Conclusion of THE YEAR IN REVIEW pages 7-13 The Ukrainian Weekly Published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal non-profit association

Vol. LXXXIX No. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 $2.00 Verkhovna Rada seeks reform of security, approval Zelenskyy sanctions pro-Kremlin lawmaker, cancels of COVID-19 vaccine, while adopting referendum law three TV channels, citing Russian propaganda

by Mark Raczkiewycz verify facts or present two sides of a story.” Ms. Mendel furthermore said the chan- PUBLIC VACCINATION PLAN FOR 2021 KYIV – As the clock struck midnight on nels have “transformed into an instrument February 3, three television channels of propaganda” and that “it’s been already Category/ 2021 (month) February March April May June July August Sept. October Nov. Dec. known for their pro-Russian bias and confirmed these channels receive financing Medical staff for spreading disinformation, ceased broad- from Russia.” 367 thousand COVID-19 care casting. What appeared on TV screens were Ukraine is in its eighth year of an unde- 80+ and primary medical care 1.9 million the rainbow-colored stripes of the tuning clared war with Russia that Moscow insti- providers All other medical signal. gated in 2014 and which has killed more care providers 363 thousand It was the outcome of Volodymyr than 14,000 people and internally dis- Aged 70-79 2.9 million Zelenskyy’s presidential order from the placed over 1 million in Europe’s only previous day that approved a National ongoing bloody conflict. As of February 4, State security 640 thousand structures Security and Defense Council (NSDC) deci- four Ukrainian soldiers have been killed Aged 65-69 2.3 million sion to close the TV stations as part of a this year despite a fragile cease-fire that larger package of sanctions. has never taken hold. Educational 1.4 million sphere The five-year restrictive measures were In a joint statement, the three TV chan- Aged 60-64 2.8 million imposed on Taras Kozak, a lawmaker from nels said they were a victim of a “political Other 1.7 million the pro-Kremlin Opposition Platform-For massacre of undesirable media” and they categories Life (OPFL) party, who is the nominal called the measures an “act of censorship.” done by mobile teams done at designated locations Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine owner of the channels NewsOne, ZIK and Mr. Kozak appeared on Russian media 112. denying he was “a Russian agent” and Mr. OPFL co-chairman Viktor Medvedchuk Medvedchuk said the sanctions were politi- by Mark Raczkiewycz The Cabinet of Ministers the same day published a vaccination schedule to have is widely considered the real owner of the cally motivated due to the president’s KYIV – Following the winter break, the 14.4 million Ukrainians vaccinated this channels. The wealthy and powerful law- diminishing approval ratings. Verkhovna Rada reconvened on January 26 year. maker has been sanctioned by the U.S. “[Mr.] Zelenskyy’s rating is falling rapidly and over the past two weeks passed legisla- Up to 200,000 doses of vaccines from since 2014 for his role in Russia’s illegal sei- not because of TV channels, but because he tion or edged bills closer to adoption to Pfizer under the WHO-led COVAX initiative zure of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. refuses to answer important questions for combat the coronavirus pandemic, allow are expected this month. Front-line medical While saying Ukraine “strongly supports Ukrainians,” Mr. Medvedchuk said. for national referendums, upgrade its coun- workers treating COVID-19 patients will be freedom of speech,” Mr. Zelenskyy said in a Recent polls have shown dipping ratings terintelligence agency, and create another the first recipients of 367,000 vaccines. tweet announcing the decision, Kyiv for the pro-presidential Servant of the crime-fighting agency. Kyiv is “negotiating with six vaccine doesn’t condone “propaganda financed by People party. It also rejected a reformer to head the manufacturers that have currently conduct- the aggressor country that undermines According to a survey conducted on energy ministry. ed two phases of clinical trials and are con- Ukraine on its way to the EU and Euro- January 27-February 1 by the respected Approval for fast tracking COVID-19 vac- ducting a third one. The vaccines are regis- Atlantic integration.” Kyiv International Institute of Sociology, Mr. cines took place on January 29 as the coun- tered in other countries and in the World His spokeswoman, Iuliaa Mendel, took Zelenskyy’s party had 22.1 percent sup- try prepares to start vaccinating its popula- Health Organization as official and legal,” to Facebook to call the cancelled channels a port, as opposed to 17.5 percent for OPFL. tion of 42 million people, one of the last Prime Minister Denys Shmyhal said. “pool affiliated with Viktor Medvedchuk.” The two lawmakers, along with other countries in Europe to not have started She said they “have long forgotten what it administering vaccines. (Continued on page 6) means to practice journalistic standards, (Continued on page 3)

Serhiy Proskurnya, legendary Ukrainian Theater director, dies at 63

by Roman Tymotsko wrote on February 2. “Great loss for me, connoisseur of music. It was interesting to for all of us. I write about you in the past, accompany him to concerts, performanc- Serhiy Proskurnya, renown Ukrainian and I do not believe it. My heart breaks es, art events and share meticulous theater director, producer, winner of the with pain,” the former minister of culture impressions during the break. He was able prestigious Serhiy Danchenko Award and said. to notice the finest details because he was the laureate of the National Union of Mr. Proskurnya was born in Lviv in a master of details in everything – in life Theater Actors of Ukraine “Experiment” 1957, and later the family moved to and art,” Mr. Malkovych said. Award, died on February 1. Cherkasy. At first, he connected his life Mr. Proskurnya was actively interested The Lviv-born director promoted with music and even graduated from in theatrical life and even applied to Ukrainian theater abroad, modernized the music school. Moscow’s acting school. He was rejected perception of Taras Shevchenko and “We became friends when we were still and then worked as a teacher and served directed epoch-making festivals at the students,” the renown poet Ivan in the army. Only after he worked as a dawn of Ukraine’s Independence. Malkovych wrote on Facebook. “We were teacher and served in the army did Mr. Yevhen Nyshchuk, a former minister of very close because we both graduated Proskurnya finally begin his arts educa- culture in Ukraine, announced Mr. from music schools – Serhiy as a violist tion. He enrolled in and studied acting Proskurnya’s death in a Facebook post. and I as a violinist.” and directing at the Ivan Karpenko-Kary The cause of death is not yet known. Mr. Malkovych recalled his longtime Kyiv State Institute of Theater Arts. In “He was not just a director, he was a friend as a man who had a passion for Mr. Proskurnya’s Facebook page 1983 Mr. Proskurnya was invited to direct prominent cultural figure, a philosopher. I music and cared deeply about art. “[Mr.] Serhiy Proskurnya called him our Playwright,” Mr. Nyshchuk Proskurnya was an extremely delicate (Continued on page 5) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 No. 6

NEWS ANALYSIS

New year, new battles: Does China U.S. pledges economic, military support Life (OPFL), is listed as the owner of the three outlets, Ukrainian media claim that Secretary of State Antony Blinken has the broadcasters – Ukrainian television plan to give up on Motor Sich? pledged continued U.S. economic and mili- channels 112, NewsOne, and ZIK – are tary support to Ukraine under President under forced limbo by the Ukrainian actually owned by Vicktor Medvedchuk, the by Alla Hurska Joe Biden’s new administration. In a phone authorities, but in 2020, Chinese investors head of OPFL’s political council and one of Eurasia Daily Monitor call with Ukrainian Foreign Affairs Minister began to more actively put pressure on the richest and most influential individuals Dmytro Kuleba on February 1, Mr. Blinken For the Ukrainian company JSC Motor Ukraine’s financial and industrial groups. In in the country. The EU statement contrasts “emphasized strong bipartisan support for Sich, one of the world’s largest manufactur- its battle for Motor Sich, Chinese Skyrizon with the response from the United States, Ukraine and the priority the United States ers of engines for missiles, helicopters and allied with Oleksandr Yaroslavsky, who is which said that “the U.S. supports Ukraine’s places on Ukraine’s sovereignty, territorial jets, the year started with new battles over the owner of DCH Group and one of effort to counter Russia’s malign influence integrity, and Euro-Atlantic aspirations,” the ownership. Chinese investors have reiniti- Ukraine’s wealthiest men. in line with Ukrainian law, in defense of its State Department said in a readout of the ated their earlier efforts to take over With support from Mr. Yaroslavsky – sovereignty and territorial integrity.” Mr. call. “He pledged to continue robust U.S. Ukraine’s top defense producer, and Kyiv is proficient as he is in doing business in Medvedchuk, who heads the Opposition economic and military assistance to mobilizing its efforts to prevent this strate- Ukraine – the pressure on Kyiv has Platform For Life’s political council, was Ukraine,” it added, while working on a dip- gically important firm from slipping away. increased significantly (Icg.biz.ua, January sanctioned by the United States in March lomatic resolution to Russia’s aggression in On January 29, Ukrainian President 13). After several unsuccessful joint appli- 2014 following the overthrow of pro-Mos- Volodymyr Zelenskyy signed a decree that cations to the Antimonopoly Committee of eastern Ukraine and Crimea. Mr. Blinken cow President Viktor Yanukovych for his put into effect the decision of the National Ukraine (AMCU) to purchase stakes in also called on Ukraine to maintain progress role in undermining democracy in Ukraine. Security and Defense Council (NSDC) to Ukraine’s aerospace giant (DCH Group on fighting corruption and implementing He has denied that he owns the TV stations. impose three-year-long restrictive mea- wanted to buy more than 25 percent of rule of law and economic reforms. The two (RFE/RL) sures on several Chinese individuals and Motor Sich’s shares), Skyrizon and Mr. also discussed the coronavirus pandemic. Ruling party expels Dubinsky their affiliated businesses. Those sanctions Yaroslavsky went on the offensive. They Ukraine relies on Washington’s support against Russia since Moscow illegally cover Chinese citizens Wang Jing, Du Tao launched an information campaign in Ukrainian President Volodymyr and Chen Hoyshen, as well as the compa- Ukraine to lobby for the deal (Cepa.org, annexed Crimea in 2014 and backed sepa- ratists in eastern Ukraine. Zelenskyy’s party has voted to expel a law- nies Beijing Xinwei Technology Group Co., November 20, 2020). Also, in November, maker after he was put under U.S. sanc- Ltd; Beijing Skyrizon Aviation Industry Mr. Yaroslavsky penned an open letter to EU questions president’s sanctions tions over alleged U.S. election interference. Investment Co., Ltd; and Skyrizon Aircraft Mr. Zelenskyy in which he stated that the A majority of lawmakers from the Servant Holdings Limited along with its parent Chinese investors of Motor Sich are deter- The European Union has questioned a of the People party on February 1 voted to company, Hong Kong Skyrizon Holdings mined to seek justice in international arbi- move by Ukrainian President Volodymyr remove Oleksandr Dubinsky from the rul- Limited. Among other consequences, the tration and warned that (presumably with- Zelenskyy to sanction three television sta- ing party’s parliamentary faction. Deputy adopted policies block the targeted entities’ out Chinese support) Motor Sich would go tions nominally owned by a member of a Olha Vasylevska-Smahlyuk wrote on her assets inside Ukraine, restrict trade opera- bankrupt soon due to lack of international pro-Russian faction. In a written statement Telegram channel that Mr. Dubinsky was tions, prevent their withdrawal of capital sales and large-scale investment (Dch.ua, on February 3, the spokesperson of EU for- expelled in “the shortest meeting of the from Ukraine, completely ban any transac- November 26, 2020). eign policy chief Josep Borrell, said that Servant of the People faction ever.” The fac- tions involving securities of which they are Despite the fact that in 2020 Ukrainian- “while Ukraine’s efforts to protect its terri- tion voted 198 to 29 to remove the contro- issuers, as well as prohibit their purchase Chinese interstate relations developed torial integrity and national security, as versial lawmaker from the party. Nineteen of enterprises in Ukraine (President.gov.ua, noticeably more dynamically than in pre- well as to defend itself from information party members abstained. Mr. Dubinsky January 29, 2021). vious years and China remains Ukraine’s manipulation are legitimate, in particular denies the election meddling allegations Moreover, on January 20, the Cabinet of number one trading partner, Chinese given the scale of disinformation cam- and in a statement after the decision con- Ministers of Ukraine permitted the investors have still not gained access to paigns affecting Ukraine including from demned the party. “We have seen the true Ministry of Justice to hire lawyers to pro- Motor Sich (Silkbridge.info, January 12). In abroad, this should not come at the face of political actors in both the presi- tect the state’s interests in international January 2021, the Shevchenkivskyi expense of freedom of media and must be dent’s office and the Ukrainian Parliament, arbitration cases initiated earlier by District Court of Kyiv refused to unfreeze done in full respect of fundamental rights and we are well aware that this is a manip- Chinese investors. According to Chinese the Chinese-owned shares in Motor Sich and freedoms and following international ulative result that was needed by specific shareholders of Motor Sich, since the (Oligarh.media, January 12). But the trou- standards.” The statement added that “any people to receive specific political divi- Security Service of Ukraine opened a crimi- ble for Chinese investors did not end measures taken should be proportional to dends and to solve their own problems,” he nal case into the purchase of these shares there. On January 19-22, Mr. Yaroslavsky the aim” and that Brussels would be in told the press. The U.S. Treasury on January back in 2017 and the court secured the was summoned by the Central touch with Ukrainian authorities to receive 11 imposed sanctions on seven individuals arrest of 41 percent of the stock in the com- Investigation Department of the SBU for more information on the issue. Mr. and four entities, accusing them of U.S. elec- pany, they have not been able to manage questioning as a witness in a criminal case Zelenskyy on February 2 signed off on the tion interference and involvement in a their assets. They also stated that Kyiv involving Motor Sich (the charges in the sanctions proposed by his national security Russia-linked foreign-influence network expropriated their property, thus violating case include article 14 “Criminal Offense team. Although Taras Kozak, a member of its international obligations under the Preparation,” article 111 “High Treason” the pro-Russian Opposition Platform For (Continued on page 18) 1992 agreement between the government and article 113 “Subversive Activity” of of Ukraine and the government of the the Criminal Code of Ukraine) (Biz.liga.net, People’s Republic of China; they now claim January 18). Moreover, Mr. Boguslayev – $3.5 billion in compensation from Ukraine the long-time leader and former owner of The Ukrainian Weekly FOUNDED 1933 (Epravda.com.ua, January 20). Chinese Motor Sich who invited the original stakeholders hired three leading law firms Chinese investors to Zaporizhia – unex- An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., – Wilmer Hale, DLA Piper (Douglas Emhoff, pectedly came out to oppose their tandem a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. the husband of United States Vice-President with Mr. Yaroslavsky. In turn, the United Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. Kamala Harris, was a partner at this firm States, which seeks to prevent China from Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. but left prior to Inauguration Day 2021 to acquiring dual-use technologies owned by (ISSN — 0273-9348) avoid possible conflicts of interest) and Motor Sich (see EDM, September 6, 2019), Bird & Bird – to defend their interests (Nv. recently added the Chinese firm Skyrizon The Weekly: UNA: Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 ua, November 17, 2020). to its Military End-User (MEU) restrictive China made the first move toward list for “its capability to develop, produce, Postmaster, send address changes to: acquiring Motor Sich in 2009. And since or maintain military items, such as mili- The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Andrew Nynka then, various Chinese companies have tary aircraft engines” (Unn.com.ua, 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas repeatedly expressed interest in buying up January 16, 2021). P.O. Box 280 shares of the Zaporizhia-based aerospace But Mr. Yaroslavsky and his Chinese Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] defense manufacturer in order to gain partners are unlikely to give up. They have access to strategically important dual-use decided to totally upend the top manage- The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com technologies critical for the Chinese mili- ment of Motor Sich and announced plans to tary (Cepa.org, November 20, 2020). In fill more than 10 high-level corporate The Ukrainian Weekly, February 7, 2021, No. 6, Vol. LXXXIX 2016, Chinese entities bought from vacancies (Mc-osa.com.ua, accessed Copyright © 2021 The Ukrainian Weekly Vyacheslav Boguslayev (chairperson of the January 22). Apart from this, they tried to board of directors and honorary president hold an extraordinary shareholders’ meet- of Motor Sich) 56 percent of the shares in ing on January 31, but that initiative was ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA the Ukrainian company. According to stopped by the SBU’s investigative actions sources in the Ukrainian government, (Ukrinform.ua, January 31). Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 about 75 percent of Motor Sich’s shares are Recent events highlight that the struggle e-mail: [email protected] presently held under Chinese ownership for Motor Sich is far from over. For Ukraine, Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 (Interfax, December 12, 2020). For several e-mail: [email protected] years, the ownership situation was placed (Continued on page 5) No. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 3

NEWS ANALYSIS Blinken discusses U.S. support for Ukraine during Senate Foreign Relations Committee nomination hearing

Ukrainian National Information 2014 – a trip he made along with Sen. Ben tions as a means of promoting democratic help in order to stay sovereign and inde- Service Cardin (D-Md.) – for the presidential elec- principles. pendent?” tion immediately following the Revolution Sen. Jeanne Shaheen (D-N.H.) raised the “I share your commitment to help WASHINGTON – The U.S. Senate Foreign of Dignity. He noted the free and fair elec- issue of the present situation in Russia with [Ukraine],” Mr. Blinken responded, adding Relations Committee (SFRC) held a nomi- tions in May 2019 for Ukraine’s newest the arrest and detainment of opposition that Ukraine faces various challenges both nation hearing on January 19 for Antony J. president Volodymyr Zelenskyy and that he leader Alexander Navalny. Sen. Shaheen external and internal. It faces an external Blinken, who was President Joe Biden’s was a sponsor of the 2019 Ukraine Security asked the nominee how the United States threat from Russia, but it also faces chal- nominee for the position of secretary of Initiative that “supported weapons to can continue to put pressure on Russia to lenges from within, including the fight state. Ukraine and Russia-related issues Ukraine for them to defend themselves.” stop its continued aggression against against corruption, the need to strengthen were dominant throughout the question- In response to a question from Sen. Ukraine. democratic institutions, and the like. and-answer period of the hearing. Portman about aid to Ukraine, Mr. Blinken Referring to Mr. Navalny, Mr. Blinken “We have to have a comprehensive SFRC Chairman Sen. Jim Risch (R-Idaho) said, “I very much support lethal assistance noted how extraordinary it was for approach,” Mr. Blinken said, adding that he and ranking member Sen. Robert Menen­ and training to Ukraine…it has made a “Vladimir Putin to be frightened of one “supported the lethal arms provision to dez (D-N.J.) welcomed Mr. Blinken to the material impact” on the current situation. man. I think it speaks volumes.” Ukraine.” hearing. The nominee was introduced at Sen. Portman also raised the issue of the Silencing the voice of millions of A riveting dialogue ensued as Sen. Rand the proceeding by Sen. Richard Durbin challenging battle against global disinfor- Russians protesting the arrest [of Mr. Paul (R-Ky.) questioned the nominee about (D-Ill.), co-chair of the Senate Ukraine mation campaigns and he asked the hear- Navalny] “is something we condemn,” Mr. the United States position on the inclusion Caucus. ing to consider what might be done to com- Blinken said. “There are a number of chal- of Georgia in the NATO alliance. Mr. Blinken The hearing began with a brief opening bat disinformation. lenges posed by Russia…and this is very said that if a country “meets the require- statement from Mr. Blinken. Together with Sen. Chris Murphy high on the agenda.” ments [for membership]” it should be “We can revitalize our core alliances – (D-Conn.), Sen. Portman previously co- Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) focused his granted that status. The senator then force multipliers of our influence around authored legislation for the establishment questions to Mr. Blinken on two topics: pointed out that Russia occupies Georgia the world. Together, we are far better posi- of the Global Engagement Center (GEC). NordStream 2 sanctions and Iran. The sen- and proxy troops are in Ukraine, thus, if tioned to counter threats posed by Russia, The senator reported that the disinforma- ator stated fervently that billions of dollars those countries were in the NATO alliance, Iran and North Korea, and to stand up for tion multi-agency bureau received $60 mil- of profit from the NordStream 2 pipeline the United States would have to commit democracy and human rights,” Mr. Blinken lion in federal funding for fiscal year 2021 would fund Mr. Putin’s continued aggres- troops under the Article 5 clause. said. and Sen. Portman said he would like to see sion throughout the world and that he, Sen. Menendez, the ranking member, The deliberation continued with ques- that future efforts for GEC are “resourced along, with Sen. Shaheen, “proposed strong rounded out the nearly five hour-long hear- tions posed to the nominee by the mem- adequately and appropriately.” [NordStream 2] sanctions that passed in ing. The senator argued that Russia is a bers of the SFRC. Mr. Blinken agreed and he noted that, in December 2019 and December 2020, and source of consternation for the committee, Sen. Ron Johnson (R-Wis.) questioned Mr. his experience in the early days of aggres- both sets of sanctions are mandatory, not noting the recent arrest of Mr. Navalny, Blinken, asking if he “supports lethal assis- sion in Ukraine, “Russia was using informa- discretionary.” SolarWinds cyber warfare, bounties on U.S. tance to Ukraine,” given the nearly seven- tion and weaponizing it.” The nominee said Mr. Blinken said that Mr. Biden “does not soldiers in Afghanistan, the poisoning of year war waged by the Russian aggressor. he welcomed the continuity of the work of believe in the NordStream 2 pipeline…I Kremlin critics, the continued invasion of The nominee retorted affirmatively, citing the Global Engagement Center. know his strong conviction that Ukraine and the illegal annexation of his op-ed in The New York Times about the The topic of Russia-sanctions was men- NordStream 2 is a bad idea.” Crimea. need for military assistance to Ukraine. tioned by many senators on the Committee. In responding to Sen. Cruz and his enu- The ranking member then asked Mr. Other senators also elaborated about the Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) spoke about exist- meration of the NordStream 2 sanctions- Blinken a direct question. “Do you agree importance of lethal assistance to Ukraine’s ing laws within the United States to combat regime, Mr. Blinken emphatically stated Russia should have consequences for its military forces. In particular, Sen. Rob Russian aggression and its authoritarian that the tool “you [Congress] provided is actions?” Portman (R-Ohio), co-chair of the Senate regime. something we will look at.” “Yes,” Mr. Blinken said, adding that he Ukraine Caucus, commended the “build-up “The Magnitsky Law and Global Sen. Chris Murphy (D-Conn.) said that agrees “in so many ways and thanks to of lethal weapons to Ukraine for self- Magnitsky are great achievements and are for Ukraine there is a “need of stable friend- Congress and this Committee, we have defense” purposes. He pointed out that the effective tools” in the fight against corrup- ship with the United States.” tools” to combat Russian aggression, United States is at a turning point in its tion and abuse of power, Sen. Cardin said. Mr. Putin “wants to disempower that whether it is Countering America’s relationship with Ukraine and must “build He also urged the State Department nomi- nation [Ukraine] economically and politi- Adversaries Through Sanctions Act upon success.” nee to “get more countries to include cally,” Sen. Murphy said. He asked Mr. (CAATSA) of 2017, the Magnitsky sanctions The senator elaborated on his visit to Global Magnitsky sanctions.” Blinken whether the United States can “give Ukraine as an election observer in May Mr. Blinken welcomed the use of sanc- [Ukraine] the political tools and economic (Continued on page 6)

Human Rights Protection group (KHPG). Rabinovych had been banned from enter- comed the “bold action in tackling disinfor- Zelenskyy... Messrs. Medvedchuk and Kozak have ing the country in 1999 by the SBU, mation, which causes real harm to Ukraine.” been documented by Skhemy, an investiga- Ukraine’s security service, “for damage to The EU questioned Mr. Zelenskyy’s (Continued from page 1) tive journalism project of Radio Free the Ukrainian economy” and being “a move. key members of OPFL, blocked the rostrum Europe/Radio Liberty, of making more threat to national security.” A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief in parliament on February 3 to denounce than a dozen roundtrip flights to Moscow He added that a congress of the 44 party Josep Borrell wrote in a statement that the sanctions. Those sanctions prevent Mr. since 2018 despite bans in place for direct members would be held to determine fur- “while Ukraine’s effort to protect its… Kozak from using his property and they flights to the Russian capital. They have ther action and that impeachment proceed- national security, as well as to defend itself block his assets, restrict trade and impose enjoyed privileged permission for the trips ings will commence in parliament. from information manipulation are legiti- transportation restrictions. The sanctions that have involved meetings with Russian mate…this should not come at the expense Reactions also block Mr. Kozak’s ability to receive President Vladimir Putin. of freedom of media and must be done in licenses and permits. The Kremlin leader is the godfather to Russian presidential spokesman Dmitri full respect of fundamental rights and free- Speaking at the podium, OPFL party co- one of Mr. Medvedchuk’s daughters. Peskov said the decision to black out the doms and following international stan- chairman Vadym Rabinovych called the leg- Watchdog Anticorruption Action Center channels “does not correspond to either dards.” islature and the president “fascist devils.” also alleged that Mr. Kozak has since 2014 international norms and standards, or the A joint statement by 10 prominent They then sang a Soviet World War II-era been involved in the supply of coal from general understanding of freedom of the Ukrainian civil society organizations, song. occupied territory in Donbas. That territo- media.” including disinformation watchdog Stop As of February 4, the three TV channels ry is controlled by two Russian proxy politi- Meanwhile, the U.S., Canada and Britain Fake, supported the measures. are still accessible through livestream cal entities that Kyiv deems terrorist orga- backed the move, whereas the European They said the alleged Russian Trojan platforms on their websites and respective nizations. Union’s reaction was lukewarm. Horse channels “constitute tools of foreign YouTube channels. Culture and One of Ukraine’s two claims against The U.S. embassy tweeted that it sup- influence operations, and therefore [are] a Information Policy Minister Oleksandr Moscow at the UN’s International Court of ported the efforts “to counter Russia’s systemic threat to the information security Tkachenko has asked the video streaming Justice is that “Russia is in breach of the malign influence in line with law, in defense of Ukraine.” company to cut them off. NSDC Secretary International Convention for the of its sovereignty and territorial integrity.” They concluded by saying the channels Oleksiy Danilov said at a briefing that Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism, On Facebook, the Canadian embassy “cannot be considered genuine media regional TV stations will be monitored for by arming and financing the Russian pseu- said it “recognizes the challenges Ukraine intending to provide objective and unbi- pro-Russian content. do-republics,” KHPG stated. faces in the hybrid war being waged against ased information for the good of the pub- A study by watchdog Detektor Media Mr. Kozak has denied the allegations, it” and voiced its support for “Ukraine’s use lic.” found in autumn last year that the three including “cooperation” with any aggressor of lawful mechanisms to preserve its sover- The Brussels-based International sanctioned TV channels were responsible states. eignty, while also preserving media free- Federation of Journalists called the move for more than half of the registered cases of Mr. Rabinovych spent nine years in pris- dom.” “an extra-judicial and politically motivated “pro-Russian propaganda and disinforma- on for theft of state assets during the late Britain’s ambassador to Ukraine, ban and a blatant attack on press freedom tion” in Ukraine, according to the Kharkiv Soviet era. An Israeli passport holder, Mr. Melinda Simmons, tweeted that she wel- that must be urgently reversed.” 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 No. 6 No. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 5

UCEF announces appointment UCC Advisory Council welcomes of first chief growth officer Sen. Dasko as new member by Matthew Matuszak Ukrainian Canadian Congress CHICAGO – The Ukrainian Catholic OTTAWA – Third-generation Ukrainian Education Foundation (UCEF) is pleased Canadian Sen. Donna Dasko (Independent to announce that Inya Chehadé has joined Senators Group – Ontario) was welcomed UCEF as its first Chief Growth Officer, to the Advisory Council of the Ukrainian effective February 1. Canadian Congress (UCC) on January 21 by Ms. Chehadé brings more than twenty- UCC National President Alexandra Chyczij. five years of non-profit and fundraising Sen. Dasko, a Winnipeg native and moth- experience to UCEF, having served as CEO er of two, was appointed to the Senate by of The Bridge, Inc., and senior director of Prime Minister of Canada Justin Trudeau on development for the New Jersey Health June 6, 2018. With extensive public policy Foundation. Ms. Chehadé also spent five experience as a respected national pollster, years in Ukraine as the in-country execu- media commentator and private sector busi- tive director of the Children of Chornobyl ness leader, Sen. Dasko holds a Ph.D. in Relief and Development Fund. Sociology from the University of Toronto and “Inya combines expertise in fundraising previously served as senior vice-president of https://sencanada.ca/en/senators/dasko-donna/ with a deep knowledge and love of our Environics Research Group Ltd. She is a Sen. Donna Dasko, a new member of the community,” said Taras Szmagala, Jr., Senior Fellow at the University of Toronto’s Advisory Council of the Ukrainian board chair of UCEF. “She’s committed to Munk School of Global Affairs and Public Canadian Congress. the mission of the Ukrainian Catholic Policy, where she taught in its Master’s pro- University, and we’re fortunate to have her gram prior to her Senate appointment and have made significant contributions to the on the team.” she is a member of Statistics Canada’s community. Members of the Advisory “I am excited and delighted to be join- Advisory Committee on Social Conditions. Council are nationally recognized and ing such a wonderful team at UCEF and UCEF Serving on the Board of Directors of the respected Canadians who provide strategic hope to bring my experience to the role to Inya Chehadé Women’s Legal Education and Action Fund, guidance, expertise and cognitive strengths aid the incredible work that is underway which promotes equality rights for women, to help shape the current and future priori- at the Ukrainian Catholic University as it to be ethical and moral leaders of a new Sen. Dasko co-founded the Campaign for an ties of the Ukrainian Canadian community continues to grow and evolve,” Ms. Ukraine. Through its fundraising activities Equal Senate for Canada, an initiative to and who provide meaningful input and sup- Chehadé said. in the United States, UCEF assists UCU in promote a gender-equal Senate, and she port to the UCC as the umbrella organiza- UCEF was founded in 1997 to support meeting its educational and financial chal- works with the National Democratic tion for Ukrainians in Canada. The Advisory and fund the growth and operations of the lenges and supports its successes as the Institute on issues related to women in pol- Council provides advice to the President Ukrainian Catholic University (UCU) in premier Catholic educational institution in itics internationally. and the Executive Committee of the UCC. L’viv. As the only Catholic university in the Ukraine. The UCC Advisory Council comprises Additional information about the UCC’s vast territory of the former Soviet Union, For further information, readers may prominent and exemplary supporters of the Advisory Council can be found on the UCC’s UCU is at the forefront of building a civil contact UCEF at: [email protected] or 773- Ukrainian Canadian community who have website, www.ucc.ca/about-ucc/leader- society in Ukraine, educating its students 235-8462. demonstrated outstanding leadership and ship/advisory-council/.

“I was in charge of finances for the went beyond the stage. with a fully developed person with a clear Serhiy Proskurnya... Student Brotherhood, and Serhiy always “He was always looking at the social vision of knowing what he wants. It’s a (Continued from page 1) overused the budget because he created all health of the entire society and was con- great loss, and Ukraine is going to miss the time. He always wanted more. Because cerned about it,” Mr. Bandera told The him.” the Ivan Franko Academic Drama Theater of Mr. Proskurnya and Mr. [Markian] Ukrainian Weekly in a phone interview. In 2013-2014 Mr. Proskurnya created a in Kyiv. In 1987, he created the play Ivaschyshyn [co-creator of Dzyga and a “He dragged me to a meeting in 2007 large-scale film project called “Our Seagull, together with actress Ada leader during the Granite Revolution], the when [Viktor] Yushchenko was president. Shevchenko.” Portions of that project were Rogovtseva. Ostap Stupka made his debut world started talking about contemporary It was on the Auschwitz section of the filmed on Euromaidan. On March 9, 2014, in the play. Ukrainian art,” Mr. Rushchyshyn said. museum to the ‘great patriotic war,’ which on the 200th anniversary of the birth of Tributes to Mr. Proskurnya were posted Mr. Proskurnya organized theater festi- was very one-sided in its interpretation of famed Ukrainian poet Taras Shevchenko, on Facebook and came from all corners of vals, radio performances, theatrical historical events. So, Serhiy took me to a Mr. Proskurnya’s film “Taras Shevchenko – Ukrainian society. exchanges with the best theaters in few meetings to provide another voice – it Identification” was released. “Serhiy, thank you for your commit- Western Europe and worked with famous was a Soviet-era museum. Still, the people “One of the most important in [Mr.] ment, vitality and creativity, for the sparks theater festivals worldwide. at the meeting heard about Ukrainians Proskurnya’s works was the project ‘Our in the eyes,” Borys Gudziak, archbishop of In 1990 he visited New York for the first who were at Auschwitz; even [Mr.] Shevchenko,’ with which he was almost the Philadelphia and metropolitan for the time and began cooperating with Yara Arts Yushchenko’s father was a prisoner there only one in the then Yanukovych state to Ukrainian Catholic Church in the U.S.A., Group and the group’s founding director at some point. Serhiy asked me to help and honor the 200th anniversary of Shevchen­ wrote on Facebook. Virlana Tkacz. Yara Arts Group is also a tell the whole story, not just the Soviet side ko. Serhiy was the one who saw and filmed In 1988-1989 Mr. Proskurnya helped resident company at La MaMa of it [Mr. Bandera’s grandfather was also on the tablet that video with Serhiy develop the All-Ukrainian Festival of Experimental Theater in New York. held in a Nazi concentration camp] – and Nigoyan [one of the first of the protesters Popular Song and Contemporary Music With the collapse of the Soviet Union, under his guidance, he wanted to have who died during the 2014 Revolution of “Chervona Ruta,” was a co-author of the Mr. Proskurnya started promoting inde- Ukrainians included,” Mr. Bandera said. Dignity], who recites Shevchenko, recog- script and chief director of the first festival pendent Ukrainian culture abroad with In 2007 Mr. Proskurnya was a director nizing in him the hero,” Mr. Malkovych, the in Chernivtsi. The festival became a huge doubled enthusiasm, having cooperated of Mr. Bandera’s centennial celebrations. poet, wrote on Facebook. phenomenon, showcasing vibrant modern with theatrical groups worldwide and vice “He expanded horizons to the national “Shevchenko is not a fetish and not a Ukrainian culture when the country was versa – he brought numerous theatrical and international level and went beyond dressing gown,” Mr. Proskurnya said dur- still under Soviet rule. projects to Ukraine, giving the young provincialism,” Mr. Bandera said. “Yet he ing an interview with Radio Svoboda in Svyatoslav Vakarchuk, the lead singer of nation a chance to become a part of the never had provincial hang-ups. He exuded March 2016. “This is not a tool for ideolog- the Ukrainian band Okean Elzy, noted in global theatrical discourse. confidence and professionalism. It felt like ical battles. He positioned himself as an his Facebook post that Mr. Proskurnya was Since 2008 Mr. Proskurnya has orga- he could’ve been Canadian or American or artist, as a man of broad views, a fantastic a person who “created an authentic and at nized five state parades and concerts for from anywhere else. It felt like you were connoisseur of history, an encyclopedist.” the same time modern Ukraine.” Independence Day in Ukraine. He made In 1990 Mr. Proskurnya took an active the innovative decision to include sym- part in the student movement that came to phonic music in those programs. Mi- (Mil Mi-2, Mil Mi-8/17 and variants, Mil be known as the Revolution on Granite (a Mr. Proskurnya directed the oratorio New year... Mi-24, Mi-28) and Ka-series (Ka-27/32, reference to the paving stones on the “God is with us,” a work dedicated to the (Continued from page 2) Ka-52) military helicopters as well as square in Kyiv where the students’ camp Heroes of the Heavenly Hundred and the Antonov An-26, An-72, An-74, An-124 stood) and was an ardent supporter of soldiers fighting in eastern Ukraine. The the threat of paying $3.5 billion in fines to Ruslan and An-225 (Mriya) planes. Ukraine’s independence. work was performed on Sofia Square on China is frightening. But the possible trans- Although the Chinese market may look “He was an adventurous person in a the 23rd anniversary of Ukrainian fers of the aerospace manufacturer’s own- lucrative to Motor Sich, the negative side of good sense. We did festivals, various proj- Independence. ership and proprietary dual-use technolo- such a deal should not be overlooked. ects together,” said Yaroslav Rushchyshyn, Stephan Bandera, a Canadian Ukrainian gies to Beijing pose an even a larger threat. a participant of the Granite Revolution, one journalist and a friend who worked with The strategic and technical potential of The article above is reprinted from of the people who founded the Dzyga Art Mr. Proskurnya on numerous projects, said Motor Sich is vital to Ukraine’s national Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from Association in Lviv, and a member of that Mr. Proskurnya was more than a the- security. The company produces 28 differ- its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, Parliament in Ukraine. ater director. He said his field of interest ent types of engines, which are installed on www.jamestown.org. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 No. 6

FOR THE RECORD UCC welcomes Canada-Ukraine working group on mobility The following statement was released by the governments of Canada and Ukraine, the Ukrainian Canadian Congress on will let the two countries “share best prac- January 27. tices on migration management, increase recruitment, promote Canada’s economic The Ukrainian Canadian Congress (UCC) immigration programs and further welcomes the establishment of the Canada- strengthen co-operation on migration- Ukraine Mobility Working Group, which will related matters.” improve opportunities for Ukrainians to Minister Mendicino stated, “I thank the travel to Canada after COVID-19 restrictions Ukrainian Canadian Congress for their are removed. The establishment of the longstanding leadership and advocacy on Working Group was announced today by the this important issue and the vibrant Honorable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister Ukrainian Canadian community in Canada rada.gov.ua of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship. for engagement and support that has Members of Ukraine’s Parliament meet on February 2. “The UCC is very pleased with today’s made this new partnership possible.” announcement. The Ukrainian Canadian The UCC will host a virtual community passed on January 26. community is a strong advocate for the information session with Minister Verkhovna Rada... As part of President Volodymyr development of ever closer ties between Mendicino in the near future. (Continued from page 1) Zelenskyy’s election promise, he stated the the people of Canada and Ukraine,” stated The UCC has been working on mobility bill “provides an opportunity for all citizens Alexandra Chyczij, National President of issues between Canada and Ukraine for They include vaccines from the U.S., of Ukraine to make important decisions the UCC. “The launch of this working many years, including as part of work of European Union, China, India and Mexico – regarding the life of the country.” group is an important step in increasing the Canada Ukraine Stakeholder Advisory Russia’s vaccines were banned from With the possibility of being conducted these connections for the benefit of both Council, which UCC co-chairs. Among the approval. electronically, the president can announce a Canada and Ukraine.” UCC’s six key policy priorities is immigra- None of the existing vaccines have been referendum with a petition of no less than The Working Group, a partnership of tion and travel policy. registered in Ukraine and the legislative 3 million signatories from at least two- amendments voted in last week were in thirds of the country’s administrative-terri- their first of two readings to take effect. torial units. LETTER TO THE EDITOR As of February 4, Ukraine had more than Three sections – I, III, XIII – of the 1.2 million recorded COVID-19 cases as Constitution can be amended and questions Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which led to Mr. well as over 23,000 related deaths from the should pertain to “national importance.” More betrayals of Trump’s first impeachment. coronavirus. Those sections are on “general princi- Why would he have left out so many Also voted in the first of two readings ples,” on “elections and referenda,” on the Ukraine should be noted important examples of Mr. Trump betray- was a long-sought bill to reform the procedure for amending the constitution, ing Ukraine? Does Mr. Martyniuk feel these Security Service of Ukraine (SBU), the as well as redrafting individual laws. Dear Editor: events are inconsequential or does he sup- country’s principal counterintelligence Forbidden questions include those that agency. conflict with Ukraine’s international com- Jaroslaw Martyniuk listed three, poten- port Mr. Trump’s actions toward Ukraine On January 28 the legislature voted to mitments and those that are directed at tially four, Western betrayals of Ukraine. He and therefore sees no reason to mention remove its organized crime investigation abolishing the independence of the state went on to explain that by Western, he real- them? functions, long a source of alleged corrup- and violating its territorial integrity. ly meant President Barrack Obama’s, now In either case, Russia is the winner here. tion at the KGB-successor agency. The bill Questions regarding taxes, government Joe Biden’s betrayal of Ukraine. Maria Proskurenko also is designed to align the agency with budgets and amnesty are also prohibited. He skips over the betrayal of the last Seattle NATO standards and aims to regulate its Only one question is allowed and four years. This list is infinitely longer and activities so that it meets “modern chal- responses are exclusively “yes” or “no.” more sinister than the four examples cited. lenges and threats to state security,” the Popular votes cannot be held when martial If Mr. Martyniuk is serious about expos- GUIDELINES FOR LETTERS parliamentary security and defense com- law or a state of emergency are in effect. ing betrayal, he should have mentioned mittee said. Kyiv-based investment bank Dragon Paul Manafort’s and numerous friends’ TO THE EDITOR According to reporting by the UNIAN Capital stated in a note to investors that the continuous roles in collaborating with The Ukrainian Weekly welcomes letters to the editor that react to articles published news agency, the bill will increase “the bill could lead to holding a popular vote on Russian intelligence. He should have men- on its pages. Opinions expressed by letter agency’s counterintelligence and anti-ter- whether to allow foreigners to purchase tioned Donald Trump’s meeting in the Oval writers are their own and do not neces- rorist capacity and expands its powers to farmland. The previously passed land mar- Office with Sergei Lavrov and Russian sarily reflect the opinions of either The employ forces and means against terrorist ket law is scheduled to go into effect in July Ambassador Sergey Kislyak, where only Weekly editorial staff or its publisher, the organizations, illegal armed and paramili- despite widespread popular opposition, Russians were present, including a Russian Ukrainian National Association. tary groups, and transnational criminal Dragon noted. photographer. Let’s not forget the numer- Letters must be signed (anonymous let- organizations outside Ukraine.” Proven reformer Yuriy Vitrenko was for ous secret phone conversations between ters are not published) and the city from which they are sent will be published under The Council of Europe’s International the second time in less than six months Mr. Trump and Mr. Putin, with no tran- the author’s name. However, the daytime Advisory Panel on Ukraine welcomed the rejected as energy minister and first deputy scripts provided on America’s part. phone number, e-mail address and com- vote. prime minister. Mr. Martyniuk also overlooked the plete mailing address of the letter-writer It was a “positive step toward reform of The former executive of the state-run harassment and expulsion of U.S. must be given for verification purposes. the [Security] Service,” the panel said, add- Naftogaz oil and gas company had his Ambassador Marie Yovanovich because she THE LENGTH OF LETTERS CAN- ing that “we look forward to further sup- refused to wrongfully implicate Mr. Biden NOT EXCEED 250 WORDS. Letters may appointment by the president denied on porting the work of the Verkhovna Rada in in a scandal. In addition, numerous U.S. be edited or abridged. The Weekly reserves January 28. achieving its goal.” officials were expelled during the Trump the right to edit for clarity, civility and As the company’s former managing accuracy. The same day, a law was passed estab- administration for not giving in to Mr. director, Mr. Vitrenko succeeded in helping Letters should be sent to staff@ lishing a Bureau of Economic Security as an Trump’s manipulations and lies. And there Naftogaz become profitable for the first ukrweekly.com or to The Ukrainian independent body to investigate related was no mention of that infamous phone time in its history and become the coun- Weekly, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, offenses. Its provisions include removing call between Mr. Trump and President Parsippany, NJ 07054. try’s single-largest tax payer. SBU units that are responsible for investi- He also has a “record of accomplishment gating corruption and “counterintelligence in complex legal battles and negotiations protection of the economy,” the graft watch- with Russia,” wrote Adrian Karatnycky, a strengthening the strategic partnership dog Anti-Corruption Action Center stated Senior Fellow with the Atlantic Council. Blinken... between the United States and Ukraine.” on January 28. Mr. Karatnycky continued: “Based on the (Continued from page 3) Emphasizing the strategic partnership Once the new agency is created within repeated rejection of [Mr.] Vitrenko’s candi- between Ukraine and the United States, the six months, the archaic Tax Police that was dacy, it seems that the oligarch classes law, or support for Ukraine. UCCA letter expressed hope that the cur- established in the early turbulent post- regard it as far more important to appoint Following the confirmation hearing, the rent “situation in Ukraine, which affects U.S. Soviet period of the 1990s will be abol- weak ministers capable of defending the U.S. Senate voted on January 26 to confirm national security interests and peace and ished. narrow short-term interests of the oligar- him as the 71st U.S. secretary of state. security on the European continent, will A bill on holding binding nationwide chy, even as the country’s economy plum- Following the Senate vote, the Ukrainian remain a high priority during your helm at popular votes known as referendums was mets.” Congress Committee of America (UCCA) the U.S. Department of State.” The letter penned a letter to Mr. Blinken, congratulat- concluded with a request to meet with the ing the new secretary of state and saying secretary (in a virtual format) to discuss that the organization looks forward to the concerns of the Ukrainian American Visit our archive online: www.ukrweekly.com working with him “in efforts aimed at community on Ukraine-related matters. No. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 7

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW Ukrainian National Association: Delegates approve new by-laws y-laws were the big news at the Ukrainian National Association in 2020. The amended UNA Charter Band By-Laws were designed to modernize the UNA in terms of corporate structure, yet retain the organiza- tion’s traditional representative form of government through its quadrennial conventions. The UNA Home Office mailed a voting package – con- taining proposed changes to the UNA By-Laws and a ballot – to all delegates to the last UNA Convention, held in May 2018, and to current members of the UNA General Assembly. The ballot was to be returned via mail by January 21. Delegates and General Assembly members were asked to vote yea or nay on proposed changes to the By-Laws, a draft of which had been presented to delegates at the UNA’s 2018 Convention. As noted in a letter from UNA President/CEO Stefan Kaczaraj that was sent with the ballots, “The passage of these By-Laws is an important and crucial step to ensure the UNA’s viability for the next 125 years.” Also included in the packet sent by certified mail to convention delegates and General Assembly members were the complete text of the Proposed Amended Charter and By-Laws of the Ukrainian National Association Inc., as well as a summary of the key highlights of the proposed amendments. The Ukrainian Weekly’s February 9 issue carried an announcement from the chair of the UNA Audit Committee, Luba Walchuk, who reported to members of After the hierarchical divine liturgy celebrated on February 9 at Transfiguration of the Lord Ukrainian Catholic the UNA that the proposed new By-Laws were over- Church in Shamokin, Pa., to mark the conclusion of the 125th anniversary year of the Ukrainian National whelmingly approved and would go into effect as of Association: Bishop Andriy Rabiy and the Rev. Mykola Ivanov with the Dzvin Ukrainian Male Choir. January 31, 2020, with one exception: “The current Also during 2020, the UNA officially concluded celebra- its 105th annual release. The 288-page Ukrainian- General Assembly will remain in their elected positions tions of its 125th anniversary. As readers will recall, this language publication was devoted to historic anniversa- until the UNA’s next Convention, slated to take place in fraternal benefit association was founded on February 22, ries of the year 2020. The Almanac opened with an article 2022.” Ms. Walchuk said a total of 70 ballots had been 1894, in Shamokin, Pa., and that is where the UNA in 2019 by the late Ivan Kedryn Rudnytsky, the well-known jour- mailed out and the returned ballots were counted at the began celebrations of its milestone anniversary. On nalist active in Ukraine and the United States who was a UNA Home Office on January 27 by a third party, the February 9, 2020, the UNA returned to Shamokin, where longtime member of the Svoboda editorial staff. An Tabatchouk Law Firm. As Audit Committee chair, Ms. the UNA’s quasquicentennial came to a close with a divine excerpt from his memoirs spoke about the momentous Walchuk was present to validate the counting of the bal- liturgy, luncheon and program at Transfiguration of the year 1920 and what it meant for Ukraine. lots. The official results were: 63 yes votes, two no votes, Lord Ukrainian Catholic Church, which is closely associat- Other sections of the UNA Almanac covered historic one ballot returned without a vote and four ballots not ed with the UNA’s beginnings. A beautiful hierarchical developments and entities such as the Treaty of Warsaw returned. divine liturgy was celebrated by Auxiliary Bishop Andriy of 1920 through the eyes of a Ukrainian; the dilemma In accordance with the new UNA By-Laws, the presi- Rabiy of the Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Archeparchy faced by Ukrainian political leader Symon Petliura (1879- dent/CEO and six members (directors) of the Corporate of Philadelphia, who was assisted by the Rev. Mykola 1926); the world’s first democratic constitution, that of Board of Directors are elected at the convention, while the Ivanov, pastor. The responses were sung by the Dzvin Ukrainian Hetman Pylyk Orlyk, dating to 1710; the highly COO/national secretary and CFO/treasurer are appointed Male Choir of Philadelphia and the Kazka Ukrainian Folk respected Ukrainian newspaper Dilo, the first daily news- (hired) by the directors. The immediate past president Ensemble. Bishop Andriy also delivered an informative paper for Ukrainians in Halychyna, which was founded serves on the board in a non-voting advisory capacity. The and uplifting homily focusing on the significance of the 140 years ago, and its connections with the Ukrainian convention also elects the six-member Fraternal Advisory UNA. American newspaper Svoboda; the Ukrainian Military Board and the three-member Audit Committee. The con- Afterwards, luncheon attendees heard introductory Organization (known by the Ukrainian acronym UVO) that vention remains the UNA’s highest governing body; the remarks by the COO/National Secretary Yuriy Symczyk was established in 1920; the centennial of the Sich Corporate Board of Directors is the highest authority in and an address by CFO/Treasurer Roma Lisovich. The Riflemen’s movement as well as that of the Prosvita between conventions. program opened with a prayer by Father Ivanov and the Society in the Zakarpattia region; and the 70th anniversa- presentation of colors by members of Lehigh Valley’s Jack ry of the death of Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) Palance Post 42 of the Ukrainian American Veterans Commander-in-Chief Roman Shukhevych. (UAV). Joining Jerry Kindrachuk and Mathew Koziak in the Fifty-four student members of the UNA received schol- color guard was Vincent Chesney, grandson of Michael arships or awards for the 2020-2021 academic year. They Yonkovig, who was a member of the parish as well as a were featured in special sections in the UNA’s two news- member of the post. Mr. Yonkovig had been a co-chairman papers, Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly, in the issues of the UNA’s 75th anniversary celebration held in released in time for Labor Day weekend. Special scholar- Shamokin. The Kazka Ensemble followed with the singing ships awarded included: the Joseph and Dora Galandiuk of the American and Ukrainian national anthems. Scholarship ($2,000), the Drs. Maria, Dmytro and Olha Northumberland County Commissioners Joseph Jarosewycz Scholarship ($1,000), the Vera Stangl Klebon and Sam Schiccatano presented proclamations Scholarship ($750) and the Joseph Wolk Scholarship from the county. Mr. Schiccatano also presented a citation ($750), as well as five UNA Heritage Scholarships. In addi- from the Pennsylvania House of Representatives spon- tion, 45 students received monetary awards based on sored by State Rep. Kurt Masser. Mr. Kindrachuk extended their year of study, ranging from $125 for freshmen to a greeting from the UAV National Executive Board. During $200 for seniors. the musical portion of the event, Dzvin provided a lively A news story about the current year’s scholarships was rendition of Ukrainian songs, while Kazka also sang, pre- written by UNA Second Vice-President Eugene Serba, who sented a Ukrainian folk dance and joined in a beautiful trio chairs the UNA Scholarship Committee that met on June instrumental performance with violinist Innesa 26 to review all applications sent in by students who are Tymochko Dekajlo. members of the UNA. Mr. Serba pointed out that “There Our February 23 editorial, written on the occasion of was a total of 54 applicants from 26 different UNA branch- the UNA’s 126th anniversary in 2020, underlined: “The es. The number and quality of applicants this year was Shamokin event was a fitting conclusion to a remarkable truly exceptional, with a number of students applying for anniversary year for an organization that played a leading more than one scholarship for which they were eligible.” role in the development of the Ukrainian American com- Notably, the number of applicants had increased from munity and continues its proud tradition of service to our recent years. community and our nation.” That same issue featured the The Weekly’s editorial noted: “In the more than 126 last installment of the 125th anniversary series “A snap- years of its existence, the Ukrainian National Association shot from history,” which had been published every week (UNA) has always supported young people in their pursuit of the jubilee year. of higher education, In fact, the first UNA scholarships The cover of the Almanac of the Ukrainian National The 2020 Almanac of the Ukrainian National were actually small stipends awarded to promising stu- Association Almanac for 2020. Association, which is published by Svoboda Press, marked dents to help them attain a better future. A formal scholar- 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 No. 6

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

bers during the coronavirus pandemic. “The UNA was able to respond quickly and efficiently to the crisis. It had a quick response framework that worked well and allowed the UNA to quickly adapt to new work protocols. The technology upgrades that were completed in January 2020 were crucial to this success,” Ms. Lisovich observed. The CFO cited these positives during the period: an increase in life insurance sales compared to the second quarter of 2019, reflecting pandemic fears, as consumers wanted life protection; capital surplus position remained strong and increased as the absence of equities in the UNA’s investment portfolio allowed it to avoid the declines other insurers experienced; UNA cash flows, liquidity and leverage were healthy. Overall, the CFO reported, the UNA was having a good year with sales, revenue and net profit outperforming 2019. Three standing committees of the General Assembly – Financial, Membership Outreach and Publications – met virtually during the second day of the annual meeting, either by teleconference or Zoom. During the concluding discussion of the annual meet- ing, General Assembly members agreed that it would be beneficial to meet more often. As a result, it was decided that the body should meet semiannually (it is hoped that one of those meetings would be in person and the other virtual). Thus, the next meeting of the UNA General Assembly is expected to take place in the spring of 2021. During the year, the UNA learned of the deaths of sever- The last installment in the series of photos from UNA The front page of the special section on UNA scholar- al of its stalwart activists. At the beginning of 2020, it was history appeared in the February 23 issue. The series ships that appeared in the August 30/September 6 issue reported that Irene V. Sarachmon, secretary of UNA was begun a year earlier, in February 2019, to mark the of The Ukrainian Weekly. Branch 206 in Woonsocket, R.I., for 20 years, had passed 125th anniversary of the UNA’s founding. away on December 26, 2019. On September 12, Peter President/CEO Kaczaraj presented his report, noting Serba, secretary of Branch 173 since 1954, died at the age ship program was established in 1964. Since then it has that 2020 was an unusual year due to COVID-19 and of 96. Mr. Serba (father of UNA Second Vice-President awarded well over $2 million in scholarships to several assuring General Assembly members that the UNA is fol- Eugene Serba) was a delegate to every UNA quadrennial thousand young men and women – a legacy of which the lowing the guidelines of New Jersey state officials and the convention since 1958 and singlehandedly had signed up UNA is justifiably proud.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). “Our over 400 UNA members. On December 30, Anna Burij, Like everyone else, the UNA was impacted by the novel Home Office is open for business. But staff is on a stag- secretary of UNA Branch 402 in Etobicoke, Ontario, for 34 coronavirus. And yet, the UNA’s operations continued gered work schedule to ensure social distancing. This years, passed away at the age of 95. Mrs. Burij was a dele- throughout the pandemic. In a message to members, UNA helps us restrict the number of people in the office at one gate to numerous UNA conventions through the years. President/CEO Kaczaraj reported: “At the UNA’s Home time. Although we were all working remotely at first, our Another huge loss for the UNA family was Marta Office, which is based in Parsippany, N.J., we reacted insurance operations employees have returned to the Kolomayets, who passed away on August 16 in Kyiv. Ms. immediately and put into effect a business contingency office. The publications staff continues to work, for the Kolomayets, 61, was a member of The Ukrainian Weekly’s plan previously developed for such an eventuality. Out of most part, remotely,” he explained. editorial staff and the paper’s pioneering Kyiv correspon- an abundance of caution, our Home Office was closed and, As regards the financial condition of the UNA, the presi- dent. A “Thank you and farewell to our colleague, Marta beginning on Monday, March 16, our employees began to dent/CEO reported that in 2019 the UNA recorded anoth- Kolomayets” was written by UNA Advisor Irene work remotely in order to continue serving our members er increase to its surplus, which as of December 31, 2019, Jarosewich, who chairs the General Assembly’s without disruption. Thus, the UNA was focused on both was $11,287,000 (as compared with $11,021,000 as of Publications Committee. It was published in the August protecting the health of its Home Office staff and meeting December 31, 2018). The surplus grew further during 30/September 6 issue. the needs of its thousands of members. During this tem- 2020 to $12,898,000. Also notable in 2019 was another Toward the end of the year, with Christmas approach- porary work arrangement, the UNA continued to accept consecutive year of net profits. Total net income as of ing, the UNA released its 2020-2021 Christmas cards, membership applications, process claims and handle all December 31, 2019, stood at $328,000 ($329,000 was once again featuring the creativity of Ukrainian artists variety of matters important to our policyholders. All the recorded the prior year). Iryna Korchuk of Lviv and Volodymyr Petryshyn of Ivano- while, members could reach us during business hours (8 COO/National Secretary Symczyk presented a detailed Frankivsk. The packet of cards also included a birthday a.m.-4 p.m.) via our customer service number at 800-253- report on sales of UNA life insurance policies and annui- card by the same artists. This annual initiative aims to 9862. We sincerely thank our members for their patience, ties, citing a significant uptick in sales of life insurance, raise funds for the Ukrainian National Foundation, the cooperation and understanding during this trying time for both in terms of the number of policies sold and total face UNA’s charitable arm, and donations could be designated us all.” The president’s message appeared in the June 28/ values of insurance coverage. Other topics discussed by for the UNA Publications Endowment Fund, Soyuzivka July 5 issue. Mr. Symczyk were: new life insurance illustration software Heritage Center or the UNF’s General Fund. The good news was that, as of June 1, the Home Office for both agents and Home Office staff; agent recruitment; In the November 29 issue of The Weekly (and the began transitioning to a multi-phased return to regular reformatting of applications and supporting documents November 27 issue of Svoboda), the UNA bid farewell to operations, while continuing to take precautions and fol- for online/digital use; and development of new payment the editor-in-chief of The Ukrainian Weekly and Svoboda, lowing all guidelines issued by government officials and options, such as credit card charges and electronic fund Roma Hadzewycz, who retired as of December 1, and health authorities to make sure staffers were protected. Mr. transfers. The COO noted that a Corporate Manual announced that the new editor-in-chief would be Andrew Kaczaraj reassured members: “For over 126 years, the Committee was formed to complete work on this compan- Nynka. UNA President Kaczaraj wrote: “For more than 43 Ukrainian National Association has always been there for ion document to the new UNA By-Laws that were years, Ms. Hadzewycz has been an indefatigable and our members. While we are not yet back to operations as approved in January. respected member of the UNA fraternal family. Her contri- they were before the coronavirus pandemic, we pledge to Ms. Lisovich, the CFO/treasurer, explained that the bution to our association has been invaluable and her you that we will continue to serve you as we always have – UNA, as an essential business, continued to serve its mem- commitment to excellence unequaled. Ms. Hadzewycz’s with the utmost professionalism, respect and care. Please do not hesitate to reach out to us with any questions you may have. Our dedicated staff is ready and able to respond.” Meanwhile, parents, grandparents, aunts and uncles, and other family members continued enrolling young- sters as UNA members, as documented on the Ukrainian National Association Forum page in this newspaper. For example, the March 22 issue of The Weekly featured a full page of Young UNA’ers. For the first time in the 126-year history of this frater- nal organization, the UNA’s highest governing body between quadrennial conventions did not meet in person, convening instead by videoconference and teleconference due to continuing restrictions related to the coronavirus pandemic. The UNA General Assembly, which encompass- es executive officers, auditors and advisors, met virtually on Monday and Tuesday, October 5-6, with members sign- Roma Hadzewycz ing in from their respective locations across the United A socially distanced farewell to one of the UNA’s employees who retired in July, Lydia Ciapka (third from right), States as well as Canada. in the Home Office’s conference room. No. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 9

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW encyclopedic knowledge of UNA history will be greatly missed, as will her dedication, talent, professionalism and The noteworthy: experience.” The next week, Mr. Kaczaraj released a message formal- Events and people ly welcoming Mr. Nynka that was printed in both of the UNA’s newspapers. He noted that the new editor-in-chief his section features the noteworthy events and “is an experienced and awarded journalist, researcher and people of 2020 that defy easy classification (or teacher,” whose previous positions included work as a Tcould fit under more than one of our Year in journalist with The Ukrainian Weekly in 2001-2006. “The Review categories). UNA is proud of the powerful legacy of our publications – one that has met change and transformation more than arm of the Ukrainian National Association and the once over the decades. We welcome Mr. Nynka back to the owner• The of Ukrainian Soyuzivka, National received Foundation, a donation the of charitable $70,000 UNA to continue this effort,” the UNA president wrote. from the Robert W. Johnson IV Charitable Trust. The Johnson family requested that the money be earmarked for something specific to benefit future campers; Soyuzivka management planned to renovate the Sich building, which houses summer campers and staff. News of the donation was reported in The Ukrainian Weekly’s February 9 issue.

by the Pivdenne Design Bureau and made by Pivdenmash• The Antares in Ukraine’s medium-class Dnipro rocket, regions, partly launched designed suc- cessfully from a NASA flight facility in Virginia on Carnegie Hero Fund Commission February 15. The rocket carried nearly four tons of sup- Nicholas Siokalo, recipient of the Carnegie Hero Medal. plies, hardware and science payloads to the International Space Station.

17 set up 298 empty chairs on March 8 in front of the Russian• Relatives Embassy of the in victims the Netherlands of Malaysia toAirlines protest Flight the Kremlin’s continued refusal to admit its role in shooting down the plane in July 2014. The protest was staged a day before the trial began against three Russian citizens and a Ukrainian militant who are charged with murder- ing all 298 passengers and crew.

108th anniversary of the first Plast Oath, considered the date• Plast Ukrainian Ukrainian scouting Scouting was Organizationformally established, marked theon April 11 with an 11-hour broadcast via the Internet that was coordinated by representatives of the four largest branches of Plast in Ukraine – Kyiv, Kharkiv, Ivano- Frankivsk and Lviv. The virtual event began with an offi- cial opening, included workshops on making pysanky, lectures on parachuting, quizzes, online guests, greet- ings from various venues and speakers, and ended with singing by an improvised campfire. Prime Minister of Canada Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, winner of the Carnegie Hero Medal, given by the Andrew Carnegie 2019-2020 Mark Palmer Prize. Hero• On Fund March to individuals 17, Nicholas who Siokalorisk their was lives awarded to save oththe- ers, for saving a young child from drowning in a riptide of sibling activists Raif and Samar Badawi in Saudi at a beach in Belmar, N.J. A 7-year-old boy had been Arabia. She also demonstrated her support for protest- wading with his aunt when a wave carried them into ers leading up to the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution of deeper water, with another wave separating them and Dignity in her position as a member of the Canadian carrying the child about 90 feet from shore. Mr. Siokalo Parliament. Under her leadership as minister of foreign was able to reach the child and tread water while the affairs, Canada in 2019 launched updated guidelines for current carried them further, until lifeguards with flota- supporting human rights defenders. The Mark Palmer tion devices were able to tow them to safety. Mr. Siokalo Prize is administered by Freedom House, in partnership is a lifelong member of Plast Ukrainian Scouting with the Community of Democracies, and was estab- Organization, which on April 21 awarded him the Plast lished in 2011 to honor diplomats and civil servants Bronze Cross for heroism. whose work has advanced democracy and human rights. became the norm, Ukrainian Canadians Yana Kreminska and• AdrianaAs the COVID-19 Luhovy combined virus spread their andrespective quarantining talents, published a list of “40 Global Ukrainians,” profiling dias- filmmaking and psychotherapy, to produce an online pora-based• In its September Ukrainian issue,business Forbes owners Ukraine and leadersmagazine of educational information series in Ukrainian called large- and medium-sized businesses and start-up com- “Coping with the effects of COVID-19.” The videos feature panies. Listed among the medium-sized business lead- interviews with mental health professionals in Ukraine; ers was Leonard Mazur, Ukrainian American co-owner topics included how quarantine affects the mental health of the research company Citius Pharmaceuticals and the of children and how to develop resilience. manufacturing company Arkimax Pharmaceuticals, - which have been at the forefront of combatting the thropic support to health-care, educational and cultural COVID-19 pandemic and whose practices have been initiatives• The Temerty in Toronto Foundation, and other which communities, provides inphilan April praised by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. Citius donated $10 million to the University of Toronto’s Pharmaceuticals was unique, Mr. Mazur noted, because Faculty of Medicine. The gift aimed to help the universi- Ukrainian Americans comprise its management team. ty’s partner hospitals respond to the immediate needs of Myron Holubiak, chief operations officer of Citius, and front-line health-care workers and facilitate research Myron Czuczman, the company’s head physician and and training in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. acting vice-president, were also recognized in the Forbes Ukraine story. Mark Palmer Prize to Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia• Freedom Freeland House for on herJune tireless 19 awarded work the championing 2019-2020 November became the first Ukrainian American to be on democracy through advocacy, journalism and policy- the• ballot New for York the CityNew York resident State TamaraAssembly’s Lashchyk District 66, in making. Ms. Freeland has condemned authoritarianism which include the East and West Villages, Greenwich and human rights violations, including the Chinese Village, Tribeca, Soho and a small part of Chelsea. Ms. authorities’ violent response to protests in Hong Kong, Lashchyk, a longtime Soho resident, ran on the The UNA’s Christmas cards for 2020-2021 featured the the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Myanmar and Republican ticket, describing herself as a moderate. artwork of Iryna Korchuk and Volodymyr Petryshyn, the abuses of the anti-democratic Maduro regime in Deborah Glick has represented the overwhelmingly designers from Ukraine. Venezuela, and has personally advocated for the release Democratic District 66 in the State Assembly for 28 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 No. 6

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW Our community mourns their passing uring 2020 our community mourned the passing of many of its prominent members: artists, Dchurch leaders, soldiers and community activists. Among them were the following, listed in order of their passing. Information is compiled from news obituaries and death announcements published in The Ukrainian Weekly. Helen Woskob, 89, State College, Pa.; business part- ner with her husband Alex in AW & Sons, which became a leader in providing high-quality student housing for Penn State students; made numerous contributions to support Ukrainian culture through the establishment of the Bahriany Foundation, which she chaired for 10 years; contributed to various Ukrainian democracy-ori- ented and church organizations; at Penn State, estab- lished the Woskob Family Endowment in Ukrainian Studies in the College of Liberal Arts and helped to establish The New Century Fund in the College of Agricultural Sciences – January 6. Iwanna Hankewycz, 86, Yonkers, N.Y.; held many leadership positions in Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization on both the national and world levels, long- time Plast scoutmaster; member of Plast’s Pershi Stezhi twitter.com/ferdinandlouwe sorority – February 17. Some of the 298 empty chairs placed in front of the Russian Embassy in the Netherlands in memory of those killed Orest Pelech, 73, Onancock, Va.; earned his Ph.D. in in the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight 17 (MH17). The chairs were set up on March 8, as a protest against the history from Princeton University, writing his disserta- Kremlin’s refusal to admit its role in the shootdown, before the beginning of a trial against four persons charged tion on the formation of Ukrainian national identity; with murdering all 298 of the flight’s passengers and crew. worked as Slavic librarian at Princeton University; worked as librarian at Duke University in addition to years, and was re-elected to her 14th term in November. appeared in The Weekly’s November 1 issue. teaching history, Slavic languages, literature and religion there – March 13. on a mission to revive centuries-old Ukrainian recipes, acquitted and released from a maximum-security prison Ihor Hayda, 90, Providence, R.I.; generous supporter modernize• Kyiv-based them celebrity and show chef Ukrainians Yevhen Klopotenko,their rich heritage 33, is near• UkrainianMilan, Italy, National on November Guardsman 3, by order Vitaliy of anMarkiv appellate was of Ukrainian Catholic University, Harvard Ukrainian through food. He has researched what people ate before court, having spent three years, four months and two Research Institute, and Ukrainian museums in New York the Bolsheviks took over, incorporating authentic days behind bars. Mr. Markiv had been convicted on July and Stamford; active member of many Ukrainian Ukrainian dishes into the menu of his co-owned restau- 12, 2019, for his alleged role in the deaths of an Italian American organizations, most notably Plast Ukrainian photojournalist and his Russian interpreter, and the rant, 100 Years Back to the Future (100 Rokiv Tomu Scouting Organization and the patriarchal movement – Vpered), where he uses local ingredients in a true farm- wounding of a French journalist; he was sentenced to 24 March 15. to-table approach. He was instrumental in having bor- years in prison. Wayne Jordash, one of the world’s lead- Doris Kule, 99, Edmonton, Alberta; generous sup- shch included on the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture’s list ing international criminal lawyers, described Mr. porter of Ukrainian studies with her husband, Peter; of “elements of intangible cultural heritage,” hiring a Markiv’s trial as not adhering to “the principle of pre- supported numerous educational endeavors, many in team of five people to travel throughout Ukraine, docu- sumption of innocence” and noted that the case didn’t the field of Ukrainian studies; donated more than $14 menting and filming how different families make bor- prove Mr. Markiv’s guilt “beyond a reasonable doubt.” Mr. million to post-secondary institutions across Canada, shch, in accordance with what the Ministry of Culture Markiv’s defense team and supporters said that Russian including $1 million to establish the Kule Ukrainian required for inclusion on its national heritage list. Mr. disinformation influenced the trial and the Italian Canadian Studies Center at the Canadian Institute for Klopotenko is also involved in an ongoing project to media’s coverage, while the Kharkiv Human Rights Ukrainian Studies; awarded the Ukrainian Canadian make the food at school cafeterias more appetizing to the Protection Group and other observers said the disinfor- Congress’s Taras Shevchenko Medal in 2007 for out- students; about 23 percent of schools nationwide have mation helped destroy the defendant’s presumption of standing national contributions in the field of education either fully or partially adapted his more than 100 “reci- innocence and eliminated the possibility of him having a – March 19. pes popular around the world.” A profile of the chef fair trial. Eleonora Karpinich Adams, 80, Buckingham, Pa.; taught German and Slavic languages and literatures at Temple University; taught German, Russian and English at Penn State Abington, where she was appointed Division Head for Arts and Sciences in 2008; served as an interpreter for the U.S. State Department throughout the 1990s-2000s, fostering communication between U.S. and Ukrainian leaders – March 19. Alexandra Tkacz, 91, Union, N.J.; devoted teacher of Ukrainian literature at the School of Ukrainian Studies in Newark and St. George Academy in New York; directed the Educational Institute at the Ukrainian Free University in Munich in 1988-2006; authored several books and numerous articles on the history of Ukrainian schools and guides for teaching Ukrainian literature – April 2. Metropolitan-Archbishop (emeritus) Stephen Sulyk, 95, Voorhees, N.J.; headed Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States in 1981-2000; established the Seminary Endowment Fund to finance the education of seminarians and to provide income for St. Josaphat’s Seminary; served on various committees of the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops and the Synod of Bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church; at the request of the Vatican, was involved in diplomatic talks with members of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine in the early 1990s – April 6. Nadia Shmigel, 87, New York; after retirement from

Internal Affairs Ministry of Ukraine a long career at Talbot Perkins Children’s Services, used her social work experience in serving on the Ukrainian Ukrainian National Guardsman Vitaliy Markiv (center) stands with Ukrainian Internal Affairs Minister Arsen Avakov and his mother, Oksana Maksymchuk, outside a high-security prison in Milan, Italy, on November 3, after National Women’s League of America Social Welfare an appellate court acquitted him of involvement in the killing of an Italian journalist and his interpreter in 2014 in Committee in 1999-2002, monitoring humanitarian pro- the Donbas. grams of the UNWLA in Ukraine; was the primary repre- No. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 11

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Metropolitan-Archbishop (emer- itus) Stephen Sulyk Nadia Shmigel Ihor Wyslotsky Zinoviy Antoniuk Myroslaw Smorodsky

Oleh Hornykiewicz Myroslav Skoryk Peter Serba Raisa Rudenko Anna Kisil sentative in 2002-2012 of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s Organizations to the United Nations Economic and Social Council, and actively represented Ukrainian women’s interests in several other NGO com- mittees affiliated with the U.N.; was awarded the title of “Caretaker of Ukrainian Ancestry” in 2019 by women activists in Lviv – April 9. Ihor Wyslotsky, 90, Chicago; prominent engineer, innovator, entrepreneur; holder of over 50 U.S. patents pertaining to research, development and manufacturing of equipment, systems and materials for packaging food and pharmaceutical products to extend freshness of per- ishable goods; founder of the Kyiv-Mohyla Foundation of America, supporter of the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute, co-founder and first president of the Committee for the Support of Ukrainian Studies at the University of Illinois; member and benefactor of the Dale Hawerchuk Alex Trebek Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art in Chicago – April 12. Rafael Wenke, 84, Cedar Grove, N.J.; concert violinist, American Bar Association; instrumental member of the discovered the cause of Parkinson’s disease in 1960; his conductor and music teacher; involved with the Schiller legal team that secured compensation for Eastern development of L-dopa revolutionized treatment of Foundation, bringing classical music to the masses; long- Europeans held as forced laborers during World War II; Parkinson’s and remains the cornerstone of therapy; time concertmaster of the Ukrainian Opera Ensemble of legal counsel to the Ukraine’s Mission to the United received numerous prestigious international honors, N.Y., touring the U.S. and Canada; member of the Newark Nations, its Consulate General in New York and its awards and distinctions; nominated for the Nobel Prize and New York City branches of the Ukrainian Music Embassy in Washington – April 30. in Medicine in 2000; instrumental in founding the Center Institute, teaching students for approximately 50 years Zirka Derlycia, 77, Bronxville, N.Y.; Slavic philologist; of Brain Research at the Medical Faculty of the University and serving in various UMI executive board positions; longtime teacher at St. George Academy in New York, of Vienna – May 26. honored by UMI in 2018 with its Lifetime Achievement instructing high school and grammar school students in Myroslav Skoryk, 81, Kyiv; Ukraine’s most celebrat- award – April 15. English as a Second Language, creative writing and ed composer; during his 60-plus year music career, pro- Martha Trofimenko, 87, Toronto; lawyer, university Ukrainian studies; also taught at Manor Junior College, duced numerous compositions – orchestral music, choral professor, Family Court master and academic writer; New York University and Indiana University – May 5. music, ballet, opera, chamber music, concerti and solo taught at the University of Delaware, University of Nitra Wolodymyra Tesluk, 97, Hartford, Conn.; teacher at pieces for piano and violin, as well as music scores for in Slovakia, and at the universities of Kyiv and Lviv; the Hartford School of Ukrainian Studies for 50 years, over 40 films, the most famous of which was Serhii active in many Ukrainian community organizations, who inspired generations of students to go out into the Paradzhanov’s “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” including the Shevchenko Scientific Society in America, world knowledgeable and articulate about their (1965); honored with numerous awards for his contri- where she served as a member of the Governing Board – Ukrainian identity – May 6. butions to Ukrainian culture, including People’s Artist of April 25. Tamara Sydoriak, 90, New York; longtime teacher Ukraine and Hero of Ukraine – June 1. Zinoviy Antoniuk, 86, Kyiv; former Soviet-era dissi- who taught generations of children to cherish their Marta Kolomayets, 61, Kyiv; journalist and promi- dent, publicist and human rights defender; while serving Ukrainian heritage; taught at Holy Ghost Ukrainian nent public figure; former member of The Ukrainian in the Perm-35 labor camp, played an active role in the Catholic School in Brooklyn, St. George School in New Weekly’s editorial staff, whose accomplishments includ- struggle for political prisoner status, including hunger York, Self Reliance School of Ukrainian Studies in New ed opening the newspaper’s Kyiv Press Bureau, being the strikes; one of the key figures in ensuring that informa- York and Holy Ghost School of Ukrainian Studies in first U.S. journalist to be accredited in Ukraine as a corre- tion about the camp and its prisoners was smuggled out; Brooklyn – May 9. spondent; worked in various organizations benefitting in 1992-1996, served as a member of the Kyiv City Helen Smindak, 91, New York; journalist; longtime Ukraine, including Partnership for a Transparent Society, Council’s commission to reinstate the rights of “rehabili- columnist and feature writer for The Ukrainian Weekly, the U.S.-Ukraine Foundation and National Democratic tated” victims of the Soviet regime, as well as many other including a stint as editor in 1957-1958; pioneered and Institute; served as director of the Fulbright program’s councils and boards, including the editorial board of the wrote The Weekly’s very popular cultural column office in Ukraine since 2013 – August 16. Kharkiv Human Rights Group’s bulletin Human Rights in “Panorama of Ukrainian Culture in the Big Apple,” later Dale Hawerchuk, 57, Barrie, Ontario; National Ukraine – April 28. renamed “Dateline New York” – May 16. Hockey League Hall of Famer; played for the Winnipeg Myroslaw Smorodsky, 75, Neptune, N.J.; prominent Prof. Oleh Hornykiewicz, 93, Vienna; world- Jets, Buffalo Sabres, St. Louis Blues and Philadelphia lawyer; co-founder and twice president of the Ukrainian renowned brain researcher and leading neuroscientist; Flyers; played for Team Canada in the 1987 Canada Cup; 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 No. 6

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW five-time All-Star; elected to NHL Hall of Fame in 2001 and the Ukrainian Sports Hall of Fame in 2017 – August 18. Peter Serba, 96, Wilmington, Del.; veteran of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) that fought against both Russian and German forces during World War II; secre- tary of Ukrainian National Association Branch 173 since 1954; delegate to every UNA convention since 1958; rec- ognized at the 2018 UNA convention for over 64 years of service – September 12. Lydia Czorny Matiaszek, 58, Kyiv; cultural and com- munity activist both in the U.S. and Ukraine; founding board member of the Society of Ukrainian Bandurists; co- founder of the Homin Stepiv bandura ensemble; worked with the Ukrainian Free University, organizing summer trips of Ukrainian diaspora youth to Europe, initiating a weeklong bandura course at the Ukrainian Free University in Munich; relocated to Ukraine in 1994, where she was involved with a number of organizations supporting wor- thy causes, including the USAID Community Connections program and Caritas Ukraine, and fund-raising efforts for the Ukrainian Catholic University – September 17. Raisa Rudenko, 80, Kyiv; former Ukrainian dissident and Soviet-era political prisoner; widow of Ukrainian Helsinki Group (UHG) founder Mykola Rudenko; served as permanent secretary to the UHG; moved to the New At the UNA’s newspapers, Roma Hadzewycz retired as editor-in-chief and Andrew Nynka took over. York area in 1988 and served on the editorial staff of Svoboda in 1988-1998, including serving as the Kyiv cor- Economic Injury Disaster Loan Program. We published respondent in the early 1990s – October 1. The Ukrainian Weekly: the information provided by Kristina Rak Brown in April Oleh Koropey, 76, Bowling Green, Ky.; graduate of the as a public service. United States Military Academy at West Point; decorated A changing of the guard Because of the coronavirus pandemic, “A Ukrainian for service in Vietnam, including the Bronze Star Medal Summer” – the special full-color section that we publish on six occasions and two Purple Hearts; served a full ome office took on a whole new meaning this year each year in the first issue of May – had to be scrapped. As career in the Army, attaining the rank of colonel, playing for the editorial and production staff of The more and more summer programs were being cancelled, prominent roles in Army acquisitions, research and HUkrainian Weekly. Whereas before COVID-19 we we advised readers that, instead of publishing one issue development; taught mechanical engineering at West worked out of the UNA Home Office in Parsippany, N.J., devoted to all the Ukrainian summer happenings, we Point; was a fellow at the Hoover Institution, Stanford during the pandemic we began working out of our own would gladly publicize any of our community institutions’ University – November 6. home offices. As this issue is prepared to go to press, we summertime events as they were announced. We wrote: Alex Trebek, 80, Los Angeles; longtime host of the are in week No. 46 of working remotely. “Dear Readers: Rest assured that our Ukrainian summer game show “Jeopardy!”; first-generation Canadian, whose Working from home also complicated the transition in has not been cancelled. It’s just different this year. So let’s father changed the family surname from Terebeychuk in December between editors-in-chief, as Roma Hadzewycz all try to make the best of this unusual situation. the late 1920s after immigrating from Ukraine; hosted retired and Andrew Nynka took over. But more on that Remember: We truly are in this together. And we at The various game shows – including “The Wizard of Odds,” later in this article. Weekly are with you!” As it turned out, many summertime “High Rollers,” “The $128,000 Question” and “Classic We began 2020 with an editorial in our January 5 issue events were held virtually, and readers learned about Concentration” – but none for so long as “Jeopardy!”, set- titled “Our ‘koliada,’” thanking our publisher, the Ukrainian them on our pages. ting the Guinness World Record in 2014 for most epi- National Association, and the Ukrainian National The coronavirus also had an effect on our “Preview of sodes hosted by the same presenter – November 8. Foundation (UNF), an affiliated company of the UNA that Events” column. In fact, “Preview” disappeared as more performs charitable activities on its behalf, for focusing Anna Kisil, 59, Toronto; noted community leader; and more events became online only and basic informa- attention with the 2019-2020 Christmas card project on president of the World Federation of Ukrainian Women’s tion was provided in our “Out & About” listings. the UNA Publications Endowment Fund. That recently Organizations, vice-president of the Ukrainian World Pre-COVID, among the annual special features that we established fund aims to ensure and safeguard the future published in 2020 was the always popular section featur- Congress; president of the Fourth Wave International of the UNA’s two newspapers, which as the UNF notes, ing Ukrainian Debutante Balls that appeared on April 19. Organization of Ukrainian Communities for North “have a long history of promoting the interests of Ukraine Five balls that were held in January and February were America; board member of the Canadian Ukrainian Art and Ukrainians through the written word” and now do so highlighted. Our 2019 Year in Review appeared in four Foundation, the Toronto branch of the Ukrainian not only in print, but also digitally via their websites. parts in our January-February issues. Canadian Congress and many other organizations; recog- We thank all our supporters who contributed to the The elections of 2020 nized for her philanthropy, leadership and volunteerism UNA Publications Endowment Fund in 2020. We must in both Canada and Ukraine; awarded the Ivan Mazepa also thank all who donated to The Ukrainian Weekly Press The other major issue during 2020, besides the corona- Cross from Ukraine for significant contributions to the Fund, which assists our ongoing day-to-day operations. By virus, was the presidential and congressional elections. development of international cooperation and communi- the end of the year, we received a total of $30,140 in dona- With a view toward the historic vote, Dr. Oleh Wolowyna ty work – November 16. tions to the Press Fund, surpassing the 2019 total by near- in March prepared an article on “Ukrainians in the U.S. and The Very Rev. Archpriest John Michael Fields, 70, ly $6,000. the November 2020 elections,” in which he underscored Frackville, Pa.; a lawyer who later entered the seminary At the same time, we emphasized yet again that what the importance of the Ukrainian American community’s and was ordained to the priesthood in 1986; director of we most appreciate is readers’ support in the form of sub- participation in the political process, and pointed out the communications for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy scriptions and gift subscriptions. Thus, we asked them to potential power of Ukrainian American voters across the of Philadelphia; served numerous and varied pastoral share with their family, friends and colleagues the impor- country by state and metropolitan area. assignments, including as editor of The Way, director of tance of subscriptions, which make this newspaper possi- There were many letters to the editor on the topic of Ascension Manor Nursing Facility in Philadelphia and ble. (It may be hard to believe, but we have found that the presidential election, some pro-Biden, others pro- vice-chancellor of the Archeparchy – November 27. many use our newspaper when they need it to promote an Trump. At times, the discussion became heated, as we Lubomyr O. Hewko, 91, Ann Arbor, Mich.; engineer event or cause, yet they are not subscribers!) After all, tried our best to keep it civil. (We even altered our guide- with General Motors for 37 years, held 24 patents, pub- without subscribers, there would be no paper. And, if you lines for letters by noting this: “The Weekly reserves the lished over 30 technical papers and wrote over 60 value our community, then you should also value its most right to edit for clarity, civility and accuracy.”) There were research reports, technical memoranda and internal GM important vehicles of communication and networking. also quite a few paid advertisements in support of either Donald Trump or Joe Biden. We were compelled to publications; dedicated Rotarian, president of the Rotary COVID-19’s effects remind readers: “This paid advertisement does not neces- Club in Clarkston, Mich., helped establish the first Rotary It was in mid-March that the novel coronavirus sarily reflect the views and position of this publication.” Club in Kyiv; active in many Ukrainian community organi- changed everything. That was when we were advised to In our editorial published in the October 25 issue, we zations, particularly Plast Ukrainian Scouting work remotely for the safety of all. It was a new challenge referred to the responses of the two major party candi- Organization – December 3. for our staff to put out The Weekly without being in the dates’ campaigns to a series of questions on key topics – John Luchechko, 92, West Palm Beach, Fla.; former office and interacting with each other, but we adapted and military assistance to Ukraine, Russian sanctions, combat- associate director of the library of Jersey City State did not miss a single deadline. ting Russian disinformation, NATO enlargement and College (later called New Jersey City University), profes- One of our readers, a corporate lawyer who was track- Ukraine reform efforts – that were posed by the Ukrainian sor of East European history at that college; winner of the ing federal funding programs designed to help those suf- Congress Committee of America and its Washington office, first Cenko Prize in Ukrainian Bibliography awarded by fering from the negative economic impact of the coronavi- the Ukrainian National Information Service. We advised the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute for “The Russo- rus outbreak, tried to help our community by submitting readers that the questionnaire was sent at the end of Ukrainian Problem, 1917-1921: A Classified and an article spelling out how the CARES Act (Coronavirus September, but it took until October 21 for both cam- Annotated Guide to Soviet Political Reportage in Pravda”; Aid, Relief and Economic Security Act) was meant to pro- paigns to respond. The responses came from the Biden- former president, secretary and longtime member of The vide relief for small businesses and individuals through Harris campaign and Ukrainians for Trump 2020. Neither Ukrainian Museum’s board of trustees – December 13. such vehicles as the Paycheck Protection Program and the provided direct answers to the questions posed; the No. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 13

2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW

Trump response also included information unrelated to well” by Ms. Hadzewycz. “As I write this farewell, I am the topics broached. We also directed readers to the filled with sadness, but also with appreciation and pride Facebook pages of UNIS and the UCCA to read the full for the work the UNA’s newspapers have done and, I have texts of the position papers presented by both campaigns. no doubt, will continue to do,” she wrote. “Forty-three At the same time, wrote: “It is important to point out years is a serious chunk of time to fit into 70-plus lines in that our publisher, the Ukrainian National Association, a an editorial… It’s an impossible task. Let me just say that 501(c)(8) corporation, does not endorse political candi- during those more than four decades at The Weekly, and dates, but its publications can certainly encourage readers the last 13 at Svoboda as well, our editorial staffs pro- to make their voices heard and their votes count. We all duced issues every week without fail in a most profession- know this is a pivotal and consequential presidential elec- al manner. We met our deadlines no matter what – wheth- tion, so get out there and vote!” er it be the nuclear accident at Chornobyl in 1986 or the proclamation of Ukraine’s independence in 1991, the ter- Mourning our former colleagues rorist attacks on the U.S. on 9/11 in 2001, the Orange This year we had to bid a final farewell to two dear for- Revolution of 2004-2005 or the Euro-Maidan/Revolution mer colleagues. In addition to the news obituaries we pre- of Dignity of 2013-2014.” pared, we paid tribute to each of them in an editorial. (It Ms. Hadzewycz thanked all those with whom she had was a most difficult and emotional process, but also an worked during those 43 years and underscored: “Ours appropriate way for us to mourn.) was always a small but dedicated staff, composed of edi- Helen Perozak Smindak, a longtime columnist and fea- tors who took pride in their work, were true professionals ture writer for The Ukrainian Weekly, passed away on May and were dedicated to the Ukrainian community and 16 in New York City at the age of 91. Tragically, she was nation. And there were also production staff members, one of this country’s nearly 350,000 fatalities in 2020 due our newspapers’ administration, part-timers, summer to the novel coronavirus. This exemplary journalist was interns, correspondents in the U.S., Canada and Ukraine, well-known and greatly loved by several generations of columnists and community activists – too numerous to Ukrainian community members throughout North list, but no less appreciated.” She concluded by wishing America. Her wonderful writing graced the pages of this her colleagues and the new editor-in-chief, Mr. Nynka newspaper for decades, from the 1950s through 2013, “much success, enthusiasm, fortitude and patience as they when she retired. In 1957-1958, she was an editor of the begin yet another new chapter in the history of Svoboda newspaper; she also filled in as an editor of The Weekly on and The Ukrainian Weekly.” The Ukrainian Weekly mourned the passing of two of two occasions and came to help out as co-editor during a In the next issue of The Weekly, dated December 6, the its former staffers, Helen Smindak (left) and Marta crisis in the spring of 1980, when the paper was left with UNA president/CEO introduced Mr. Nynka. “He has a doc- Kolomayets, seen here at an event in New York in 2003. one editorial staffer. Ms. Smindak’s byline appeared on torate in journalism from the University of Maryland’s The Weekly’s pages for decades, through 2013, when she Philip Merrill College of Journalism, a master’s degree in iday packages and election mail ran up against a spike retired. Our editorial reported: “Arts and culture were her journalism from New York University, and a bachelor’s in coronavirus cases within its workforce, leaving the beat, and Ms. Smindak must have worn out countless degree from Muhlenberg College. He was awarded a agency severely short-staffed. Nearly 19,000 workers pairs of shoes covering all sorts of events in New York City Fulbright Fellowship to Ukraine, where he conducted dis- were in quarantine at the end of 2020 after becoming and then, in the early days, delivering her typed-up copy sertation research and taught journalism at both the infected or exposed to the virus, according to the in person to the offices of our newspaper, then located in Ukrainian Catholic University and the National University American Postal Workers Union. That has left hundreds of Jersey City, N.J. Her fans were many, and we have some of of Kyiv Mohyla Academy.” His professional experience small publishers struggling to deliver their products, the fan mail sent in reaction to her columns as evidence.” includes work as a reporter for the Daily Record and The according to the National Newspaper Association, under- Ms. Smindak will always be remembered by us and by the Daily Journal (both in New Jersey), and as executive direc- cutting their advertising revenues and subscriber bases, faithful readers of The Weekly. tor of the Society for Features Journalism. Most signifi- and depriving the largely rural communities they serve of Marta Kolomayets, a former member of the editorial cantly, it was noted that Mr. Nynka “first began as a jour- crucial news coverage. …” The Post reported. staff of The Ukrainian Weekly, died on August 16 in Kyiv at nalist with The Ukrainian Weekly in 2001.” During his Our sincere hope is that this postal mess gets cleaned the age of 61. Ms. Kolomayets was on The Weekly’s staff in years at The Weekly (2001-2006), he covered the Orange up in 2021. In the meantime, all we can do is encourage January 1982-November 1984 and then again from Revolution in 2004 and the 2002 Winter Olympics in Salt readers to subscribe to our online edition, which does not February 1988 through December 1996. In January 1991, Lake City. suffer any delays related to mail delivery. the UNA’s Kyiv Press Bureau became the first foreign news Thus, 2020 brought The Weekly both a changing of the Continuing our mission bureau to receive official accreditation. Ms. Kolomayets guard and a homecoming. became the first staffer of that bureau, arriving in the Writing his first editorial in his new position, Mr. Nynka The year 2020 marked the 87th anniversary of the Ukrainian capital on January 13, 1991, to set up the office. spoke of the legacy of the UNA’s newspapers and his pre- founding of The Ukrainian Weekly. Our editorial for the She was the first U.S. journalist and the second foreign decessor’s service as editor-in-chief. “We believe that the occasion recalled some of the history behind the begin- journalist to be accredited as a correspondent in Ukraine. best way to honor Ms. Hadzewycz’s achievement and nings of The Weekly in 1933 and some of its achievements From Ukraine, she filed stories for The Weekly and provid- express our gratitude for her service to Ukraine and the through more than eight decades. “The Weekly has now ed information for Svoboda, then a daily newspaper. Ms. Ukrainian diaspora is to soldier on with the job – to published approximately 4,500 issues since 1933. (You Kolomayets ultimately served four more tours of duty as ensure that the journalistic standards set do not fall or can read all of them at www.ukrweekly.com in the digital Kyiv correspondent, in February-August 1992, February- faulter, to ensure that The Weekly continues to be a voice archives section of our website.) What’s particularly nota- December 1993, June 1994-July 1995 and October for Ukrainians around the globe, and to ensure that a light ble as we mark yet another anniversary – our 87th – is 1995-September 1996. As noted in The Weekly’s editorial, continues to shine brightly on our community and that The Ukrainian Weekly has not skipped a beat since its “Marta’s life and good works, both here in the United Ukraine and that it never dim,” the new editor-in-chief founding in 1933. Not even this year, while we’re in the States – where she was born and studied, and volun- wrote. He added: “…there is much work left to be done, midst of the COVID-19 pandemic,” we wrote. teered, and worked – and in Ukraine – where she lived for and there remain untold stories both great and small Words from that editorial are also appropriate now, at more than half of her life, worked in a variety of profes- about Ukraine, about Ukrainians around the globe, and the end of 2020: “It’s been a tough year for all of us, and sional roles and was involved in many volunteer endeav- about our UNA members that deserve to be told. We will we thank you, dear subscribers, for your continuing sup- ors – touched countless people. That’s why her death has aspire to tell those stories and continue to build on this port. We also thank our benefactors, whose generous left so many in tears.” newspaper’s great legacy. The job continues.” donations go a long way toward helping our newspapers continue their mission, and our advertisers whose adver- A changing of the guard Complications with mail delivery tising dollars are key to the bottom line. But there is yet Roma Hadzewycz, editor-in-chief of both The Ukrainian COVID and the holiday season also complicated mail another group of partners who deserve special recogni- Weekly and Svoboda, officially notified UNA Executive delivery of our newspaper to subscribers. There continues tion: all the community activists who submit stories and Committee members on July 31, in writing, that she would to be a serious backlog of delivery by the U.S. Postal photos to The Weekly and have continued doing so be retiring and that her last day would be November 30. A Service even as we write these words at the beginning of despite the pandemic. As we celebrate our 87th anniver- job announcement was first published in The Weekly’s February. In fact, one of our staffers received three issues sary, we thank you all!” October 4 issue (as well as in Svoboda); it sought to fill of The Weekly on one day: January 27, 2021. The dates of Rolling the credits two editors’ positions, one at each newspaper. issue were December 13 and December 20, 2020, and In the November 29 issue of The Weekly, UNA January 10, 2021. How’s that for USPS delivery? Pretty “2020: The Year in Review” was prepared by Editor President/CEO Stefan Kaczaraj extended thanks and best abysmal… Matthew Dubas and Editorial Assistant Christine wishes to Ms. Hadzewycz on her retirement and As reported by The New York Times: “In December, amid Syzonenko of The Weekly staff; Editor-in-Chief Emeritus announced that the new editor-in-chief of Svoboda and a crush of packages and record numbers of coronavirus Roma Hadzewycz; and our colleagues Mark Raczkiewycz The Ukrainian Weekly would be Andrew Nynka. It was cases, service performance across the U.S. Postal Service (Kyiv), Chris Guly (Ottawa), Ihor Stelmach (South noted that Ms. Hadzewycz had joined the UNA in 1977 as network plummeted to the lowest levels in years, with only Windsor, Conn.) and Adrian Bryttan (New York). Credit for an editor with The Ukrainian Weekly, and in 1980 became about 64 percent of first-class mail delivered on time the layout goes to Stefan Slutsky. editor-in-chief. In 2007, she was appointed editor-in-chief around Christmas.” The Times also noted this: “Other types As the articles in this yearender were prepared based of both Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly. “Ms. of mail, like periodicals and marketing mail, had a one in 10 on stories that were published in The Weekly, the sections Hadzewycz has been an indefatigable and respected mem- chance of arriving on time in some parts of the country.” are not credited to a particular author. The materials used ber of the UNA fraternal family. Her contribution to our The Washington Post carried a story about how USPS were articles written by our staffers and regular corre- association has been invaluable and her commitment to delays have adversely affected small newspapers that spondents, news sources like RFE/RL and the excellence unequaled, Mr. Kaczaraj wrote. depend on the mail for delivery. “The U.S. Postal Service Congressional Ukraine Caucus, and submissions by com- That issue also carried a signed editorial titled “A fare- has been under siege for months as record volumes of hol- munity activists and organizations. 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 No. 6

Remembering Omelan Twardowsky

The following is the first article to appear by Bo Kucyna Twardowsky always supported and was on the digitized website of Our Sport (“Nash proud to write about the Ukrainian sport Sport”) magazine (www.nashsport.org). It I met Omelan Twardowsky when I was community, especially when Ukrainian was written in honor of Omelan Twardow­ around 9 years old while playing with youth were participating. sky, who started Our Sport magazine and Yonkers Krylati youth soccer team. He was He dedicated much of his adult life to who ensured the publication continued for associated with the Ukrainian Athletic- not only write about Ukrainians in sports, 54 years before his passing in 2019. Educational Association Chornomorska but also create opportunities for Ukrainian Sitch sports organization and we were Americans to participate in various sport- playing against them in one of our tradi- ing teams and events. It’s this dedication to tional soccer matches, a friendly rivalry Ukrainian sports that has inspired many of that pretty much exists even to this day. I us to continue what he started. Some have noticed a couple things about Mr. taken over and/or contribute on the Sitch Twardowsky that day: first, he was board, some continue to train and coach extremely passionate about sports, and, our youth, men’s and women’s programs, second, while soft spoken and small in stat- some help run the sports school that was ure, he was very visible and noticeable started so many years ago. around the sports field. While everyone realizes that his are As I got older and got to know Mr. huge shoes to fill, we all realize how impor- Twardowsky better, these two things never tant it is to continue what he and all of his changed, and, in fact, only solidified my ini- generation have been telling us for years. The message: Be proud to be Ukrainian tial thoughts of that first encounter. He Chornomorska Sitch loved watching Ukrainians in sports action. and especially be proud to be a Ukrainian Omelan Twardowsky during the Whether it was supporting the Sitch soccer American sports athlete. Mr. Twardowsky has done so much for Ukrainian Sports Hall of Fame Induction team (then buying the team pizza after the in 2016. game), or cheering on the Sitch volleyball Ukrainian sports and the Ukrainian com- team at a tournament, or attending an munity that everything could not fit into USCAK (Ukrainian Sports Federation of the such a small article. Below are some of the U.S.A. and Canada) swimming competition, highlights of his accomplishments over the tennis tournament, table tennis tourna- years. The first edition of Our Sport issue pub- ment and/or a chess masters event, Mr. Mr. Twardowsky was born May 28, lished in 1964. 1927, in the village of Nahuyevychi in the Drohobych region, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine. He joined the Sitch organization in 1955 and “The Primary Chronicle of Kyivan Rus’” was immediately selected for the position of press secretary and held that position to the day he passed away on October 19, 2019. In 1964 he started Our Sport maga- A new English translation of zine, which continues to be published and Ukraine’s ancient Chronicle can be found in 15 libraries in Ukraine. In 1969 he started the swimming divi- usually known as “Povist sion, which has won 30 USCAK Menulykh Lit” or “Nestor’s Championships and one Ukrainian Olympiad (held in 1988). Chronicle”. It is a history of He initiated the idea of an annual sum- Ukraine’s ancient past and mer sports camp and, together with Myron Stebelsky, launched the first Chornomorska has been used in Ukraine as Sitch Sports School in 1969. Mr. a textbook for upper level Twardowsky had donated his time and classes. participated in every single Sports School since its inception. The Sports School has been attended by thousands of youths from the United States, Canada and Ukraine. In 1975, he started Sitch’s skiing division It is available now on line at: and, from 1977 to 1999, he was a sports Amazon.com, Barnesandnoble.com and other book vendors contributor for Svoboda. as well as the publisher’s web site, Xulonpress.com. (Continued on page 16)

We are deeply saddened to announce Remembring our beloved the sudden passing оn January 29, 2021 husband, father, grandfather of our beloved mother, grandmother and great grandfather and great-grandmother Wolodymyr Hetmansky Julia (Matkivska-Myklashevska) on the 5th anniversary of his falling asleep with the Lord Hetmansky оn January 7, 2016. born January 23, 1928, Matkiv, Turka Raion, Lviv Oblast, Ukraine. Ukrainian patriot, veteran, community leader, Funeral services will held at Christ the King Ukrainian Catholic Church, Boston, born February 9,1923, in Zboriv, Ternopilska Oblast. MA, followed by interment services at St Joseph’s Cemetery, West Roxbury, MA. With our Eternal Love Remaining in sorrow: wife - Julia daughter - Catherine daughter - Catherine son - Bohdan and Wife Vanessa son - Bohdan and wife Vanessa grandchildren - Andrea and husband Alec, grandchildren - Andrea and husband Alec Catherine and husband Cory, and Julia great-granddaughter - Amelia - Catherine and husband Cory - Julia May Her memory be eternal. great granddaughter - Amelia In her memory, donations may be made to the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee May his memory be eternal. 1206 Cottman Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19111 No. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 15

В болючі скорботі повідомляємо рідню, друзів і знайомих, що 18 січня 2021 року відійшов від нас у Божу вічність в Торонто, Канада, від коронавірусу наш дорогий і незабутній св. п. Ігор Зенон Іваночко Levko Alexander Obushkevich нар. 6 липня 1925 року в Поточиськах, біля Городенки, Західня Україна. Born July 8, 1953 in Dearborn, Michigan Ще з гімназійної лавки зголосився до української Дивізії, щоб Died January 10, 2021 in Punta Gorda, Florida рятувати батька з концтабору Авшвіц. І так перетерпів воєнне лихо- ліття, все готовий жертвувати для добра дорогих йому людей. We are heartbroken to announce the passing into eternal rest of our У журбі залишилися: beloved brother, uncle and grand-uncle Levko. We will miss him for his дружина Іванка pure and kind heart and his goodness and humor. Levko was predeceased by his parents, Dr. Leon Obushkevich and Tatiana (Stebnowsky) of три доні: Дарія, Тамара і Саша Detroit, Michigan. троє внуків: Дантон, Юліян і Іванка сестра Оксана Мостович з родиною He leaves in deep sorrow: та дальша і ближча рідня в Україні, Польщі, Канаді, США й Австралії. sisters Вічна і славна Йому пам’ять! - Lydia with husband Dr. Bohdan Makarewycz Замість квітів можна складати пожертви на такі цілі: - Chrystyna with husband Roman Czajkowsky • Українських ранених воїнів - Mary with husband Ronald Simpson Revived Soldiers Ukraine nephews/niece Mrs. Iryna Vashchuk Discipio, Pres. - Alexander Makarewycz with wife Kristin and their children 9542 Tavistock Rd., Orlando, FL 32827, USA Sophia, Nicholas and Matthew • Дім ім. Івана Франка - Constantine Makarewycz with wife Annette and their children Ivan Franko Home Ethan, Danilo and Isabella 767 Royal York Rd., Etobicoke, ON M8Y 2T3, Canada - Motryja (Makarewycz) with husband Roman Bejger and their children Stephan, Alexander and Adrianna - Justyn Makarewycz - Justin Simpson with wife Deborah - Adam Simpson The panakhyda was held by Rev. Vasyl Petriv on January 13 at Farley’s Funeral Home in Venice, Florida, and the funeral Divine Liturgy on January 29 at St. Mary’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in North Port, Florida. Interment will take place at St. Andrew’s Ukrainian Cemetery in South Bound Brook, New Jersey, where Levko will come to rest with his parents. With sorrow, we share with our community, Donations in memory of Levko may be made to Revived Soldiers that our beloved Ukraine: www.rsukraine.org Husband, Tato, Dido and Vuyko May his memory be eternal Wolodymyr Uzdejczyk

passed away peacefully into eternal life on Saturday, January 16, 2021. Johanna “Ivanka” Soluk Wolydymyr was born on February 19, 1925, in Yankivtsi in the Lesko Region of Lemkivshchyna to Ivan and Kateryna Uzdejczyk. He was the March 21, 1924- December 18, 2020 oldest of seven children, and an identical twin. At the outset of World War Johanna “Ivanka” (née Mycak) Soluk was born on March 21, II, he was sent to Germany, where he spent years as a forced laborer. In 1924, in Busowysko, Ukraine to Vasyl and Olena (née Baczynsky) 1950, Wolodymyr immigrated to America, settling first in New York City. Mycak. Ivanka was the youngest of  ve sisters: Katerina, Maria Nesterczuk, There he met his wife, Maria, whom he married in 1952. Wolodymyr and Stephania Hubickyj, and Leontyna Hoshovskyj. Ivanka and her sisters  ed Maria moved to Yonkers in 1965, where they raised their three children Ukraine during WWII as Soviet troops re-entered Western Ukraine. After in a close-knit and vibrant Ukrainian American community. Wolodymyr the war the sisters were separated in di erent DP camps, not to reunite until the mid 1950s. During her time at the displaced person’s camp, worked as a tool-and-die maker at the Precision Valve Corporation in Ivanka met and married the late Bohdan Soluk. They emigrated to Toronto, Yonkers, retiring after 25 years of service. Wolodymyr was a devout Canada and eventually resettled in Los Angeles, California, in the 1960s. parishioner of St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yonkers and an Ivanka found her home in Los Angeles, with the growing Ukrainian active member of several organizations, including CYM and OOL. For 25 community. During the day she worked at Crocker Bank, later Wells Fargo, years, Wolodymyr taught Ukrainian dance under the auspices of CYM, and until her retirement in the 1990s. On evenings and weekends Ivanka he is fondly remembered for sharing his love of dancing to a generation dedicated herself to the Kobzar National Choir, St. Mary’s Sodality, and of diaspora youth. He was a much-loved fixture at zabavas, where he and Ukrainian events throughout Southern California. She could be found his wife Maria would waltz, tango, and polka the night away. Wolodymyr attending mass on Sundays, cheering at dance performances, supporting was also an ardent fan of the Krylati soccer team. Family gatherings Ridna Shkola, and cooking for fundraisers with her friends at church. especially brought him joy - he loved to sing, tell stories, and share his Ivanka was a mother, aunt, grandmother, and great-grandmother, who cared deeply for her family. homemade slyvovytsia. We will sorely miss the patriarch of our family! Ivanka passed away peacefully on Friday, December 18, 2020. She was 96. Wolodymyr is survived by his loving family: A private burial was held on December 28, 2020, in Glendale, California. devoted wife of 68 years - Maria She would have been very grati ed to see her family come together from son - Roman (Martha) Uzdejczyk all over the world to participate virtually in her funeral and farewell. daughter - Daria (Andrew) Horbachevsky Вічная пам’ять! daughter - Oksana (Michael) Tomaszewsky In mourning, she leaves behind her two sons with their families: grandchildren - Natalie Horbachevsky Juliana Horbachevsky • George and Cheryl (Fletcher) Soluk, with children: George, Marika and Arianwen with husband Ryan Blake. Christine (Frank) Perry Andrew Uzdejczyk • John Lubomyr and Alexandra (Lesia Hawrylak) Soluk, with children: Matthew Tomaszewsky Tanya, Andrew and Renia with husband Roman Brozyna and Lukian Tomaszewsky daughter Sonia. as well as many adored nieces, nephews and extended family She is also remembered by her nieces, nephews, and their families: in the U.S. and Europe. • Ihor and Annie Nesterczuk, George and Oksana Nesterczuk, Olenka Hubickyj, Lydia Hoshovskyj, Roman Hoshovskyj, May his memory be eternal. and Iryna Hoshovskyj. Donations in memory of Wolodymyr can be made to St. Michael’s Thank you for your prayers during this di cult time. Ukrainian Catholic Church in Yonkers or OOL/Organization of the Defense Donations in lieu of  owers may be made to the California Association of Lemkivshchyna. to Aid Ukraine (CAAUkraine.org.) 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 No. 6

BOOK REVIEW: The birth of modern nationalism in the Slavic world

by Andrew Sorokowski The catastrophic effects of 20th-century the Lviv Greek-Catholic seminary, the Rev. nationalism have distorted our view of its Mykola Hordynsky. “Giuseppe Mazzini’s Young Europe and early 19th-century predecessor. Dr. Procyk She also suggests that by blocking publi- the Birth of Modern Nationalism in the demonstrates the influence in the 1830s of cation of the anthology “Zoria” (the prede- Slavic World,” by Anna Procyk. Toronto- Giuseppe Mazzini’s Italian nationalism, cessor of the landmark “Rusalka Buffalo-London: University of Toronto Press, which far from the chauvinism, intolerance, Dnistrovaia” published in Buda in 1837), 2019. 273 pp. ISBN 978-1-4875-0508-0. and authoritarianism with which the term the Lviv censor Venedykt Levytsky may Hardcover, $75. is associated today, envisioned a brother- have protected its young revolutionary The current vogue for conspiracy theo- hood of free and equal nations. This nation- authors from arrest by the Austrian author- ries reminds us how hard it is to either alism also had a spiritual component, as it ities. Along the way, Dr. Procyk takes some prove or disprove the existence of a conspir- held that “the recovery of authentic national jabs at both Soviet and Western scholar- acy. The difficulty is compounded when the traditions and values was essential for the ship, the former for over-stressing Russian alleged conspiracy took place in the distant moral regeneration of a subjugated nation revolutionary influences and missing an past. Even when it is an accepted fact, its and that, without such spiritual renewal, no important classical allusion, the latter for necessarily secretive nature resists histori- meaningful progress in the political, eco- applying 20th-century theoretical concepts ans’ efforts to reconstruct its formation, nomic, and cultural sense was possible” (p. to 19th-century phenomena. activity, and ultimate fate. Historians rely on 198). The volume is handsomely designed, documents, and documents are one thing It was natural that this kind of national- printed and bound, with an attractive jack- that conspirators avoid leaving behind. ism should have found resonance among et illustration by Opanas Zalyvakha. A text In her monograph on Giuseppe Mazzini’s the clergy of Czechs, Slovaks, Ruthenians, of this quality, however, deserves more “Young Europe” and Slavic nationalism, and other peoples. For while the Italian careful proofreading and editing. Anna Procyk untangles the conspiratorial Carbonari movement had been deter- Anna Procyk’s monograph represents webs of revolutionary movements in 1830s minedly anti-clerical, Mazzini, for all his decades of thorough research, much of it Europe – a task that involves considerable opposition to Rome and the Catholic hierar- of Saints Cyril and Methodius. archival. It demonstrates that Ukrainian sleuthing as well as subtle analysis. Her chy, saw the East European parish priest as Numbering Taras Shevchenko and intellectuals, while divided between the main thesis is that, contrary to the accepted a valuable promoter of revolution. And Mykola Kostomarov among its members, Russian and Austrian empires, cultivated view, the Ukrainian revival of the 1830s was although the Polish revolutionaries this short-lived underground group echoed strong ties with their Italian, Polish, Czech, not merely cultural, but decidedly political. remained resentful of the papacy after it the ideals of Young Europe and Young Slovak, and Balkan counterparts. Its value, In fact, the young activists’ cultural projects condemned the November 1830 uprising, Poland in a pan-Slavic context, emphasizing however, goes beyond its important contri- often served as a cover for secret revolution- they at least saw the clergy as a useful link sovereignty, equality, and Christian moral butions to our knowledge of modern Slavic ary work. This explains why during the to the peasantry. and ethical principles (including, the nationalism. At a time when nationalism has “Spring of Nations” in 1848 the two surviv- At the same time, the religious factor in author notes, a rejection of the common degenerated into chauvinism and conse- ing members of the “Ruthenian Triad” could Mazzinian nationalism persisted in its East revolutionary tenet that the end justifies quently fallen into disrepute, it reminds us find common cause with Polish liberal dem- European variants. It is thus not surprising the means). One can see more than a trace that it in its original form, nationalism not ocrats more readily than with the politically that among the nationalist hotbeds of the of the ideology of Young Europe, as well as only united those who shared an ethnic and conservative, clerically dominated and 1830s was the Lutheran seminary in of its Czech and Slovak proponents, in linguistic heritage, but embraced all peoples dynastically loyal Supreme Ruthenian Bratislava, as well as the Greek-Catholic Shevchenko’s 1845 poem “The Heretic,” seeking independence in fraternal equality. Council. This fact has been obscured by seminary in Lviv. A number of early East In Mazzini’s view, “the best-suited nations subsequent developments, when Poles and European “awakeners” were in fact and honoring the Czech reformer Jan Hus. to lead the future democratic revolution in Ukrainians not only went their separate Protestants, such as the Polish Calvinist dedicatedIn the course to the ofscholar her narrative, Pavol Josef Dr. ŠafaříkProcyk Europe would be those nationalities whose ways, but turned against each other. It has Szymon Konarski and the Slovak Lutheran throws new light on some old mysteries, history was not tainted by domination over also been ignored by the nationalist and František Kampelík. The spiritual current such as that involving Mykola Kostomarov others” (p. 161). Thus, “Giuseppe Mazzini’s Soviet historical schools, neither of which was translated figuratively as well as literal- and the “widow Zaleska,” and the author- Young Europe” serves as a reminder to a was much interested in foreign influences ly into the language of the Slavic Society of somewhat demoralized and disoriented or connections except, in the latter case, Saints Cyril and Methodius founded in Kyiv signed by Vasyl Podolynsky but probably European Union of its own core ideals, and Russian ones. in 1846, better known as the Brotherhood authoredship of the by pamphlet the “prefect-conspirator” “Słowo Przestrogi” at of Ukraine’s role in their realization.

Remembering... (Continued from page 14) Mr. Twardowsky launched the inaugural men’s soccer and women’s volleyball tour- naments at the Ukrainian Festival at the Garden State Arts Center in Holmdel, N.J., in 1991 and organized them for many years thereafter. His efforts were not only used for the benefit of local Ukrainian athletes. In 1991 he also launched a fund-raising campaign in the Ukrainian press for the rebirth of sports in Ukraine, which generat- Chornomorska Sitch ed close to $400,000. A remarkable accom- Chornomorska Sitch Sport School participants in 1972. plishment to say the least. Between 1999 and 2007 he wrote sever- in Ukraine” (a compilation of published he received a certificate of recognition from Yarko, and daughter, Darka, are still al books/publications: a history book of articles about USCAK and its activities), the Lviv Institute of Physical Education. He involved with Sitch and show their own Chornomorska Sitch entitled “Sichovymy which was also translated from Ukrainian was recognized by USCAK, the Ukrainian passions within the Ukrainian sports com- Shlachamy” (The Paths of Sitch), which was by Dr. Popovich; and “An Illustrated History National Association, and the National munity. Many of the athletes who attended translated from Ukrainian by Dr. Orest of Chornomorska Sitch.” Olympic Committee of Ukraine for his work the Sports School as participants and/or Popovich; “USCAK – On the Waves of the For his work in developing the athletic in physical education and sports. Mr. played on Sitch teams over the years con- Olympics 1981-1996”; “USCAK and Sports educational movement outside of Ukraine, Twardowsky also received numerous tinue to thrive in the Ukrainian community. awards for his dedication to the Sitch His dedication to Ukrainian sports will Sports School and to the Sitch organization. always be remembered by the people he He was inducted into the Sitch Hall of Fame has touched and inspired over the years ПАЧКИ, АВТОМОБІЛІ on November 15, 2014, and the Ukrainian and his memory will always live on via his ТА КОНТЕЙНЕРИ Sports Hall of Fame in 2016. 54 publications of Our Sport magazine, As mentioned several times already, but most of which we have been able to collect В УКРАЇНУ worth repeating, he was a true sports and digitize as part of the Nash Sport web- enthusiast who could always be seen at any site. (Readers can find additional informa- Туристичні послуги: авіяквитки в Україну та інші країни • Пересилка sporting event, whether it be soccer, volley- tion on the Nash Sport website.) пакунків, автомобілів та контейнерів в Україну та інші країни світу • ball, swimming, table tennis, chess or ten- I’d like to say how much I truly enjoyed Українські та европейські компакт-диски • Українські сувеніри та хустки nis. talking sports with Mr. Twardowsky over While his passing in 2019 has left a big the years and listening to the many sport- ROSELLE, NJ CLIFTON, NJ PHILADELPHIA, PA void in the Ukrainian sports community, his ing events that he had witnessed and writ- 645 W 1st Ave. 565 Clifton Ave. 1916 Welsh Rd., Unit 3 legacy lives on as he has inspired a new ten about. While the stories might become Tel.: 908-241-2190 Tel.: 973-916-1543 Tel.: 215-969-4986 generation to continue the work that he blurry to me over time, I can truly say that 888-336-4776 215-728-6040 and his fellow builders had started. His son, I’ll always remember Mr. Twardowsky. No. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 17 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 No. 6

including traveling to Kyiv six times dur- NEWSBRIEFS ing that period, has yet to speak with Mr. UIMA in Chicago announces (Continued from page 2) Zelenskyy since taking office on January 20. (RFE/RL, with reporting by Reuters) reopening and new policies associated with Ukrainian Parliament dep- U.S. sends third ship into Black Sea uty Andriy Derkach. Among those blacklist- tancing of at least six feet between people; UIMA ed was Mr. Dubinsky. Mr. Derkach, who was The U.S. Navy has sent a third warship and when visiting the galleries, human sanctioned separately in September, has into the Black Sea as it steps up its pres- CHICAGO – The Ukrainian Institute of traffic patterns will be directed in a clock- been linked to efforts by then-President ence in the strategic region. The destroyer Modern Art (UIMA) in Chicago announced wise pattern from the west gallery to the Donald Trump’s allies to find compromis- USS Porter entered the Black Sea on a rou- on January 29 the reopening of the muse- east gallery. ing information on President Joe Biden and tine patrol on January 28, joining destroy- um to the public, amid the shutdown of A docent-led tour is included with the his son, Hunter. Mr. Trump’s request to Mr. er USS Donald Cook and replenishment businesses in Chicago due to the pandemic. price of admission; however, all tours are Zelenskyy during a July 2019 call led the oiler USNS Laramie, the U.S. Navy said in a Face masks are required to enter, and by appointment only and need to be U.S. House of Representatives to impeach statement. It is the largest U.S. Navy pres- masks are available for purchase at the booked in advance. For tour groups with the former president for two crimes. Mr. ence in the Black Sea in three years, UIMA. The museum is open – Wednesday less than 10 people, private tour rates Trump was eventually acquitted by the according to Breaking Defense, and comes to Sunday, 12 p.m. to 4 p.m. – with a limited apply. To book an appointment, send an Senate in early 2020, but the case damaged days after President Joe Biden spoke for capacity, no reservations required. e-mail to: [email protected]. his administration’s relationship with Kyiv. the first time with Russian President However, for parties of five or more visitors The UIMA is dependent on donations Ukraine relies on Washington for support Vladimir Putin. The Porter’s entrance are asked to call ahead of their visit. and community support to preserve and against Russia since Moscow illegally demonstrates “our continued commit- Additional COVID-19 policies include display its internationally renowned per- annexed Crimea in 2014 and backed sepa- ment to security and stability in the region the following: visitors are asked to refrain manent collection and to offer exciting ratists in eastern Ukraine. In late January, with our NATO allies and partners,” from coming to the museum if they are exhibitions and other events for the benefit Ukraine’s presidential office said it had Commander Thomas Ralston said in the symptomatic or have been in contact with of the Chicago-area community. Readers launched a criminal investigation into statement. The Black Sea has taken on someone who has contracted the virus; can make a donation, purchase a member- attempts to interfere in the November U.S. greater strategic importance for the masks must be worn at all times, kept ship or learn about other ways of support- presidential election and would do every- United States and NATO after Russia ille- clean and dry, covering the mouth and ing the UIMA by visiting their website, thing in its power to bring to justice those gally annexed Ukraine’s Crimean nose; visitors are asked to maintain dis- www.uima-chicago.org. who attempted to damage relations Peninsula, giving Moscow a larger pres- between Ukraine and the United States. ence in the region. NATO allies Turkey, (RFE/RL, with reporting by RFE/RL’s Romania, and Bulgaria border the Black Ukrainian Service and Reuters) Sea as do Ukraine and Georgia, which have both expressed interest in joining the Ukraine launches probe of election meddling Western military alliance. Russia quickly TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL WALTER HONCHARYK (973) 292-9800 x3040 Ukraine has launched a criminal inves- responded to the increased U.S. presence or e-mail [email protected] tigation into attempts to interfere in the in the Black Sea, activating its mobile November 2020 U.S. presidential election. coastal-defense anti-ship system in Andriy Yermak, the head of the office of Crimea. (RFE/RL) SERVICES PROFESSIONALS Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, SBU raids firm’s board meeting said on January 28 that Ukraine would do ОКСАНА СТАНЬКО everything in its power to bring to justice Ukraine’s state security service (SBU) is Ліцензований продавець forces within the country and outside it investigating a shareholder meeting of Страхування Життя who attempted to damage relations Motor Sich, the maker of jet engines for the OKSANA STANKO Licensed Life Insurance Agent between Ukraine and the United States. defense industry, after the government- Ukrainian National Assn., Inc. “The State Bureau of Investigation has imposed sanctions against Chinese inves- opened a criminal case,” Mr. Yermak was tors seeking to purchase a stake in the com- Tel.: 908-872-2192 quoted as saying in an interview with the pany. Law enforcement raided Motor Sich email: [email protected] Ukrainian news outlet NV that was posted on January 31 in the southern industrial on the presidential website. “The investi- city of Zaporizhia, where the board meeting gation is under way, and we are waiting was scheduled and where the company’s for its results. The investigation must massive production plant is based. Ukraine SERVICES answer a lot of questions,” Mr. Yermak on January 29 slapped sanctions on four added. The U.S. Treasury Department on Chinese companies seeking to buy a con- January 11 imposed sanctions on several trolling stake in Motor Sich after the United Ukrainian individuals and entities, accus- States added one of them – Beijing Skyri­ ing them of U.S. election interference and zon Aviation – to its own sanctions list two associating with a pro-Russian Ukrainian weeks earlier. The United States has been lawmaker linked to efforts by then pressuring Kyiv to block the sale of the President Donald Trump’s allies to find defense company to companies in China, compromising information on President which Washington sees as its primary glob- OPPORTUNITIES Joe Biden and his son. Mr. Trump’s request al competitor. Vyacheslav Bohuslayev, the to Mr. Zelenskyy during a July 2019 call 82-year-old owner of Motor Sich, has led the House of Representatives to charge backed the Chinese investors saying his EARN EXTRA INCOME! him with two crimes. Mr. Trump was even- company desperately needs new capital to tually acquitted by the Senate in early modernize and stay competitive. However, The Ukrainian Weekly is looking 2020, but the case damaged his adminis- some officials in Ukraine and the United for advertising sales agents. tration’s relationship with Kyiv. Among States worry the investors will steal the For additional information contact those blacklisted was Oleksandr Dubinsky, company’s technology, hurting the Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. from Mr. Zelenskyy’s ruling Servant of the Ukrainian company in the long term. People party. Mr. Dubinsky denied inter- Defense and aviation firms in the United fering in the election. Servant of the States have looked at Motor Sich, but none People may vote to expel Mr. Dubinsky have officially announced an interest in from its parliamentary faction. Mr. Biden, buying a stake in the company to counter who oversaw Ukraine policy while serving the Chinese offer. (RFE/RL, based on 1152 Route 10 West, Suite N, Randolph, NJ 07869 as vice president from 2009 to 2017, reporting by Bloomberg and Reuters) 862-219-5344 KULINSKI MEMORIALS 809 SOUTH MAIN STREET • MANVILLE, NJ 08835 Tel. 800-458-5467 • 908-722-3130 • Fax 908-253-0027 [email protected] • KulinskiMemorials.com • Serving Ukrainian families for over 60 years • Over 40 granite colors to choose from • Custom etchings • House appointments available • Serving the tri-state area Run your advertisement here, • 5 minutes from St. Andrew Ukrainian Cemetery in The Ukrainian Weekly’s CLASSIFIEDS section. in South Bound Brook, NJ No. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 19

February 10 Webinar with Oksana Remeniaka, “Nigra sed Formosa: February 22 Sochor-Parry Memorial Lecture with Oleksii Honcharuk, Online Immersed in Sadness However Beautiful: The Problem of Online “Revolution and Reform in Ukraine: A View From the Returning Lost Artifacts,” Columbia University, Frontlines,” Harvard University, www.huri.harvard.edu or https://harriman.columbia.edu 617-495-4053

February 10 Book discussion, “Farewell to Nukes,” focusing on “Ukraine’s February 24 Webinar with Mayhill Fowler, “Sashka in Kabul?: Women, War Online Nuclear Disarmament: A History” by Yuri Kostenko, with Online and (Un)true War Stories at the Theater of the Carpathian panelists Mariana Budjeryn, Robert A. McConnell, Serhii Plokhii, Military District in Lviv,” Harvard University, Harvard University, www.huri.harvard.edu or 617-495-4053 www.huri.harvard.edu or 617-495-4053

February 17 Webinar with Jose Casanova, “Revisiting Religious Pluralism February 27 Lenten retreat, “Being Orthodox During COVID and Social Online in Ukraine,” Harvard University, www.huri.harvard.edu or Online Unrest” with Fr. Anthony Perkins, Ukrainian Orthodox League, 617-495-4053 [email protected] or https://forms.gle/cN5Mtne35ddavqx99 February 18 Webinar with Walter Zarycky, “Cauldron of Conflict in a (registration required) Online Contemporary Setting: Black Sea Region Significance in the Last 30 Years,” Columbia Alumni Association of Fairfield February 28 Webinar with Kalyna Bezchlibnyk-Butler, “Women of County, [email protected] or 203-302-9954 Online Ravensbruck: Tracing and Documenting Ukrainian Victims of the Ravensbruck Concentration Camp,” Shevchenko Scientific February 19 Lenten fish fry dinners, Syracuse Ukrainian National Society of Canada, Ukrainian Canadian Documentation and through April 2 Home, [email protected] or 315-478-9272 Research Center, www.ucrdc.org or www.ntsh.ca Syracuse, NY Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events February 21 Crafts for Kids, doll making with instruction by Oksana advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Online Pasakas, “Lialka Motanka,” Ukrainian History and Education from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors Center, www.ukrhec.org (free registration required) and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected].

Ukrainians contend for best save in UEFA Champions League

by Matthew Dubas Neshcheret, who hails from Mukachevo, Zakarpattia Oblast, is a product of the Youth Sportive School PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Dynamo Kyiv’s Ruslan Neshcheret, Mukachevo (2010-2014) and later the Dynamo Kyiv 19, and Shakhtar Donetsk’s Anatoliy Trubin, 19, are among Academy (2014-2019), having played seven games in the eight contenders for the title of best save in the group stage UEFA Youth League where he kept four “clean sheets” of the UEFA Champions League (UCL). An online vote is (matches where zero goals were scored against that partic- being hosted on Instagram (www.instagram.com/champi- ular goalie). While representing the Ukrainian national and onsleague), where viewers can vote for their favorite goal- youth teams (Under-15, 2017; U-16, 2017-2018; U-17, keeper of the UCL group stage. The direct website link for 2019; and U-21, 2019-present), Neshcheret has five the vote is: www.instagram.com/p/CJnv4DxDVUx/. appearances to his credit. He made his inaugural appear- Neshcheret (who was 18 at the time; he turned 19 on ance with Dynamo Kyiv in the Ukrainian Premier League January 22) made headlines with his debut performance in on October 31, 2020, against SC Dnipro-1, but was shown a the UCL on November 4, 2020, against Barcelona, to set a red card in the December 5, 2020, match against Mariupol. three-way UCL record of 12 saves in a single match. While preparing to return to training during the winter www.fcdynamo.kiev.ua Despite Dynamo losing 1-2 against Barcelona, Neshcheret break, Neshcheret told the FC Dynamo Kyiv website on blocked shots from renowned strikers Lionel Messi, Ansu January 12 that he looks forward to the training restart. Ruslan Neshcheret, who plays for Dynamo Kyiv, is among eight goalkeepers vying for best save of the Fati and Ousmane Dembélé. His rest period included two weeks off and on January 25 UEFA Champions League group stage. The young Dynamo goalie was the lone available goal- he began doing individual training programs. He refrained keeper for Dynamo during the November match against from even watching soccer matches on television, but While yellow-carded during the match, he made four saves Barcelona, as four other Dynamo goalies (Denis Boyko, admitted to catching a few English Premier League match- that night (three from within the penalty area, three punch Heorhiy Bushchan, Denis Ihnatenko and Valentyn Morgun) es. Dynamo will resume training at a new location for the saves), and he started the match ahead of 36-year-old were unable to play due to COVID-19 regulations. team in the United Arab Emirates and, he noted, “I think it Andriy Pyatov – the Shakhtar stalwart goalkeeper. Among Neshcheret later tested positive for COVID, as announced will be good for us. It’s always nice to see new places.” He is the notable saves included a shot from Romelu Lukaku in by the Dynamo club on November 11, 2020, which pre- aiming high for the second part of the season, focusing for the second half that went over the crossbar. vented him from joining the U-21 Ukrainian national team Dynamo to win the UPL and maintain Dynamo’s position Reportedly, English clubs Arsenal and Chelsea have in the Euro-2021 qualifiers against Malta (November 13) in first place in the UPL standings, win the national cup taken a keen interest in the Ukrainian who was voted and Northern Ireland (November 17). and to reach as far as possible in the Europa League. “Player of the Year” for 2020 by Shakhtar club fans and In what was dubbed by observers as a duel between Other contenders in the best save category included Trubin earned 32.1 percent of the votes cast. In 2020, he two goalkeepers, with Barcelona noted for its higher class Manuel Neuer (Bayern Munich, Germany), David De Gea played in 20 matches with clean sheets in eight games, of outfield players and Dynamo deserving of “the highest (Manchester United, England), Caoimhin Kelleher averaging 3.14 saves per match. Other nominees for the praise for their performance,” noted the website Futbolnyi (Liverpool, England), Peter Gulacsi (Leipzig, Germany), award were Tete (26.7 percent) and Manor Solomon (26 .4 Klub, Neshcheret outshone his Barcelona counterpart, Yann Sommer (Borussia Monchengladbach, Germany) and percent). Pyatov was named Shakhtar’s best player in Marc-Andre Ter Stegen. Edouard Mendy (Chelsea, England). 2019. Dynamo was relegated from the UCL to the UEFA Speaking with Shakhtar News, Trubin said that winter Europa League Round of 32 after the club finished in third training camp has been intense with two training sessions place in Group G of the UCL; Shakhtar experienced a simi- a day and three friendly matches held during the camp. lar fate in its own UCL group stage, finishing in third place When asked how he plans to recover during the short peri- in Group B. od of rest in between training camp sessions, he said: “I In the Europa League, Dynamo is scheduled to play will spend some time with my family, relatives and friends against Club Brugge (Belgium) on February 18 and 25, – that’s the best rest after a long separation. In such condi- while Shakhtar Donetsk plays against Maccabi Tel-Aviv on tions, you rest first of all mentally, getting distracted from those same dates. external circumstances. Two days is just enough to regain Darijo Srna, Shakhtar’s director of football and Croatian your fitness and stay with loved ones.” soccer legend, told Futbol 1: “I’m happy with the draw; it Making his professional debut in a 4-0 Ukrainian could have been much worse. Maccabi Tel-Aviv played well Premier League (UPL) win against Mariupol in May 2019 in the Europa League group stage and we have lots of (with 16 appearances, five in the UCL for 2020-2021), respect for our opponent. But Shakhtar are the favorites in Trubin’s soccer experience began at Azovstal-2 Mariupol this tie as we were semifinalists last season.” (2013-2014), before joining the Shakhtar Donetsk Trubin helps Shakhtar shine Academy in 2014 until 2019. He played for Ukraine’s youth national teams with a total of 13 appearances (Under-17, shakhtar.com Trubin, a Donetsk native who stands at 6-foot-6, earned Shakhtar Donetsk coach Luis Castro presents Anatoliy 2017-2018; U-19, 2018-present, and U-21, 2019-present). Trubin the “Player of the Year” award for his 2020 praise for his coming-of-age performance against Additional credits for Trubin with Shakhtar include win- season with Shakhtar Donetsk during a training camp Internazionale Milan, in a scoreless match on December 9, ning the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 UPL championship as session. 2020, to knock the Italian club out of the competition. well as the 2018-2019 Ukrainian Cup. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 2021 No. 6