INSIDE: l UNICEF says 1 M Ukrainian children need aid – page 5 l Museum director speaks on rare book treasures – page 10 l PHOTO REPORT: Honoring the Heavenly Brigade – page 11 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXV No. 9 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 $2.00 Erstwhile Yanukovych ally Firtash Phillip Karber: Ukraine faces closer to extradition to the U.S. Russia’s ‘new-generation warfare’ by Mark Raczkiewycz order to mine titanium for Boeing, a major aerospace company and mainstay U.S. mili- KYIV – Dmytro Firtash, a Ukrainian tary government contractor. mogul whose political tentacles extend to Worth an estimated $250 million, Washington, London, Moscow and the according to Forbes, Mr. Firtash, 51, has Ukrainian diaspora community, faces extra- repeatedly denied the allegations. He dition to the U.S. on bribery charges follow- looked bewildered and shocked upon hear- ing a Vienna court ruling on February 21. ing Judge Leo Levnaic-Iwanski’s ruling. Vienna’s Higher Regional Court reversed “It wasn’t for us to judge whether Mr. a lower court’s ruling from April 2015 that Firtash was guilty, but only whether the said U.S. authorities were partially political- extradition is allowed,” the judge said, as ly motivated in their pursuit of Mr. Firtash cited by Bloomberg. “This decision only over $18.5 million in kickbacks that he means that another country will make a allegedly arranged for Indian officials in decision whether he is guilty.” Walking out of the courtroom, Mr. Firtash said the score was “one-to-one,” when a journalist asked for his reaction, according to a video that The Insider’s Serhiy Scherbina streamed on Facebook. Courtesy of Phillip Karber But then plainclothes authorities of the Dr. Phillip Karber (right) with Lt. Gen. Mykhailo Zablodsky of Ukraine’s armed Austrian government took him into custody forces in Ukraine in August 2016. near the courtroom’s elevator on a separate extradition order from Spain. Those charges by Mark Raczkiewycz Weekly in a telephone interview, noting stem from a 10-million euro money-laun- that Kyiv was “struggling to get 10 battal- dering case involving real estate and restau- KYIV – Dr. Phillip Karber never projected ions ready to fight.” rants that emerged in November 2016 and that Ukraine would be able to withstand Today, three years into the Donbas war, which includes two unnamed suspects. Russian military aggression for as long as it and after 10,000 people killed, Ukraine has Spanish media have reported that Mr. has – three years already. 22 brigades and close to 70 battalions, and Firtash, who also has denied the charges The president of the Potomac Foundation, has the structure to have up to 30 brigades. through his lawyers, led a money-launder- an independent policy center in Virginia, Although Ukraine in spring 2014 man- ing ring in Catalonia – a Spanish province – said Ukraine’s army has “substantially aged to prevent Russia from carrying out with origins in companies that are regis- improved” since Moscow engineered an the “Novorossiya construct” whereby the tered in the tax havens of Cyprus and the armed uprising in the easternmost regions Kharkiv, Dnipropetrovsk, Kherson, British Virgin Islands. of Luhansk and Donetsk in April 2014. Zaporizhia and Odesa oblasts would slip Zenon Zawada “It was a miracle,” the expert in defense Dmytro Firtash in 2011 in Kyiv. (Continued on page 8) and national security told The Ukrainian (Continued on page 17) Vigil in Washington remembers heroes of the Heavenly Brigade Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S. WASHINGTON – Ukrainians in gathered on February 20 in the heart of the U.S. capi- tal, near the Lincoln Memorial, for a vigil commemorating the heroes of the Heavenly Brigade. The event, which was attended by mem- bers of the Ukrainian community and dip- lomats from the Embassy of Ukraine, start- ed with mournful Lemko folk song “Plyve Kacha.” It was with this song three years ago that the fallen Ukrainian heroes went on their last journey from the Maidan in Kyiv. Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S. In his address to participants of the vigil, Ukrainian community members and diplomats of the Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S. at the vigil for heroes of the Heavenly the ambassador of Ukraine to the United Brigade that was held near the Lincoln Memorial. States, Valeriy Chaly, said that we, Ukrainians, must be worthy of the memory struggle for Ukraine continues against Ukrainian American organizations of was offered by priests of the Ukrainian of the participants of the Revolution of Russia’s ongoing aggression. He thanked Washington, in particular, the U.S.-Ukraine Orthodox and Ukrainian Catholic Churches. Dignity, who gave their lives for a decent everyone for their unity and solidarity with Foundation, United Help Ukraine and The event ended with singing of the future for Ukraine. Ukraine. Razom, also addressed the gathering. Ukrainian and American national anthems Ambassador Chaly stressed that the During the ceremony, leaders of A joint prayer for the Heavenly Brigade and a candle-lightning ceremony. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26, 2017 No. 9 ANALYSIS Moscow sees anti-Russian forces March of National Dignity in Kyiv Klimkin calls for reforms at UNSC KYIV – Thousands of activists marched UNITED NATIONS – Ukraine has called on the rise in U.S. after Flynn’s ouster in Kyiv to honor protesters who were killed for reform of the United Nations Security during the pro-European Maidan demon- Council’s (UNSC) structure to prevent launcher carrying four cruise missile tubes by Pavel Felgenhauer strations in 2013-2014 and to challenge Russia from using its veto power on the instead of two ballistic Iskander missiles. In Eurasia Daily Monitor the government. The March of National council to obstruct actions involving the November 2014, the Defense Ministry’s TV Dignity was organized by three nationalist conflict in eastern Ukraine. “We need The ouster of the U.S. national security Zvezda channel reported that Iskander mis- parties – Svoboda, the National Corps and urgently to reform the Security Council in advisor, retired Gen. Michael Flynn, on siles deployed in Crimea may wipe out the Right Sector. Activists gathered on Kyiv’s order to remove the veto power abuses,” February 13 is seen in Moscow as a serious Deveselu base if their range is extended “to central Maidan Nezalezhnosty said Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister setback and a victory of anti-Russian forces several thousand kilometers” by using a (Independence Square) early on February Pavlo Klimkin, who chaired a meeting of the trying to prevent a normalization of rela- modified long-range Kalibr cruise missile 22 and began marching toward Parliament, council on unresolved conflicts in Europe on tions between Presidents Donald Trump (TV Zvezda, November 14, 2014). where they planned to announce their February 21. A provision of the council’s and Vladimir Putin. Last April, the defense ministry pub- demands to lawmakers, the Cabinet and charter requires that “a party to a dispute Dmitry Peskov, Mr. Putin’s press secre- lished footage of the test-launch of long- President Petro Poroshenko. Organizers shall abstain from voting” when the council tary, refused to comment on Mr. Flynn’s range land-based cruise missiles using the said their demands include calls for full forced resignation, insisting this was an Iskander-K missile launcher. It was acts, but it has been “blatantly ignored,” he investigations of the deadly dispersal of said. Russia used its power, for example, to internal matter for the U.S. The Kremlin announced the Iskander-K cruise missiles demonstrators in Kyiv in February 2014 block an initiative to set up an international confirmed Mr. Flynn had contacts with the had a range of under 500 kilometers, to and the immediate cancellation of all trade tribunal to prosecute those responsible for Russian ambassador in Washington, Sergei comply with the INF treaty (TV Zvezda, with Russia, which demonstrators called downing Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 Kislyak, last December, before Mr. Trump’s April 23). “the aggressor country.” Hundreds of police (MH17) in 2015 over the war zone in east- inauguration. But Mr. Peskov claimed that Last week, Mr. Kosachev told reporters officers were on the scene. They also plan ern Ukraine, killing hundreds of people. The the U.S. media’s interpretation of the con- that the alleged Russian noncompliance to demand a halt to all economic ties with tent of these contacts is “wrong” (Interfax, with the INF was “information warfare” the portions of eastern Ukraine that are council should be able to address “bloody February 14). aimed at “Russia and those in the new U.S. currently controlled by Russia-backed sep- conflicts” regardless of whether one of the The chair of the Foreign Relations administration that want to improve rela- aratists. (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) parties involved is a permanent council Committee of the Russian Federation tions” (Militarynews.ru, February 15). member with veto power, Mr. Klimkin said. Poroshenko: ‘very strong message’ of support Council (the upper chamber of Parliament), According to the chair of the Federation “It is imperative that clear proceedings are introduced for the proper implementation” Konstantin Kosachev, wrote on his Council Defense Committee, Viktor Ozerov, MUNICH, Germany – Ukrainian President of the council’s abstention requirement, he Facebook page, “Ousting a National Security Russia “did not deploy anything in violation Petro Poroshenko said he received a “very said. Russia, which maintains that it has no Advisor for contacts with a Russian ambas- of the INF” (Militarynews.ru, February 15). strong message supporting Ukraine” in a troops in Ukraine despite evidence to the sador is worse than simply paranoia.” It seems the Iskander-K does exist and meeting with U.S.