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Conclusion of THE YEAR IN REVIEW pages 6-15

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationeekly Vol. LXXXVII No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 $2.00 Facebook vows to curb outside electoral ads shines at World Economic Forum in Davos by Mark Raczkiewycz ahead of Ukraine vote – Ukraine has “turned the corner,” is back on investors’ radars and changing pub- by Christopher Miller lic perception beyond corruption and “war” RFE/RL about the country, Alexa Chopivsky, Ukraine KYIV – The social-media giant House Davos (UHD) executive director, told Facebook has announced that it will The Ukrainian Weekly regarding the side prohibit electoral ads bought outside venue’s performance at this year’s annual Ukraine from appearing there in the World Economic Forum in . run-up to the country’s presidential Ms. Chopivsky noted that attendance election this spring. this year on January 21-25 reached an esti- mated 8,000 visitors – or 3,000 more than The move is part of the social net- in 2018 when UHD debuted – and which work’s global response to the outcry included the traditional Ukrainian over false or misleading stories dissem- Breakfast that Viktor Pinchuk, a magnate inated via its 2 billion users, and is cer- whose father-in-law is ex-President Leonid tain to be welcomed by officials in Kyiv. Kuchma, has funded for 15 years through a Ukraine has warned Facebook for charity foundation. Ukraine House Davos years about alleged -backed A separate cellphone application made Ukraine House Davos bucked the trend of a male-dominated presence at this year’s disinformation campaigns on its plat- available at Davos pinned the number of World Economic Forum with an all-female organizing committee (from left): Alexa form, including “fake news” to foment visitors at 9,000. Chopivsky, Jaroslawa Johnson, Svitlana Grytsenko, Olga Afanasyeva and Lenna distrust in its pro-Western government “Ukraine has staked its claim in the Koszarny. and to promote support of Moscow’s Davos event and is becoming recognized as mation technology, light manufacturing and true ‘business heroes’… adept at bypassing annexation of and backing of a leader… among the country and business food processing industries, the company’s the country’s past shortcomings, and able separatists in the country’s east. houses, a truly known leader in terms of Facebook made the announcement packed high-quality content and a high-lev- news release said on January 23. to use the country’s talent and resources to in a January 28 post outlining its el networking culture,” said Ms. Chopivsky. A new generation of entrepreneurs with build modern businesses.” efforts to protect elections this year in She added that our “brand is solidified… hardly any conscious memory of the Soviet Stepping in also was the European Bank India, Israel, Nigeria and Ukraine. It we had more space and more buzz on the Union is enticing foreign investors to park for Reconstruction and Development – said the measures would be intro- street this year.” their money in Ukraine, according to Lenna Ukraine’s biggest foreign investor – with a duced globally before the end of June. The deliverables included securing two Koszarny, Horizon Capital founding partner $150 million syndicated loan to finance will vote for a president foreign investment deals worth nearly and CEO. Ukraine’s largest wind power farm to be in the first of two possible rounds on $400 million. “Visitors to Ukraine House and investors located at a lake in the country’s southern March 31, with a field of more than two Private-equity fund manager Horizon are attracted by the ‘generational shift’ in Oblast. dozen candidates likely to challenge Capital launched a third investment fund for today’s Ukraine,” she said on the business The total project, worth $400 million, President Petro Poroshenko. $200 million. It was oversubscribed by networking platform LinkedIn. “They are includes Norwegian energy giant NBT and “Protecting the integrity of elections more than $50 million and will target “high- looking to invest in the post-independence the French company Total Eren, who jointly while making sure people can have a growth and export-driven companies in new generation of progressive young com- voice is a top priority for Facebook,” Ukraine” that include players in the infor- pany founders and entrepreneurs who are (Continued on page 17) Anika Geisel, from Facebook’s public- policy department focused on , wrote of the new policy in a post on protecting European parliamentary elections that was also published on Chicagoans celebrate centennial of united independent Ukraine January 28. UCCA Illinois Searchable library CHICAGO – The Ukrainian American As part of the new measure, adver- community of the Chicago area on January tisers will need to be authorized to 20 celebrated the 100th anniversary of the purchase political ads, and the compa- unification of Ukrainian lands on January ny will give people additional informa- 22, 1919, when the Ukrainian National tion about advertisements related to and the Western Ukrainian politics and issues. National Republic proclaimed one indepen- It will create a publicly searchable dent Ukrainian state. library of advertisements for up to The commemoration was organized by seven years that will include informa- the Ukrainian Congress Committee of tion on the range of each advertise- America Illinois Division (UCCA Illinois) ment’s budget, its reach and demo- and gathered almost 300 members of the graphics of those who viewed the community. advertisement, including age, gender Three members of Congress – Rep. Mike and location. Quigley, who recently became a co-chair of It is unclear when the new measure the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Rep. will come into force in Ukraine, which Danny Davis, a long-time friend of the com- Iryna Yatsyshyn has been targeted by Russian disinfor- munity, and Rep. Sean Casten, recently Rep. Mike Quigley, a new co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, addresses the Ukrainian American community gathered on January 20 to celebrate the 100th (Continued on page 21) anniversary of the unification of Ukrainian lands into one independent state in 1919. (Continued on page 22) Looking on is the event’s emcee, Marta Farion. 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 No. 5

ANALYSIS

Desperately seeking a post-war Poroshenko announces re-election bid Ukraine. The incumbent’s popularity rating is low, but polls suggest he and former Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko Prime Minister Yulia Tymoshenko, who president in Ukraine has announced he will seek re-election in announced her presidential bid on January the March presidential election, and vowed 22, are the likely front-runners. (RFE/RL’s by Christopher Miller large sections of territory. to press for and NATO Ukrainian Service, with reporting by RFE/RL Another candidate, , who plays a fictional president in a TV com- membership. Speaking to thousands of sup- Reuters, Kommersant, UNIAN and Interfax) KYIV – Ukrainians say the biggest prob- edy series, recently offered voters some- porters on January 29, the confectionary PACE condemns attack lem facing their country ahead of a crucial thing along the lines of “we’ll meet in the magnate said that a “feeling of deep respon- presidential election in March is the same middle” when asked how he might resolve sibility before the country and... before past The Parliamentary Assembly of the one that ushered in the current head of the conflict. and future generations” led him to decide to Council of Europe (PACE) on January 24 state in the first place: war. “Putin has his position; I have my posi- run for a second five-year term in the March adopted a resolution, “The Escalation of It’s been almost four years since officials tion. We’ll decide something and then have 31 vote. The 53-year-old Mr. Poroshenko, Tensions Around the and the from Ukraine, , and a referendum,” is how Prof. Haran charac- one of Ukraine’s richest men, came to and Threats to European agreed on a way to end a hot phase of the con- terizes the position of Mr. Zelensky, who is power in the aftermath of the pro-European Security,” in which it “condemns the use of flict between Ukraine’s central government running third behind Ms. Tymoshenko and Maidan protests that pushed Moscow- military force by the Russian Federation and Russia-backed separatists in the east. Mr. Poroshenko in early polling. “Zelensky friendly President out in against Ukrainian warships and their Fast forward to today, and that deal, demonstrated that he’s totally unprepared February 2014. He has vocally advocated crews.” PACE urges the Russian Federation known as the accords, has largely for such questions.” closer integration with the West and criti- to: “immediately release the Ukrainian ser- failed, much to the dismay of most of Growing desire for peace cized Russia following Moscow’s seizure of vicemen and ensure they are granted the Ukraine’s 44 million citizens. Ukraine’s Crimea region and amid a con- necessary medical, legal and/or consular Many of the two dozen people who have Sporadic fighting has killed more than tinuing war against Russia-backed militants assistance in accordance with relevant pro- declared their intention to run – 17 of them 10,000 people and displaced 2 million in the eastern region known as the Donbas. visions of international humanitarian law already registered ahead of the February 8 more from an area sliced through by a “I would like to ask voters for a mandate to such as the Geneva Conventions; ensure deadline – have talked about ending the 500-kilometer “line of contact” teeming freedom of passage in the Sea of Azov and war, albeit in extremely vague terms. ensure the irreversibility of the country’s with land mines. As the war grinds toward European and Euro-Atlantic integration and the Kerch Strait in accordance with the a sixth year, there is no end in sight. “Absolutely it is the most important our independence, as well as to restore above-mentioned treaty and any other But a growing field of challengers hopes issue,” says Oleksandr Zenov, an eastern Ukraine’s territorial integrity, bring back mutually agreed procedures and to respect that fellow Ukrainians are ready to turn the Ukrainian who has done humanitarian work during the conflict. “My [vote] will be based peace, and complete the construction of a the United Nations Convention on the Law page on their wartime president, Petro of the Sea.” The Parliamentary Assembly Poroshenko. not only on the plans of action but also on strong state capable of providing prosperity also said it “reiterates its commitment to the Just don’t insist on seeing the fine print. the activities that have already been done.” to every Ukrainian,” Mr. Poroshenko said at sovereignty and territorial integrity of “Everyone is saying they will finish the After all, he says, “most of the candidates a forum in Kyiv. “We will submit a bid to join Ukraine within its internationally recog- war... and they may talk about general ideas, have been in Ukrainian [politics] for more the European Union in 2024,” he said, add- nized borders; ...expresses great concern like international peacekeepers, as a way of than 20 years.” ing that Ukraine would also take further about the construction by Russia of the moving forward,” says Oleksiy Haran, a pro- Polls have shown Ukrainians’ desire for steps to join NATO if he was re-elected. fessor of political science at Kyiv’s Mohyla peace growing as the election approaches. “Strengthening our armed forces and mod- bridge over the Kerch Strait, which it con- Academy and head of research at the Ilko A poll published in November 2018 sug- ernizing them... will remain our priority siders illegal and another breach of Kucheriv Democratic Initiatives Foundation, gested 57 percent of people saw the Donbas over the next five years,” Mr. Poroshenko Ukraine’s sovereignty, as well as about a think tank. “But I think no politician is able conflict as the country’s most pressing issue, said. But with Russia keeping the pressure Russia’s policy regarding the selective to talk about specific details.” ahead of corruption. That was up from 53 on, he said, “Only full EU and NATO mem- search of Ukrainian and international ships, Moreover, he adds, any candidate who is percent in June. Later the same month, bership would completely and irreversibly which hinder navigation to and from the Sea of Azov; ...calls on the international bod- brave enough to offer specifics “would another survey put that number at 66 per- guarantee the independence of our ies which have competence in the field, such immediately be accused of making conces- cent of Ukrainians. By December, more poll- Ukrainian state and Ukrainian national ing said 72 percent of Ukrainians regarded as the International Committee of the Red sions to [Russian President Vladimir] Putin.” security.” Mr. Poroshenko, who critics say the war as the country’s biggest problem. Cross and the Council of Europe’s In fact, that’s already happened. has failed to tackle pervasive corruption, Mr. Fesenko says there are three main Committee for the Prevention of Torture Talking to the “separatists” reasons why candidates avoid details when also vowed that a special court to try cor- and Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or it comes to ending the war. ruption cases would be up and running this Punishment (CPT), to visit the Ukrainian Candidates Yuriy Boiko and Oleksandr year. Western officials say graft is a huge Vilkul, whose opposition parties are First, there’s no “meaningful alternative” servicemen in prison, pending their release, to the Minsk agreements at hand, and the hurdle to the prosperity and security of and supports any diplomatic action taken regarded by some as Russia-friendly or Ukraine. In what was widely seen as an pro-Russian, have suggested any peace deal Ukrainian and Russian positions are “fun- by member states aimed at their release.” effort to bolster his sagging public support should include compromises and dialogue damentally different.” Second, Ukrainians (Ukrainian Canadian Congress Ukraine ahead of the election, Mr. Poroshenko spear- with the “separatists” – a nonstarter for themselves are not unified behind any sin- Daily Briefing) many Ukrainians who equate such a move gle solution to the conflict. And third, he headed successful efforts to secure the cre- with capitulation. insists, Ukrainian voters and politicians are ation of an independent Orthodox Church of (Continued on page 20) One candidate who has laid out a “new convinced that peace is most contingent on strategy for peace and security” is Yulia “Putin’s position, [and] his readiness for a Tymoshenko, a former gas executive and real compromise.” prime minister who lost a presidential run- A peace breakthrough that could dra- he krainian eekly FOUNDED 1933 off to Viktor Yanukovych in 2010 and looks matically sway the race in Mr. Poroshenko’s T U W favor is unlikely before the election, given like a front-runner in the looming race. An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., She proposed a “+” negotiating Mr. Putin’s public disdain for the former businessman. a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. format involving the European Union, , Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. France, Germany, Russia, the But both Mr. Fesenko and Prof. Haran suggest the war’s hold on many voters, at Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. and the United States. The name is a refer- (ISSN — 0273-9348) ence to widely lauded quadrilateral talks in least those farther from the war zones, 1994 at which a newly independent Kyiv might recede as election day nears. They The Weekly: UNA: agreed to give up the world’s third-largest point to the same polls indicating that the Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 nuclear arsenal in exchange for security war falls to third or fourth place – after eco- assurances from Washington, and nomic issues, such as utility prices, salaries Postmaster, send address changes to: Moscow. Russia’s annexation of Crimea in and pensions – when Ukrainians are asked The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz 2014 and support for armed separatists in what the most important issues are for 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas eastern Ukraine marked a clear abrogation of their families. P.O. Box 280 that commitment, in most Ukrainians’ eyes. “The Minsk plan can be compared to a Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] Speaking to a packed house of supporters seriously ill patient who is in the intensive- in the capital on January 22, Ms. Tymoshenko care unit,” Mr. Fesenko says. “He can be The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com even offered up a hopeful vision to millions of saved from death, but he will no longer be eastern Ukrainians displaced by the war: completely healthy.” The Ukrainian Weekly, February 3, 2019, No. 5, Vol. LXXXVII “Gather up your fridge magnets, you’ll soon Ukraine’s roughly 36 million voters must Copyright © 2019 The Ukrainian Weekly have someplace to hang them.” be wondering if the same is true of their But throughout, Ms. Tymoshenko was country. short on her plan’s specifics. Copyright 2019, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA “It does not reject the Minsk agreements with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ and does not say what may be compro- Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 mised regarding Donbas,” says Volodymyr Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see e-mail: [email protected] Fesenko, director of the Kyiv-based Penta https://www.rferl.org/a/desperately-seek- Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 Center for Political Studies, in a reference to ing-a-postwar-president-in-ukraine/29730 e-mail: [email protected] the eastern regions where militants control 680.html). No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 3

NEWS ANALYSIS Moscow and Kyiv respond to German proposal on Kerch Strait and Azov Sea

by Vladimir Socor the (safe) passage of ships. shadowing the content of a revised-down comments to the Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Eurasia Daily Monitor The German government agreed to re- proposal. To be sure, Berlin’s concessions Ministry’s assembled staff. Ukraine would start the bilateral negotiation with Moscow go only halfway in some aspects. While welcome an international presence in the Part I on those Moscow-defined premises. Yet Moscow wanted Kyiv to be excluded from Kerch Strait and the Azov Sea. However, some potential leeway for negotiation, this negotiation, Mr. Maas compromised: he Russia would “undoubtedly try to manipu- The German government has submitted albeit narrowly, remained (see EDM, did consult with Kyiv, but only after pre- late this mission” in ways that would signify a revamped proposal for Russia to “ensure” December 13, 2018). senting Berlin’s proposal to Moscow; and acceptance of the Russian occupation. The unimpeded shipping through the Kerch On January 18, Germany’s Foreign Affairs he did say that a decision reached between proposed mission should not give Russia Strait and Azov Sea, where Russia’s de facto Minister Heiko Maas presented the revised- Berlin and Moscow would have to be such opportunities. control is usurping Ukraine’s rights. down proposal to his Russian counterpart, cleared with Ukraine afterwards. The mission should not even hint at Berlin’s offer centers on international mon- Sergei Lavrov, in Moscow (see EDM, January Ambiguous, too, was Mr. Maas’s remark in acknowledging a “border” (between itoring of the safety of navigation there (see 21, 2019). Berlin’s concessions at Russian Moscow that the monitoring group should Ukraine and the Russian-occupied Crimea), Eurasia Daily Monitor, January 21, 2019). insistence signify that: a) bypassing the “certify” the fact of free passage of ships, and should not apply to Russia for admis- Berlin’s new pitch takes onboard OSCE (warts and all) in favor of a German- rather than upholding the principle of free- sion of the mission’s members to the occu- Moscow’s objections to the previous French mission would exclude the United dom of navigation. In his concluding joint pied territory in the Kerch Strait (i.e., the German proposal last December. At that States and other pro-Ukraine countries news conference with Mr. Klimkin in Kyiv, strait’s Crimean shore and the legally point, Russia rejected: a) Berlin’s suggestion from negotiating the monitors’ mandate; b) Mr. Maas adjusted his remarks somewhat, Ukrainian side of the water surface). The to assign the Organization for Security and bypassing the “Normandy” forum (again, undoubtedly in response to Mr. Klimkin’s proposed mission should not be based in Cooperation in Europe’s Special Monitoring warts and all) in favor of a German-French- comments on the proposal. Russian-occupied Crimea, and should not Mission in Ukraine (OSCE SMM, which is Russian negotiation on the mandate would Mr. Klimkin registered Ukraine’s con- operate through the Kerch Port Authority active in the Donbas) to also conduct the exclude Ukraine itself from shaping that cerns during the joint press conference proposed monitoring of the Azov Sea and mandate, and negate Ukraine’s legal titles in with Mr. Maas and, separately, in publicized (Continued on page 17) Kerch Strait; b) Berlin’s suggestion to dis- that process; c) the proposal seems implicit- cuss the proposed maritime monitoring ly to accept Russia’s differentiation between within the “Normandy” diplomatic forum the Kerch Strait (claimed as fully sovereign (Germany, France, Russia, Ukraine); c) Russian territory following Russia’s seizure Archbishop Daniel meets with Bishop Andriy Berlin’s suggestion that the maritime moni- of Crimea from Ukraine) and the Azov Sea toring should encompass both the Kerch (which Russia deems a Russian-Ukrainian of Ukrainian Catholic Church in Philadelphia Strait and the Azov Sea, without differenti- shared internal water); and d) the proposal ating between the two in terms of access. focuses on safety of navigation more than on German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who freedom of navigation, potentially sacrificing had initiated the December 2018 proposal, principle to expediency, even if the propos- and whose office negotiated it with Moscow, al’s authors have no way to enforce anything bowed to Russia’s rejection of those points seemingly gained through expediency. (and possibly some undisclosed ones). That much could be gleaned from Mr. Berlin did accept Moscow’s suggestions Maas’s snippet-style press conference that: a) any maritime monitoring should be remarks in Moscow and Kyiv, as well as from only conducted by German and French Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Pavlo observers; b) their mandate be shaped on Klimkin’s more candid public comments that tripartite basis (not in the OSCE and after learning it from Mr. Maas post factum not in the Normandy forum); c) more condi- in Kyiv (Interfax, RIA Novosti, Ukrinform, tionalities be placed on the monitors’ access , January 18, 2019). in the Kerch Strait than in the Azov Sea; and Those points also corroborate the gist of d) the monitors should watch and report on Ms. Merkel’s December 2018 remarks fore-

101st anniversary of the Battle of Kruty

The Rev. Vasyl Pasakas Archbishop Daniel with Bishop Andriy Rabiy in Immaculate Conception Ukrainian Catholic Cathedral in Philadelphia.

UOC-U.S.A. hierarchs paid a visit to the main cathedral of the Archeparchy in Philadelphia. PHILADELPHIA – At the invitation of Later in the day, Archbishop Daniel, KYIV – In this historic photo, originally published in Litopys Chervonoyi Kalyny, a funeral Bishop Andriy Rabiy, apostolic administra- accompanied by the Rev. Vasyl Pasakas, procession heads towards Askold’s Grave (Askoldova Mohyla) in Kyiv on March 19, tor of the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy shared with Bishop Andriy a brief reflec- 1918, to bury fallen Ukrainian university students and cadets who died in the Battle of of Philadelphia, Archbishop Daniel of the tion on the process of granting a Tomos of Kruty on January 29, 1918, as they were vastly outnumbered by Communist-Bolshevik Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. autocephaly to the Orthodox Church of forces. As noted in the newspaper The Day on the 100th anniversary of the historic paid a visit to the Chancery Offices in Ukraine by the Ecumenical Patriarchate of battle in 2018, “Despite a heavy death toll (250-300 youths were killed, the names of Philadelphia on Wednesday, January 23. Constantinople. only those who were buried in March 1918 near Askold’s Grave are known for sure), During the cordial ecumenical meeting, The hierarchs presented each other with the young fighters managed to delay the invaders’ march to Kyiv for two or three days the hierarchs of the Ukrainian Orthodox gifts, representing the historic and pastoral (the enemy had to repair the railway and regroup its forces), which was very impor- and Ukrainian Catholic Churches in the mission of both ecclesiastical bodies. tant under those circumstances (the Brest-Litovsk negotiations were under way).” The United States discussed a number of pasto- Prior to his departure, Archbishop Daniel, Internet Encyclopedia of Ukraine explains: “In a bitter battle about half of the Ukrainian ral issues pertaining to the life of the great- speaking on behalf of Metropolitan Antony, soldiers were killed, but their resistance delayed [Mikhail] Muraviov’s capture of Kyiv er Ukrainian American community and in the primate of the Ukrainian Orthodox and enabled the Ukrainian government to conclude the Peace Treaty of Brest-Litovsk. particular to the parishes of both Churches. Church of the U.S.A., invited Bishop Andriy The battle is commemorated as a symbol of patriotic self-sacrifice and is immortalized Bishop Andriy introduced Archbishop to formally visit the spiritual center of the in numerous literary and publicistic works.” Daniel to the staff of the Chancery and both UOC-U.S.A. in South Bound Brook, N.J. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 No. 5 No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 5

FOR THE RECORD UCC says international community must act to free Ukrainian POWs McCain, Ukraine and IRI Six months have passed since the death encouraged Ukrainians to realize their of Sen. John McCain, a true American democratic dreams.” and one of the most consequential Someone else who has known and American political figures on foreign policy worked for John McCain at IRI is Stephen and national security matters of the last Nix, regional program director for Eurasia three decades. since October 2000. He oversees programs Ukraine has had few stronger supporters in Ukraine, Georgia, Belarus, Moldova, in both defending Ukraine’s sovereignty and Armenia, the Kyrgyz Republic and Russia. in promoting democracy. Lest we forget, Sen. Clearly, Mr. Nix has been in the forefront of McCain spent one of his last New Year’s eves IRI’s efforts in Ukraine and is well-respect- – December 31, 2016 – together with two ed by Ukraine’s political leaders and Rada other U.S. senators accompanying President members. Having known and worked with Poster by Andriy Yermolenko. Petro Poroshenko on a visit to Ukrainian him for decades while at the U.S. govern- troops at the front-line town of Shyrokyne in mental Helsinki Commission, where he was The following statement was released by in Russian ports in the Sea of Azov and Oblast. I can’t resist being provoca- often a speaker at our public briefings on the Ukrainian Canadian Congress on and banning Russian ships from tive in wondering how many leading Ukraine, I consider him to be one of January 17. Canadian ports. Ukrainian politicians have done the same. Ukraine’s staunchest and most consistent 2. Use the tools available in the Sen. McCain was a key sponsor of pieces American friends. Our cooperation contin- On January 15, a Russian “court” illegally Magnitsky Act to implement sanctions of bipartisan legislation impacting Ukraine, ues to this day, as we both participate in the prolonged the detention of 24 Ukrainian against Russian officials responsible for the often being the lead with one of my former U.S.-Ukraine Foundation-initiated Friends sailors captured during a Russian naval violations of internationally recognized Helsinki Commission chairmen, Sen. Ben of Ukraine Network’s Democracy and Civil attack on Ukrainian ships in the Black Sea human rights of Ukrainian citizens. Cardin (D-Md.), on bills supporting Ukraine Society Task Force. on November 25, 2018. The Ukrainian 3. In cooperation with the European and sanctioning Russia for its aggression Mr. Nix resided for three years in Kyiv Canadian Congress (UCC) calls on Canada Union, the G-7 and other like-minded towards Ukraine. Notably, he was co-author during the 1990s, working for the and the international community to nations, strengthen economic sanctions on with Sen. Cardin of the Magnitsky Act, International Foundation for Electoral increase pressure on Russia to immediately Russia, including the removal of Russia which has railed against Systems (IFES) and as outside legal counsel release the Ukrainian sailors. from the SWIFT international payments more than any other. As chairman of the for the Committee on Legal Reform in the The Ukrainian sailors held captive by system, in order to exert pressure on Senate Armed Services Committee, he took Ukrainian Parliament. While there, he Russia are prisoners of war and protected Russia to end its occupation of Crimea and the lead in advocating and, through his assisted in the drafting of the 1996 by the Geneva Convention. invasion of eastern Ukraine. sponsorship of key bills, ensuring military Constitution of Ukraine, the presidential “Russia’s continued incarceration of the 4. Together with NATO allies, increase and security support for Ukraine. and parliamentary election laws, and the 24 Ukrainian sailors is a grave violation of military assistance to Ukraine, including In a way that few others did, Sen. McCain law on the Constitutional Court of Ukraine. international law,” stated Alexandra Chyczij, providing Ukraine with naval armaments, understood that we were more secure in a It was in Kyiv that Mr. Nix met Natalia national president of the UCC. “Canada and surface-to-ship missiles, patrol boats, radar world where democracy and respect for Bondar from Khmelnytsky Oblast at a the international community must signifi- systems and surveillance equipment. human rights and the rule of law were the reception at the British Embassy. They cantly increase sanctions on the Russian In its December 2017 report, “Canada’s norm. As chairman of the International were married in Kyiv’s Cathedral of St. regime to secure the release of the Ukrainian Support to Ukraine in Crisis and Armed Republican Institute (IRI), an organization Alexander in 1995. And most likely thanks sailors and over 70 Ukrainian political pris- Conflict,” the Standing Committee on National that has played a key role in advancing to her, his Ukrainian is quite good. oners taken hostage and imprisoned by the Defense (NDDN) called on the government of democracy around the globe, he was a tire- In a tribute to Sen. McCain published on Kremlin.” Canada to “expand Canada’s sanctions, includ- less advocate for human dignity, freedom the Atlantic Council’s “Ukraine Alert” blog, Canada, the United States and the ing implementing the Justice for Victims of and justice. He was especially highly Mr. Nix recounted discussing with Sen. European Union have repeatedly con- Corrupt Foreign Officials Act (Sergei respected in the countries that once consti- McCain in the first week of December 2013 demned Russia’s illegal detention of the 24 Magnitsky Law), against those responsible tuted the , including Ukraine. possible travel to Kyiv so that he could sailors and imprisonment of 70 Ukrainian for contributing to the armed conflict in Much of Sen. McCain’s commitment to address the crowds on the Maidan. The political prisoners and called for their imme- Ukraine, and to work with its allies, including Ukraine came from his involvement with senator had been advised by the State diate release. None have taken actions that NATO, to maintain and enhance their sanc- IRI. Indeed, it was Michael Kostiw, a Department not to travel there because of would increase pressure on Russia to do so. tion regimes against Russian operatives.” Ukrainian American who grew up in heightened security concerns. Mr. Nix The UCC calls on Canada to: In its December 2018 report, Elmira, N.Y., who got John McCain involved remembered Sen. McCain telling him: “We 1. Implement specific sanctions against “Responding to Russian Aggression against with IRI and elected as that important cannot be concerned about our own securi- Russia in response to the November 25, 2018, Ukraine, Moldova and Georgia in the Black organization’s chairman in 1993. Mr. ty; we have to support our friends in Kerch Strait attack. Actions should include: Sea Region,” the NDDN Committee called Kostiw, who first met Mr. McCain back in Ukraine because it’s the right thing to do.” a) Sanctions on Russian state financial on the government of Canada to “consider 1985, was his vice-chairman at IRI for 10 And so, he went, spoke to a crowd of nearly institutions; sanctions against Russia in the financial years from 1993 to 2003, and also served a million on the Maidan, letting them know b) Sanctions on Russian shipping includ- and energy sectors in response to its esca- as his Senate Armed Services Committee that America stood with them in their ing banning Canadian ships from docking lation of hostilities against Ukraine.” staff director in 2007-2011. Mr. Kostiw struggle for a better future. encouraged Sen. McCain to engage with Finally, let me offer just a snapshot of Ukraine and traveled with him there twice. IRI’s recent activity in Ukraine, as it would It should be noted that in addition to take a tome to write about this organiza- these key positions, Mr. Kostiw’s lengthy Conference in Washington to mark tion’s work there throughout the last quar- and illustrious career with the federal gov- ter century. Having been in-country since ernment has included service in the CIA, 1994, the Ukraine portfolio is one of the fift h anniversary of Heavenly Hundred the U.S. Army and the House Permanent largest at IRI. With two offices currently in sacrifice of the Heavenly Hundred and the Select Committee on Intelligence. He cur- UCCA country (in Kyiv and ), IRI’s pro- contribution they made for a freer Ukraine, rently serves as advisor to Director of gramming has extensive reach, particularly WASHINGTON – February marks the as well as to discuss the legacy of the Euro- National Intelligence Dan Coats. He also did in those areas affected by Russia’s ongoing fifth anniversary of the culmination of dra- Maidan activists and the Revolution of a stint in the private sector, as an executive war in eastern Ukraine. IRI conducts the matic civil developments in Ukraine during Dignity, as a whole. at Chevron. Mike Kostiw may not be a majority of its programming at the local the Revolution of Dignity. To commemorate “The Story of the Heavenly Hundred” household name in the Ukrainian American level in Ukraine – an approach that is all- this historic date, on February 8, the will feature keynote speakers and two community, but he has done a lot. the-more timely as the country implements Ukrainian American community, under the panel discussions, “Witnesses to History” In a tribute to his friend, Mr. Kostiw sweeping decentralization reforms that auspices of the Ukrainian Congress and “Aftermath to Sacrifice,” which will dis- described Sen. McCain as a leader of “pro- found honor, honesty and belief in the dig- have empowered Ukraine’s cities vis-à-vis Committee of America (UCCA), will host a cuss the historical significance of those the capital. IRI’s interventions cover the half-day conference to honor the Heavenly fateful days in February, five years ago, and nity of man. Belief in democracy and the rule of law was at the core of his being. He political spectrum; for example, IRI works Hundred – the brave heroes who gave their the integral role the organized U.S. to empower local government officials with lives in defense of Ukraine. Ukrainian community has played to assist believed it for all humanity. He believed it for Ukraine as he watched, supported and the skill sets needed to be responsible to The forum, to be held in Room 121 of its ancestral homeland since 2014. citizens, with youth and ordinary citizens the Cannon House Office Building of the Space is limited, therefore interested per- to empower them to be able to participate U.S. Congress from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., will sons are asked to register as soon as possi- Orest Deychakiwsky may be reached at be an opportunity to remember the tragic ble by e-mailing [email protected]. [email protected]. (Continued on page 20) 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 No. 5

2018: THE YEAR IN REVIEW Ukrainian National Association: Moving ahead in a convention year onvention preparations were already in the works at the Ukrainian National Association as 2018 Cbegan. This newspaper’s second issue of the year, dated January 14, carried the official announcement that the 39th Regular Convention of the Ukrainian National Association would be held at Soyuzivka Heritage Center in Kerhonkson, N.Y., from Friday, May 18, through Sunday, May 20. The announcement spelled out the procedures for electing delegates to the convention from the UNA’s branches across North America. On February 18, The Weekly paid tribute to the UNA, its publisher, on the occasion of its 124th anniversary and pointed out the importance of the upcoming convention. Our editorial noted: “At the convention, delegates would do well to recall the UNA’s founding principles, presented concisely in its mission statement: ‘In accordance with its charter, the Ukrainian National Association exists: to pro- mote the principles of fraternalism; to preserve the Ukrainian, Ukrainian American and Ukrainian Canadian heritage and culture; and to provide quality financial ser- vices and products to its members. As a fraternal insur- Michael Gold/The Corporate Image ance society, the Ukrainian National Association reinvests The new General Assembly of the Ukrainian National Association that was elected at the 39th Regular Convention its earnings for the benefit of its members and the held on May 18-20 at Soyuzivka Heritage Center. Ukrainian community’ With that in mind, delegates will consider resolutions and recommendations for the well- events of 1918 and included an article by Mr. Chasto about Convention, to $10.6 million as of December 31, 2017. being of the UNA, thus playing a strong part in setting the the year 1918 on the pages of the Svoboda. This is a significant improvement from the $4 million UNA agenda for the next four-year term and ensuring that The quadrennial convention, the highest governing achieved as of 2013 yearend. Not since 1993 has the UNA it continues to nobly serve our Ukrainian community.” body of the UNA, was convened on May 18. During its stood on such a solid financial foundation, she stated. On April 10, preparations for the 39th UNA Convention business sessions, delegates reviewed the necessary As a mark of the UNA’s move toward incorporating cut- continued as the Executive Committee held a special changes to ensure the UNA’s future and elected a new ting-edge technology for its business operations, dele- meeting to approve the elected delegates and alternates. General Assembly, which comprises executive officers, gates received the convention reports loaded on an The execs also nominated members to the Credentials auditors and advisors. Amazon Kindle Fire 7 tablet. Committee, Committee on Revision of By-Laws and the The three full-time executive officers of the UNA – Dr. Szul, chairman of the By-laws Committee, spoke Finance Committee. The members of these committees President/Chief Executive Officer Stefan Kaczaraj, about proposed amendments to the current UNA are named from among the elected delegates to the con- Treasurer/Chief Financial Officer Roma Lisovich and By-Laws, which foresee a corporate governance structure vention. The names of the delegates and alternates, as National Secretary/Chief Operations Officer Yuriy that replaces the Executive Committee with a Corporate well as those appointed to serve on convention commit- Symczyk – were re-elected. (Mr. Kaczaraj faced a challenge Board of Directors, with the financial competencies and tees, were published in the April 15 issue of The Weekly. for the UNA’s top office from former First Vice-President fiduciary responsibility to run insurance operations in Also published in that issue was the agenda for the three- Michael Koziupa, while the other two full-time officers ran accordance with new regulatory mandates. A separate day convention. unopposed.) The new first vice-president is Gerald Tysiak Fraternal Advisory Board is being proposed to handle the The UNA Almanac for 2018 – the 104th year that this (New York), a former auditor, and the new second vice- fraternal side of the UNA’s activity. annual volume has been released – was dedicated to the president is Eugene Serba (Delaware), also a former audi- Delegates approved an amendment to the By-Laws, centennial of the Ukrainian Revolution and the establish- tor. Ewhen Osidacz (Quebec), a former advisor, was elect- whereby the UNA’s three full-time executive officers are ment of the Ukrainian National Republic. The Ukrainian- ed as director for Canada. now known as president/chief executive officer, chief language publication’s editor is Petro Chasto, a longtime The new Auditing Committee is composed of: Andrij operating officer/national secretary and chief financial member of the Svoboda editorial staff who has been in Skyba (Illinois), Luba Walchuk (New Jersey) and George officer/treasurer. Another amendment approved by the charge of the successful Almanac projects since the year Fedorijczuk (Pennsylvania). The new slate of advisors required two-thirds majority vote provided for the 2000. The Almanac began with a chronicle of the historic comprises: Lubov Streletsky (Pennsylvania), Olya Czerkas appointment of four standing committees of the General (Florida), Oksana Stanko (New Jersey), Nicholas Fil (New Assembly: Finance Committee, Governance and York), Irene Jarosewich (New Jersey), Gloria Horbaty Compliance Committee, Nominations Committee and (Connecticut), Bohdana Puzyk (Florida), Julian Pishko By-Laws Committee. (Minnesota), Dr. Andrij V.R. Szul (Pennsylvania), Oksana The discussion at the convention concerning the pro- Koziak (Pennsylvania) and Michael Luciw (Pennsylvania). posed new UNA By-laws also included the important topic The convention was conducted by Dr. Wasyl Szeremeta, of succession planning, both in terms of nominees for chairman, and Mr. Skyba, vice-chairman; and Dr. Szul election to UNA offices and the filling of vacancies, due to served as the convention parliamentarian. The conven- disqualification or disability, death or resignation, on the tion’s keynote speaker was Annotti, president of UNA’s General Assembly. the American Fraternal Alliance, the umbrella organiza- On the Saturday evening of the convention, a fund-rais- tion of fraternal benefit societies in the United States and ing gala banquet for Soyuzivka was hosted by the UNA Canada, who underscored that one of the most important inside the Veselka Hall. During the dinner, the newly elect- trends in the fraternal system is the regulatory emphasis ed UNA officers, auditors and advisors took their oaths of on corporate governance. office. The banquet’s keynote address was delivered by President Kaczaraj delivered his “State of the UNA Andrew Futey, president of the Ukrainian Congress Address” and noted that he was proud to announce signif- Committee of America, who noted the illustrious history icant positive financial results for the period since the pre- of the UNA since its founding in 1894 in Shamokin, Pa. In vious convention in 2014. Five years of both significant the course of its history, he said, the UNA has made lasting capital surplus and net income growth are evidence of the impacts and contributions to the community “by publish- UNA’s continued success, he said, adding that the UNA ing two of the most important newspapers in North continues to thrive thanks to prudent financial manage- America – the Ukrainian-language Svoboda and The ment and an adaptable business model. Ukrainian Weekly in the English language – an outlet that National Secretary Symczyk highlighted the reasons for has allowed our community to keep abreast of Ukraine- choosing the convention theme “Success by Design,” as the related news, but even more importantly, to be informed UNA’s achievements over the past four years were accom- about the work and accomplishments of our organized plished following a carefully designed strategic plan. Mr. Ukrainian American community.” Other notable contribu- Symczyk also recalled his journey across the U.S. to visit tions of the UNA cited by Mr. Futey included its role in the UNA districts, branches and members. He underscored formation of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of that the UNA is seeking to partner with other organiza- America in 1940 and the creation of the Ukrainian World tions in community events to broaden its membership Congress (known previously as the World Congress of outreach and increase the UNA’s visibility. Free Ukrainians) in 1967. Also noteworthy, he said, was Treasurer Lisovich said there was much good news to the UNA’s purchase of the property today known as report as 2017 was a milestone year for UNA. The UNA’s Soyuzivka Heritage Center, which is now owned by the The cover of the UNA Almanac for 2018, which was ded- financial capital surplus, the fiscal bedrock of every insur- Ukrainian National Foundation. icated to the centennial of the Ukrainian Revolution and the establishment of the Ukrainian National Republic. ance company, has more than doubled since the 2014 An interesting feature in The Weekly’s reports about No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 7

2018: THE YEAR IN REVIEW Sports: Ukraine’s athletes prove they’re simply the best imply the best – better than all the rest! That turn of the phrase (from a song sung by Tina Turner) could Sdescribe Ukrainian athletes during 2018. Oleksandr Abramenko stunned the aerial skiing compe- tition at the 2018 Winter Olympics by winning Ukraine’s first ever men’s individual gold medal. Paralympian Vitaliy Lukyanenko amazed in Pyeongchang, South Korea, with his two gold medal victories in men’s biathlon. Daria Bilodid (48 kg) won gold medals in five international tournaments to astonish fans of . startled the swim- ming universe when he shattered the world record in men’s 50-m butterfly. Fifty-seven women set a new world record for a synchronized skydive in Ukraine, changing for- mations three times during 90 seconds of free fall. Meanwhile, Vasyl Lomachenko continued his develop- ment in , earning near-unanimous rec- ognition as the world’s best pound-for-pound fighter. Pro tennis star Elina Svitolina did the same, winning five tour- naments, climbing to a No. 4 world ranking in the Women’s Tennis Association (WTA) with realistic aspirations of attaining the No. 1 ranking in the near future. Elite Ukrainian athletes truly astounded the sports world in 2018 with staggering results on the biggest and brightest stages of international competitions in venues on nearly every continent. It is interesting to note Abramenko, The front pages of the UNA’s two official publications featured anniversary greetings from UNA President Stefan Lukyanenko, Bilodid and Govorov are amateur athletes, Kaczaraj to Svoboda on its 125th and to The Ukrainian Weekly on its 85th. virtually unheard of prior to their shockingly phenomenal achievements. A still-young Ukrainian nation has begun to the convention was the commentary elicited by Editor total of $10,225 in special and regular scholarships. churn out some special athletes despite limited resources Matthew Dubas from the oldest and youngest delegates: During 2018, the UNA continued its series of presenta- in the areas of recruitment, training and development of Peter Serba, 94, of Wilmington, Del., who had been to tions on wellness for its members and the community at athletic talent. many conventions, and Volodymyr Myshchuk, 22, of large. In Bridgeport, Conn., on March 18, Dr. Petrusia A few more athletic competitions would have been won Watervliet, N.Y., a first-timer. Mr. Serba commented: “I look Kotlar spoke on ethno-nutrition, seasonal eating, nutri- by these amateurs if not for a decree from the Ukrainian forward to the reforms the UNA will enact in order to tional trends in 2018 and alternatives to chemical medi- Ministry of Youth and Sports on March 4 that ordered attract young members and new blood into the organiza- cine. The UNA also increased its visibility by making its Ukrainian athletes not to compete in any competitions tion. … I hope to be here and continue to work with the presence felt at many Ukrainian festivals held during the held in Russia because of Russia’s seizure and annexation UNA for as long as I am able.” Mr. Myshchuk offered: “I year. UNA representatives at these events informed the of Crimea and their widespread doping in sports. myself have gained a better understanding of the relation- Ukrainian community about UNA insurance products and Our sports correspondent’s annual awards: ship between the organization and its governance poli- services, as well as its two highly respected weekly news- cies. I feel that technology will be a major step forward for papers. aerials the UNA to adapt to new challenges.” While the UNA marked its 124th anniversary in 2018, • Outstanding Male Athlete – Oleksandr Abramenko, ski The new General Assembly began its four-year term of its newspapers celebrated significant milestones. The office on July 1 and held its first post-convention meeting Ukrainian-language Svoboda commemorated its 125th • Andriy Govorov, on October 12-14 at Soyuzivka. An update on the UNA’s anniversary, while The Ukrainian Weekly observed its • Outstanding Female Athlete – Daria Bilodid, judo - finances and activity were delivered by the three executive 85th. Both papers published anniversary greetings from ketball• Rookie of the Year – Marta Kostyuk, tennis operating officers of the UNA. Other General Assembly UNA President Kaczaraj on their front pages. • Most Improved Athlete – Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk, bas members, as well as the editor-in-chief of Svoboda and As Christmastime approached, the UNA unveiled its Paralympian The Ukrainian Weekly, submitted brief written reports new set of Christmas cards – the work of artist Andriy • Most Inspirational Athlete – Oksana Masters, U.S.A. and had an opportunity to address the meeting. The Khomyk – and noted that its 2018 Christmas Card Fund- Here are 2018’s athletic achievements, alphabetically by sport,• Team along of the with Year headlines – Ukraine Paralympicsand highlights Team from the reports were brief, as some members were newcomers to Raiser aimed to support The Ukrainian Weekly/Svoboda Ukrainian sports world including our diaspora. the General Assembly, while others had recently submit- Press Fund and Soyuzivka Heritage Center. Donations In ATHLETICS, Alina Shukh won gold in women’s jave- ted lengthier reports, covering a four-year period, at the could also be made to the general fund of the Ukrainian lin (55.95 m) as part of the heptathlon at the IAAF World UNA Convention in May. The General Assembly estab- National Foundation, a registered 501(c)(3) charitable U-20 Championships in Finland on July 10-15. Four organization. lished four standing committees: By-Laws, Financial, Ukrainians won gold at the 2018 World Athletics Masters By the end of the year, the UNA, the oldest, largest and Membership Outreach and Publications. Championship in Malaga, on September 4-16: strongest Ukrainian fraternal benefit society, was looking Advisor Puzyk, who chairs the special committee estab- Lyudmyla Pushkina (W50) in the women’s 2,000-m race- ahead to 2019 and the 125th anniversary of its founding lished to plan celebrations of the UNA’s 125th anniversary walk, Liliia Apolosova (W40) in the women’s 600-gram jav- in 2019, reported that a gala anniversary event is planned on February 22, 1894. in New Jersey, where the UNA is headquartered, and small regional events are being discussed. The Ukrainian National Foundation’s president, Dr. Szeremeta was welcomed as a special guest during the final session. He took advantage of the opportunity to wel- come all and to report on renovations and new projects at Soyuzivka Heritage Center, which is under the aegis of the UNF (an affiliated company of the UNA that performs charitable activities on its behalf). On July 2, Myron Kolinsky, a licensed professional insurance agent whose work experience includes various positions for numerous credit union associations in Connecticut, was tapped as the UNA’s new national orga- nizer. A story about his appointment noted that he holds an M.B.A. in management and a B.S. in finance from the University of Connecticut, is a longtime member of UNA Branch 277 and serves as Connecticut District Committee chair. Mr. Kolinsky is responsible for enrolling UNA mem- bers, organizing regular fraternal events throughout the country, recruiting UNA branch secretaries, promoting the UNA by traveling to various Ukrainian communities and helping to make the UNA nationally recognizable. The September 9 issue of The Ukrainian Weekly high- Michael Gold/The Corporate Image lighted the UNA’s 2018-1019 scholarship program. Thirty- The scene at the 39th Regular Convention of the Ukrainian National Association during the discussion of the pro- nine students who are members of the UNA received a posed new UNA By-Laws. At the podium is Andrij V.R. Szul, chair of the By-Laws Committee. 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 No. 5

2018: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

nok-ukr.org Oleksandr Abramenko celebrates Ukraine’s first individual gold medal in men’s free- Edmonton Partyzany, champions of the third annual Alexander Cup USCAK hockey style aerials on February 18 in PyeongChang, South Korea. tournament, celebrate their win on February 18 in Edmonton, Alberta. elin throw, Nataliia Radionova (W45) in women’s 9.080-kg previous record by eight bouts. On May 11, Lomachenko the C-1 men’s 200-m race and two gold in the U-23 divi- hammer throw and Serhii Havras (M60) in the men’s 600- and his father swept the Boxing Writers Association of sion, Liudmyla Luzan in C-1 women’s 500-m race and gram javelin throw. Ukrainian gold medals at the Gloria America awards for fighter and trainer of the year. He Oleh Kukharyk in the K-1 men’s 500-m race. Cup Athletics Tournament on September 11 in Turkey: underwent shoulder surgery on May 12 following an inju- Kamila Hryshchenko, 16, won the European Youth Yuriy Cheban in men’s single 200-m canoe sprint, Mykhailo ry sustained in the Linares fight. June 10 saw the induction Rapid + Blitz CHESS Championship in on July Romanchuk in men’s 1,500-m , Ivan of Vitaliy “Dr. Ironfist” Klitschko into the International 31-August 5. Pushkin (M85) in the men’s 5,000-m race-walk. Boxing Hall of Fame in Canastoga, N.Y. The first Ukrainian Ukrainian gold medal winners at the 2018 European His hometown of , Ukraine, was beaming with to be inducted concluded his acceptance speech with the Championships held in Glasgow and Berlin on August pride when BASKETBALL player Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk proclamation “Slava Ukraini!” A true sportsman, champion 2-12: Maryan Zakalnytskyy (men’s 50-km race-walk), achieved his ultimate goal of being drafted to play in the of the ring, but also a champion in life, Vitaliy praised Nataliya Pryshchepa (women’s 800-m), synchronized NBA. The Los Angeles Lakers called his name 47th overall younger brother Wladimir for motivating him throughout swim team in the combination free team event, Andriy at the 2018 NBA Draft after the Ukrainian successfully his life. Artem Dalakian (17-0, 12 KO) retained Govorov (men’s 50-m butterfly), Mykhailo Romanchuk completed his mental and physical development plan at his WBA title by eighth-round TKO of Sirichai Thaiyen on (men’s 400-m freestyle and 800-m freestyle), mixed div- basketball powerhouse Kansas University. Ukrainian Issuf June 17 in Kyiv. made history on July 21 ing team (O. Kolodiy and S. Lyshun) in team event and Sanon was the 44th overall pick by the Washington when he became the undisputed world Roman Gladysh in men’s cycling scratch race. Wizards in the 2018 NBA Draft. Born and raised in champion with his unanimous decision victory over In Olga Kharlan won gold in women’s saber Donetsk, Issuf’s father is a native of West Africa who met Russian in Moscow. He was the first fighter at the Grand Prix in Seoul, South Korea on March 30 and his Ukrainian wife while studying in Ukraine. The 6-4 in cruiserweight history to unify all four world title belts also at the team tournament in Antalya, Turkey on May combo guard plays for Olimpija in Slovenia. (WBC, WBO, WBA and IBF) and won the single elimination 27. Yana Shemyakina won gold in women’s epee at the Ukraine’s mixed relay team (Y. Zaravok, I. Varvarynets, World Boxing Super Series single-elimination tournament. team tournament in Slovakia on September 16. A. Pryma and D. Pidruchniy) won gold and Varvarynets The convention was held in Kyiv on Bronislav (Bronko) Nagurski was a college All-American won gold in the women’s 7.5-km sprint at the European October 1-5, attracting 700 participants from 160 coun- FOOTBALL player at the University of Minnesota, where BIATHLON Championship in on January 24. Yuliia tries, including the Klitschko brothers. Vitaliy and he played offense and defense before going on to pro star- Dzhima won gold in the women’s 15-km individual race at Wladimir Klitschko were presented awards for inclusion dom with the Chicago Bears. For a brief while he retired, the BMW IBU Biathlon World Cup in Slovenia on in the Guinness World Records for 2019 as champion became a pro wrestler and returned to the NFL’s Bears. He December 3-9. brothers with the largest number of fights (116) at the was elected into the College Hall of Fame and Pro Football Oleksandr Usyk beat in , Latvia, on above WBC convention. Cruiserweight champion Hall of Fame as a charter member. He was elected into the January 27 to add the WBC cruiserweight belt to his WBO Oleksandr Usyk successfully defended his four titles Ukrainian Sports Hall of Fame in 2018. title as part of the World BOXING Super Series tourna- against with an eighth-round Matt Kuchar entered the 2018 PGA season desperately ment. Flyweight Artem Dalakian’s decision victory over November 10 in Manchester, England. Experts are specu- needing a big win. Jim Furyk looked forward to his new in Inglewood, Calif., on February 24 earned lating Usyk may move up to the division after challenge as captain of the U.S. Ryder Cup team. Matt him the vacant WBA flyweight title. On March 17, some time off. Lomachenko dominated Jose Pedraza in a Kuchar’s scores of 64-64-65-69 totaled a 27-under 262, Oleksandr Gvozdyk won by unanimous decision against December 8 boxing match at MSG’s Hulu Theater. The breaking the Mayakoba GOLF Classic tournament record Mehdib Amar at (MSG) to win the unanimous 12-round decision allowed him to unify two by one stroke and earning him the eighth PGA tour title of interim light heavyweight WBC title. Gvozdyk, nicknamed lightweight world titles – Pedraza’s WBO title with his his career on November 8-11. “The Nail,” may be the next big thing in pro boxing, with WBA belt. Denys Berinchyk won the WBO lightweight title Keith Tkachuk’s youngest son, Brady, was selected apologies to fellow Ukrainian Vasyl Lomachenko. The by defeating Rosekie Cristobal with a seventh-round TKO fourth overall by Eugene Melnyk’s Ottawa Senators in the light-heavyweight division and all of its championship on December 12 in Brovary, Kyiv Oblast. Flyweight cham- 2018 Entry Draft. Other titles are his for the taking. Lomachenko strives to be the pion Artem Dalakian won by sixth-round TKO against Ukrainians picked were Logan Hutsko (third round by best fighter in the world and the junior lightweight cham- Gregorio Lebron on December 15 in Kyiv to defend his Florida), Aidan Dudas (fourth round by L.A.) and Eric pion has been called “the best fighter I’ve seen since WBA title. ESPN named cruiserweight unified champion Florchuk (last overall selection in the seventh round by Muhammad Ali” by Top Rank’s Bob Arum, a boxing expert Usyk as fighter of the year, beating out, among others, fel- Washington). “My main message is to show that the for- and legendary promoter. His dismantling of Jorge Linares low Ukrainian Lomachenko. mer players are proud of their Ukrainian heritage, but on May 12 at MSG in New York capped off his daring pur- In CANOEING Ukraine won two gold medals in the haven’t completely discovered their roots on a deeper suit of becoming the fastest man to wear a third weight junior division (D. Ozymok, P. Semeniuk, O. Yatsiuk + I. level” was Volodymyr Mula’s description of his third docu- class belt. He achieved his feat in his 12th fight, besting the Sharhorodskyi) in men’s C-4 500-m race and Ozymok in mentary film about professional NHL players of Ukrainian

Oksana Sorochan Some of the Ukrainian Americans who attended Ukrainian Heritage Day during the New Jersey Devils vs Vegas Golden Knights game on March 4 in Newark, N.J. No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 9

2018: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Mikey Williams/TopRank.com WBSS Lightweight WBO and WBA champion Vasyl Lomachenko celebrates his unifica- Unified cruiserweight champion (WBO, WBA, IBF, WBC) Oleksandr Usyk receives the tion title win against Jose Pedraza of Puerto Rico on December 8 at Madison Muhammad Ali Trophy after becoming champion of the World Boxing Super Series dur- Square Garden in New York. ing the final on July 21 against Murat Gassiev of Russia in Moscow. descent. Wayne and Dave Babych, NHL stars, departed for and three medals, with biathlon the nation’s strongest golds, competing for her adopted country, the United Ukraine on November 6 to work with Ukrainian hockey sport. Anastasiya Merkushyna followed In her parents’ States, and earning flag bearer privileges at the closing players as announced by the Canadian Friends of Hockey footsteps and pursued biathlon as a lifestyle, culminating ceremony. This was the 28-year-old Chornobyl survivor’s in Ukraine. The brothers attended the Carpathian Hockey with a berth on Ukraine’s Olympic team. Fellow teammate fourth Paralympics. She has won a total of eight medals, League Tournament November 9-11 near and con- Olena Pidhrushna was selected as Ukrainian flag-bearer at including a bronze in rowing at the summer Paralympics. ducted a three-day skills camp for Halitskiy Levy HC. They the Games’ opening ceremony. Ukraine sent 33 athletes to Larysa Soloviova (63 kg) won gold at the World traveled to the Brody region to visit their ancestral home Pyeongchang, 17 men and 16 women, with the biathlon POWERLIFTING Championships in Switzerland on in the village of Biliavtsi. team composed of 11 competitors. Team Ukraine partici- November 5. Volodymyr Rysiev (93 kg) set a new European Fifteen service members representing Ukraine at the pated in nine sports. Although the biathletes did not per- record with 390 kg total and a gold medal lift of 350 kg in 2018 INVICTUS GAMES in Sydney, Australia on October form up to their expectations, Ukraine was one of 22 the clean and jerk. He set a trifecta record of 1,025 kg At the 20-27 won a total of 20 medals (seven gold), besting their countries (out of 92) to win a gold medal. Oleksandr European Classic Open Junior Powerlifting Championships 2017 initial appearance by six total medals. Gold medal- Abramenko made history on February 18, becoming the in Lithuania on November 24-December 2, Anatolii ists included Serhiy Lichytsky, Oleksandr Belobokov and first man to win an individual Winter Olympic gold medal Novopismennyi (93 kg) was named “Best Lifter of the Oleksandr Havrylenko. for Ukraine in the aerials competition. His final score of Open” in the adult category in three disciplines: squat, Oleksandr Gordienko (+100 kg) and Daria Bilodid (48 128.51 barely topped China’s Jia Zongyang (128.05). bench press and dead lift. Kristina Lieonienko (43 kg), Alina kg) won gold at the World Grand Prix in Tunis, Tunisia, on Ukraine-born Olena Savchenko and partner Bruno Massot Tsikul (57 kg) and Anton Biruk (93 kg) won gold junior January 19-21. Yelyzaveta Kalanina (+78 kg) won gold at won gold for Germany in the pairs free skate event with a European titles. Tetiana Shchavinska (27 kg), Viktoria the European JUDO Open in Odivelas, Portugal, on score of 159.31, setting a world record. True sportsman- Druziaka (52 kg), Sophia Rud (63 kg) and Rostyslav February 3-4. Daria Bilodid won gold at the International ship prevailed when Ukrainian Oleksandr Abramenko and Zherebtsov (59 kg) won gold medals in the junior division. Judo Federation Grand Slam in on February 10-11. Russian Ilia Burov shared the podium after winning med- The SAILING Federation of Ukraine appealed to the Daria Bilodid won gold at the Judo Grand Slam in als, both standing behind the Ukrainian flag and embrac- World Sailing Board and the International Olympic Dusseldorf, Germany, on February 23-25. Anastasia Sapsai ing in a politically defiant hug. Committee to ban sailing events in Crimea organized by (+78 kg) won gold after defeating Mercedez Szigatvari in Ukraine amassed 22 total medals, fourth most among the Russian Federation, asking that Ukraine host events in the final at the European Judo Open Women 2018 in 49 competing countries at the 2018 PARALYMPICS held Crimea. Warsaw on March 3-4. Yelyzaveta Kalanina won gold by in Pyeongchang, South Korea, March 9-18. The team of 20 Fifty-seven women set a new world record for a syn- way of defeating Anamari Velensek at the Grand Prix athletes and 10 assistants won seven gold medals, seven chronized skydive in Ukraine when, during 90 seconds of Agadir, Morocco, on March 10-11. At the Veteran silver medals and eight bronze medals with a total of 14 in free fall, the skydivers changed formations three times. European Judo Championships in Scotland on June 16-17, biathlon and eight in cross-country skiing. Outstanding The previous SKYDIVING record was set in the winning gold medals were: Laryssa Masenko (70 kg), individual performers were Oksana Shyshkova (five indi- Netherlands with 56 women. Sergiy Salaban (90 kg), Illya Chymchyuri (90 kg) and vidual medals, including a gold plus relay), Liudmyla On April 4 the Ukrainian World Congress urged officials Nugzar Mesablishvili (90 kg). Daria Bilodid won gold at Liashenko (three medals, plus relay), Ihor Reptyukh of governments and international organizations to refrain the Veteran European Judo Cup in Celje, , on June (three medals, including a gold) and Vitaliy Lukyanenko from attending the 21st FIFA World Cup of SOCCER in 23-24. Hievorh Manukian (73 kg) and Kateryna Sablieva (two gold medals). Gold medalist Taras Rad served as flag Russia. Six days later the Ukrainian Congress Committee (44 kg) won gold at the Junior European Judo Cup in bearer at the closing ceremony. Maksym Yarovyi won a of America echoed the UWC by calling on high-ranking Gdynia, Poland, on July 7-8. Daria Bilodid won gold at the gold medal in 15-km sitting cross-country skiing and the U.S. government officials, sports fans and industry leaders Judo Grand Prix in Croatia on July 28-29. Dilshot mixed relay team won Ukraine’s final gold medal. to follow the lead of the United Kingdom, Poland and Khalmatov (55 kg) and Kateryna Sablieva won gold at the Ukrainian Oksana Masters won five total medals in two Iceland and boycott the 2018 World Cup because of Junior Judo European Cup in on August 11-12. sports (cross-country skiing and biathlon), including two Russia’s continued blatant disregard for the rule of law. Ukrainian gold medalists at the IBSA Judo World Cup in Kazakhstan on September 8-9 were Inna Cherniak (52 kg), Serhii Kotenko (73 kg) and Oleksandr Nazarenko (90 kg). Ukraine won two gold medals at the Junior European Judo Championships on September 14-16 in Sofia, : Dilshot Khalmatov (55 kg) and Hievorh Manukian (73 kg). Daria Bilodid (48 kg) won gold at the in , Azerbaijan, on September 20, becoming the youngest world champion (age 17 at the time of her win) in judo in her weight class. Bohdan Pushenko (81 kg) won gold at the Cadet European Judo Cup Koper in Slovenia on October 27-28. Ukraine won two gold medals at the Judo Grand Prix at The Hague on November 17-18: Yakiv Khammo (+100 kg) and Maryna Cherniak (48 kg). Vladyslav Rudnyev (74 kg) and Anatoliy Voloshynov (100 kg) won gold medals at the World Sambo Championship (MARTIAL ARTS) in Bucharest, Romania, on November 8-11. Vasyl Kotiash (54 kg) won gold at the European Tae Kwon Do Championship in Warsaw on November 8-11. Serhiy Nebotov (66 kg) won the world championship title in his weight division at the World Sambo Championship on December 4-5 in Serbia. In mixed martial arts heavyweight Sergey Spivak won by first-round knockout against Ivo Cuk in Kyiv on March 24, TeleProstir Studio picking up the WWFC heavyweight title. Jimmie48 Photography/WTA Two-time Stanley Cup winner Johnny Bucyk (left) with Realistic expectations for Team Ukraine at the 2018 Tennis star Elina Svitolina celebrates her victory at the film director Volodymyr Mula of the documentary “Uke” Pyeongchang Winter OLYMPICS were to win between one Singapore Championship on October 21-28. in Boston on June 27. 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 No. 5

2018: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Nearly 62,000 spectators attended UEFA’s Champions League final match between Liverpool FC and Real Madrid at Kyiv’s Olympic Stadium on May 26. Ukrainian soccer great Andriy Shevchenko was the match’s ambassador and Kyiv Mayor Vitaliy Klitschko earned high praise for the event’s organization, won by Real, 3-1. Russia’s suc- cess on the pitch at the 2018 FIFA World Cup was deemed suspicious because of its history of abusing performance- enhancing drugs and questionable anti-doping programs. The corrupt governing body for the sport chose not to act on any evidence of doping by Russian athletes, prioritizing the massive revenues generated by the event. Controversy arose over Croatian defender Domagoj Vida’s shouting “” in a post-match video following his country’s elimination of Russia in the World Cup quarter- finals. Croatia fired assistant coach Ognjen Vukojevic for his role in the video and FIFA levied a $15,000 fine against the coach, which Ukraine’s soccer federation offered to pay. Ukrainian artist Andriy Yermolenko shined a light on Russia’s perceived crimes and human rights violations in Ukraine and around the world with a collection of provoc- ative anti-Russian/anti-Putin World Cup posters that seized the Internet by storm. Ukraine’s acting Health Minister Ulana Suprun spoke for many Ukrainian sports fans while the World Cup played on in Russia: under nor- mal circumstances she would “watch the event if it was URC NY taking place in another country,” but said that Russia’s Run participants stop in front of the Ukrainian Institute of America on August 26 in New York. hosting of the World Cup is “an affront to Ukrainians and all those who uphold international rule of law.” Ukraine’s Zariezhna, Savchuk, V. Aleksiiva and Yakhno) won gold in June 2015 and January 2016. Svitolina capped off her U-19 team qualified for the 2019 FIFA U-20 World Cup the women’s team technical event, won gold in the team breakthrough season with a win at the WTA Finals in after finishing first in Group B. Dynamo Kyiv beat Shakhtar free combination routine, won gold in the team free event Singapore in late October. After losing much weight, Donetsk 1-0 in the Ukrainian Super Cup on July 21. and gold in the highlight event. Andriy Govorov shattered changing coaches and suffering through many mid-season Shakhtar Donetsk won the Ukrainian Premier League Cup the world record in men’s 50-m butterfly with a time of tournament eliminations, she bounced back from major title for the 11th time. Andriy Yarmolenko signed a con- 22.27 seconds at the Sette Colli Trophy in Rome on June adversity with much confidence heading into the 2019 tract with England’s West Ham United FC. Andriy Lunin 29-30. Mykhailo Romanchuk won gold in the men’s 1,500- season. Lyudmyla and Nadiia Kichenok won the WTA Elite signed a contract with Real Madrid. Shevchenko and his m freestyle race at both the 2018 FINA World Cup in Trophy in Chuhai, China, on October 30-November 4. assistants extended their contracts with the Football China (November 2-4) and the FINA Swimming World Yuliya Yelistratova took gold at the TRIATHLON World Federation of Ukraine until 2020. The Football Federation Cup in Tokyo (November 9-11). Cup in Ecuador on October 20 with a time of 58:19. of Ukraine was fined 35,000 euros following a UEFA TENNIS news saw Elina Svitolina capture the Brisbane Alla Cherkasova (68 kg) won gold at the 2018 World Nation’s League match between Ukraine and the Czech International tournament on January 6, her 10th career WRESTLING Championships on October 20-28 in Republic on September 6. Ukraine will also compensate title, besting surprise qualifier Aliaksandra Sasnovich Budapest. Semen Novikov (87 kg) won gold in Greco- the Czech team for funds lost after eight Ukrainian fans (finals) after upsetting defending champion Karolina Roman wrestling at the U23 World Championship on invaded the playing field after Ukraine’s 2-1 win. Pliskova in the semis. Fifteen-year-old Marta Kostyuk won November 17-18 in Bucharest. Ukraine won gold in the women’s team highlight event three qualifying matches, then dispatched 25th seeded and gold in the women’s team free combination event at Peng Shuai (6-2, 6-2) and Olivia Ragowska (6-3, 7-5) Diaspora sports news the FINA Artistic SWIMMING World Series on March 9-11 before succumbing to fellow Ukrainian Svitolina in the Closer to home, in diaspora sports news, seven teams in Paris. Ukraine’s women’s team won gold in the team third round of the Australian Open. On February 3, competed at the 2018 Alexander Cup USCAK Hockey free combination and gold in the team free event at the Kostyuk won her second pro-level title at the ITF Tournament held on February 17-18 in Edmonton, FINA Artistic Swimming World Series 2018 on May 11-13 Women’s Circuit in Burnie, Australia. Svitolina became the Alberta, raising over $1,500 for the Fight to Hope chil- in Samorin, Slovakia. Ukraine won gold in the women’s third ever woman to defend her title at the 2018 Dubai dren’s charity. The local Edmonton Partyzany defeated the team free combination routine at the FINA Artistic Duty Free Tennis Championships (February 19-24), Edmonton Bombs in the finals of the round-robin format. Swimming World Series on May 18-20 in Budapest. The demolishing Russia’s Daria Kasatkina (6-4, 6-0) in the The fifth annual Ukrainian Heritage Day at the Devils women’s duet technical team (Yakhno/Savchuk) won finals. She again defeated Angelique Kerber in the semis took place on March 4 at the Prudential Center in Newark, gold. Ukraine won gold in the women’s team highlight. and picked up $651,347 for winning the tourney. Lesia N.J. The Ukrainian festival before and during the Devils- Yakhno/Savchuk also won gold in the women’s duet free Tsurenko won the Abierto Mexicano Telcel WTA Golden Knights hockey game featured face painting, event. Ukraine won gold in the women’s team technical Tournament on March 4. Svitolina won the Tie Break Tens Ukrainian folk dancing, singing, Zamboni riders, national routine at the FINA Artistic Swimming World Series on tournament at Madison Square Garden on March 5. anthem singer, honor guard, “hero of the Game” Sgt. May 31-June 2 in Surrey, British Columbia. Ukraine won Dayana Yastremska, 18, won the WTA tournament in Walter Stepaniak and on-the-ice group photo of some 100 gold in the women’s team free combination, team free Hong Kong on October 14, her first career title, bumping sports/cultural enthusiasts. event and team highlight. Yelyzaveta Yakhno won gold in her to an overall ranking of No. 66. Ukrainian twin tennis The 64th annual races of the Carpathian Ski Club took the women’s solo technical routine and gold in the wom- players Gleb and Vadim Alekseenko received lifetime bans place at Hunter Mountain on March 17 with athletes age en’s solo free event at the FINA Artistic Swimming World and were fined $250,000 each for allegedly fixing multiple 5-75 competing in the family-oriented event. Fastest Series on June 7-9 in Los Angeles. Ukraine’s women’s matches. The October 15 ruling cited offenses at tourna- female and male skiers for 2018 were Talia Pawluk and team (M. Aleksiiva, Kashuba, Kovalenko, Shynkarenko, ments in Romania, Russia, Germany and Turkey between Mark Blyznak. South Windsor High School softball star Maria Hanchuk once again earned All-State first-team honors for her outstanding pitching and hitting achievements while leading het Bobcats back to the Class LL tournament. Alex Popovich (men’s soccer, class of 1969) was named to the 2018 University of Bridgeport Athletics Hall of Fame class on August 3. The All-American and all-New England Leaguer netted 31 goals and 70 points. The Ukrainian World Congress and its International Sports Committee supported the VII World Football Championship for Diaspora Teams on August 19-25 in Kyiv. Twelve soccer teams from 11 countries participated with players age 16-60, including amateurs and pro play- ers. The Ukrainian team from Austria defeated the team from Poland for the championship. More than 120 Ukrainians from and the surrounding area participated in the annual Vyshyvanka Run organized by the Ukrainian Running Club N.Y. on August 26. Nearly $1,300 was raised for Kyiv-based Skhodynky School for Children. Oleksandr Zavorotnyi and Maryna Zhytska emerged as victors in the men’s and women’s divisions of the 63rd USCAK National Tennis Championships at Soyuzivka on UWC September 1-3. Long-time player Peter Goletz was award- Participants of the VII World Football Championship for Diaspora Teams in Irpin, Kyiv Oblast, on August 19-25. ed the Mary Dushnyck Sportsmanship Trophy. No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 11

2018: THE YEAR IN REVIEW The noteworthy: People and events his section features the noteworthy events and people of 2018 that defy easy classification (or could fit under Tmore than one of our Year in Review categories). flamenco guitarist, art connoisseur, amateur historian, oenophile• Jaroslaw and Martyniuk, mastermind Alpine of askier, Cold mountain War undercover climber, operation, published his memoirs, “Monte Rosa: Memoirs of an Accidental Spy.” Born as World War II was starting, the path of Mr. Martyniuk’s life led him to DP camps in Germany, then lower-middle-class Chicago. He moved to Paris in 1979 and eventually landed a job with Radio Liberty, specifically with its Soviet Area Audience and Opinion Research (SAAOR) arm, charged with the mission of estimating Soviet citizen media responses to Western radio. Soviet visitors to the West were the primary source of this information; Mr. Martyniuk coordinated and moni- tored the work of interviewers in several cities. Reviewing the book in our February 11 edition, Myron Kuropas notes: “My favorite takeaway Martyniuk reflection deals with American education: ‘Sadly, the only history taught in schools today is revisionist history infused with mislead- Mark Raczkiewycz ing postmodernist ideas, poststructuralist theories, insidi- Canadian Ukrainian Ruslana Wrzesnewskyj (fourth from right) walks into the Carpathian Mountain town of ous cultural relativism, and invidious political correct- Vorokhta in Ivano-Frankivsk Oblast on August 4, after completing a 56-day, 404-mile walk from Kyiv to raise aware- ness.’ ” In a parallel review, Andrew Sorokowski describes ness about the plight of Ukraine’s 10,000 orphans. the book as equal parts Alpine thriller, travelogue, spy public apology was ever issued to the thousands of indi- ing to their home territories. Patriarch Sviatoslav has story and cultural-historical meditation. viduals and families affected by the genocidal Soviet described the Three Holy Hierarchs Seminary as being regime. critical for the future of the UGCC in the war-affected Marci Shore, who has spent much of her adult life in areas. On September 10, Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian • Yale University professor and award-winning author Central and Eastern Europe, published “The Ukrainian whom are Donbas war veterans – rode coast-to-coast Orthodox Church – Kyiv Patriarchate awarded Ms. Zajac Night: An Intimate History of Revolution.” The book, across• A Northgroup America of nine tocyclists raise awarenessfrom Ukraine of Ukraine – three and of the order of the Holy Great Martyr Barbara for the reviewed in the March 4 issue of The Weekly, chronicles the war, riding some 10,000 kilometers (6,000 miles) and UNWLA’s commitment to “the revival of spirituality in the stories of activists, soldiers, parents and children, visiting 400 towns in North America. Their odyssey was Ukraine.” The patriarch thanked the UNWLA for its con- blending their stories with the historian’s reflections on called the “Chumak Way – Cycle U.S. & Canada for Peace,” tinued dedication to Ukrainians of all walks of life. what revolution is and what it means. These individual and could be followed on the Facebook page by that name. portraits of revolutionaries are presented against the past, Cyclist Kostiantyn Samchuk told The Weekly that their America (UIA) a multi-lingual – English, Ukrainian, as they understand it – and the future as they hope to “purpose is to promote Ukraine. It’s about uniting Ukraine Hebrew,• On YiddishSeptember – plaque 20, commissionedat the Ukrainian by the Institute Ukrainian of make it. In so doing, the author provides a lesson about and Ukrainians around the world. …to connect them and Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation and the UIA was human solidarity in the world. show that there is strength in unity.” The group began its unveiled honoring Dr. Raphael Lemkin, the “father of the - trek in Los Angeles in May, finished in Washington in U.N. Genocide Convention.” The unveiling date was cho- dia of Ukrainian songs was launched in January at www. August, and had 15 major cities on its cross-continental sen because exactly 65 years earlier, on September 20, WikiSpiv.com.• WikiSpiv, aCreated collaborative, by Daniel editable, Centore, digital a computer encyclope sci- itinerary: Los Angeles, San Francisco, Portland, Vancouver, 1953, at the Center on West , Dr. ence/computer engineering student at Rensselaer Edmonton, Regina, Winnipeg, Chicago, Detroit, Toronto, Lemkin gave an impassioned speech about the Polytechnic Institute in Troy, N.Y., the anthology is struc- Ottawa, Montreal, Boston, New York and Washington. Holodomor of 1932-1933, calling it a calculated Soviet tured in the style of “Wiki” free-content websites; users attempt to destroy Ukrainian identity and the entire can add or edit content. Each songs page offers the words Ukrainian orphans, Ukrainian Canadian realtor and com- Ukrainian nation, adding that this was not simply a hor- to a common version of the song, the chords to the melody munity• To activistmark the Ruslana 25th anniversary Wrzesnewskyj of her of Torontowork helping com- rendous mass murder, but a genocide – part of the Soviets’ and links to one or more recorded renditions. Mr. Centore pleted a 56-day, 650-kilometer (404-mile) trek from Kyiv larger plan to get rid of the “Ukrainian problem.” Dr. graduated from Rensselaer in May 2018, and is currently to the Carpathian Mountain town of Vorokhta. Ms. Lemkin, a lawyer and internationally renowned jurist who employed by Facebook as a software engineer; he plans to Wrzesnewskyj set out from Andriyivskyi Uzviv in Kyiv on devoted his life to the study of crimes violating interna- continue to support and expand the WikiSpiv project. June 11, and on August 4 entered Vorokhta, where her tional law, collected troves of relevant documents and Toronto-based charitable organization Help us Help the coined the term “genocide,” becoming an expert in crimes Academy (SGA) joined thousands of high school students Children regularly holds camps for socially vulnerable and against humanity and an influential advisor at the around• On the March country 14, thein a students walk-out and commemorating faculty of St. Georgethe 17 at-risk children. During her trek, Ms. Wrzesnewskyj visit- and later at the United Nations, where innocent victims of the mass shooting that took place on ed nine orphanages, many of which have received materi- the Convention on Prevention and Punishment of the February 14 at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in al assistance from Help us Help the Children, to conduct Crime of Genocide was adopted in 1948. Parkland, Fla. Wearing orange ribbons in solidarity with site visits. Ms. Wrzesnewskyj noted that “reform must their peers around the nation and holding signs that read start soon… there should be programs to keep children chair of the Senate Ukraine Caucus and a member of the “We remember the victims of the Florida shooting,” stu- with their families as opposed to just dumping them in Senate• U.S. Foreign Sen. Rob Relations Portman Committee, (R-Ohio), co-founderreceived the and Order co- dents and faculty left the school at approximately 10 a.m., the orphanages.” She added that Canada’s foster care of St. Volodymyr from Patriarch Filaret of the Ukrainian walked down Sixth Street, to Second Avenue and up model would be a good fit for Ukraine. Orthodox Church – Kyivan Patriarchate, during the latter’s Seventh Street in a solemn march of remembrance. The visit to Washington in September. The medal was given in students then proceeded into St. George Ukrainian Soyuzivka was crowned on August 11 during the Saturday recognition of Sen. Portman’s leadership and continuous Catholic Church, where they prayed for the victims, evening• Continuing zabava a(dance). decades-old Miss tradition, Soyuzivka a new 2019 Miss is support of Ukraine. Thanking Patriarch Filaret, Sen. shared thoughts and listened to remarks by Principal Anastasiya Kaspruk, a pharmacy student at Duquesne Portman said he was “deeply honored” to receive the Andrew Stasiw and guest speaker the Rev. Dr. Ivan University in Pittsburgh. Ms. Kaspruk was a member of award, promising he would “continue to do everything I Kaszczak. the Duquesne University Tamburitzans as well as several can to help the Ukrainians defend themselves and main- Ukrainian dance ensembles, and had spent several weeks tain their territorial integrity.” Sen. Portman received the The Weekly’s editorials as “a malfeasance in marketing,” at Soyuzivka that summer as a camp counselor at the Order of Merit from President Petro Poroshenko earlier in offered• Sports a “Russia giant Adidas,Tank Dress” in what featuring was described the letters in one USSR of Roma Pryma Bohachevska Dance Camp. Also crowned 2018, and the Shevchenko Freedom Award from the along with the hammer-and-sickle state emblem of the were first runner-up Alexandra Lemekha, an accounting Ukrainian Congress Committee of America in 2016. Soviet Union. The dress was described as “celebrating the major at Western New England University in upcoming World Cup… inspired by 1991 shirts worn by Massachusetts, and second runner-up Olena Hrynovets, a Ukrainian Museum and Library of Stamford, was present- the Soviet Union.” In Ukraine, the Institute of National theater major at Ulster County Community College in ed •with Lubow the Wolynetz, Order of curator Princess and archivalOlha, 3rd librarian degree, at theby Remembrance asked Adidas Ukraine not to sell products Stone Ridge, N.Y. President Petro Poroshenko on September 25 at a cere- with symbols of the Communist regime on Ukraine’s terri- mony at the Ukrainian Institute of America in New York. tory, pointing out that those symbols are banned in League of America President Marianna Zajac was present- The Order of Princess Olha is a Ukrainian civil decoration Ukraine under a law condemning the Communist and ed •with On the September Patriarchal 9, certificate Ukrainian (hramota), National the Women’s highest bestowed on women for personal merits in cultural or Nazi totalitarian regimes. The Ukrainian Crisis Media recognition awarded by Patriarch Sviatoslav of the other spheres of social activities. Earlier that day, Ms. Center in May launched a media campaign, publishing Ukrainian Greek-Catholic Church, for the UNWLA’s sup- Wolynetz had given a tour of the museum to First Lady daily reminders criticizing Adidas, claiming it would con- port of 21 (out of a total of 78) seminarians at the Three Maryna Poroshenko. Having viewed the permanent exhib- tinue “until Adidas shuts down the USSR clothing line and Holy Hierarchs Spiritual Seminary in Kyiv. The young men its of folk art, fine art and religious art as well as a special … makes a public apology.” Although the dress is current- are from eastern Ukraine and entered the seminary with exhibition titled “Ukraine’s Struggle for Freedom, 1917- ly not easily found by searching the Adidas website, no financial challenges; after ordination they will be return- 1921,” Dr. Poroshenko commented: “I can see that this cul- 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 No. 5

2018: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Misha Lytvynyuk Photography Alex Kuzma The Chumak Way team in Ottawa with Ukraine’s Ambassador to Canada Andriy Dr. Leon Chameides, one of the children that Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky saved Shevchenko (right). On August 14 the group completed the Canadian leg of its from the Holocaust by providing sanctuary at St. George Cathedral and the Univ 10,0000-kilometer transcontinental tour aimed at raising awareness of Russia’s ongoing Monastery in western Ukraine, speaks to participants of “ at Bobriwka” in war against Ukraine. The team of 10 cycling enthusiasts and war veterans called their Colebrook, Conn., at July 28. project “Chumak Way – Cycle U.S. & Canada for Peace.” tural institution was created and supported by individuals helped bring the entire Ukrainian Jewish community Additionally, the MFA underscored that the proper name who love Ukraine, respect its people and value Ukrainian together through the establishment of Jewish educational of the country is Ukraine, not “the Ukraine.” To better history and art.” institutions…, as well as a modern security system to pro- inform the international community about the correct tect the Jewish community.” Mr. Lauder noted that every- forms of Ukrainian place names and to avoid mistakes, the (UCCA) presented Gov. John Kasich of Ohio with its highest thing possible needed to be done to bring the Ukrainian MFA launched the campaign #CorrectUA. The letter can honor• The – the Ukrainian Shevchenko Congress Freedom Committee Award, given of to America individ- and Jewish people together, and welcomed UJE’s efforts in be read on the MFA’s website, https://mfa.gov.ua/en/ uals who have displayed a remarkable understanding and that direction. The Andrey Sheptytsky Medal was estab- page/open/id/5418; the website also provides useful given substantial assistance to the Ukrainian American lished for contributions to the cause of Ukrainian-Jewish resources for transliteration, spelling rules and pronunci- community and the Ukrainian people. The award was pre- understanding and cooperation; it is awarded to people ation of Ukrainian toponyms. sented by UCCA President Andriy J. Futey, along with who have dedicated themselves to fostering relations - Marta Liscynesky Kelleher, president of the United between the Ukrainian and Jewish peoples. torian, diplomat and politician who spent more than a half Ukrainian Organizations of Ohio, and other community a century• Yuriy helpingShcherbak, to developthe Ukrainian Ukraine scientist, into a writer,successful his leaders. Tweeting on September 25, Gov. Kasich said: “It’s Svyatoslav Vakarchuk was honored on October 6 for his independent country, was thanked and honored for his an honor to receive the Shevchenko Freedom Award from contribution• Ukraine’s to culture famous and singerthe arts andat the political annual dinner activist of service with this year’s Omelan and Tatiana Antonovych the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America. The the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art (UIMA) in Chicago. Foundation award. The award was presented October 20 Ukrainian-American community has a special place in my Mr. Vakarchuk received that organization’s Man of the Year at the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington, where Dr. heard, and I will continue to stand with Ukraine and the Award in recognition of his promotion of Ukraine’s culture Shcherbak had served as post-Soviet Ukraine’s second Ukrainian people in their fight to preserve their indepen- and his contribution to the positive image of Ukraine ambassador from 1994 to 1998. He was Ukraine’s first dence and territorial integrity. Strong U.S. support for throughout the world. Mr. Vakarchuk did not answer the minister of the environment, founder of the Green Party, Ukraine is critically important now, more than ever.” At the frequently asked question of whether he will run for presi- researcher and the author of a documentary about meeting, Gov. Kasich presented the community represen- dent in Ukraine’s upcoming election, focusing his remarks the Chornobyl nuclear disaster and a dozen other books. tatives with the Ukrainian Genocide Remembrance Year on the topic of culture – not so much about culture as a vis- Dr. Martha Bohachevsky-Chomiak, chair of the resolution, which he had signed on June 27. ible manifestation of a nation, but about the nation’s values Antonovych Award nomination committee, described Dr. - and how those values are developed and preserved as a Shcherbak as “a renaissance person of the Ukrainian dent of the World Jewish Congress, received the legacy. Also honored at the event was well-known artist renaissance, which continues in Ukraine, unlike in its Metropolitan• Ronald S.Andrey Lauder, Sheptytsky philanthropist, Award activist for 2018 and at presia cer- Alexandra Diachenko Kochman, a member of the first post-Soviet northern neighbor Russia,” adding that “In emony at New York’s Ukrainian Institute of America on group of founders of the UIMA 50 years ago. Ukraine he is known as a writer, but he is a popular writer September 27. The award was presented by James C. whose works are being read, in contrast to the classical Temerty, board chairman of the Ukrainian Jewish an open letter posted on its website, Ukraine’s Ministry of writers, who are quoted but not read.” She stressed that Encounter, and Borys Lozhkin, president of the Jewish Foreign• The Affairs Weekly asked reported “all countries in its October and organizations” 14 issue that toin the award was given not only as recognition of Dr. Confederation of Ukraine. Ambassador Lauder was recog- amend their usage of Soviet-era place names when refer- Shcherbak’s writing, but for his dedicated work on “the nized for his support of Ukraine’s Jewish community and ring to Ukraine, using instead transliterations that are development of the Ukrainian government service. his promotion of Ukrainian-Jewish cooperation. Mr. based on Ukrainian forms of the name rather than Lozhkin noted, “Thanks to Ambassador Lauder’s philan- Russian. The letter included a list of the most commonly elections on the horizon, the Transatlantic Task Force on thropy and commitment, our community is now coming misspelled names, including “Kiev” instead of “Kyiv,” Elections• With andUkraine’s Civil Society2019 presidential was established and parliamentary by the U.S.- from a place of strength. Ambassador Lauder’s deeds have “Lvov” rather than “Lviv,” and “” instead of “Odesa.” Ukraine Foundation’s Friends of Ukraine Network with

Russ Chelak At the Ukrainian Institute of America on September 20, with the newly unveiled trilin- Ukrainian Jewish Encounter gual plaque honoring Raphael Lemkin, the “father of the Genocide Convention” who 2018 Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Award laureate Ronald S. Lauder, president of described the Holodomor as “a classic example of Soviet genocide,” (from left) are: the World Jewish Congress (center), with James C. Temerty, board chairman of the sculptor Oleh Lesiuk, UIA President Dr. Daniel Swistel, playwright Catherine Filloux Ukrainian Jewish Encounter (left), and Borys Lozhkin, president of the Jewish and Dr. Lubomyr Luciuk of the Ukrainian Canadian Civil Liberties Foundation. Confederation of Ukraine, during the awards ceremony on September 27. No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 13

2018: THE YEAR IN REVIEW the Kyiv-based Reanimation Package of Reforms (RPR). The launch of the initiative, whose aim is to support a fair and democratic election process in Ukraine, came on Our community October 30 in the format of the three-way video bridge bringing together experts and activists in Washington, mourns their passing Kyiv and Brussels. The session was moderated by uring 2018 our community mourned the passing of Jonathan Katz, senior fellow at the German Marshall Fund, many of its prominent members: artists, church and Orest Deychakiwsky, board vice-chair of the U.S.- Dleaders, soldiers and community activists. Among Ukraine Foundation; they are also co-chairs of the FOUN’s them were the following, listed in order of their passing. Democracy and Civil Society Task Force. In her opening Leonid Kadenyuk, 67, Kyiv; independent Ukraine’s remarks, Olena Prokopenko, head of international rela- first man in space; born in the village of Klishkivtsi in the tions for RPR, an influential association of some 80 NGOs, Khotyn district of , Kadenyuk was a test pilot said that, without the engagement of the West and inter- and cosmonaut in the Soviet era; appointed to command the Ukrainian space crew following the 1990 Ukrainian- national organizations through statements of support and USSR State Agreement on a Collaborative Space Program; assistance conditionalities, “most of Ukraine’s reform one of the first members of the astronaut group of the achievements would not be possible.” Other Ukrainian National Space Agency of Ukraine; served as a payload spe- organizations participating in the Transatlantic Task Force cialist on the U.S. space shuttle Columbia on a November/ on Elections and Civil Society in Ukraine include the December 1997 mission, bringing with him a Ukrainian Ukraine Crisis Media Center, the Center for Democracy flag, a portrait of , a copy of the “Kobzar” and Rule of Law, the Center for Policy and Legal Reform, and a recording of Ukraine’s national anthem, spending 15 the OPORA Civil Network, the Democratic Initiatives days in space (252 Earth orbits, traveling 6.5 million miles) Foundation, the DEJURE Foundation, the Center for and conducting a series of science experiments studying Economic Strategy, the Anti-Corruption Action Center, the effects of microgravity on plant growth; won a seat in Center UA and Transparency International Ukraine. The the in 2002 and served as a national dep- Brussels office of the Ukrainian World Congress and the uty until 2006 – January 31, 2018. Ukraine Crisis Media Center in Kyiv hosted the launch Nigel Colley, 57, Nottinghamshire, England; indepen- event in those two cities, while the German Marshall Fund Cover of “Holodomor in Ukraine – The Genocidal dent researcher and grandnephew of Gareth Jones, the hosted in Washington. Attendees in Washington included Famine 1932-1933: Learning Materials for Teachers Welsh journalist who was first to report on the Great representatives of the National Democratic Institute, the and Students,” by Valentina Kuryliw, which was pub- Famine of 1931-1933 in Ukraine; along with his mother, International Republican Institute (IRI), the National lished by the Canadian Institute of Ukrainian Studies in Dr. Margaret Siriol Colley, worked to bring the life and Endowment for Democracy, the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation, 2018. accomplishments of Jones to public knowledge; was a the State Department and the U.S. Agency for researcher for Ray Gamache’s book, “Gareth Jones: International Development. A roundtable of the task force Pittsburgh on November 3 presented its 2018 Ukrainian Eyewitness to the Holodomor”; spoke at various academic was also held on November 3 – just days after Russia’s of •the The Year Ukrainian Award to TechnologicalDaria Pishko Komichak, Society (UTS)who was of conferences and universities in Europe and North America, attack on Ukrainian ships in the Black Sea – and focused honored for her 40 years of professional accomplishments as well as the United Nations; was a featured speaker at on the U.S. and international response to this provocation in engineering, financial evaluation and portfolio manage- Ukrainian community events; in the words of Michael as well as efforts to address cybersecurity threats to ment in the power industry; her lifelong service to the Sawkiw Jr., chairman of the U.S. Committee for Ukrainian Ukraine’s upcoming elections. On December 19, the Holodomor-Genocide Awareness, “His goal was to bring Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the U.S.A. and the Ukrainian Transatlantic Task Force on Elections and Civil Society in the truth about the Holodomor, and those who wrote Orthodox League; and her dedication to raising awareness Ukraine held its third international videoconference dur- about the genocide in the 1930s, to the attention of the about Ukraine and , particularly her ing which experts in D.C., Kyiv and Brussels characterized world. Nigel will always be remembered for spreading work as executive secretary of the U.S. Committee for the the upcoming March 31 presidential election in Ukraine as awareness of the Holodomor and the works of his [great] Ukrainian Holodomor-Genocide Awareness. Accepting the “unpredictable” and “wide open.” Mr. Deychakiwsky set uncle, Gareth Jones” – February 1. award, Ms. Pishko Komichak thanked the greater the tone for the discussion with questions about the elec- Myroslav Popovich, 87, Kyiv; academician, director of Pittsburgh community for nurturing her development toral prospects of pro-Russian candidates, the impact of the Ukrainian State Institute of Philosophy at the National professionally, culturally and spiritually, and noted that the creation of an independent Orthodox Church of Academy of Sciences, author, great thinker; born in the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and the Ukrainian Ukraine, and the possibility of a serious challenge to , studied philosophy at Kyiv University, worked as Orthodox League continue to serve as the foundation of incumbent President Petro Poroshenko and former Prime a village school teacher and school director, earned his her character. The UTS is one of the longest continuously Minister Yulia Tymoshenko from a “reformist bloc” presi- Ph.D. at the Institute of Philosophy in 1959, and worked active Ukrainian organizations in the tri-state area. Its dential candidate. Offering a snapshot of voter sympathies there until his death; author of about 400 scholarly works; Ukrainian of the Year Award recognizes individuals of in Ukraine based on polling conducted in late September his most well-known research works are “Hryhoriy local, national and international stature who have contrib- and early October 2018 was Stephen Nix of the IRI. Skovoroda” (1984), “The Mindset of Ancient ” (1985), uted to the Ukrainian community or Ukrainian scholar- Participating from Ukraine was keynote speaker Iryna “Mykola Hohol” (1989), “Ukraine and Europe: Right and ship, or who have demonstrated significant achievement Bekeshkina, director of the Democratic Initiatives Left” (1996), “Essays on the History of Ukrainian Culture” that brings recognition and prestige to the Ukrainian com- Foundation. Speaking from Brussels was Svitlana Kobzar (1998), “The Red Century” (2005) and “Being a Human” munity. of the European Endowment for Democracy. Washington (2011); was frequently seen on the Maidan during the participants included Ambassadors Alexander Vershbow Orange Revolution of 2004 and the Revolution of Dignity of published an excellent and much-anticipated resource for (Atlantic Council) and William Taylor (U.S. Institute of 2013-2014; awarded the Medal of Freedom posthumously teachers• The titledCanadian “Holodomor Institute inof UkraineUkrainian – theStudies Genocidal Press Peace), both of whom are members of the Friends of by President Petro Poroshenko on February 14 “for per- Famine 1932-1933: Learning Materials for Teachers and Ukraine Network. sonal accomplishments in establishing the sovereignty and Students,” authored by Valentina Kuryliw, director of edu- independence of Ukraine, consolidation of Ukrainian soci- cation of the Holodomor Research and Education ety and development of democracy, for a long and produc- Consortium (HREC), and the chair of the National tive academic, social and political activity” – February 10. Holodomor Education Committee of the Ukrainian Fedir Petryk, 94, Easton, Pa.; born in the village of Stare Canadian Congress. The full-color, illustrated, spiral- in Boryspil District, he was part of the post-World War II bound book includes photographs, maps and charts, les- immigration to the United States, settling in Levittown, Pa.; sons and more, providing a wealth of learning materials active in his local Ukrainian community; helped to orga- for teachers and students and making use of the latest nize the purchase of a Ukrainian Center in Bristol, Pa.; research on the Holodomor. Reviewing it in The Weekly’s active member of the Ukrainian National Association, dele- November 4 edition, Oksana Kiciuk-Kulynych noted “It is a gate to many of its conventions and secretary of Branch powerful resource; it remains for educators to use it to 362 for 55 years – March 4. teach and to further insist on its inclusion in all levels of Andrij Maday, 64, Parma, Ohio; artist known for his curricula in their educational institutions.” woodcuts, paintings, drawings, icons and giclées; native of Philadelphia and a 1975 graduate of The Pennsylvania Congress of the Ukrainian World Congress in Kyiv, several Academy of the Fine Arts; received more than a dozen honorees• During from the theNovember United 25States opening were ceremony honored withof the the XI awards for woodcuts and drawings, including a Louis Ukrainian World Congress’s highest accolade, the St. Comfort Tiffany Foundation Grant; lectured extensively on Volodymyr the Great Medal. Rep. Sander Levin (D-Mich.), iconography and the art of the woodcut in the U.S. and co-chair of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, and Dr. Canada; had 36 solo exhibitions in the U.S. and Canada and Larissa Kyj, president of the United Ukrainian American participated in over 85 group shows; executed five full-col- Relief Committee, were recognized for their long-time or book covers for the Paulist Press Classics series; two of contributions to the Ukrainian American community and his woodcuts were used as logos by The Pennsylvania Ukraine. The St. Volodymyr the Great Medal, introduced Academy of the Fine Arts – March 18. in 1988, acknowledges individuals for their special contri- Yuriy Soloshenko, 75, Ukraine; former electronics Tamara Olexy butions to the development of Ukrainian life in the diaspo- plant chief who was arrested by Russian authorities in Rep. Sander Levin (right) receives the St. Volodymyr ra and/or Ukraine. Other U.S. recipients in 2018 included Medal from the Ukrainian World Congress on Moscow in August 2014 and accused of trying to buy November 25. With him are UWC President Eugene Ambassador Paula Dobriansky, Ambassador Roman restricted components for the S-300 air-defense missile Czolij and First Vice-President Jaroszlava Hartyanyi. Popadiuk and Sen. John McCain (posthumously). system; sentenced to six years in prison in October 2015; 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 No. 5

2018: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

NASA Yaro Bihun Ukraina Moloda via UCMC John Shields Col. Leonid Kadenyuk Nigel Colley Myroslav Popovych Andrij Maday

Maryana Drach RadioSvoboda.org Mazurkevich Family Holy Spirit Ukrainian Catholic Seminary Lev Lukianenko Zenon Mazurkevich The Rev. Edward Evanko released in 2016 along with Crimean photographer Canadian community leader, Holodomor survivor and edu- having earned a bachelor’s degree in architecture from the Hennadiy Afanasyev for two people – also Ukrainians – cator; born in Zaporizhia, survived the Holodomor as a University of Toronto in 1965, moved to Chicago to work who were in Ukrainian custody on charges related to their child and frequently spoke publicly about his experiences for modernist architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe; earned alleged support for Russia-backed “separatists,” in a move and the importance of ensuring that such events are never master’s degrees from the University of Pennsylvania in seen as an attempt by Moscow to erode support in the repeated; a teacher by profession, was one of the founders architecture and city planning; opened his own architec- West for the continuation of sanctions imposed on Russia of the Ukrainian Youth Association in Canada; former pres- tural firm in Philadelphia in 1973; religious architecture in response to its takeover of Crimea and its support for ident of the Canadian Friends of Ukraine; author of seven was his enduring creative passion, and his works include the separatists in the war in eastern Ukraine – April 4. books; carried the International Holodomor Remembrance St. Joseph the Betrothed Ukrainian Catholic Church in Andre Worobec, 80, Toronto; Ukrainian National Flame across Canada on the 75th anniversary of the Chicago, which Architectural Digest called a “Chicago land- Association employee 1987-2001, fraternal activities coor- Holodomor, visiting 17 cities and countless schools, edu- mark in its own right,” St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian dinator; secretary of UNA Branch 76 for 10 years; former cating many about this tragic yet important part of world Catholic Church in Baltimore, the Basilian Monastery in UNA advisor; active and long-time supporter of the UNA – history – July 14. Glen Cove, N.Y., and the Prayer Room at St. Basil Academy April 19. Mary Elyse Pressey, 94, New York; born in Manitoba, in Fox Chase, Pa. – October 26. Ivan Drach, 81, Kyiv; noted writer who was at the fore- worked and lived in several places throughout the U.S. and Ed Evanko, 80, Winnipeg; trained at England’s front of the Ukrainian literary revival initiated by the Canada, finally settling in New York, where she retired renowned Bristol Old Vic theater school in the early 1960s, Shestydesiatnyky; born in Telizhentsi, Kyiv region; made from the Kaye Scholer in 1993; wrote many articles over he went on to appear in over 200 musicals in Canada, his literary debut in 1961; member of the Writers’ Union of the years for various publications in both Ukrainian and Japan and the United States, most notable on in Ukraine; known as a scriptwriter, playwright and literary English; served on the Board of Directors of the Ukrainian “The Music Man,” “A Little Night Music” and his debut in critic; worked on the editorial staffs of Literaturna Ukraina Institute of America and was deeply involved in its social 1969, “The Canterbury Tales,” which earned him a Theater and Vitchyzna, and at Dovzhenko Studios; his literary and organizational areas, contributing many years of vol- World Award; belonged to Britten’s English works were popular both in Ukraine and abroad and were unteer labor as secretary, social coordinator and decorator Opera Company and the Welsh National Opera in the translated into many languages; also known for his activity for many events held there – September 10. United Kingdom; hosted his own national weekly TV series in the Ukrainian dissident movement of the 1960s-1990s; Bohdan Rubchak, 83, New Jersey; noted poet and liter- in Canada in 1967, “The Ed Evanko Show”; recorded sever- instrumental in forging the coalition that created the ary critic, professor of comparative literature and one of al Broadway cast albums, a pop album and two albums of National Movement of Ukraine (Rukh) and was elected its the founders of the New York Group of Poets; born in Ukrainian songs; performed in several popular television first chairman in September 1989; served as co-chairman Kalush in 1935 and arrived in the U.S. in 1948; earned a series and movies; entered seminary late in life, in his 60s, of Rukh with Vyacheslav Chornovil and Mykhailo Horyn Ph.D. in comparative literature from Rutgers University in and was ordained a Ukrainian Catholic priest in 2005; from February 28 to December 4, 1992; elected as a nation- 1977; taught at the University of Illinois in 1974-2005; wrote and performed several one-man plays, most notably al deputy in 1990 and again in 1998 and 2002; became the published more than 100 scholarly articles and six collec- “Holodomor,” which he presented around the world, head of the Ukrainian World Coordinating Council at its tions of poetry; won two Ivan Franko literary awards (U.S) including in Ukraine, while serving as pastor of parishes in founding convention in 1992; recognized in 2006 as a Hero for his poetry and essays, and the Pavlo Tychyna Poetry Manitoba and British Columbia – November 18. of Ukraine for his “selfless service to the Ukrainian people, Prize (Ukraine) in 1993; regarded as one of the finest poets Zenowij Onyshkewych, 89, Ridgefield, Conn.; prolific which he performed through poetry, standing for the ideas of the Ukrainian diaspora and is considered to have been artist who worked in a wide range of media; born in Lviv, of freedom and democracy” – June 19. one of the leading scholars of modern Western European transported to a German work camp in in 1944, Lev Lukianenko, 89, Kyiv; Ukrainian dissident who and Ukrainian poetry – September 23. then a displaced persons camp in in 1946; emigrat- spent 27 years in Soviet prisons, labor camps and exile; Jaroslawa Rubel, 94, New York; a member of the post- ed to the United States in 1949, settling in Queens, N.Y.; was originally sentenced to death – later commuted to 15 years World War II immigration, who settled in New York; educa- adjunct professor of drawing and painting at Fairfield in prison – for “anti-Soviet propaganda” in 1961 for his tor and organizer of educational camps for youth in the U.S. University for 24 years; his work is found among presti- advocacy of Ukraine’s secession from the USSR; co-founder and England; member of the Pershi Stezhi sorority of Plast gious American and international collections, including the of the Ukrainian Helsinki Group in 1976; in 1977 sentenced Ukrainian Scouting Organization; headed the World Plast Vatican; his caricatures and other drawings, paintings and to 10 years in prison and five in exile for “anti-Soviet agita- Executive (Bulava) of Plast in 2000-2006; held various lead- editorial illustrations appeared in , tion and propaganda”; released in 1988, one of the last ership positions in Plast USA; was awarded the Order of St. The National Observer, Reader’s Digest, as well as Svoboda, Soviet political prisoners freed during Mikhail Gorbachev’s George in gold – Plast’s highest honor – as well as other Plast and publications for St. Martin’s Press, McGraw Hill and period of perestroika; active in the Ukrainian Helsinki awards; member of the World Congress of Free Ukrainians Random House; was adjunct professor of drawing and Union; became the head of the Ukrainian Republican Party Secretariat as a representative of Plast; leading activist in painting at Fairfield University for 24 years; lifetime mem- and was elected to the Verkhovna Rada in 1990 and for World Conference of Ukrainian Youth Organizations created ber of the American Watercolor Society, known for his three more terms thereafter; helped write the Act of within the WCFU; honored member of the Ukrainian works done on location in Switzerland, France and Italy; Declaration of the Independence of Ukraine; served as National Women’s League of America; member of the New over 60 of his mountain scenes were exhibited at the independent Ukraine’s first ambassador to Canada in 1992- York Friends of UCU Committee and a great benefactor of Musée de Bagnes in Switzerland; in 2015-2016 The 1993; received the Hero of Ukraine award in 2005 and the the Ukrainian Catholic University – October 19. Ukrainian Museum presented “Sixty Years an Artist: A Taras Shevchenko National Prize in 2016 – July 7. Zenon Mazurkevich, 79, Philadelphia; born in Roznitiv, Retrospective Exhibition of Works by Zenowij Stefan Horlatsch, 97, Ottawa; prominent Ukrainian Ukraine, in 1939, emigrated to Germany and then Canada; Onyshkewych” – December 30. No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 15

2018: THE YEAR IN REVIEW The Ukrainian Weekly: 85 years of community service ighty-five years – that’s the anniversary The Ukrainian Weekly marked in 2018. As we wrote in Eour editorial on that occasion, it was “a significant milestone in the history of a newspaper that has honor- ably, reliably and steadfastly served the Ukrainian commu- nity here in North America and Ukrainians worldwide.” Underscored in the editorial was this: “The Ukrainian Weekly has been published continuously since its first issue rolled off the presses in Jersey City, N.J., on October 6, 1933 – the result of a wise decision made by the Ukrainian National Association to offer this fraternal benefit in addi- tion to the Ukrainian-language newspaper Svoboda (then a daily). The two newspapers are among the most impor- tant contributions that our publisher, the UNA, has made to its members and the entire Ukrainian diaspora.” Our anniversary issue published on October 7 also fea- tured some historic gems from The Weekly’s past, book- ended by an article from The Weekly’s inaugural issue (October 6, 1933) and a commentary by Dr. Myron Kuropas on the occasion of the newspaper’s 80th anniver- sary (October 6, 2013). The front page carried a greeting from UNA President/Chief Executive Officer Stefan Kaczaraj, who offered best wishes on behalf of the UNA Executive Committee and the General Assembly. The UNA General Assembly’s full-page advertisement In subsequent issues, we were happy to publish greet- The opening page of the annual supplement “A greeting Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly on the occa- ings from the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Ukrainian Summer.” sion of their respective 125th and 85th anniversaries. in the form of a half-page advertisement, and a full-page ad from the UNA General Assembly that hailed both The the U.S. would recognize Ukraine’s independence after the ed to Ukrainian Debutante Balls in March. Weekly and Svoboda for their “excellence and commit- vote. It was on his watch that the U.S. recognized the inde- New this year on our pages is a column, “From Far and ment to the Ukrainian community in North America.” pendence of Ukraine on Christmas Day 1991 and on Wide,” by a Canadian colleague, Marco Levytsky, former A month earlier, in its September 9 issue, The Weekly January 23, 1992, that official diplomatic relations were editor and publisher of the Edmonton-based Ukrainian paid tribute to its sister publication, Svoboda, which was established on January 23, 1992. News. That newspaper merged in August 2017 with the marking its 125th anniversary. The oldest continuously Still other noteworthy editorials cited the significance Toronto-based New Pathway, forming New Pathway – published Ukrainian-language newspaper in the world, of our Ukrainian credit unions, which we called the “main- Ukrainian News, which Mr. Levytsky serves as western the first issue of Svoboda came out on September 15, stays of our community” (March 25); hailed the graduates bureau chief and national affairs editor. His first column 1893. It was Svoboda that gave birth to the Ukrainian in our community, especially the “maturanty” – those stu- appeared in our July 1-July 8 issue. National Association – a fact that many either do not dents who successfully completed the Ukrainian studies A columnist added to The Weekly’s ranks in 2017, know, or have forgotten. In its fourth issue, dated program of our Ukrainian Saturday school system (June Orest Deychakiwsky, not only continued to write his November 1, 1893, Svoboda called for the establishment 10); and focused on various aspects of remembering and monthly commentaries, but also contributed a significant of a “national organization”; that national organization, disseminating awareness of the Holodomor (April 8, two-part analysis titled “Ukraine in Congress: A century of founded on February 22, 1894, is the UNA. Our editorial September 16, September 23 and December 16) – a fitting U.S. congressional support for Ukraine.” It was published pointed out: “A newspaper whose existence encompasses topic during the Famine-Genocide’s 85th anniversary. on October 21 and October 28. three centuries – the 19th, the 20th and now the 21st, Some editorials dealt with matters related to this Weekly Editor Matthew Dubas contributed a variety of Svoboda has served four waves of immigration to this newspaper. Thus, on April 15 we thanked our supporters news stories during 2018, ranging from articles on country and has touched the lives of six generations. It has – benefactors, subscribers and advertisers – for making it Church matters to sports. He is also responsible for the undergone various transformations – from a biweekly possible for The Weekly to continue the mission set by its feature on our editorial page called “Turning the pages newspaper, to a weekly, then a daily and today once again founders: keeping our Ukrainian “hromada” informed and back…,” each week finding interesting and relevant topics a weekly; its format has changed from a tabloid-size paper in touch, as well as informing others about Ukraine and that tie in to current events. to a broadsheet and back to tabloid – but its mission has Ukrainians. The October 14 editorial, titled “It’s that time In Kyiv, our colleague Mark Raczkiewycz continued his remained the same: ‘to serve as the people’s newspaper,’ of year…” reminded readers, at a time when Ukrainian exceptional work. And, he reported not only from as was pledged in its inaugural issue 125 years ago.” community life was in full swing after the summer Ukraine’s capital but also from Vorokhta in Ukraine’s west Other editorials in 2018 noted the 100th anniversary of months, that this newspaper welcomes news from and and in the east. Ukrainian statehood, that is, the centennial of the historic Ukrainian communities wherever they may be. The edito- The artful design touches of Stefan Slutsky are evident Fourth Universal issued by the Central Rada, the parliament rial offered helpful hints on how best to communicate in each and every issue of the newspaper. Ihor Pylypchuk, of Ukraine in 1917-1918. The editorial of February 11 cited with us and ensure that your submissions are published. is not only Svoboda’s layout artist, but also the webmaster the words of Prof. of Harvard University who (For a refresher, go to www.ukrweekly.com and look for and digital archivist for the UNA’s two newspapers. Mr. had underscored to Radio Svoboda that “the intellectual the issue dated October 14, 2018.) Slutsky also happens to be a nationally ranked orienteer – roots” of the Ukrainian state proclaimed in 1991 are found On the topic of supporters, we must take advantage of second in the United States in his age bracket. In July he in January 1918, “and this intellectual impetus remained this opportunity to report on the robust contributions to competed in the World Masters Orienteering throughout the entire 20th century.” Our annual editorial The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund. During 2018, we were Championships in Denmark, as well as many other meets for Ukraine’s Independence Day – in 2018 it appeared in fortunate to receive a total of $24,048 in donations to the here in the U.S throughout the year, winning two bronze the August 26 issue – recounted the developments, both press fund. Another $2,545 came to us via the UNA’s medals in North American Championships. good and bad, as our ancestral homeland celebrated the annual Christmas Card Project, for a grand total of Walter (Vlodko) Honcharyk is our newspapers’ entire 27th anniversary of the re-establishment of its indepen- $26,593. Thank you all for your generosity, which goes a administration: he’s the administration, the advertising dence. That celebration, to be sure, was marred by the reali- long way to make our work here possible. department and the circulation department all in one. ty of Russia’s multi-pronged war on Ukraine and its people. On Facebook, the number of folks who liked our page Our part-time editorial assistant Christine Syzonenko, Two editorials were written to pay tribute to American grew from 9,873 as of December 31, 2017, to 10,516 who does proofreading and writing, is also a wonderful pho- leaders who passed away in 2018. On September 2 we exactly a year later. We kindly remind readers that what tographer whose photos have graced The Weekly’s pages. honored Sen. John McCain, a great friend and supporter of we do on Facebook is very different from what we offer We’re extremely lucky to have this team, and the Ukraine, whose appearance on the Maidan in Kyiv on on the pages of our newspaper. On Facebook, The Weekly results of our teamwork are evident in each issue of The December 15, 2013, will always be gratefully remembered shares links to interesting stories from a variety of sourc- Ukrainian Weekly. by Ukrainians around the world. Likewise, we will recall es, lets our friends know when a new issue becomes avail- his New Year’s Eve visit with President Petro Poroshenko able online and allows visitors to take a look at our latest Rolling the credits and U.S. Ambassador to Ukraine Marie Yovanovitch to the front page. So, please continue subscribing and giving gift “2018: The Year in Review” was prepared by Editor-in- frontlines in Ukraine’s east, where he told Ukrainian sol- subscriptions, and please like us on Facebook! Chief Roma Hadzewycz, Mr. Dubas and Ms. Syzonenko of diers : “I send the message from the American people – we If you’ve read the previous sections in our four-part The Weekly’s editorial staff in Parsippany, N.J.; our Kyiv cor- are with you, your fight is our fight, and we will win “2018: The Year in Review,” you certainly are aware of the respondent Mr. Raczkiewycz; and our colleagues Chris Guly together.” President George H.W. Bush was the subject of great variety of news that was covered and features that (Ottawa), Ihor Stelmach (South Windsor, Conn.) and Adrian our December 9 editorial. While noting his “Chicken Kiev” were published in The Weekly during the year. Ergo, no Bryttan (New York). Credit for the layout goes to Mr. Slutsky. speech in the Ukrainian capital in 1991, we also reminded need to go over that territory. However, there were some As the articles in this yearender were prepared based readers of his contacts with our community through the other noteworthy offerings on our pages. on stories that were published in The Weekly, the sections years, as head of the Republican National Committee, as Special issues during the years included our four-part are not credited to a particular author. The materials used U.S. vice-president and especially as president, when, just “2017: The Year in Review,” published in January- were articles written by our staffers and regular corre- four days before Ukraine’s historic December 1, 1991, ref- February; Ukrainian Independence Day issues in August; spondents, news sources like RFE/RL and Eurasia Daily erendum on independence, President Bush met with the full-color, 24-page supplement “A Ukrainian Summer” Monitor, and submissions by local community activists. Ukrainian American community leaders and assured them in the first issue of May; and the eight-page section devot- Thank you one and all! 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 No. 5 OBITUARY: Nadia Diuk, 64, senior advisor of the National Endowment for Democracy

by Tatiana Vorozhko offering “a model of real patriotism and selfless commitment.” WASHINGTON – On January 23, Dr. Diuk was a senior advisor at the Ukrainian-Briton Nadia Diuk passed away. National Endowment for Democracy, a pri- This was reported on Facebook by her sis- vate, non-profit, congressionally funded ter, who wrote that Nadia had died at home organization. Previously, as a vice-presi- after a long battle with cancer. dent at the NED, she was in charge of pro- The previous day, President Petro grams and strategy that supported demo- Poroshenko had bestowed the Order of cratic movements in various countries in Princess Olga (third degree), one of Europe and Eurasia. Ukraine’s highest honors on Dr. Diuk, who She started out as a researcher and had dedicated her life to serving the cause teacher, having become a recognized of Ukraine. expert on Ukraine and post-Soviet states in She was unable to receive award at the the United States. She co-authored several Embassy of Ukraine in person. books and multiple papers and articles. Dr. “The Presidential Act bestowing the Diuk, who was the first female ethnic award upon you is a testament to and a rec- Ukrainian to defend a doctorate at Oxford, ognition of your long-time active efforts to was also a member of the prestigious help Ukraine, your sizable personal contri- Council on Foreign Relations. bution to the development and strengthen- Dr. Diuk was born in 1954 in the United ing of the strategic partnership between Kingdom to refugees Maria and Petro Diuk, Nadia Diuk in the profile photo from her Facebook page. Ukraine and the United States of America, who had fled persecution by the Soviet the indisputable repute that you have authorities. Her father was a warrant offi- Drahomanov. She later taught Soviet and the center of her identity.” amassed both in Ukraine and the Ukrainian cer in the Ukrainian Insurgent Army. Nadia Russian history at Oxford and was a Myroslava Gongadze, head of the American community,” said a letter from excelled academically, having earned a researcher at the university’s Society for Ukrainian Service at Voice of America, had Ambassador of Ukraine to the United bachelor’s degree with honors at the Central Asian Studies. been Dr. Diuk’s close friend for 18 years. States Valeriy Chaly, which was made pub- University of Sussex, followed by graduate In 1984, she married American Adrian “I’ve had a wonderful life,” Dr. Diuk told lic on January 22. The letter also mentions studies at St. Antony’s College, University of Karatnycky and moved to the United States, Ms. Gongadze in her last interview. the many years that Dr. Diuk had devoted Oxford, where she wrote a doctoral thesis first to New York City, and in 1986 to “It’s hard to argue with this,” Ms. to effecting democratic change in Ukraine, on the political essays of Mykhailo Washington, D.C. Mr. Karatnycky had Gongadze said. “What other young woman served as the president of Freedom House, from a working-class family, whose parents and today is a senior fellow at the Atlantic came to England as refugees, could have Council and a partner of a consulting firm reached those academic heights and From The Washington Post’s obituary in New York. become the first Ukrainian woman to have “In the 1980s and 1990s, Nadia and I earned a doctorate from Oxford? When I The Washington Post’s obituary about same feeling as a student in Warsaw in were husband and wife,” Mr. Karatnycky asked her where her strength and self-con- Nadia Diuk noted that she “championed 1980, when massive street demonstra- told Voice of America. “But we were also fidence came from, she gave a simple democracy and human rights in Europe” tions and the emergence of the Solidarity partners in the struggle against answer, ‘I just knew I had to do this.’ At that and that she “had written opinion pieces trade union threw Poland’s Communist Communism and for the emergence of moment I realized that Nadia Diuk, who published in The Washington Post and in government into a state of confusion. At democracy in the post-Soviet space.” devoted her whole life to bolstering civil European publications and was a fre- that time, just one gesture, or the display He related how they wrote books society in Ukraine had just known it was quent commentator on NPR, BBC, Voice of a symbol — the red-and-white logo of together, helped dissidents and worked to her life’s mission. I’m extremely happy that of America and on the radio in Russia.” Solidarity — conveyed a whole set of strengthen democratic forces. “...[S]he was Ukraine finally recognized her contribu- In the January 25 obituary, Bart aspirations, attitudes and emotions. Now guided by a calm nature, by a fierce com- tion.” Barnes wrote: the color orange is the symbol through- mitment above all to Ukraine, and by a “She was exuberant when the 2004 out the center of Kiev. deep optimism that democracy would tri- Tatiana Vorozhko is a senior editor at Orange Revolution in Ukraine swept to “ ‘Everyone understands what is at umph. She was one of the key voices help- Voice of America’s Ukraine Service. This arti- power a pro-Western government in stake, and everyone stands united,’ she ing to shape and direct assistance to cle was originally published by Voice of Kiev [sic]. added. ‘The Czechs jingled keys, the Central and Eastern Europe in America and was republished with permis- “She wrote in The Post at the time: Serbs showed a fist, the Georgians adopt- Washington,” he said. “Her central motive sion on January 30 on the Atlantic Council ‘There was something familiar about the ed the rose, and now the Ukrainians was to work for a free Ukraine surrounded website. Myroslava Luzina translated it from atmosphere in Kiev this week. I had the wear orange.’ ” by democratic and cooperative neighbors. Ukrainian to English. It is reprinted here Ukraine, its culture, history and fate, were with permission from the Atlantic Council. No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 17

Ukraine shines... Diaspora impact Ukraine is finally harnessing the talent (Continued from page 1) and experience of its diaspora community, Mr. Hunder noted. Present was Ukrainian own the local developer SyvashEnergoProm Canadian Paul Grod, a successful business- LLC. Its capacity is supposed to reach 250 man and newly elected president of the megawatts and power generation should Ukrainian World Congress, which repre- start by the end of this year. sents some 20 million Ukrainians world- “This shows that Ukraine is opening for wide. Chicagoan Natalia Jaresko was business because it is reforming, because it Ukraine’s post-Maidan finance minister, has been reforming the energy sector for and Detroit-area native Ulana Suprun is the several years now and moving towards acting health minister. European Union standards,” said Suma Lawsuits by Ms. Suprun’s enemies in Chakrabarti, president of the EBRD, at Ukraine kept her from speaking on UHD’s Ukraine House Davos. health panel on January 24. Aside from the free-trade agreement that Ukraine signed with the EU in 2014, it High-voltage appearances has more than 20 bilateral free-trade zones Presidential Administration of Ukraine President Petro Poroshenko also was in with other countries. The most recent one President Petro Poroshenko (second from right) claps with European Bank for attendance. He announced his re-election was signed with Israel on January 22. In Reconstruction and Development President Suma Chakrabarti (far right) after an bid for another five-year term on January July 2016, Canada and Ukraine signed agreement was signed on January 23 in Davos at the yearly World Economic Forum 29 in Kyiv. Historian Timothy Snyder and theirs. Kyiv is still negotiating a free-trade between the Norwegian company NBT, the French company Total Eren and the former U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry agreement with Turkey; it’s the most such EBRD to build a 400-million euro wind farm in Ukraine. were on hand. Ukrainian Canadians Roman agreements that Ukraine is pursuing. Waschuk, his country’s ambassador to sine, artists, musicians and fashion.” Chopivsky observed. More panels were Changing perceptions Ukraine; Chrystia Freeland, Canada’s for- To attract non-Ukrainians to UHD on female-only, she added. eign affairs minister; and Daniel Bilak, Ukraine’s storied contribution to world Davos’s main thoroughfare meant telling Unlike the entire World Economic chairman of the state-run UkraineInvest innovation was used as a key message to “success stories” and not the ones that Forum, where “a meager 22 percent of promotion office, made the trip to Davos. promote the country. Ms. Chopivsky, UHD “Western journalists write” that focus on forum participants were women,” the Washington-native Ms. Chopivsky is of executive director, emphasized that the “war” and corruption, she added. entire UHD organizing committee com- Ukrainian descent, as are Ms. Koszarny and online payment platform PayPal and the Indeed, Ukraine has improved its graft prised women, President Andy Hunder of Jaroslava Johnson of the Western NIS encoded message service WhatsApp were score on Berlin-based watchdog the American Chamber of Commerce in Enterprise Fund. founded by people raised in Ukraine. Steve Transparency International’s Corruption Ukraine, wrote in a blog on January 28. “The strategy and inspiration of Wozniak, the co-founder of Apple – Perceptions Index since 2013. Yulia Kovaliv, the head of Ukraine’s Ukraine’s presence at Davos was steered by America’s first $1 trillion dollar company – Last year, according to the group’s new National Investment Council, “brought top- Ukrainian diaspora trailblazers,” Mr. also has roots here. release on January 29, Ukraine ranked 120th caliber CEOs from multibillion [dollar] cor- Hunder said. “The gas lamp, the helicopter and the among 180 countries, ahead of Russia but porations… Speakers… included the new Presidential candidates Yulia Tymoshen­ world’s biggest aircraft were invented by behind neighbors Moldova, Poland, Belarus, generation of Ukraine’s female leaders: ko, a two-time former prime minister, and Ukrainians,” Ms. Chopivsky pointed out. Romania, Hungary and Slovakia. Finance Minister Oksana Markarova, Anatoliy Hrytsenko, a former defense minis- A fashion show was presented by Lviv However, “this result is not consistent Deputy Prime Minister Ivanna Klympush- ter, made appearances in Davos. native Yuliya Magdych, whose couture with fast European integration, reforms Tsintsadze, Founding Dean and Chair of the “Ukraine has a compelling story to tell,” designs are sold in 30 countries, including and elimination of corruption from all Lviv Business School Sofia Opatska, and remarked Mr. Bilak of UkraineInvest. “We in London’s high-end Selfridges boutique. aspects of life to which our country claims Kira Rudik, chief operating officer of Ring have scale of both ‘brains and grains’ – a “Our goal is for Ukraine to play an inte- to aspire,” commented the executive direc- Ukraine, a company that was acquired by highly educated, competitive workforce gral role in international dialogue at tor of Transparency International Ukraine, Amazon for $1 billion,” Mr. Hunder noted. and an agricultural powerhouse with one- Davos… for international guests to see the Andrii Borovyk. The British citizen of Ukrainian descent third of the world’s black earth.” globally relevant part of Ukraine,” Ms. concluded that the country “was presented More Davos takeaways Asked whether Ukraine House Davos Chopivsky said. professionally and eloquently… It was some will make a third appearance next year, Ms. That included also “showcasing the A panel on “trailblazing women leaders” of the best investment promotion that I Chopivsky said: “Yes, definitely, we’ll be country’s cultural traditions, its soul, cui- was featured at Ukraine House Davos, Ms. have seen Ukraine perform.” back.”

Kerch Port Authority pilotage would be one ble monitoring mission, “so that the inter- the years in post-Soviet conflict theaters Moscow and Kyiv... of the forms of such compliance). national community sees that we have can be a reassuring experience for Moscow Concluding the talks with his German found a long-term solution for passage in all of those respects. (Continued from page 3) counterpart Mr. Maas in Moscow (see EDM, through the Kerch Strait” (Interfax, RIA Following Mr. Maas’s back-to-back visits or acknowledge it (this point responds to January 21, 22, 2019), Mr. Lavrov explained Novosti, January 18, 2019). to Moscow and Kyiv, the possible next steps Moscow’s insistence that monitors should the background to this initiative at their Kyiv’s lawful objections and reserva- are: First, some re-drafting of the proposal accept pilotage and other services from the joint news conference. German Chancellor tions, however (see EDM, January 22, in Berlin, taking into consideration Kerch Port Authority, which Russia has Merkel had asked Russian President 2019), seem to have inspired a time-out for Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister usurped from Ukraine). Mr. Klimkin termed Vladimir Putin to allow German experts to further reflection in Berlin, and an expecta- Klimkin’s observations (see EDM, January such concessions as unacceptable. “arrive in the area of the Kerch Strait, tion-management step by Moscow. Russia’s 22, 2019). Second (as Mr. Maas agreed at Highlighting the distinction between observe how shipping moves through it, state secretary and deputy minister of for- Kyiv’s request), bilateral German-Ukrainian “safe navigation” and “free navigation,” Mr. and see that the necessary safety measures, eign affairs, Grigory Karasin, has clarified expert-level consultations on legal and Klimkin urged that any monitoring not be including pilotage, are being complied for the press that Moscow has not (as yet?) technical aspects of the proposed monitor- limited to the physical movement of ships with,” explained Mr. Lavrov. The German agreed with Germany and France about a ing mission. And third (which Kyiv propos- or the provision of pilotage. The proposed chancellor followed up with a request that long-term presence of their observers in es but Moscow opposes), adding the pro- mission must affirm the principle of free- French experts should join the German the Kerch Strait. “Our president, in his posed mission to the agenda of the quadri- dom of navigation under international ones in that observation mission. Mr. Putin recent telephone conversation with the partite Normandy forum, whether on the norms in the Kerch Strait and Azov Sea: promptly approved both requests, Mr. German chancellor, has [only] agreed that technical or the political level. There, “This is a basic prerequisite to our consid- Lavrov said, “but no experts arrived during there would be a one-time visit by German Ukraine would officially play its role in eration of any monitoring mission” (UNIAN, the intervening month. For our part, we can and French observers at the level of shaping the proposed monitoring mission’s Ukrayinska Pravda, Ukrinform, Interfax- proceed even today, tomorrow, any day” experts, who would then report their find- mandate. Ukraine, January 18, 19, 2019). (Interfax, RIA Novosti, January 18, 2019). ings back to their governments. This is all This whole initiative is bypassing the Part II Mr. Lavrov, however, objected to Mr. that has been agreed” (RIA Novosti, January OSCE, and not only on account of German- Maas’s suggestion that observation proce- 22, 2019). Russian bilateralism. The OSCE is experienc- Russia’s Foreign Affairs Minister Lavrov dures first agreed between Russia and An incremental approach such as ing serious budgetary problems, which it seems actually keen for German and French Germany should afterward be cleared with implied in Mr. Karasin’s statement would kept under silence for some time, but were observers to arrive as soon as possible at Ukraine. This, Mr. Lavrov retorted, would make sense for Moscow. It could turn that brought into the open recently (IPN, the Kerch Strait – albeit on Russian-defined end up in a deadlock such as already expe- first reporting exercise into a test of how an Agerpres citing DPA, January 10, 2019). The ground rules. Following the November 25, rienced in the Normandy forum. eventual full-fledged monitoring mission organization’s current chairperson-in-office, 2018, assault on Ukrainian naval ships, the Mr. Maas seemed keen to proceed with a might cooperate with Russian occupation the widely-respected Slovak Minister short-lived blockade of the strait and a short-term fix and, eventually, to showcase authorities; whether the mission would de Miroslav Lajcak, told the press on his first cooling-off period (see EDM, November 26, a long-term “solution”: “Germany and facto accept the “new realities on the visit in this capacity to Kyiv that the OSCE is 28, 2018), Russia has put on its best behav- France could address themselves to mat- ground” (Russian “sovereignty,” “border,” not being asked to extend its Special ior in recent weeks by “allowing” safe pas- ters of free passage of ships through the contacts with local Crimean “authorities”) Monitoring Mission from the Donbas into the sage of commercial ships. Moscow wants Kerch Strait. Free passage is now assured, as a price for proceeding with the mission; Sea of Azov (UNIAN, September 15, 2018). its “de-escalation” gesture to be confirmed as all interested parties confirm now. as well as to what extent would it be pre- through international procedures that Germany and France, as Normandy group pared (as part of the aforementioned price) The article above is reprinted from would in no way affect Russia’s seizure of members, could in one way or another cer- to tolerate interference with the mission’s Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from that territory, or (even better) would tacitly tify that free passage is assured.” Moreover, equipment or engage in self-censorship. its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, comply with it de facto (acceptance of Germany and France could finance a possi- Russia’s interactions with the OSCE over www.jamestown.org. 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 No. 5 Ukrainian National Museum’s red carpet gala earns five-star rating

by Oryna Hrushetska-Schiffman CHICAGO – Thinking of pulling your little ones out of Plast, SUM or ODUM for some lessons you think will help them “make it in the real world”? Questioning whether “Ukie school” is worth the Saturday traffic hassle? Forgoing another Ukrainian museum opening to watch another foot- ball game? Here are four delightfully inspirational reasons to recon- sider. They flew into Chicago on October 20, 2018. The red carpet, spangled with golden stars bearing their names, was rolled out and ready. Shimmery satin sashes adorned each chair. Portraits of Ukrainian American Hollywood leg- ends peered from each table’s centerpiece and from the video montage on the big screen. From the moment they arrived, the guests of honor at the Ukrainian National Museum’s “Ukrainians in Hollywood” gala were embraced by both old friends and new fans vying for photos in front of the Oscars-worthy “step and repeat.” Lusia Strus, Halia Bahmet, Zorianna Kit and George Wyhinny were ready for their close-ups. Iryna Yatsyshyn George Wyhinny The star-studded red carpet and video presentation at the “Ukrainians in Hollywood” banquet held to benefit the First to step into the spotlight was actor and producer Ukrainian National Museum in Chicago. Mr. Wyhinny, the MC who led the evening with tuxedoed enabled this internationally acclaimed producer to nimbly That’s when I caught the ‘textiles’ bug… it was central to sophistication. Fans may have seen him playing the tragic master and create films in three languages. He spoke two my development as an artist, and am forever grateful to heart throb in “De Puta Madre,” or Officer Bradley in “The of them with grace and panache, as he introduced the her.” Affair.” But none were aware of the tattoo on the back of his other glamorous, accomplished guests. That bug accompanied her to ODUM [Ukrainian arm: along the meridian lines of a compass, beside his Democratic Youth Association] camp, where her father cov- beloved bicycles there rises a tryzub and a sheaf of wheat Lusia Strus ered the largest table with a Zaporizhian Kozak Sich recon- to “point me in the direction of my passions and my heri- The characters Ms. Strus portrays on TNT’s “Good struction, meticulously following the historical specs, and tage.” Behavior” and “Claws” are impossible to forget – and so inspiring her to fall in love with it all – the crafts, the music One of those passions is educating the world about was her speech at the gala. and the camaraderie. “ODUM camp owns my heart and is Ukraine’s tragically under-reported genocide of 1932- This award-winning actress recently finished shooting where I had all my most important childhood experiences 1933. Mr. Wyhinny has three projects in development that “Buffaloed” with Zoe Deutch and Judy Greer in Toronto, and memories,” Ms. Bahmet commented. examine the Holodomor from diverse, revelatory angles. It “The Descendants” in Los Angeles, then a promotional tour Ms. Bahmet, who just hobnobbed with the stars at the was his true north that prepared him to pursue and land for NBC’s “New Amsterdam” in New York, before flying into Vanity Fair pre-Emmy party last month, reminded the an interview with the Dalai Lama for his documentary “An Chicago just hours before the UNM rolled out the red carpet. audience how easy it is to “lose oneself” in the cut-throat, Environmental Dialogue,” an honor few filmmakers can Where did Ms. Strus refine her talent while developing narcissistic, transient Hollywood bubble, but assured us: “I boast. the discipline and art appreciation that such a successful don’t get lost in the fray nor the gloss of Hollywood, This feat required subtle, sensitive inter-cultural diplo- Hollywood career demands? In Chicago’s Ukrainian Village, because I always know who I am. And I owe it to my ances- macy – something Mr. Wyhinny has been practicing for of course. The first time she revelled in the beauty of art tors to do my best – like they did.” quite some time. “I remember memorizing and reciting all was at the UNM – thanks to her Ridna Shkola teacher, who The designer’s daughter, who works with her on the set those patriotic songs and poems at Ukrainian school – and brought her to her first exhibit opening. It was in her moth- of “This Is Us,” shares her appreciation of traditional tex- then trying to explain what they mean to non-Ukrainians, er’s kitchen and garden that Lusia’s appetite for beauty – tiles, and finds entertainment value in watching her moth- without boring or scaring anyone,” he said. both the light and darker sides – took root. And it was her er dance and sing folk songs around a table of beets, her- Even the athleticism that powers his bicycling passion mother’s selfless work ethic and unwavering support – rings and Old World elixirs with friends old and new. Ms. was honed in the Ukrainian community – during his exhila- starting with sewing that first angel costume – that fuelled Bahmet says this type of insta-bonding is “impossible to rating years of Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization’s her ambition and confidence. explain to a non-Ukrainian”– suffice it to say: this is us. camp excursions and Hromovytsia dance troupe tours. Of Ms. Strus explained that anybody who meets her imme- course, it wasn’t always easy to manage the gruelling itin- diately learns two things: she’s from Chicago and she’s Zorianna Kit eraries, double identities and exacting parental oversight Ukrainian. Whenever she hears non-ethnic Americans Ms. Kit flashed a blockbuster smile as she told the story that a Ukrainian American childhood demanded. reminisce about their years in band camp where they had of how Hollywood lured her out of Canada and into U.S. cit- He recalled: “My Grandmother was always cutting me to play music all day, she tops them by reporting she had to izenship. She got to work immediately as an entertainment off with: “Ya ne rozumiyu ti slova!” (I don’t understand stand guard at the camp gateway during the graveyard industry journalist – a real life role she often gets asked to those words), forcing me to repeat them in Ukrainian.” As a shift. “Yep. I spent every summer in Baraboo, Wisc., at SUM portray fictionally on the big and small screens, including child, Mr. Wyhinny used to groan a lot (as you may hear [Ukrainian American Youth Association] Ukrainian youth in superhero epics like “Iron Man” starring Robert Downey your kids doing) but in the end, all that verbal stimulation camp. We wore uniforms, went on 18-mile paramilitary Jr. style marches in the dead of night, and reviled all things People often ask her how she honed the skills and confi- Soviet. I loved it!” dence to take such a daring leap at such a young age. Ms. These experiences stay with you. They’re in you – the Kit credits her father and uncle, who were journalists and good, the bad and the complicated – making you stronger, activists in Ottawa and Toronto, where the Ukrainian more resilient and much less easily offended. Such grit is a homeland was never very far from her consciousness. prerequisite when choosing the life of a Hollywood per- “While other kids were going to soccer practice on week- former. As is the capacity for utter exhilaration. ends, I headed out to the Soviet Embassy to protest the “I can tell you I’ve had dreams realized in my career – imprisonment of Ukrainian dissidents.” performing at The Royal Shakespeare Company in England, Ms. Kit was expected to contribute her writing skills to dancing on Broadway, acting alongside some of the biggest Plast publications like Hotuys, so she was completely com- stars of our time – but I have never, ever felt again the fortable with assignments and deadlines by age 10. This pride, power and pure joy I felt when I was dancing and Plast scout’s career choice was somewhat inevitable, so performing with Ukraina dance troupe,” Ms. Strus noted. nobody was surprised to hear she had become an anchor For all that she has enjoyed and accomplished, she at KTLA’s nightly news in Los Angeles. Later, as a member thanked her mother, Evhenia. Her gratitude poured out of the Broadcast Film Critics Association, she served as res- with such humbled sincerity that many dinner guests felt ident film analyst for the TV Guide Network, and as a movie compelled and completely comfortable approaching her reviewer on AMC’s “The Movie Club with John Ridley,” for a chat and a selfie. PBS’s “Just Seen It” and “Ebert and Roeper.” But neither hectic schedule nor glamorous accomplish- Halia Bahmet ment could keep her from making time to work on the An Emmy-nominated costume designer, Ms. Bahmet Holodomor, Ukraine’s genocide of 1932-1933. Ms. Kit is works on one of TV’s most popular shows – NBC’s “This Is always prepared to give back, and to listen – as quite a few Us.” Although her official bio states that her career began at gala guests delightfully discovered. They were in awe of her Paisley Park Studios where she worked for pop star Prince, inexhaustible curiosity and unflappable ability to push her- she divulged that the seeds of her talent were planted right self to new heights with each new project. Guests of honor at the “Ukrainians in Hollywood” gala here in Chicago’s Ukrainian Village. “I remember my moth- (from left): George Wyhinny, Zorianna Kit, Halia Bahmet and Lusia Strus. er teaching me Ukrainian cross-stitch when I was 4 or 5. (Continued on page 23) No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 19 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 No. 5

them there were more than 2,500 of bilateral trade and economic cooperation been difficult for researchers to locate, the NEWSBRIEFS Ukrainians. “Today, on behalf of the between the countries, allow domestic pro- Daily Beast reported on January 25. The Ukrainian people, I would like to bow my ducers to benefit from the liberalization of group’s website would bring together these (Continued from page 2) head in memory of every victim of the Nazi the goods market of Israel, open up oppor- materials into one location online, Ms. Best Poroshenkos visit Yad Vashem regime, in memory of the millions of vic- tunities for both expansion of markets and said. A day before the release, Ms. Best, a tims of the Holocaust innocently tortured development and modernization of produc- transparency activist focusing on national During his official visit to Israel on and killed in dreadful years of the tion of the Ukrainian business. In addition, a security matters, told RFE/RL that some of January 20-21, President Petro Poroshenko Holocaust in Ukraine and around the memorandum of cooperation between the documents slated for release had not and his wife, Maryna Poroshenko, visited world. We cherish their memory.” Ukraine’s State Concern “previously” been found by the group. “The the World Holocaust Remembrance Center (Presidential Administration of Ukraine) and Elbit Systems Ltd, an Israel-based inter- rest is rather obscure and largely unknown Yad Vashem. They placed a wreath at the national company for the development and or forgotten,” she said. “We can’t certify that monument to the victims of the Holocaust Ukraine, Israel sign free trade agreement modernization of various types of weapons, any portion of it has never been released, and visited the Children’s Memorial, and was signed in Israel. Ukrainian Defense though,” Ms. Best added. Numerous batches they honored the memory of the deceased In the framework of the official visit of Minister Stepan Poltorak, having become of private e-mails and documents from with a moment of silence. “ ‘We remember’ the to Israel, a free acquainted with advanced defense technol- Russian officials and businessman have and ‘Never again’ – this is what Ukrainians, trade agreement was signed between the ogies from Elbit Systems, expressed interest been published online in recent years, along with other nations, say commemo- Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine and the gov- in deepening cooperation with the Israeli including those purportedly from the e-mail rating January 27 as International ernment of the State of Israel. The signing ceremony took place on January 21 after company. The memorandum of cooperation account of senior Kremlin aide Vladislav Holocaust Remembrance Day and honoring Surkov. Ukrainian hackers claimed respon- the bilateral meeting of President Petro defines further development of joint proj- the memory of the millions of victims of the sibility for an alleged 2016 hack of Mr. Poroshenko of Ukraine with Prime Minister ects in the following areas: communica- Nazis,” Mr. Poroshenko said. He comment- Surkov’s e-mail account, the contents of Benjamin Netanyahu of Israel. The docu- tions, surveillance and reconnaissance sys- ed: “Ukraine, as a state that suffered from which appeared to show his office’s involve- ment was signed by the First Vice Prime tems for ground and air forces, air rescue the Holodomor of 1932-1933, when mil- ment with Russia-backed militants in east- Minister of Ukraine and Minister of equipment, radar stations, equipment for lions of Ukrainians were tortured by the ern Ukraine. The Kremlin at the time did not Communist Stalinist regime that commit- Economic Development and Trade of port protection and modernization of armored vehicles. The memorandum pro- explicitly say that the contents of those ted genocide against the Ukrainian people, Ukraine Stepan Kubiv and acting Minister of materials were fraudulent but suggested reverently keeps the memory of the the Economy and Industry of Israel Eli vides that the implementation of further projects will be carried out using mecha- they may have been forged. DDOS said the Holocaust victims as well.” The president Cohen. The agreement creates the legal documents it released on January 25 includ- also noted that the memory of those who basis for the liberalization of markets for nisms for the exchange of technologies and practical experience in the use of new ed materials from “nationalists,” “separat- saved people sentenced to death at the risk industrial and agricultural products of the ists,” and “terrorists” operating in Ukraine. of their own lives is also honored. Among parties. It aims to promote the development weapons. During the meeting, the parties also noted that the memorandum was a real (RFE/RL, with reporting by Carl Schreck breakthrough in the relationship between and The Daily Beast) the defense agencies of the partner coun- Reference to Roksolana’s origin corrected tries. The Ukrainian delegation included representatives of the National Security and The mention of the Russian origin of Defense Council, the Defense Ministry, Sultan Suleiman I’s wife Roksolana (c. TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 Ukroboronprom and the State Enterprise 1502-1558) has been removed from the or e-mail [email protected] SpetsTechnoExport. (Presidential visitor panel near her tomb at the Administration of Ukraine, with reports Suleymaniye Mosque in Istanbul at the from Ukrinform) request of the Ukrainian Embassy in SERVICES PROFESSIONALS Turkey. “We are gradually restoring the his- ‘Hacked e-mails’ from Russia published torical truth: at the request of our Embassy, the Turkish side has removed the text of A self-described “transparency collec- the inscription about the supposedly tive” has released a massive trove of hacked Russian origin of Sultan Suleiman the e-mails and leaked documents from what it First’s wife Roksolana near her tomb at the describes as “Russian politicians, journal- Suleymaniye Mosque,” the Embassy said on ists, oligarchs, [and] religious, and social fig- January 25 on Facebook. Although her real ures.” The materials were published online name and exact place of birth are on January 25 by a group calling itself unknown, historians are not questioning Distributed Denial of Secrets (DDOS), which the Ukrainian origin of Roksolana, who was says it is “aimed at enabling the free trans- initially the concubine and later wife of mission of data in the public interest.” The Sultan Suleiman I and named Hurrem after co-founder of the group, U.S. journalist converting to Islam. She was the mother of Emma Best, said the materials would Sultan Selim II. (Interfax Ukraine) HELP WANTED include various archives of hacked and leaked materials related to Russia that have (Continued on page 21) Seeking Ukrainian woman to provide homecare for my wife. 5-7 days, live-in. Duties include homecare, light IRI launched its innovative e-Learning housekeeping, and some cooking. McCain... Platform (www.iri.org.ua), an online plat- form that allows Ukrainians to read more Potomac, MD (Continued from page 5) English: Don 202-320-4746 about IRI’s work in Ukraine, see where IRI’s Ukrainian: Nina 202-664-4887 OPPORTUNITIES in local politics, and with political parties in upcoming events are and register online, an effort to have them be less personality- and access IRI’s training content, including driven and more issues-based. manuals and videos. In addition, IRI’s poll- Live-in caregiver needed for my mother Earn extra income! The International Republican Institute’s ing in Ukraine has become a leading source in Silver Spring MD. Near churches, The Ukrainian Weekly is looking work is not limited to Ukraine’s regions, of reliable public opinion research for both thriving Ukrainian community, nice however. Over the last year, IRI has part- local and international experts alike. (For home. Experience/patience with AZ for advertising sales agents. preferred. For additional information contact nered with the Verkhovna Rada speaker’s more information about IRI’s URAP pro- [email protected] Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, team, as well as several government minis- gram visit: https://www.democracyspeaks. or 617-566-1996 The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. tries, to provide staff with strategic com- org/blog/fresh-look-local-governance-pro- munications trainings that will enable them gramming-ukraine.) to better highlight their reform efforts to I have no doubt that IRI will continue to Run your advertisement here, the public. Through these efforts, IRI trains honor John McCain ‘s legacy through its in The Ukrainian Weekly’s CLASSIFIEDS section. thousands of Ukrainians each year. To valuable work in Ukraine, the region and, amplify its reach further, in December 2016 indeed, the entire world. No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 21

proposed a compromise for the sides to Reuters. Washington has strongly opposed tie,” and “And I am not going to stand aside.” NEWSBRIEFS work on before the next trilateral meeting the planned pipeline to bring Russian gas He wrote: “When I talk to people every day, scheduled for May. The EU official also said directly to Western Europe, bypassing the I feel their disappointment and despair. I (Continued from page 20) he expected no problem with supplies of existing networks running through Ukraine. see corruption and injustice eroding our Gas deal possible by end of 2019 Russian gas via Ukraine to Europe this win- Moscow and Kyiv have clashed about gas country from inside. I see unprincipled pol- ter. Kyiv fears losing revenue once the cur- since 2005, leading to supply interruptions. iticians and greedy officials making our Ukraine and Russia should be able to rent 10-year contract expires at the end of (RFE/RL, with reporting by Reuters, DPA country weaker. It shouldn’t be this way! reach an agreement by the end of 2019 on 2019, amid tensions with Moscow over its and Rikard Jozwiak in Brussels) And we have the power to change that.” the transportation of natural gas to the annexation of Crimea in 2014 and its sup- The musician said he and his team will European Union, a top EU official has said. Vakarchuk not running for president “If all goes well and if all actors work toward port for separatists in eastern Ukraine. work to ensure “that pro-European forces the same goal, I am confident that this pro- Sources from the negotiation teams told Musician and public figure Sviatoslav win.” National Deputies Mustafa Nayyem cess will be successfully completed by the RFE/RL that Mr. Sefcovic floated a proposal Vakarchuk said that he would not run for and earlier called on end of this year,” European Commission for the parties to agree to a new 10-year president of Ukraine in the next presiden- Mr. Vakarchuk, Samopomich leader Andriy Vice-President Maros Sefcovic said in transit contract, with a guaranteed mini- tial election on March 31. “I have said Sadovy, and Civil Position leader Anatoliy Brussels on January 21 after chairing a mum yearly transit volume of 60 billion repeatedly that power as such and the Hrytsenko to decide which of them would meeting with Russian and Ukrainian offi- cubic meters. Before the meeting, Naftogaz presidential post as such do not interest become the sole presidential candidate in cials. The talks were attended by Russian Deputy Chief Executive Yuriy Vitrenko me. Real changes in the country interest the election. Pollsters had treated Mr. Energy Minister Aleksandr Novak, accused Russia of delaying the talks until me. I, Sviatoslav Vakarchuk, will not take Vakarchuk, the frontman of the Ukrainian Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister Pavlo the Moscow-backed Nord Stream 2 natural- part in the 2019 presidential election,” he rock band Okean Elzy, as a potential presi- Klimkin, and executives from Ukrainian gas pipeline is built under the Baltic Sea. wrote on his Facebook page on January 28. dential candidate. He had long avoided state energy company Naftogaz and Russian “Then they will say, ‘We are OK without any He said he is convinced he can do more for answering questions about his political gas giant Gazprom. Mr. Sefcovic said he had Ukrainian transits at all,’ “ Mr. Vitrenko told Ukraine wearing “jeans” than “wearing a plans. (Interfax Ukraine)

steps of [Facebook] in this area.” ing election-related disinformation, but Instagram platforms that it found were part Facebook vows... Western intelligence agencies and disin- especially in a country like Ukraine, which of two online disinformation operations tar- formation experts have blamed their for years has been Russia’s laboratory for geting users across the former Soviet space. (Continued from page 1) Russian counterparts for alleged cyber- testing and honing disinformation tactics, it “The two operations we found originat- mation campaigns via traditional media meddling in the United Kingdom’s Brexit is not nearly enough,” Nina Jankowicz, a ed in Russia, and one was active in a variety outlets and social media, especially on vote and the U.S. presidential election in global fellow at the Washington-based of countries while the other was specific to Facebook. 2016, as well as in a French presidential Wilson Center’s Kennan Institute focused Ukraine,” Facebook’s head of cybersecurity The government in Kyiv has for years election and national elections in Germany. on Russian disinformation, told RFE/RL. policy, Nathaniel Gleicher, said in a state- complained of account takedowns and Those efforts have purportedly included However, she warned, “these advertising ment on January 17. “fake news” as part of what Mr. Poroshenko phishing scams, hacks or attempted hacks, rules can be quite easily circumvented, Facebook found employees of Russia’s calls “hybrid aggression against our nation.” and social-media components such as especially in a country like Ukraine which state-run Sputnik information agency to be Dmitro Zolotukhin, Ukraine’s deputy min- deploying fictitious individuals and organi- has many ties with Russia.” “linked” to 364 pages and accounts used in ister of information policy, told RFE/RL that zations to fuel divisive debates. “It would be easy for a layman, let alone one of the operations. a member of the Russian security services, he met with Facebook officials in Kyiv in late Cautious welcome January to discuss the new advertising mea- to exploit the loopholes in the geographic Copyright 2019, RFE/RL Inc. Reprinted sures and that he was pleased with them. Experts have welcomed Facebook’s requirements and still purchase ads,” Ms. with the permission of Radio Free Europe/ “I have underlined that we have moni- most recent move but cautioned that it is Jankowicz added. Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave. NW, tored malicious activity on [Facebook]. We unlikely to completely stamp out Russian The new Facebook measure comes after Washington DC 20036; www.rferl.org (see think that it’s highly possible that [the] disinformation. the company announced in January that it https://www.rferl.org/a/facebook-vows-to- Kremlin is the source of this hostile activi- “Introducing regulations around politi- had removed hundreds of pages, groups, curb-outside-electoral-ads-ahead-of- ty,” he said. “We are welcoming positive cal advertising is a good first step in fight- and accounts on its Facebook and ukraine-vote/29736400.html).

It is with great sorrow and grief that we inform you of the passing of our beloved wife, sister, mother, grandmother and aunt, Zoriana (Zirka) Smorodsky née Horodylowsky born on March 4, 1948, in Regensburg, Germany, died on January 9, 2019, in Lakewood, New Jersey.

Zirka passed into eternity after a 48-year struggle with cancer, during which she won many battles, but ultimately lost the war after her latest recurrence of the disease. Her nal moments were spent peacefully, surrounded by her loving immediate family. She leaves behind in grief and sorrow: husband: Myroslaw daughters: Tanya Rakowsky (with husband Kornylo) and Olya Matkiwsky (with husband Erik) grandchildren: Emma, Megan, Nina, and Erik sister: Marta Kozyckyj nieces: Roxolana and Tamara Kozyckyj and extended family and countless friends in the United States and in Ukraine. Zirka was preceded into heaven by her father, Jurij (1982) and mother, Orysya (1991) Parastas was held on Monday, January 14th, at Lytwyn & Lytwyn Union Funeral Home, and funeral services were held on Tuesday, January 15th, at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Catholic Church in Newark, NJ. Zirka was laid to rest at St. Andrew Ukrainian Cemetery, South Bound Brook, NJ, near her beloved mother-in-law, Olha Smorodsky. Zirka fathomed that life is like the mythical owering forest fern (цвіт папороті)...No one knows when it will ower... nor when it will wither. We will continue to honor her by living according to the rules she always set for herself: Make the most of every moment. Cherish your family and friends, let love conquer hate, and be sure to take lots of pictures. In lieu of  owers, those wishing to honor her memory are invited to make a donation to a Ukrainian charity of their choice. ВІЧНАЯ ПАМ’ЯТЬ! ETERNAL MEMORY. 22 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 No. 5

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE Christmastime festivities held at Ukrainian History and Education Center

by Oksana Pasakas Ukrainian pysanky, another with icons and mini embroidered rushnyky, and the third SOMERSET, N.J. – Christmas cheer and the with traditional Ukrainian Christmas orna- festive spirit came to the Ukrainian History ments of spiders. The ornaments were and Education Center during December hand-made and donated by Shirley 2018 at the second annual Ukrainian Skocypec, a now-retired employee of the Christmas Tree Trimming Fund-Raiser. UOC-U.S.A. UHEC staff, members of the Board of This year’s featured performance was Trustees and friends gathered to support the singer and bandurist Oksana Telepko, who ongoing programs and activities of the UHEC. entertained the crowd with several Those gathered on Saturday evening, Ukrainian folk songs and unique Christmas December 8, had the opportunity to deco- carols. Following her performance, St. rate three unique Christmas trees in the Andrew Memorial Church parishioner rotunda and Library of the Consistory Walter Syzonenko, playing the accordion, Building of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church led the gathered crowd in a round of of U.S.A. One tree was decorated with Ukrainian Christmas carols. The caroling

Christine Syzonenko Seen with St. Nicholas (from left): Daria Pishko Komichak, UHEC treasurer; Oksana Pasakas, UHEC collections manager and registrar, education coordinator; Natalia Honcharenko, UHEC director; library volunteer Ludmilla Bezsoniw; UHEC archivist Michael Andrec. ended with the traditionally sung “Oh, Ukrainian wrapped angel ornaments and Khto, Khto Mykolaya Liubyt’” in anticipa- colored icons of the revered saint while tion of St. Nicholas visiting the UHEC and learning his story. St. Nicholas spent the Consistory. afternoon with the children, who were able The following weekend, on Sunday, to take photographs with him as a keepsake. December 16, families and children gath- For more information on the programs of ered eagerly, anticipating the arrival of St. the Ukrainian History and Education Center, Nicholas. During this year’s St. Nicholas readers may go to www.ukrhec.org or workshop, children and adults decorated St. https://www.facebook.com/ukrhec/; call Bandurist Oksana Telepko performs. Guest Ania Shevchenko trims a tree. Nicholas cookies, made traditional 732-356-0132; or e-mail [email protected].

Chicagoans... (Continued from page 1) elected to Congress, were present. All three are Democrats who represent Illinois. The event was also attended by Consul Ihor Bodnar of the Consulate of Ukraine; Vice-Consul Laura Stange of the Consulate of the Republic of Lithuania; Vice-Consul Piotr Semeniuk of the Consulate of the Republic of Poland, Gina Tunar of Chicagoland Qirim Tatar Organization; Manuel Venegas representing Maria Pappas, Cook County treasurer; Dan Patlak, commissioner, Cook County Board of Review; Saulius Kuprys, presi- dent of the Lithuanian American Council and the Joint Baltic American National Committee; Romuald Poplawski of the Polish Congress of America, Illinois Division; Csaba Zongor, presi- dent of the Polish-Hungarian World Federation; Henryk Marciniak, chairman of the Road to Peace Iryna Yatsyshyn Foundation; and Andriy Dobriansky, director of At Chicago’s celebration of the centennial of Ukraine’s Act of Union of January 22, 1919 (from left) are: Steve Demitro, communications at the UCCA headquarters in Paul Bandriwsky, Kateryna Smagliy, Rep. Mike Quigley, Marta Farion, Glen Howard, Rep. Sean Casten, the Rev. Victor New York. Poliarny, Maria Korkatsch-Groszko and Jerry Dutkewych.

The Rev. Ivan Lymar of St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Orthodox Cathedral delivered the opening prayer. The annual awards for community service and ded- ication this year were presented to Olya Soroka, the Rev. Victor Poliarny, Dr. Vasyl Lonchyna and Dr. Roxolana Lonchyna, Yuriy Soroka and Walter Tun. A special award was presented by the UCCA to Bohdan Watral, former president/CEO of Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union. Marta Farion, emcee of the event, led the program with informative introductions of each guest and speaker. Excellent presentations were made by Glen Howard, president of the Jamestown Foundation, and Kateryna Smagliy of the McCain Institute. The choir of Chicago’s Ukrainian American Youth Association closed the event with a medley of patriotic songs. The event was a major success in no small mea- At the podium is Bohdan Watral, former president/CEO of sure due to the efforts of many members of the UCCA Selfreliance Ukrainian American Federal Credit Union, board, and Motria Melnyk who created all the graph- who received a special award for service to the community. Rep. Danny K. Davis addresses the centennial celebration. ics. No. 5 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 23

Through March 31 Art exhibit featuring works by Wasyl Diadyniuk, February 9 Vyshyvani Vechornytsi dance, Ukrainian National New York “Historical Portraits: Paintings of Important Luminaries North Port, FL Women’s League of America (Branch 56), Protection of from Ukraine’s Past,” Ukrainian Institute of America, the Most Holy Mother of God Ukrainian Catholic Church, 212-288-8660 or www.ukrainianinstitute.org 551-655-5149 or [email protected]

Through April 7 Art exhibit, “Forgotten Forms,” with works by Edra Soto February 10 Presentation by Olha Yarema Wynar and Yuri Chicago and Yhelena Hall, Chicago Cultural Alliance, National New York Yanchyshyn, “Conserving Ukraine’s Cultural Heritage,” Museum of Puerto Rican Arts and Culture, Ukrainian Ukrainian Institute of America, 212-288-8660 Institute of Modern Art, Chicago Cultural Center, 312-744-3316 or [email protected] February 10 Souper Bowl Sunday benefit luncheon, St. Sophia South Bound Brook, Ukrainian Orthodox Seminary, Ukrainian Orthodox February 7 Alexander Dallin Lecture by Sergei Guriev, “Work in NJ League, St. Andrew Society, Pokrova Sisterhood Social Stanford, CA Transition: Transformation of Work in Russia and Other Hall, http://stsuots.org/news_190121_1.html Post-Communist Countries,” Stanford University, http://creees.stanford.edu or [email protected] February 11 Presentation by Nazar Kozak, “Breaking Through the New York State Border as an Art Project,” Columbia University, February 8 Conference, “The Heavenly Brigade: Five Years Since 212-854-4697 or [email protected] Washington Revolution of Dignity,“ Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, Ukrainian National Information Service, February 12 Poetry reading from anthology “Words for War: New Cannon House Office Building, 202-547-0018 or Philadelphia Poems from Ukraine,” with Katherine Young, Mary [email protected] Kalyna and Olga Livshin, Drexel University Writers Room Studio, [email protected] February 9 Chervona Kalyna Cotillion Ball, with music by Hrim, Pearl River, NY Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, Hilton Pearl February 14 Presentation by Johannes Remy, “The Ukrainian River Hotel, www.kalynadeb.org New York Question in the Revisited,” Columbia University, 212-854-4697 or February 9 Music and poetry evening, “Endangered Species: [email protected] New York Personal Bestiaries,” with Bob Holman, Susan Hwang, Charlie Waters and Julian Kytasty, The Ukrainian Museum, 212-228-0110 or www.ukrainianmuseum.org February 15 Roundtable discussion, “Andy Warhol: His Art and His New York Ethnic Roots” moderated by Alexander J. Motyl, with February 9 Presentation by Halyna Kohut, “Deconstruction of speakers Adam Harris, Jaroslaw Leshko, Paul Robert New York Russian Imperialism. Intersection of Religion, Politics Magocsi and Elaine Rusinko, The Ukrainian Museum, and Design in Iconography of St. Dmytrii Tuptalo, 18th www.ukrainianmuseum.org or 212-228-0110 Century,” Shevchenko Scientific Society, 212-254-5130 Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events February 9 Spaghetti Dinner, Ukrainian American Youth advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Syracuse, NY Association, Syracuse Ukrainian National Home, from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors [email protected] or 315-478-9272 and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected].

to participate, reconnect with old friends Credit for the highly successful Chervinska, Tanya Kovalchuk, Anna Ukrainian National... and make new ones.” – Mr. Wyhinny. “Ukrainians in Hollywood” gala goes to: Chychula, Olenka Shkrobut and Oksana - Lydia Tkaczuk, executive producer/muse- Mikolyash, raffle coordinators; Maria (Continued from page 18) ful and exciting stories and achievements of um president; Maria Klimchak, gala pro- Hankewych, Anya Fedus and Inna Shtoiko, my• fellow “I was speakers. mesmerized I hope by we’vethese thoughtinspired ducer/museum curator; Orysia Kourbatov, dinner coordinators and raffle contribu- Yes, Zoriana’s parents pushed her; yes, continued support for the UNM, so it can gala production manager/museum admin- tors; Victoria Kawka, table and raffle box she tried to resist – but today she is ebul- continue preserving our heritage for future istrator; Oksana Ambroz, red carpet designer; Maria Fedachtchin, guest greeter; liently grateful to them for helping build generations.” – Ms. Bahmet. designer; Irene Bojkewycz, invitation Viktoria Miziuk; dining hall coordinator; the bridge to her achievements, and to her designer/film and sound editor; Marta Stanislav Khanyukov and Markian Kuntyi, Sponsors and supporters diverse friendships across the global Kozbur, soundtrack coordinator; Oleksandr cocktail servers; Eva Sigaev, beverage and Ukrainian filmmaking community. Every successful production begins with Khryplyvyy, soundtrack DJ; Larissa raffle coordinator; Zoriana Byrne, raffle The gala’s final Hollywood greeting passionate investors – the Ukrainian Matusiak, Sonia Petrasz and Alexandra spirits contributor; and Oryna Hrushetska- came from producer Iya Labunka, who was National Museum’s annual gala is no excep- Roszkewycz, invitation coordinators; Tania Schiffman, PR writer. only able to join the audience on the big tion. The following gracious sponsors pre- screen. All applauded Iya’s generous dona- sented donations with deep appreciation for tion and precious gift, which the museum the museum’s work and legacy: Luba Kalin, The Carpathian Ski Club (KLK) will feature in its immigrant exhibit: the president, Ukrainian National Women’s memoir of her mother and Ukrainian League of America Chicago Regional Council; Cordially Invites Members, Family & Friends to Insurgent Army (UPA) heroine Maria Roman Byskosh, representative, Ukrainian Our Annual KLK Ski Races & Winter Weekend Labunka titled “When the Forest Was Our American Engineers’ Society; Anna Fedus, Father.” representative, Wintrust Bank; Oresta Date: Saturday, March 2, 2019 Warm greetings and heartfelt dedica- Fedyniak, president, Selfreliance Ukrainian Place: HUNTER MOUNTAIN, NY tions bubbled over like the excellent cham- American Federal Credit Union Foundation; pagne, imbuing the hall with an intimate, Chrystyna Wereszczak, trustee, Heritage jovial vibe. The Hollywood visitors report- Foundation of First Security Federal Savings Registration begins bright & early at 8:00 AM ed that they thoroughly enjoyed learning, Bank; and Paul Bandriwsky, regional direc- Opening ceremony begins at 9:45 AM dining, mingling, dancing, laughing and tor, MB Financial Bank. Races begin at approximately 10:00 AM reconnecting. They’ve sent in these All of these community leaders delight- Snowboarders welcome “thumbs up” reviews: ed in the evening’s program, and expressed Dinner and Awards Ceremony: 5 stars genuine gratitude to the UNM, for, as Mr. Bandriwsky pointed out, the real star of the Coppertree Restaurant at Hunter Mountain evening was the museum itself. Time: 7:00 PM Hollywood producers I know, managed to The Ukrainian National Museum is the put• on“Lydia a grand Tkaczuk, show who with can rivalstyle many and repository for the largest collection of Adults & teens age 15 & over: $50.00. panache, but most importantly with a lot of Ukrainian immigration artifacts in the Children age 14 & under $10.00. heart. Sequel please!” – Ms. Kit. world, including both historic and folk art. Children and young adults to age 22 free if KLK members. It also exhibits the work of contemporary was filled with hundreds of beautiful, wel- artists from all over the world. Please wear your “Vyshyvanky” to the Awards Ceremony. coming,• “I felt sincere, like I camefunny home people – ifsupporting my home None of these exhibits or events would each other and a common cause.” – Ms. be possible year after year, if it weren’t for Visit our website at www.klkusa.com or contact Andrew Hadzewycz Strus. the boundless dedication of the full-time for registration forms or information at: [email protected] - staff and volunteer committee members zle-dazzle one would expect from a star- who produced and promoted this glamor- studded • “A spectacularevent. I was event thrilled with and all humbled the raz ous gala. 24 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 3, 2019 No. 5

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Saturday, February 9 Nazar Kozak (National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine) titled “Breaking Through the NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific State Border as an Art Project.” An example Society invites all to a lecture, “Deconstruction of Russian Imperialism. of border art, a politically motivated mode of Intersection of Religion, Politics and Design art production, which is staged directly in in the Iconography of St. Dmytrii Tuptalo, site on state borders or has them in its pri- 18th Century” by Dr. Halyna Kohut. Dr. Kohut mary focus, Maria Kulykivska’s performance is an associate professor in the Culture and “The Raft Crimea” (2016) emerged as the Arts Department at Ivan Franko National artist’s personal reflection on migration poli- , where she teaches history tics and on the social tensions they produce. of art, contemporary art and history of the- Having in its focus this challenging and dan- atrical costume. The lecture will take place gerous project, which did not run according at the society’s building, 63 Fourth Ave. to its initial plan, this presentation attempts (between Ninth and 10th streets) at 5 p.m. to explore how art can contribute to the For additional information call 212-254- praxis of resistance against the world’s bio- 5130 political divide. This event will take place at noon in the Marshall D. Shulman Seminar Monday, February 11 Room (Room 1219 International Affairs NEW YORK: Please join the Ukrainian Building, 420 W. 118th St.). The event is free Studies Program at the Harriman Institute, and open to the public. For additional infor- Columbia University for a presentation by mation call 212-854-4697.

PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES Preview of Events is a listing of Ukrainian community events open to the public. It is a ser- vice provided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian community. To have an event listed in Preview of Events please send information, in English, written in Preview format, i.e., in a brief paragraph of several sentences that includes the date, place, type of event, sponsor, admission, full names of persons and/or organizations involved, and a phone number and/or e-mail address to be published for readers who may require additional information. Items must be no more than 100 words long. Preview items must be received no later than one week before the desired date of publication (i.e., they must be received by 9 am Monday morning). Please include pay- ment for each time the item is to appear and indicate date(s) of issue(s) in which the item is to be published. Also, senders are asked to include the phone number of a person who may be contacted by The Weekly during daytime hours, as well as their complete mailing address. Information should be sent to [email protected]. When e-mailing, please do not send items as attachments – simply type the text into the body of the e-mail message. Preview items and payments may be mailed to: Preview of Events, The Ukrainian Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054.