meetings, include: tions and the Carpathian Hungarian nation- al community. On February 7, Hungarian (Ukrainize) the Hungarian national minori- Foreign Affairs and Trade Minister Peter ty. •It Ukraineaims to doesenable not young seek Hungarians to assimilate to Szijjarto conferred in Kyiv with senior gov- learn Ukrainian to the level necessary for ernment officials on the contentious issues. college education and employment in They agreed to handle these matters in Ukraine’s economy. The existing language bilateral negotiation channels. In parallel barrier practically isolates the Carpathian with this, the two sides decided to recon- Hungarians from Ukrainian society. vene the Hungarian-Ukrainian inter-gov- Hungarian-language schools’ students ernmental commission on economic coop- (along with those of Romanian-language eration after a seven-year hiatus, and they schools in Chernivtsi Oblast) show the agreed to prepare an Orbán-Zelenskyy highest failure rate at state tests and college meeting within the next few months. admission exams in all of Ukraine. On March 26, Mr. Szijjarto declared that Mr. Orbán would visit Ukraine after the demands point-blank that Ukraine should coronavirus emergency is over, and as soon change• Kyiv the notes laws that on Budapesteducation no and longer lan- as the two ministers of foreign affairs com- guage. Rather, Budapest seems to hint that plete the draft agreements for signing by it would be content with elastic implemen- the two leaders (MTI, Ukrinform, January 9, tation rules and regulations that would February 7, March 26). Those actions were, have to be negotiated with Kyiv. however, delayed by frequent changes in Overlapping positions of the two sides the Ukrainian government and the pro- include: longed coronavirus pandemic crisis. Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Carpathian Ukraine’s Hungarian-inhabited Dmytro Kuleba chose to visit Budapest on districts• Both into sides a “successprofess thestory” aim of of Ukraine- turning May 29, as his first destination in this Hungary state-to-state relations. capacity, “to open a new page in bilateral relations.” Messrs. Kuleba and Szijjarto Hungarian national identity in Carpathian agreed to convene two specialized joint Ukraine• The and goals better of integrating consolidating that nation the- commissions: on national minority rights al minority into Ukraine’s socio-economic and on Hungarian-language education in life are mutually reconcilable goals. Carpathian Ukraine, respectively, in addi- This overlap allows identifying common tion to the aforementioned inter-govern- ground. Foreign Affairs Minister Kuleba has mental economic commission. The three handed over in Budapest an official invita- commissions are supposed to meet during tion for Prime Minister Orbán to visit June to discuss the existing differences, Ukraine in July. work out commonly agreed proposals and draft possible agreements for consider- The article above is reprinted from ation by the top leaders. Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from Budapest’s desiderata are fairly ambi- its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, tious: for the two sides to draft a joint dec- www.jamestown.org. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JUNE 21, 2020 No. 25