Inside: l Ukraine’s security priorities focus of D.C. conference – page 8 l Concert marks composer Skoryk’s 80th birthday – page 11 l Community: D.C., Hamtramck, Pittsburgh, Naples – pages 14-15 he krainian eekly T Published U by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit association Vol. LXXXVI No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 $2.00 Poroshenko pushes for independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church Secures backing for autocephaly from Church leaders, Parliament

by Mark Raczkiewycz KYIV – When President Petro Poroshenko called the leaders of parliamentary factions to his office on April 17 after their morning plenary session, political pundits began to speculate. Would Ukraine’s first wartime president finally deliver on creating a much-needed anti-graft judiciary? Push for establishing an independent financial crimes unit, perhaps call snap parliamentary elections or voice alarm over Russia’s post-Easter military escalation in the Donbas war? It was, instead, a religious affair. One that the president equated with further solidifying the nation’s sovereignty and independence from Russia. Mr. Poroshenko called for the creation of a single unified Ukrainian Orthodox Church, much like his predecessors, Presidents Viktor Yushchenko and Leonid Kuchma, had done while in office. Canonically, Ukraine’s Orthodox Presidential Administration of Ukraine/Mykhailo Palinchak believers have lacked autocephaly, or self-governing Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko meets with the Orthodox Church’s Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, authority, since 1686 when the Kyivan Metropolitan was archbishop of Constantinople-New Rome, during a visit to Turkey on April 9. transferred to the Moscow Patriarchate. The Kremlin doesn’t have the right to interfere in the A solid majority of 268 lawmakers supported the move. Mr. Boiko emphasized that the “state shouldn’t interfere religious affairs of Ukraine, the president told the Thirty-three of the 34 deputies who voted against the for- with religious issues,” explaining why the bloc won’t sup- Verkhovna Rada on April 19, ahead of the national legisla- mation of a unified Orthodox Church in Ukraine were from port the president’s initiative. “All this should be resolved ture’s vote to send Patriarch Bartholomew of the Russia-friendly Opposition Bloc faction headed by ex- by leaders of religious confessions and believers, and poli- Constantinople a note approving the president’s appeal for Energy Minister Yuriy Boiko who served under former ticians have the right to participate in this process only as establishing autocephaly. President Viktor Yanukovych. ordinary parishioners.” “[Having our] own Church is an attribute of an indepen- Consistently, Opposition Bloc lawmakers, including for- Prior to the vote, leaders of two other Orthodox dent nation,” Mr. Poroshenko said. “The state shouldn’t mer Russian citizen Vadim Novinsky, have refrained from Churches in Ukraine – the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – interfere in religious affairs; furthermore, a foreign nation naming Russia an aggressor state in the Donbas war and Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP) and Ukrainian Autocephalous doesn’t have the right to interfere in the religious affairs of have blamed the president of Ukraine for stoking it. Ukraine.” Speaking ahead of the parliamentary vote, faction leader (Continued on page 3) Pope accepts Metropolitan Stefan Soroka’s resignation Bishop Andriy was appointed by Pope Bishop Andriy Rabiy tapped as apostolic administrator Francis as auxiliary bishop for the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of Ukrainian Catholic Metropolitan Philadelphia on August 8, 2017. He was Archeparchy of Philadelphia ordained to the episcopacy by Patriarch Sviatoslav in St. George Ukrainian Catholic PHILADELPHIA – The Vatican Cathedral in Lviv on September 3, 2017. Information Service announced on April 16 Following is a statement released by that the Holy Father has accepted the resig- Metropolitan-Archbishop Soroka. nation for medical reasons of the Most Rev. * * * Stefan Soroka, archbishop of Philadelphia Our heartfelt appreciation is extended to for Ukrainians and metropolitan for the His Holiness, Pope Francis, and to His Ukrainian Catholic Church in the U.S.A. Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, Pope Francis has declared the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Archeparchy of Philadelphia as “sede Churches, and to His Beatitude Sviatoslav vacante.” Bishop Andriy Rabiy has been Shevchuk for their understanding and com- appointed by Pope Francis as the apostolic passion. We are also grateful to the Holy administrator of the Ukrainian Catholic Father for the confidence he has shown in Archeparchy of Philadelphia until the the abilities of Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy in appointment of the new archeparch. appointing him as apostolic administrator Metropolitan Stefan was appointed as for the interim. metropolitan-archbishop by Pope John Paul I take this opportunity to extend my II on November 29, 2000, and installed on February 27, 2001. Metropolitan-Archbishop Stefan Soroka Bishop Andriy Rabiy (Continued on page 3) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 No. 16

ANALYSIS

Ukraine shifts command of forces Ukraine announces plans to quit CIS Merkel that strikes were an “act of aggres- sion” that violated the U.N. Charter and Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko “dealt a substantial blow” to efforts to end serving around occupied Donbas has announced plans to quit the the seven-year war in Syria, it said. The Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS) United States says the April 14 strikes tar- commander of the Joint Forces at the head and terminate parts of a friendship treaty by Nikolai Holomov geted the Syrian government’s chemical- of the Ukrainian response to Russian with Russia. Mr. Poroshenko urged the gov- Eurasia Daily Monitor weapons infrastructure following a suspect- aggression. As such the SBU, National ernment to present a proposal to lawmakers ed poison-gas attack that killed dozens of Always a misnomer, albeit a deliberate Police, National Guard and Border Service on Ukraine’s full withdrawal from the CIS, of civilians in what was then the rebel-held one, Ukraine’s anti-terrorist operation become subservient to JOHAF command which Kyiv has been an associate member town of Douma, near Damascus, on April 7. (ATO) in and surrounding the temporarily and control. since the group was formed following the According to the Kremlin, both leaders occupied territories of Luhansk and According to the Ukrainian chief of the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. Donetsk is slated to come to an end as of General Staff, Viktor Muzhenko, “The law, “Ukraine has never been a [full] member of stressed the importance of an “objective April 30, some four years after it began. The which was signed by the president of the CIS and [given] CIS’s failure to denounce investigation” into the suspected attack in ATO will cease both on paper and with Ukraine on February 20, systematized the Russia’s aggression [in Ukraine], I would ask Douma by inspectors from the Organization regard to the current internal Ukrainian mil- use of the armed forces to fulfill the tasks that we, together with the government, pro- for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons itary command-and-control mechanisms. they performed in the ATO and change the duce a proposal regarding an official termi- (OPCW). Russia claims there was no chemi- This anticipated change in command and format of the main operation. The ATO will nation of our participation in the statutory cal-weapons attack but has not provided control was announced by President Petro be completed, and we will proceed to the organs of the CIS,” Mr. Poroshenko said at a evidence of that assertion. Mr. Putin and Ms. Poroshenko on April 13 (Interfax, April 13). Joint Force. This implies a clear structure of security forum in Kyiv on April 12. Mr. Merkel also discussed the Nord Stream 2 Previously, the ATO was officially under the the management system, the subordination Poroshenko also told the forum that he project, a pipeline running from Russia command and control of the Security of certain forces and military leadership, would propose a draft bill before Parliament through the Baltic Sea to Germany, the Service of Ukraine (SBU), the internal agen- and the creation of a joint operational head- for “an immediate and unilateral termina- Kremlin said. Critics say the pipeline would cy charged with anti-terrorism and counter- quarters as the main governing body of this tion of individual articles” of the Treaty of increase European dependence on Russia intelligence. Clearly, the conflict in eastern operation in the Donetsk and Luhansk Friendship and Cooperation between for energy and enrich its state-owned ener- Ukraine is far more than a terrorist insur- regions” (Radiosvoboda.org, February 22). Ukraine and Russia that were “incompatible gy companies at a time when Moscow gency; and just as clearly, the SBU is not nec- In effect, this law creates the ability to with [Ukraine’s] national interests and its stands accused of endangering European essarily the correct agency to be officially enact something akin to “martial law” with- right to self-defense.” Ukraine has been security through alleged election meddling commanding what is, in reality, a conven- in a contained area as decreed by the presi- fighting against Russia-backed separatists in and other actions. The United States, Poland tional, yet contained, military conflict dent, without the necessity of declaring the eastern regions of Donetsk and Luhansk and the Baltic states oppose the project. Ms. marked by (en)trenched warfare and the martial law across the entirety of the since April 2014, after Russia seized control Merkel appeared to signal a decrease in heavy use of armor and artillery. Ukrainian state. of Ukraine’s Crimean Peninsula. Although support for the planned pipeline last week, Recognition of this fact was codified via New legal concepts, such as “areas of Moscow denies interfering in Ukraine’s saying on April 10 that there were “political urgent draft legislation submitted to the fighting” and “security zones” located with- domestic affairs, the International Criminal considerations” to take into account. She Verkhovna Rada by President Poroshenko in the government-controlled areas along Court (ICC) in November 2016 determined said that she had told Mr. Putin by phone on October 4, 2017, and which subsequent- the contact line, are to be determined by the conflict to be “an international armed that the project could not go ahead without ly became law on February 21 (Rada.gov. the chief of the General Staff, upon the sub- conflict between Ukraine and the Russian clarity on Ukraine’s role as a gas transit ua, accessed April 16). The new law, effec- mission of the newly created position of the Federation.” The conflict has left more than route. Nord Stream 2 would decrease tive the day after it was published in commander of the Joint Operational Forces. 10,300 people dead and some 1.6 million Russia’s reliance on Ukraine as a route for people displaced. Full members of the CIS February, de jure ended the ATO. The com- The exact provisions and limitations of the pumping its gas further West, into the include Russia and eight former Soviet mand and control of the operation, howev- JOHAF will be set by the president. European Union. (RFE/RL) republics – Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, er – due to be transferred to the Joint Additional powers have been granted to Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan U.S. welcomes Ukraine’s NATO aspirations Operational Headquarters of the Armed personnel under JOHAF command regard- and Uzbekistan. (RFE/RL, with reporting by ing their interactions with the civilian popu- U.S. Permanent Representative to NATO Forces (JOHAF) – has in practice not yet Obozrevatel.ua and Pravda.ua) occurred. Indeed it was not until March 16 lation. The law establishes a special regime Ambassador Kay Bailey Hutchison visited that Mr. Poroshenko appointed Lt. Gen. for Ukrainian citizens with regard to enter- Putin, Merkel discuss Nord Stream Kyiv on April 12 and participated in the Sergei Naev as commander of the Joint ing the temporarily occupied territories Kyiv Security Forum, speaking on a panel Operational Headquarters – a new com- through designated checkpoints, and the Russian President Vladimir Putin and that focused on Ukraine’s partnership with mander for an entirely new command-and- JOHAF commander can deny entrance to German Chancellor Angela Merkel have dis- NATO. According to the U.S. Mission to control structure (Interfax, March 16). these. Furthermore, law enforcement and cussed the situation in Syria and a contro- NATO, the ambassador reaffirmed U.S. sup- Lt. Gen. Naev previously held the posi- military service members are allowed to versial gas pipeline project in a telephone port for NATO’s Open Door policy and wel- conversation, the Kremlin says. Mr. Putin tion of deputy chief of staff of the armed strengthen security measures if what critics comed Ukraine’s membership aspirations. criticized the air strikes carried out by the forces and first deputy commander of the equate to martial law is introduced. Those “Accession to NATO membership is a long United States, Britain, and France against land forces. In announcing his new expanded powers include document checks, one for many countries,” Ambassador Syrian government facilities, the Kremlin appointment, President Poroshenko stated, detentions, stops and searches, restrictions said in a statement on April 17. He told Ms. (Continued on page 12) “On my initiative, the Verkhovna Rada on movement, limits on entry to residential adopted a law on the reintegration of and other buildings, as well as the comman- Donbas, which created a new legal basis for deering of private vehicles and communica- repelling enemy aggression in Donbas, and, tions for official use. Moreover, those in the long term, for restoring Ukraine’s ter- involved in the “areas of fighting” and “secu- The Ukrainian Weekly FOUNDED 1933 ritorial integrity. The format of the anti-ter- rity zones” can use, “if absolutely necessary, rorist operation will be changed to the weapons and special means against those An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., operation of the Joint Forces. The Supreme who violate the law or attempt to illegally a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. Armed Forces and other military forma- enter the temporarily occupied territories” Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. tions and law enforcement bodies will (Rada.gov.ua, accessed April 16). Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. answer to the commander of the Joint Some domestic human rights organiza- (ISSN — 0273-9348) Forces. I decided to appoint Lt. Gen. Sergei tions have raised concerns over the rights to The Weekly: UNA: Naev to this post” (Interfax, March 16). freedom of movement for the civilian popu- Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 Disregarding the political content of the lation due to such expanded powers of the law pertaining to Russian responsibilities military, as well as worries that such powers Postmaster, send address changes to: and liabilities, as well as bureaucratic mat- will be abused (Khpg.org, January 18). The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz ters relating to which documents issued All of that said, it remains to be seen if, 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas within the occupied territories Ukraine will and by how much, the April 30 transfer of P.O. Box 280 recognize (birth and death certificates command from the SBU to the military will Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] only), there are certainly some issues that affect daily life for those civilians living in are considered controversial. In particular, and around the frontlines. Ukraine is not The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com questions arise concerning new, broad and known for its efficient or effective imple- possibly unconstitutional presidential pow- mentation of new laws. And its military and The Ukrainian Weekly, April 22, 2018, No. 16, Vol. LXXXVI ers. Additionally, there are legal questions law enforcement commanders rarely allow Copyright © 2018 The Ukrainian Weekly related to the new powers of the command- much discretion to their personnel when er of the Joint Operational Headquarters of enforcing their remits. Thus, many of the the Armed Forces. It is also unclear how changes detailed in the new law may, in fact, ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA previously issued ATO documents will be remain on paper for a long time to come. treated once the ATO has officially ceased to Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 be an operation. Finally, there is the matter The article above is reprinted from e-mail: [email protected] of amending numerous existing domestic Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 laws that mention the ATO. its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, e-mail: [email protected] The new law replacing the ATO puts the www.jamestown.org. No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 3

NEWS ANALYSIS Ukrainian lawmakers urge world to reject Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline

by Oleg Varfolomeyev Officials in Kyiv fear that with the launch Novosti, April 3). Meanwhile, Mr. Miller the diversification of gas resources for the Eurasia Daily Monitor of Nord Stream 2 in the north and another stated that Gazprom’s gas transit via EU (UNIAN, April 6). The EC’s position is pipeline, Turk Stream, which will circum- Ukraine would fall to 10 billion to 15 billion shared by Poland and the three Baltic states. The Ukrainian legislature on April 5 vent Ukraine in the south, Ukraine’s own cubic meters (bcm) per annum after the Last month, the parliamentary speakers of appealed to the international community to gas pipelines could dry up. This would contract expiration and with the launch of Poland, Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia stop the construction of the Nord Stream 2 make it more difficult to secure gas both Turk Stream and Nord Stream 2 – warned other EU countries against support- natural gas pipeline, which is to carry imports: much of the gas Ukraine has been down from 93 bcm of gas pumped through ing Nord Stream 2 (Delfi.ee, March 12). Russian gas to Germany, bypassing Ukraine. buying from the EU since 2015, when gas Ukraine last year. He also said Gazprom However, some member states, includ- The lawmakers said that the European purchases from Gazprom were stopped, intended to negotiate the future of gas tran- ing Germany and Finland, apparently do Commission (EC) should consult with comes from intermediaries re-selling to sit with Ukraine, but not on the conditions not see much harm in the new Gazprom Ukraine on the matter, in line with the Ukraine Gazprom’s gas flowing to Europe spelled out in the recent Stockholm arbitra- pipeline. On April 5, Finland gave its pre- European Union-Ukraine association and via Ukraine’s own pipelines. Also, a signifi- tion court ruling (Riafan.ru, April 4). liminary consent for Nord Stream construc- free trade deal and the European Energy cant cut to Russian gas flows would deprive Last February, Stockholm arbitration tion in its exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Community treaty. Ukrainian deputies also the national oil and gas company Naftogaz judges ruled that Gazprom must pay $4.7 following Germany’s consent in March. urged the West to expand the sanctions Ukrainy of the bulk of its profit. Gas trans- billion in damages to Naftogaz for system- Gazprom is yet to secure consent from imposed on Moscow for its armed aggres- portation and distribution accounted for atically violating the gas transit contract, Denmark and Sweden, which may be hard- sion against Ukraine to additionally cover more than 90 percent of Naftogaz’s profit in and that Naftogaz should buy 4 bcm to 5 er, as these two countries have been more Gazprom and affiliated persons, and to take January-September 2017, which the bcm of gas from Gazprom this year. suspicious of Gazprom’s plans and more regulatory and infrastructural measures to Ukrainian energy company attributed to However, Gazprom refused to sell gas to critical of Moscow in general (Kommersant, cut the influence of Russian firms on inter- both growing transit to the EU and the Ukraine and appealed against the ruling April 5). national markets. Nord Stream 2 would national currency devaluation (Naftogaz. (see EDM, March 5; Interfax, March 6). Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko lead to establishing a Russian monopoly on com, December 19, 2017). The European Commission, which in was outspoken on the German position in the European gas market and eventually Naftogaz CEO Andry Kobolev estimates 2014-2015 successfully mediated gas talks his most recent interview with the German destabilize Europe, the lawmakers warned his company’s revenue from gas transit at between Ukraine and Russia, is ready to newspaper Handelsblatt. He urged German (UNIAN, April 5). $2 billion to $3 billion per annum. That is help Kyiv with implementing the politicians and businessmen to revise their Kyiv’s concern was partially addressed roughly 2.5 percent of Ukraine’s overall Stockholm ruling, the head of the EC energy attitude toward Nord Stream 2, saying that on April 6 by the United States, which added GDP. Losing that after the expiration of the department, Dominique Ristori, told a the pipeline would be “a bribe to the Gazprom chief Alexei Miller to its list of current 10-year gas transit contract with briefing in the Ukrainian capital on April 6. Russian Federation in exchange for loyalty” sanctioned Russian officials, in line with the Gazprom after 2019 would be a “critically He also said the EC would help Ukraine (President.gov.ua, April 9). But until Berlin Countering America’s Adversaries Through negative factor,” he told a conference last organize talks on gas transit after 2019. Gas stops seeing Nord Stream 2 as in its nation- Sanctions Act (CAATSA). Also, in mid-March, October (UNIAN, October 24, 2017). transit through Ukraine is important for the al interest, such appeals are likely to fall on 39 U.S. senators called on the Department of Russian President Vladimir Putin said in EU in the context of supply diversification, deaf ears. Treasury and the Department of State to Turkey on April 3 that the Turk Stream Mr. Ristori noted (Interfax, April 6). apply sanctions on Nord Stream 2 project was being implemented successful- Mr. Ristori also said the EC would not The article above is reprinted from (Naftogaz.com, March 20). But Ukraine ly and that it would eventually bring back Nord Stream 2, as it violates the princi- Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from clearly wants the West to toughen its Russian gas to Southeastern European ples of transparency, non-discrimination its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, response to Gazprom in particular. countries, if they expressed interest (RIA and equal access, and would not facilitate www.jamestown.org.

MP’s arguments that autocephaly can’t be scholar Oleksandr Sagan told The Pope accepts... Poroshenko pushes... given without the approval of the Russian Ukrainian Weekly. Orthodox Church, to which the UOC-MP – Mr. Kuchma made Church unification a (Continued from page 1) (Continued from page 1) which calls itself simply the “Ukrainian priority of national policy in 1998, and heartfelt gratitude to the clergy, religious, Orthodox Church (UAOC) – gave their offi- Orthodox Church,” with purposeful ambi- “Yushchenko paid more attention to this seminarians and laity of the Ukrainian cial approval. guity – is subordinate. matter when he was president when a simi- Catholic Archeparchy of Philadelphia. These Only the Ukrainian Orthodox Church – In an April 18 Facebook post, the arch- lar appeal was sent to the Constantinople past 17 years have been filled with many Moscow Patriarchate (UOC-MP) didn’t sup- bishop said that Moscow tried making it Patriarchate in 2008,” said Mr. Sagan said, challenges and blessings, some unique in port the initiative, saying it would do so mandatory for all 14 Orthodox Churches to who in 2007-2010 headed the government the experience of the Philadelphia only on “canonical grounds,” referring to give further approval for granting auto- agency that registers religious organizations. Archeparchy. Success in responding to the the fact that the UOC-KP isn’t recognized by cephaly during a 2016 gathering of If the Ukrainian Orthodox Church gains varying needs of the archeparchy and its the 14 Orthodox Churches of the Orthodox Churches in Crete. But the autocephaly, it will be the 15th canonically parishes was achieved with the positive and Ecumenical Patriarchate. Moscow consid- Russian Orthodox Church failed. recognized Orthodox Church in the world. hopeful participation of clergy, religious and ers the UOC-KP a renegade Church. Thus, “the practice of granting Tomos on “There is a 15th Orthodox Church in laity enabled by the Grace of God. “I think all this will fizzle out in a huge autocephaly by Constantinople in the 19th- America, which isn’t recognized by Most gratifying to me was the personal way, just like it had many times before. 20th centuries confirms that the Ecumenical Constantinople – Moscow gave it Tomos,” journey of prayer and fraternity experi- There will be a lot of noise in the media, and Patriarchate alone makes this decision, with- the religious scholar noted. then it will be all over,” said the UOC-MP’s enced with the clergy, religious and faithful out the need for prior agreement with other Sixty-eight percent of Ukrainians who deputy chief of communications, Archpriest of the Archeparchy. The highlight of my Churches (it can take into consideration say they believe in God identify with the Mykola Danylevych, on his Facebook page. ministry in leadership was experienced their thoughts, but is not bound by their Orthodox Christian faith, according to a He furthermore stated that the president’s when amidst parishioners and their minis- initiative is beyond his purview as head of positions),” Archbishop Yevstratiy wrote. Razumkov Center nationwide poll conduct- ters in parish liturgical celebrations, visits, state and dismissed the action as a pre-cam- Indeed, unilateral decisions were made ed in March 2017 that didn’t include pilgrimages, festivals and in personal shar- paign political stunt ahead of next year’s by the ecumenical patriarch – who is “the respondents in Russia-occupied Crimea or ing. I was inspired by the dedication of the presidential and parliamentary elections. first among equals” of the 14 Orthodox the Donbas. clergy, religious and faithful and their love “It sounds the same as if we wrote: Churches’ leaders – to give autocephaly to Among them, 17 percent identify with for their Church. ‘[UOC-MP] Metropolitan Onufriy [Orest Orthodox Churches of Estonia in 1996, the Moscow Patriarchate, less than half of I am also especially grateful for the fra- Berezovsky] gathered the Holy Synod of the Bulgaria in 1998 and the Czech Republic the number who identify with the Kyiv ternity and cooperation shared with my UOC. The topic of discussion will be NATO and Slovakia in 2014. Patriarchate. brother bishops of the U.S.A., with whom accession,” the Moscow-affiliated Church Mr. Poroshenko said he would place a The Russian Orthodox Church was the common needs of clergy, religious and spokesperson said. phone call to Ecumenical Patriarch only officially sanctioned spiritual body in faithful were addressed in our regular UOC-KP Patriarch Filaret (Mykhailo Bartholomew to inform him of the the Soviet Union. Sixty-three percent of its meetings, and in gatherings of our Church. Denysenko) backed President Poroshenko’s Verkhovna Rada’s vote on April 19. The two 8,296 parishes in 1940 were located in The Grace of God provided richly in our Church unification initiative after meeting had met for seven hours, according to the Ukraine, and only 11 percent in Russia, many shared endeavors. with him on April 18. presidential administration, during Mr. according to a November 4, 2000, article by The Risen Christ greeted his apostles “This is the spiritual basis of any state. Poroshenko’s visit to Turkey on April 9. Anna Dickinson in Religion, State and with the words, “Peace be with you!” May Without this spiritual basis, the state can- The Ecumenical Patriarchate in the Society, a journal published in the United the peace offered by the Risen Christ char- not exist,” Patriarch Filaret said, adding that Turkish capital of Ankara declined to com- Kingdom. acterize our continued love and service of Kyiv has striven for Church autocephaly for ment when The Ukrainian Weekly made a The repressive KGB of the USSR had our Ukrainian Catholic Church. Let us the 26 years since independence. “Just as a telephone inquiry. “We will respond when heavily infiltrated the Church, according to remember one another in prayer as we seek state cannot exist without an army, it can- there is information to give,” said press numerous scholarly works. By 1992, during the intercession of the Mother of God in this not without a Church. This will be a huge office director Nicholas Papachristou. Ukraine’s first full year as an independent time of transition being experienced within push toward uniting all of Ukrainian society Mr. Poroshenko’s push to unify Ukraine’s country, the UOC-KP was formed with the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of – to recognize a Ukrainian Church.” Orthodox Churches is a “continuation of Metropolitan Filaret (the current patriarch) Philadelphia and in our Ukrainian Catholic UOC-KP spokesperson Archbishop policies pursued by ex-Presidents Viktor at the helm, signaling Kyiv’s break from Church in the USA. Christ is Risen! Yevstratiy (Ivan Zoria) rejected the UOC- Yushchenko and Leonid Kuchma,” religious Moscow. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 No. 16 In Ukraine, Portman sees firsthand evidence of Russian aggression on eastern border

Office of Sen. Rob Portman “The Ukrainian government has done more in the past four years to fight endemic corruption and unaccountable KYIV – U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) visited Ukraine governance than any other Ukrainian government did in during the first week of April, meeting with Ukraine the 25 years since Ukraine regained its independence. President Petro Poroshenko and other Ukrainian leaders, However, it is absolutely critical that progress not stall. as well as think tanks and other opinion leaders, and visit- Ukraine must demonstrate its commitment to long-term ed a forward combat outpost near the line of contact in structural reform by meeting the reform conditions that Donetsk to see firsthand evidence of Russian aggression on will ensure continued Western financial assistance, further the eastern border. Ukraine’s goal of strategic alignment with the United States Sen. Portman, who received the Order of Merit from and NATO, and secure enduring political support from the President Poroshenko during his visit, has led efforts in the United States, the European Union, the IMF, and other U.S. Senate to provide assistance to Ukraine. This was his Western nations and institutions. third visit to the country as he works to strengthen ties “I presented President Poroshenko with a copy of the between the U.S. and Ukraine and support Ukrainian original legislation establishing the Ukraine Security efforts to defend itself from Russian aggression. Assistance Initiative that I worked with Sen. [John] McCain He issued the following statement on his two-day visit. to pass back in 2015. The long-overdue but welcome deci- “I appreciated the opportunity to visit Ukraine, meet sion by the Trump administration to provide defensive with President Poroshenko and other Ukrainian leaders, lethal assistance is the culmination of years of hard work and visit Ukrainian troops at a forward combat outpost by both Ukrainians and Americans, and I hope to see the near the line of contact in Donetsk. As Russian aggression timely delivery of this assistance very soon. I hope that this in eastern Ukraine persists, it is important to reaffirm that gift serves as reminder that all this hard work to strength- the United States stands firmly with Ukraine and the en the ties between us is worth it. America stands by its Ukrainian people in their struggle to defend their indepen- friends, and with the full implementation of this legislation, Facebook/Senator Rob Portman dence and territorial integrity. As someone who has the United States will finally make good on its promise to President Petro Poroshenko of Ukraine awards U.S. worked hard in the Senate to highlight the importance of Ukraine.” Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio) the Order of Merit. ongoing events in Ukraine and increase U.S. military, politi- During his visit to eastern Ukraine, the Ohio senator vis- In Kyiv, Sen. Portman met with senior Ukrainian officials cal and economic support to the country, I remain fully ited forward Ukrainian military positions near the line of including President Poroshenko, Foreign Affairs Minister committed to strengthening this relationship even further contact and received information from Ukrainian com- Pavlo Klimkin, Speaker of the Verkhovna Rada Andriy and look forward to working with the Ukrainian govern- manders on the current state of play of the four-year-old Parubiy, Defense Minister Stepan Poltarak, Chief of Defense ment in the future. conflict with Russian-led separatist forces. Gen. Viktor Muzhenko, and civil society activists and busi- ness leaders. ALSO AVAILABLE: During his meetings, Sen. Portman reaffirmed the * SELECT SEVEN – 3.5%* United States’ strong support for Ukraine, commended the Ukrainian government for its progress on some reforms, PREMIER NINE STARTER FIVE – 3.0%* and urged the government to press ahead with the imple- mentation of critical structural reforms needed to meet Western aid conditions. A co-founder and co-chair of the Senate Ukraine Contact us: Caucus and a member of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, Sen. Portman received the Order of Merit 888-538-2833 from President Poroshenko during his visit to Ukraine. The Order of Merit is given to individuals for outstanding achievements in economics, science, culture, military or * First year rate. Second Year Rate – 3.0%. All annuity rates are subject to change. Not available in all states political spheres of activity. It was established by Ukrainian President Leonid Kuchma in 1996. Those who are awarded the Order of Merit have the official title Chevalier of the Order of Merit. “I’m deeply honored to receive the Order of Merit from Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko in Kyiv. America ANNUITIES stands with the Ukrainian people in their struggle to Ukrainian National Association, Inc. secure a democratic, prosperous, and independent future for Ukraine in the face of Russian aggression,” said 2200 Route 10, Parsippany, NJ 07054 Portman. “I will continue to do everything I can to help General Information: 800-253-9862 • Fax: 973-292-0900 the Ukrainians defend themselves against Russian aggres- www.UkrainianNationalAssociation.org • facebook.com/UkrainianNationalAssociation sion.”

The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund, January-July, 2017 Donations received as part of the 2016-2017 UNA Christmas Card Project Name City, State Amount Blyznak, Nestor Setauket, NY $25 Hawrylciw, Peter Ludlow, MA $15 Lebedowych, Victor & Linda El Paso, TX $200 Bratach, Marlene Somerset, NJ $25 Skyba, Andrij Harwood Hts. IL $15 Pishko, Daria & Michael Chatham, NJ $150 Holian, Michael Elmwood Park, IL $25 Stasiw, Roman Nesconset, NY $12.50 Zachar, Daria Redondo Beach, CA $130 Kuzyszyn, Oksana Fords, NJ $25 Walchuk, Maria & George Annandale, NJ $10 Kuzycz, Jurij Glenn Ellyn, IL $25 Goy, Z New York, NY $10 Haftkowycz, N Wethersfield, CT $100 Lule, Sophia Glenn Ellyn, IL $25 Zaputowycz, Vera Hillsdale, NJ $10 Mostowych, Andrew & Martha Silver Spring, MD $100 NN $25 Bodnarskyj, Maria Depew, NY $10 Sawyn, Alexandra Chicago, IL $100 Nowak, Luba Chicago, IL $25 Pipchik, R Cranford, NJ $10 Sluzar, Natalie North Port, FL $100 Hruszkewycz, Christine Derwood, MD $25 Leshchyshyn, Andrij & Lada Columbia, MD $10 Sarachman, Chrystyna Philadelphia, PA $100 Berestiansky, R Chicago, IL $25 Schmotolocha, Christine Thousand Oaks, CA $10 Cikalo, George West Orange, NJ $100 Kolybabiuk, Maria Moorestown, NJ $25 Keske, Luba Woodland Hills, CA $10 Ermiler, Michael Grosse Pointe, MI $75 Kuczmarskyj, Bohdan Brooklyn Park, MN $25 Kowerko, Oleh Chicago, IL $10 Boyko, Michael Spring Valley, CA $75 Boyko, E Parma, OH $25 Pawluk, Borys Lansdale, PA $10 Mohuchy, W Nutley, NJ $75 Korol, George Shelby Twsp., MI $25 Pokinsky, Daria East Elmhurst, NY $10 Hodiak, Bohdan Stuart, FL $60 Kobryn, Atanas & Katheryna North Port, FL $25 Mostowych, Andrew & Martha Silver Spring, MD $5 Kwitkowsky, Marta Sterling Hts., MI $50 Pastuszek, T Swarthmore, PA $25 Plaskon, Justyn Linden, NJ $5 De Blieu, Martha & Kenneth Stockton, NJ $25 Simon, Lucy Poway, CA $50 Pyk, Emil La Grange, IL $5 Truchly, Lida Chicago, IL $25 Chomyn, Steven Debary, FL $50 Dragan, Myrosia Dobbs Ferry, NY $25 TOTAL: $2,545.00 Kihichak, Maria & Ihor Sherman Oaks, CA $50 Shylo, P Wheeling, IL $25 Kuchta, Eugene & Irene Houston, TX $50 Horobchenko, Ksenia & Volodymyr Warren, MI $25 Sincere thanks to all contributors Pelenski, Jaroslaw New York, NY $37.50 Maciuk, Bohdan Berlin, MD $25 Kulas, Myron La Grange, IL $25 Kowalysko, Michael Gaithersburg, MD $20 to The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund. Nesterczuk, George & Oksana Vienna, VA $25 Petryk, Olga Southgate, MI $20 The Ukrainian Weekly Press Fund is the only Hlady, Michael Dearborn, MI $25 Tyrol, Thomas Saugerties, NY $20 fund dedicated exclusively to supporting Torielli, Marta Colonia, NJ $25 McGrath, Michael Franklin Square, NY $15 the work of this publication. No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 5

THE UKRAINIAN NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FORUM

UNA Almanac for 2018 dedicated Young UNA’ers to centennial of Ukrainian Revolution PARSIPPANY, N.J. – Earlier this year, That is followed by an article about the Svoboda Press released the Almanac of the momentous Battle of Kruty and poetry Ukrainian National Association for 2018, dedicated to the heroes of Kruty. which is dedicated to the centennial of the Other noteworthy articles focus on the Ukrainian Revolution and the establish- Crimean campaign of the Ukrainian ment of the Ukrainian National Republic. National Republic’s army and the biogra- The Ukrainian-language volume’s edi- phy of Hetman Pavlo Skoropadsky. There tor is Petro Chasto, a longtime member of are excerpts from the memoirs of Dmytro the Svoboda editorial staff who has been Dontsov, a Ukrainian nationalist writer in charge of the successful Almanac proj- and political thinker (1883-1973). Mr. ects since the year 2000, always finding Chasto is the author of an article about the fascinating topics and authors for read- year 1918 on the pages of the Svoboda. ers’ enjoyment. Other historic events whose anniver- This year’s Almanac begins with a saries are noted in the 2018 Almanac chronicle of the historic events of 1918. include the 370th anniversary of Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky’s fight for the Ukrainian nation’s independence; Ariana Anya Szul, daughter of Andy C. Caden Randolph Nagy, son of Matthew the 170th of the “Spring of Nations” and Anya H. Szul of Derwood, Md., is a Nagy and Tiffany Bowen of Pittsburgh, is in the Austro-Hungarian Empire; the new member of UNA Branch 163. She was a new member of UNA Branch 96. He was 100th of the November 1 Act in enrolled by Dr. Andrij V.R. Szul, a UNA enrolled by his grandparents Randy and Halychyna; and the 310th of the advisor and Dr. Cathy Pompetti-Szul. Sylvia Nagy. massacre at Baturyn. The 272-page Almanac also includes monthly religious calendars Do you have for 2018, in both Julian and Gregorian versions, as well as a sec- tion of interesting miscellany titled a young UNA’er, “Good to Know.” The cover design is by Ihor or potential Pylypchuk. It is noteworthy that the Almanac is a fund-raiser for the Svoboda young UNA’er Press Fund. This year marks the 104th year that this annual volume in your family? has been released. The 2018 Almanac was mailed to subscribers of Svoboda. Copies of the Almanac are available for $20 Call the UNA Home Office, from: Svoboda, 2200 Route 10, P.O. Brayden Alexander Kuzma, son of Denise 973-292-9800, Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. and Edward Kuzma, is a new member of to find out how to enroll. Please note: checks should be made UNA Branch 171. He was enrolled by his The cover of the UNA Almanac for 2018. payable to UNA Publications. grandparents Kathy and George Kuzma. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 No. 16

WINDOW ON EURASIA The Ukrainian Weekly “Putin’s stranglehold” Poroshenko calls for Ukraine There’s been a flurry of news reports lately about a new gas pipeline project that is meant to bring gas from Russia to Europe across the Baltic Sea. Nord Stream 2 is to formally leave the CIS touted by Gazprom – which is majority owned by the Russian government – as “a by Paul Goble rity, which in part still serves Ukraine’s direct link between Gazprom and the [sic] European consumers.” Gazprom also interests. claims: “It will also ensure a highly reliable supply of Russian gas to Europe.” The Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko Second, many in Kyiv and the West have pipeline’s 1,200-kilometer route will take it from Ust-Luga in the Leningrad region says that Kyiv is preparing the documents been worried about how Moscow might of Russia to Greifswald in Germany; plans are for the pipeline to be completed by necessary to formally leave the Russian- react if Ukraine took this formal step and next year. Germany and Finland have already green-lighted the construction of the dominated Commonwealth of Independent counseled against it, arguing that Ukraine pipeline, and permits are expected to be issued soon by Sweden and Denmark, States, thus making official what has long hasn’t really been part of the organization which also are affected by its under sea route. been a de facto condition and reducing still for some time and that withdrawing won’t Critics say Nord Stream 2 will increase Europe’s dependence on Russia for ener- further the size of a structure Moscow has really change very much but will infuriate gy. Moreover, it will enrich the Russian gas behemoth Gazprom at a time when long counted on to advance its interests. Moscow and thus make the situation worse. Moscow has proven itself, again and again, to be a threat to European security. The In 1991, 11 former Soviet republics And third, the Foreign Affairs Ministry United States, Poland and the three Baltic states are opposed to the project, as is formed the CIS and shortly thereafter earlier made it clear that it was waiting for Ukraine, which has been a victim on more than one occasion of Russia’s use of ener- Georgia was forced to join, a decision it President Poroshenko to act. He now has gy supply as a weapon. reversed after Vladimir Putin invaded that and, consequently, at a time when most The Verkhovna Rada on April 5 appealed to the international community to stop country in 2008. Moldova is on the way out people are focusing on Syria and Western the pipeline, which would lead to a monopoly on the European gas market and as well. With Ukraine’s departure, the CIS sanctions, Ukraine is now ready to take this destabilize Europe. Nord Stream 2 is to bypass Ukraine, through which much of will be reduced to nine – Russia plus step (segodnya.ua/politics/poroshenko- Gazprom’s gas now flows to Europe, making Ukraine and others more vulnerable to Belarus, Armenia, Azerbaijan and the predlozhil-oficialno-vyvesti-ukrainu-iz- Russia’s manipulations. It would also deprive Naftogaz Ukrainy of most of its profit, Central Asian countries. sng-1130143.html). which comes from gas transit fees. President Petro Poroshenko, in an April 9 inter- Even some of them are less than full- As the CIS heads toward a new a dimin- view with Handelsblatt, a German business daily, urged Berlin to abandon plans for fledged allies of Moscow, either because ished status, it is worth recalling how and the pipeline, saying it would result in an “economic and energy blockade.” He also they are trying to balance east and west as why it came into existence in the first place. described the project as “political bribe money for loyalty to Russia.” Belarus, Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan have Many view it as simply a product of the Meanwhile, The Financial Post of Canada and The Telegraph of the United been doing, or because they have been Belavezha accords. But that is incorrect. Kingdom reported this bombshell on April 13: “Vladimir Putin’s stranglehold over going their own way, like Turkmenistan Instead, it was a response by Moscow to European gas supplies has been laid bare by explosive EU documents, exposing and Uzbekistan. And so, yet another the actions of the then-newly independent deliberate violations of EU law and a pattern of political bullying over many years. Russian project is falling apart. Central Asian countries. The longest investigation in EU history found that the Kremlin-controlled energy That Ukraine, the largest and most After the leaders of the three Slavic giant Gazprom has used its enormous power to pressure vulnerable states in important non-Russian member, was going republics agreed to disband the USSR, the Eastern Europe and fragment the EU’s energy market with coercive pricing policies.” to withdraw following the Russian invasion leaders of the Central Asian countries met The newly uncovered information shows there is “no doubt that Germany has been had been signaled by the country’s Foreign to discuss forming a new union among enjoying a sweetheart deal with Gazprom, gaining a competitive advantage in gas Affairs Ministry (segodnya.ua/politics/ themselves. The prospect of some larger costs at the expense of fellow EU economies and leaving frontline states at the mercy mid-ukrainy-podgotovil-predlozheniya-po- Muslim entity to the east was enough to prompt the Russian government to push of Moscow’s strong-arm tactics.” Furthermore, “A leaked document from the vyhodu-iz-sng-i-denonsacii-bolshogo- for what became the CIS. European Commission paints an extraordinary picture of predatory behavior, with dogovora-s-rf-1122343.html). But the actual move had been delayed Some of those taking part saw it as little Gazprom acting as an enforcement arm of Russian foreign policy.” for at least three reasons. more than a divorce court to divide up the The news article went on to accuse the European Union of “turning a blind eye as First, the issue of leaving the CIS had spoils of the empire; others hoped it would it prepares to reach an understanding with Moscow, disregarding fundamental prin- become entangled with that of denouncing be something more, the skeleton around ciples of EU law.” It also quoted Prof. Alan Riley, an expert on EU energy law at the the 1997 Treaty on Friendship, Cooperation which a new political entity could be con- Washington-based Atlantic Council, as stating: “What the documents show is that and Partnership between Ukraine and the structed. Ukraine’s departure more clearly there was systematic abuse of dominant position, and that it was clearly done for Russian Federation in which Moscow and than the exit of anyone else shows that the political purposes.” Kyiv had reaffirmed the inviolability of exist- former were right and the latter are Thus, it is clear that Nord Stream 2 is no simple commercial project, but an exten- ing borders and respect for territorial integ- doomed to be disappointed. sion of the Kremlin’s power further into Europe. Kyiv must create an international day April Turning the pages back... in memory of victims of Russian aggression Eight years ago, on April 26, 2010, the Zoloti Vorota corpora- tion, which included the Sevastopolbud company, noted that the by Paul Goble on the other, is not simply a military one, but 26 number of transactions with buyers from Russia over the previ- is one about symbols. Moscow has under- 2010 ous two months had increased in Sevastopol by 20-30 percent The current conflict between Russia and stood this with its “hybrid” war approach, (which at the time was four to five apartments a month). the West provides an opportunity to create and it is time to turn the tables on it, accord- The real number may have been higher, as some Russian buy- an International Day of Memory of the ing to the Ukrainian commentator writing ers might have used relatives in Ukraine, thereby avoiding being counted among non-resi- Victims of Russian Aggression in order to be under the name Setovoy Orakul. dents. The majority of buyers were identified as servicemen of the Russian Black Sea Fleet “an eternal reminder to Russians both now “The establishment of [such a day],” he who had reached pension age, as well as residents of Moscow, St. Petersburg and the Ural and future generations that they must take writes in the April 14 issue of Delovaya Federal Region. responsibility before history for themselves Stolitsa, “would have enormous symbolic The Russian Black Sea Fleet’s lease at Sevastopol was extended an additional 25 years and their leaders,” a Kyiv commentator says. meaning both as a day for grieving and as to 2042, after an agreement was signed on April 21, 2010, in Kharkiv by Presidents Viktor The conflict between Russia, on the one opportunity to remind the world that Yanukovych and Dimitri Medvedev of Russia. In exchange, Ukraine was to receive a 30 hand, and Ukraine and the rest of the world, [Vladimir] Putin has not ended the war percent discount on imported gas from Gazprom for 10 years. against our country” (dsnews.ua/politics/ Critics said that the extension of the Russian BSF basing at Sevastopol constituted a for- Paul Goble is a long-time specialist on kleymo-na-russkih-kogda-ustanovyat-den- eign military base on the territory of Ukraine, in violation of the Constitution of Ukraine, ethnic and religious questions in Eurasia pamyati-zhertv-rossiyskoy-14042018100 with some calling for Mr. Yanukovych’s impeachment. The lease was originally set to who has served in various capacities in the 000). expire in 2017. U.S. State Department, the Central Ukraine should establish this day as a Yulia Tymoshenko, leader of the opposition, warned that what happened in Georgia in Intelligence Agency and the International national one immediately, the commentator 2008 could happen to Ukraine, and in a worst-case scenario. “Sevastopol is the first step,” Broadcasting Bureau, as well as at the Voice continues, and then work to secure its rec- she said. “Without doubt, Crimea will be next if the gang continues its politics. Ukraine has of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio ognition on the international level, much as begun the process of losing its independence.” Liberty and the Carnegie Endowment for it has done with the Holodomor. At present, Similar criticism came from the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) and International Peace. The article above is “about 20 countries” recognize that the other diaspora organizations. reprinted with permission from his blog Famine of 1932-1933 was an act of geno- Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada passed the agreement with 236 votes, amid egg-throwing called “Window on Eurasia” (http://windo- cide “by the totalitarian Stalinist regime,” and brawling in the hall. Outside the Parliament building, police and protesters clashed in woneurasia2.blogspot.com/). and more will in the future, he notes. similar fashion. U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, while on a visit to Estonia on April 22, called the lease a “balanced approach to [Ukraine’s] foreign policy.” Mr. Yanukovych pledged to Want to keep up to date on developments in Ukraine? improve and deepen relations between the U.S. and Ukraine. “At the same time, he has made it clear that he will continue to work together with Russia. Given Ukraine’s geo- graphic position, that balancing act is a hard one, but it makes sense to us,” she said. The Ukrainian Weekly Source: “Russians buying housing in Crimea,” Ukrinform, The Ukrainian Weekly, May 2, 2010. LIKE on Facebook to read the latest! No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 7

From a Canadian Angle by Oksana Bashuk Hepburn

Punishing Russia at the G-7 Ukraine’s neighbor foreign ministers’ meeting Belarus and Washington It appears that the patience of many sanctions and continued its soft and mili- I suspect most Ukrainian Americans, manifestations of genuine Belarusian cul- Western states with Russia has run its tary attacks globally. Enough of your atroci- including myself, grew up in the United tural, linguistic and historical identity. Since course. The mood will undoubtedly have ties – we’re not letting you continue getting States not giving much thought to Belarus, Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, an under- repercussions at the G-7 foreign ministers away with your crimes. This cut Russia’s Ukraine’s closest ethnic and linguistic kin. standably nervous Mr. Lukashenka has meeting on April 22 in Toronto. arrogance somewhat. According to Forbes Perhaps one reason for this was that rela- loosened up a bit, allowing more expres- Recently Ukraine’s Western allies added magazine, the latest sanctions cost the oli- tions between the two historically have sion of Belarusian identity. top oligarchs and officials to sanctions garch state some $12 billion in one day. been peaceful, in contrast to just about all Notwithstanding his wariness of Russia, Mr. already levelled against Russia for invading Still, Russia’s response has been, as of Ukraine’s other neighbors that had Lukashenka has nobody to blame but him- Crimea and the Donbas. This time, it was always, to brush off blame and withhold invaded and occupied parts of Ukraine at self, as it is his profound lack of political for poisoning British citizens and the chem- contrition. Its Foreign Affairs Ministry has one time or another. Both Ukraine and and economic reforms (in what some refer ical warfare carnage in Syria. As the United puffed that, despite sanctions, “Russia will Belarus trace their heritage to Kyivan Rus’, to as a “Soviet-lite” economy) over the last States added its heft, Russia’s stock fell in not deviate from its chosen direction.” and Belarus and much of Ukraine were part quarter century that has made his country global markets, the ruble tumbled. Russia’s new “direction” claims that its only of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania and later seriously vulnerable to Russia and weak- When the agenda for the G-7’s June allies are “the army and the navy.” the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth. ened Belarus’s independence. 2018 summit was set last year, the world Sounds like President Vladimir Putin is Both were called Ruthenians, notwith- Since his election as president in 1994, was much different. Then, there was talk gearing up for something. He is baring his standing some differences. Indeed, the Mr. Lukashenka has consolidated his rule about Russia’s attacks on the U.S. presiden- teeth in attempts to reconstruct Russia’s (Old) Ruthenian language, the predecessor over all institutions and undermined the tial election and uncomfortable coziness former empire, the Soviet Union. To him of modern Belarusian and Ukrainian, was rule of law through authoritarian means. He between people close to both presidents. the price for the chaos he has rained global- an official language of the Grand Duchy and has routinely violated human rights and Today, the whiff of scandal streaming from ly – ruined economies and cities, half a mil- Commonwealth. Both have much more in democratic freedoms, repressed civil society President Donald Trump’s entourage has lion dead, hundreds of thousands wound- common with each other from a historical, and the media. No election under his rule turned into a major stink. ed, millions displaced – is irrelevant. He cultural and linguistic perspective than has been free and fair. At times he has been However, the latest addition to the sanc- wants more. either does with Russia. more repressive; at other times, including in tions was different. It picked on the heavy That is not a far-fetched notion. His I’ve never had a problem communicating the last few years, a little bit less so, in part hitters. It sent a stronger message to aggression derives from treating the major- with Belarusian-speakers when speaking due to Western pressure and sanctions. Not Russia, which had mocked the previous ity of Russia’s citizens – living in Third Ukrainian. Several years ago, after observing surprisingly, Mr. Lukashenka’s relations with World subsistence – as cannon fodder in Belarusian elections for the Parliamentary the U.S. (as well as with the European Oksana Bashuk Hepburn may be con- Assembly of the Organization for Security Union) have been strained. tacted at [email protected]. (Continued on page 18) and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE), I was From the beginning, the Helsinki asked to do an interview at the Radio Commission was in the forefront of U.S. Liberty studios in Minsk. When I said I don’t efforts in calling attention to the Lukashenka LETTER TO THE EDITOR speak Belarusian, my interviewer simply regime’s human rights violations, curtail- told me to speak Ukrainian, as Belarusian- ment of political and civil rights. Among its criticize Russian actions, and I will not try. language listeners would understand me. efforts, the commission called for a full Actions speak Neither will I excuse his inelegant behavior Despite the commonalities, the Belarusians accounting of the 1999-2000 disappearanc- or uncontrolled tweeting. However, no mat- and Ukrainians are distinct peoples, and es of opposition leaders and a journalist, louder than words ter how warranted the criticism, is it not each has its own proud culture, beautiful the release of political prisoners and an end unreasonable to conclude that if one wants language and complex history. to attacks against civil society. As the com- Dear Editor: to talk to an adversarial partner, he should It was only in 1994, when Belarus was mission policy advisor whose responsibili- not begin by vilifying him before negotia- ties included Belarus, I organized hearings, In Orest Deychakiwsky’s comprehensive added to my country responsibilities at the tions take place? That is a well-known public briefings, meetings with Belarusian analysis “Ukraine’s security matters to U.S. Helsinki Commission, that I began to negotiating strategy. While Mr. Trump may officials, as well as members of the demo- Washington” (March 25), two points stand delve into that country’s history. Until then, be short on denouncing Russia’s transgres- cratic opposition and civil society, and out: I had assumed that Belarusians historically sions, his actions since the summer of 2017 drafted resolutions, statements and other (1) That President Barack Obama was were mostly Orthodox. But I was surprised suggest the exact opposite. communications. Pro-democracy activists rightly criticized for not providing lethal to learn that the Belarusian population was 1. During the August 24, 2017, in Belarus and the Belarusian American defense weapons to Ukraine, despite bipar- mostly Greek-Catholic (“Uniate”) following Independence Day parade in Kyiv, Secretary community welcomed and supported our tisan Congressional support and the urging the 1596 Union of Brest, when Ruthenian of Defense James Mattis’s presence on the efforts. The Lukashenka regime did not. of key players in his own administration; Orthodox Church eparchies in the Polish- reviewing stand sent an unequivocal mes- The regime was especially unhappy with (2) That actions such as sanctions and Lithuanian Commonwealth broke relations sage that America stands behind Ukraine. with the Orthodox Church and entered into three public laws on Belarus in 2004, 2006 assistance matter. and 2011 (the only laws specifically on that Moreover, the inclusion of a U.S. Army unit communion with Rome. Having attended Regarding the first point, there is now country in U.S. history), each sponsored by in the parade, spoke volumes. St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic grade widespread consensus that Mr. Obama’s then-Commission Chairman Rep. Chris 2. Soon after, the U.S. sent the lethal school in Parma, Ohio, back in the 1960s, I foreign policy was an unmitigated disaster, Smith. The three Belarus Democracy Acts Javelins to Ukraine, something the 44th was further surprised that the school’s primarily because he did not have the provided financial assistance to the belea- president refused to even consider for fear namesake spent much of his time in interest or the backbone to stand up to guered democratic political opposition, NGOs of provoking Mr. Putin. Both of these moves Belarus, where he was a bishop and even- Vladimir Putin when it counted. If he had and independent media, supported radio, by the Trump administration were strong tually murdered. Belarus ceased to be only acted in a timely fashion, the crisis in TV and Internet broadcasting into Belarus, messages that enraged Mr. Putin. Eastern-rite Catholic when, along with Ukraine would likely have been greatly mit- and called for targeted sanctions, including 3. After the Skripal poisoning, Mr. Trump much of right-bank Ukraine, it came under igated, if not ended. His rhetorical support visa denials and the blocking the assets of approved the expulsion of 60 Russian dip- Russian domination in the late 1700s. This for Ukraine, like his “red line” in Syria, was senior officials and their cronies, and even lomats, letting the world know where he was when Russian Empress Catherine the meaningless words and no substitute for some major state-owned enterprises. stood regarding Russia’s provocations and Great began the process of forcible conver- action. As a concrete expression of displeasure attempted murders. sions that led eventually to the complete Which brings me to the second point: at our role in drafting these laws, which 4. Finally, on April 6, the Trump adminis- suppression of the Uniate Church in 1839. lack of action. Although words are some- continue to guide U.S. policy towards tration unleashed additional sanctions Today, most Belarusians are Orthodox, times important, actions are what matter. aimed at 17 senior Russian government Belarus, my Helsinki Commission colleague In this respect, Mr. Obama was an empty at least nominally, and most are linguisti- Ron McNamara and I were denied visas to officials and seven Russian oligarchs with cally Russified. One rarely hears Belarusian suit, and it was unfortunate that so many ties to Mr. Putin and 12 companies they observe the Belarusian presidential elec- spoken in the large cities. Ironically, the “Ukrainians for Obama” had been twice own or control. tions in 2006. Our having diplomatic pass- Russifier-in-Chief has been none other than deceived by this president who in the final These punitive actions by the Trump ports and intercessions with the Belarusian independent Belarus’s president for all but analysis was no friend of Ukraine. Thus, administration were taken in response to government by both the State Department the first three years of its independence, instead of supporting John McCain (a prov- ongoing aggression across the globe: in and the OSCE did not help. In subsequent the dictatorial Alyaksandr Lukashenka. He en friend of Ukraine) in 2008, and Mitt Crimea, eastern Ukraine and Syria. years we were let back into the country to Romney (who said Russia is our number has cultivated a largely Soviet Belarusian observe elections in what one senior Bottom line: President Trump’s actions identity, downplaying and even persecuting one geopolitical threat) in 2012, they opted speak louder than his words. Belarusian official quietly but half-jokingly for Mr. Obama both times. told me was “a sign of our liberalization.” As for words, it is hard to defend Jaroslaw Martyniuk Orest Deychakiwsky may be reached at President Donald Trump’s hesitation to Washington [email protected]. (Continued on page 11) 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 No. 16

Ukraine’s security priorities topic of conference in Washington

by Andrij Dobriansky UCCA

CONCLUSION On Thursday, March 8, the National Press Club hosted the ninth U.S.-Ukraine Security Dialogue in Washington, the latest collabor- ative effort by the Center for U.S.-Ukrainian Relations (CUSUR), the American Foreign Policy Council (AFPC) and the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA). The conference aimed to bring the best and latest information about Ukraine’s National Security Strategy into the mainstream con- Carly Frame, legislative assistant to Andrij Dobriansky versation about international affairs in the Rep. Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.) Glen Grant, British defense expert. United States. A story in the April 15 issue of this newspaper summarized the first half of description of this force, he broke down needs to resolve, including the logistics of Congressman Brendan Boyle (D-Pa.), who the conference; a summary of the afternoon Russian forces in Ukraine into their compo- supporting an active defense barrier across had earlier opened the conference with his sessions follows. nent parts, beginning with “some number” 450 kilometers, as well as an improved remarks. Ms. Frame detailed the origins of of local Ukrainian citizens at the lowest lev- command-and-control system. the U.S.-Ukraine Cybersecurity Cooperation A series of senior U.S. and Ukrainian els (with reasons for enlistment ranging Mr. Grant posed a question to the confer- Act of 2017, introduced by Rep. Boyle and strategists as well as defense and security from matters of basic survival, to the lack of ence attendees at the start of his presenta- Rep. Brian Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), both mem- experts set out in the second half of the con- available employment, as well as other tion: “Can the Ukrainian military face bers of the Congressional Ukraine Caucus. ference to present a variety of proposals means of “Russian motivation”); ethnic Russia if they come?” The key to his prem- Mr. Mehrle, an active participant in the “Identifying Ukraine’s Security Priorities” at Russian volunteers with various citizen- ise was that, if Russia were to decide on a day’s question and answer sessions follow- the ninth U.S.-Ukraine Security Dialogue. ships; and mercenaries from Russia. In con- full military takeover of Ukraine, it would ing each panel, placed the topic of cyberse- Central to the debate of the day were the trast, Ukraine’s intelligence services under- not stay in the Donbas, around which curity within the greater context of Russia remarks by Maj. Gen. Volodymyr Havrylov, stand that “regular, active-duty Russian mil- Ukraine’s military installations are now testing the resolve of the United States and defense attaché to the Embassy of Ukraine itary” personnel staff the command posi- aligned. the West through various means – testing in the U.S., who has been called upon tions of this occupational force, with their Mr. Grant’s opening slide presentation that, in his estimation, “we are not doing a repeatedly to keep his American counter- identities altered along with forged docu- showed no fewer than 18 possible attack very good job understanding, recognizing parts updated on the modernization of the ments in case of capture. vectors against Ukraine that involves three- and responding to.” Armed Forces of Ukraine. Also key were the Due to this command structure, he said quarters of Ukraine’s borders. To be pre- Mr. Flores expanded the topic by framing remarks of Glen Grant, a British defense this Russian occupational force is fully inte- pared against such a possibility, Mr. Grant cybersecurity as a concern for the entire expert working in Ukraine since 2010 and grated within the command-and-control argued that this situational reality argues in world. Whereas, “some of the smartest the author of a much discussed submission structure of the Russian military base favor of “mobility for the Armed Forces of computer scientists in the world are in published by the Kyiv Post titled, “How across the Ukrainian border in Rostov, Ukraine” and “agility from the officers with- Ukraine,” Russia views Ukraine as “an easy Ukraine can build an Army to Beat Putin,” which has a “direct line” of communication in the Armed Forces to make quick military target, ” he said, with a lot of critical infra- which offered criticisms on the specifics of to Moscow. In practical terms, this means decisions and to fight where they can, when structure upon which to test its cyberwar- Ukraine’s military development since 2014. that within the occupied territory of they have to.” fare techniques. The United States and Maj. Gen. Havrylov presented at a stand- Ukraine, Russia actively controls the com- In this assessment, both he and the mili- allies such as Israel have developed effec- alone session on “The Present State of the munications of its occupational force, the tary attaché were in agreement that the tive strategies of cyberdefense that Mr. Russo-Ukraine Conflict” that was prefaced deployment of UAVs (drones) and other air issues plaguing Ukraine’s army are not in Flores recommended implementing in by the remarks of Stefan Romaniw, secre- defenses over the occupied territories, as the fighting forces themselves, but in the Ukraine, before Russia develops and tests a tary-general of the Ukrainian World well as electronic warfare, long-range artil- logistics and command-and-control struc- cyberattack in Ukraine that it considers Congress and president of the Australian lery and the deployment of mechanized ture. Chief on Mr. Grant’s list of issues that successful enough to test against advanced Federation of Ukrainian Organizations. Mr. tank units. need to be addressed is the lack of a “cen- industrial countries. Romaniw summarized the present state of As far as the state of Ukraine’s military, tral military coordinating body” in Ukraine. Ambassador Roman Popadiuk, the first Ukraine-Russia relations, citing Russia’s con- Maj. Gen. Havrylov described a completely The Joint Headquarters of the Ministry of U.S. ambassador to Ukraine and the new tinued flaunting of international accords, the transformed army after three years of con- Defense does not incorporate the com- chairman of the World Affairs Councils of continued dissemination by Russia of anti- tinued war. Having visited the frontlines mand structures of the Ukrainian Navy, Air America, chaired the panel on “Pinpointing Ukrainian propaganda throughout Russian repeatedly since the beginning of the war, Force, or National Police. To Mr. Grant, this Ukraine’s Needs in Defending Against and international media, Russia’s continued he said he no longer sees checkpoints represents a big gap in Ukraine’s defense Information Warfare.” He opened the panel cyberattacks against Ukraine, and Russia’s staffed by soldiers in mismatched uniforms, policy, and is something that Russia would with a summary of Russian techniques repeated denials of any involvement in the armed with a variety of weapons and com- exploit in undertaking a further invasion. used to sow disinformation, including military actions in Ukraine. municating through cellphones. Today’s In between the aforementioned presen- denying involvement in the face of over- Commenting on the latest news out of Ukrainian army, he reported, is staffed by tations were two additional panel discus- whelming evidence, the overuse of legal Great Britain concerning the poisoning of combat-experienced personnel that look sions. Chairing the panel on “Defining jargon to obscure the meaning of one’s former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter professional and are equipped with the Ukraine’s Cybersecurity Priorities” was actions, and the concealment of one’s actu- Yulia, Mr. Romaniw likened the brazen necessary equipment to carry out their Ambassador William Courtney, executive al goals by minimizing or limiting stated attack to the assassination of Stepan assigned missions. Furthermore, Ukraine director of the RAND Business Leaders objectives. These techniques, complement- Bandera in 1959: “same method, same today has “a generation of young officers Forum. The panel discussion featured input ed with a show of force, constitute a approach, same reason.” who know how to fight Russians” and are by Alex Mehrle, president of Ukraine Global Russian toolbox of disinformation with Maj. Gen. Havrylov detailed the invasion highly motivated. Trade & Investor; Bob Flores, co-founder of which to fool the rest of the world. of Ukrainian territories by what he referred Maj. Gen. Havrylov acknowledged that the strategic consulting firm Cognitio; and Janusz Bugajski of the Center for to as a Russian occupational force. In his there certainly are problems that Ukraine Carly Frame, legislative assistant to European Policy Analysis followed with an outline of what information warfare can entail, defining its components and its means of attack and analyzing Russia’s cho- sen targets of information attack in Ukraine. He spoke about how best to deploy an effective defense against an information war, including the develop- ment of a sustained offensive against the primary aggressor, Russia. Serhii Vysotskyi, a member of Ukraine’s Parliament, discussed his reasoning in determining why Russia believes that its informational warfare allows it to win. For Russia, he said, this involves maintaining an unbroken line of counterintelligence – “the system” – within and beyond its borders for nearly a century. The last member of the panel, Herman Herman Pirchner (left), founding president of the American Walter Zaryckyj (left) of the Center for U.S.-Ukrainian Pirchner, founding president of the Foreign Policy Council, and Janusz Bugajski of the Center for Relations and Maj. Gen. Volodymyr Havrylov, defense attaché European Policy Analysis. to the Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S. (Continued on page 16) No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 9 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 No. 16 No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 11

Composer Myroslav Skoryk’s 80th birthday marked with concert at UIA by Adrian Bryttan tion teachers included Stanislav Liudkevych. Post-graduate work was at the NEW YORK – Composer Myroslav Skoryk Moscow Conservatory with composer is one of those rare beings who succeeds at Dmitry Kabalevsky. Several of Mr. Skoryk’s anything he touches; his many beautifully compositions later came to be required ele- crafted, accessible works have made him a ments at international solo competitions. beloved figure for audiences. He is also one He has nurtured many notable students, of the rare composers whose works are, at including Yevhen Stankovych, who was the same time, esteemed by professionals honored last season with an author’s con- and performed all over the globe. On March cert at the Ukrainian Institute of America. 4, an overflow crowd vied for seats at the After UIA President Daniel G. Swistel, Ukrainian Institute of America (UIA) for the M.D. introduced the octogenarian compos- concert “Celebrating Composer Myroslav er, the new consul general of Ukraine in Skoryk’s 80th Birthday.” New York, Oleksii Holubov, offered his trib- A quick glance at YouTube shows 5,080 ute as well. video performances of Mr. Skoryk’s compo- Themes sitions. In addition to ubiquitous incarna- tions of his deservedly popular “Melody,” Pianist Mykola Suk opened the first half you can see excerpts from the opera of the celebratory concert with Mr. Skoryk’s “Moses” – composed for the 2001 visit of five movement “Partita No. 5 in modo retro Pope John Paul II, nine violin concertos, for Solo Piano” (1975). This pastiche began cello and piano concertos, music for film, with a Baroque styled “Prelude,” followed Denis Andreev ballets and large orchestral works, chamber by a whimsical Ravel-like “Waltz,” per- UIA Executive Director Olena Sidlovych holds the birthday cake for composer music for solo instruments and ensembles, formed with subtle rubato by Mr. Suk. Myroslav Skoryk. On the left is oboist Igor Leschishin. psalms and songs, and works in jazz idiom. “Aria” began slyly with a Chopin flavor, only From the 1970s on, I have often per- to be met with more acerbic harmonies, Variations cism, while the dance-like repetitions were formed Mr. Skoryk’s “Violin Sonata No.1,” while the concluding “Finale” was a merry Exotic Ukrainian folk music has always energetically performed. and later conducted the Orchestral Triptych romp with unexpected syncopations and a been a font of inspiration for the composer, Gran pausa from “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” in rollicking Latin American middle section. who was born not far from the Carpathian Ukraine, and his “Melody” with the Seoul An ambiguous ending pulsated with alter- Mountains. One of Mr. Skoryk’s earliest Ms. Ivakhiv thanked audience members Philharmonic in Korea. I can certainly attest nating C7 and D7 chords. works to bring him international acclaim for their support of Ukrainian music, and that Mr. Skoryk’s music is just as enjoyable This homage to the giants who came was the atmospheric score composed in now invited listeners to peruse and help to perform as it is to listen to. before him illustrates how Mr. Skoryk can Hutsul style for Sergei Paradzhanov’s 1965 promulgate the composer’s published make many styles his own, and yet synthe- film “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors.” works displayed in the foyer. Prelude Following intermission, the Momenta size a personal creation in a contemporary The final piece of the first half was in a String Quartet performed Mr. Skoryk’s Four score years ago, Myroslav Skoryk idiom. The composer is, indeed, a revered similar idiom. The “Carpathian Rhapsody” “Diptych for String Quartet” (1993). was born in Lviv. When he was 9 years old, pedagogue at conservatories in Lviv and was arranged by the composer for solo vio- Interestingly, this composition began in an Mr. Skoryk’s family was deported to Siberia, Kyiv. His delving into modern harmonies lin and string quartet in 2005. Dvorak, Liszt, early Schoenbergian style of “Transfigured where Myroslav grew up. They did not led to his dissertation on the modal system Bartok and other composers utilized a rhap- Night.” All the interweaving strands of this return to Lviv until 1955. His parents loved in Prokofiev and writing a text, “The sody format to alternate the improvisatory expressionistic opening were performed music but were not professionals. However, Structural Aspects of Chords in 20th and whirlwind dance styles of folk music. with a suitable rich tone by the performers. Mr. Skoryk’s great aunt was the world- Century Music” (1983). The Momenta String Quartet – violins After agitato slashes à la Bernard renowned soprano Solomiya Krushelnytska, Mr. Suk was then joined at the piano by Emilie-Anne Gendron and Alex Shiozaki, vio- Herrmann’s music for “Psycho,” the music who was chosen by Giacomo Puccini to pre- the composer to perform “Three Jazz list Stephanie Griffin, cellist Michael Haas – unexpectedly veers into a funky, quasi-jazz miere his successful revision of the opera Pieces for Four Hands.” Beginning with was joined by double bassist Ryan Kamm. playfulness before closing on an echo of the “Madama Butterfly.” (Mr. Skoryk has com- “Pleasant Stroll” evoking Scott Joplin, this is The artistic director of Music at the opening. The quartet delivered a fine per- posed a ballet named after this famous rela- a composition geared to elicit smiles in toe- Institute, Solomiya Ivakhiv, negotiated all formance of this difficult score. tive, plus a keyboard fantasy on themes from tapping audiences. The closing movement, the demands and expressive potential of “Madama Butterfly.”) “In Folk Style,” incorporated a Hutsul-type the solo violin part. Ms. Ivakhiv certainly Finale Between 1955 and 1960, he studied at theme in a jazzy style. As one might expect, understands the idiom, and her singing The last composition, “Concerto for the Lviv Conservatory, where his composi- this built to a boisterous close. tone was well-suited to the opening lyri- Oboe and String Orchestra,” was commis- sioned in 2017 by Igor Leschishin, principal oboist of the Kennedy Center Opera House Orchestra. Spanning 14 minutes, it begins with plaintive phrases that transform into short jagged interchanges between the soloist and strings. It is a substantial piece, although the oboe writing began to feel a bit square and repetitious, not fully utilizing the soaring improvisational capability of the instru- ment. Mr. Leschishin possesses a lovely, centered tone with an attractive, controlled vibrato. He met all the quick hazards of this concerto with solid technique. Unexpectedly, a stately lyrical melody appeared midway in the concerto. This tune crystalized the essence of Ukrainian ethnic music without any direct quotes, much like Dvorak did in his “Slavonic Dances.” This haunting melody was beauti- fully decorated with string counterpoint and immediately modulated. Now the strings repeated the tune, with the oboe contributing embroidery around it. It was an affecting, lovely moment and a Violinist Solomiya Ivakhiv with members of the Momenta String Pianists Mykola Suk and Myroslav Skoryk play four memorable calling card left by the master Quartet. hands jazz. composer, Myroslav Skoryk.

government take steps toward democracy Lukashenka will change his stripes and freedom, democracy and a European future. Ukraine’s neighbor... and respect for human rights. Indeed, there become anything even nearly approaching a A genuinely independent, secure, democratic has been a partial waiver of some sanctions as full-fledged democrat or engage in meaning- Belarus that is true to its Belarusian identity (Continued from page 7) Belarus has taken some minor positive steps, ful political or economic reforms. and where the rule of law and human rights The U.S. approach towards Belarus, also such as releases of political prisoners (putting Nevertheless, it is important for the West are respected is most assuredly not in reflected in language in the Belarus aside the fact that they should never have to keep encouraging even small steps Moscow’s interests. However, it is in U.S. and Democracy Acts, has been to leave the door been imprisoned in the first place). Having towards positive change in Belarus and sup- the West’s interests. And it is very much in the open to better relations should the Belarusian said that, it is highly doubtful that Mr. port those brave Belarusians struggling for interests of Belarus’s closest kin – Ukraine. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 No. 16

NEWSBRIEFS (Continued from page 2) A UKRAINIAN SUMMER Hutchison said. ‘The Annual National Program is the next step NATO and Ukraine appears May 6, 2018, in The Ukrainian Weekly can do together.” She welcomed Ukraine’s progress in defense and democratic We invite readers and community organizations to submit reform, and urged the country to “stamp articles, plus photos, on upcoming summer camps, courses, out corruption.” The ambassador met with Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko and workshops and other events underscored the commitment of both the U.S. and NATO to Ukraine’s sovereignty and Editorial materials deadline: territorial integrity. Ambassador Hutchison concluded her trip by visiting the Maidan APRIL 23 • [email protected] Memorial, where she tied a ribbon of We welcome remembrance in memory of the scores of Advertising deadline: brave Ukrainians who gave their lives for advertisements APRIL 26 • [email protected] the dream of a better Ukraine in 2014, the for this special U.S. Mission to NATO reported. (Ukrainian issue Canadian Congress Daily Briefing) Man denies sabotage charges in Crimea Ukrainian national Yevhen Panov plead- ed not guilty to sabotage charges as a To have your festival listed, send information on date, venue and whom to contact for more information Russia-imposed court in annexed Crimea (for example: July 12-15, Ukrainian Cultural Festival, Soyuzivka Heritage Center, Kerhonkson, NY, 845-626-5641 started his trial on April 16. Mr. Panov or www.soyuzivka.com) to: [email protected]. called the charges against him “fantasies DEADLINE for submissions to be included in our festival listing: APRIL 26. created by the investigators” and rejected them. Russian authorities arrested Mr. Panov and another Ukrainian national, Andriy Zakhtey, in August 2017 and charged them with being a “saboteur group” that was planning a series of terror- ist attacks on the peninsula. Mr. Zakhtey, who pleaded guilty in an agreement with investigators, was tried in February and sentenced to six and a half years in prison. Kyiv has rejected Russian charges against the two men and has called their arrests “a provocation.” Russia has prosecuted and imprisoned several Ukrainians on what rights activists say are trumped-up, politi- cally motivated charges since Moscow seized control of the Crimea region in March 2014. In March 2017, the European Parliament called on Russia to free more than 30 Ukrainian citizens who were in prison or other conditions of restricted freedom in Russia, Crimea, and parts of eastern Ukraine that are controlled by Russia-backed separatists. (Crimea Desk, RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service) Savchenko resumes hunger strike Ukrainian lawmaker Nadiya Savchenko, who is in jail pending trial on charges of plotting a terrorist attack on Parliament with grenades and automatic weapons, has resumed a hunger strike. Ms. Savchenko’s lawyer Oleh Solovey said on April 16 that his client had to stop the hunger strike after she fainted during a lie-detector test on April 13. According to Mr. Solovey, Ms. Savchenko agreed to stop the hunger strike for three days in order to be able to complete the polygraph. He said she feels well now and can submit to the test on April 17. Ms. Savchenko announced the hunger strike on March 23 as a Kyiv court placed her under two-month pretrial arrest. One day earlier, fellow lawmakers voted to strip her of her immunity from prosecution and authorized her arrest. Ms. Savchenko and Volodymyr Ruban are accused of plotting to overthrow the government, carry out a “large-scale ter- rorist attack” in central Kyiv, and kill senior officials. Mr. Ruban was detained earlier in March while crossing into government-con- trolled territory in eastern Ukraine, allegedly with large amounts of weapons and ammu- nition hidden in a shipment of furniture. Ms. Savchenko maintains her innocence and says her arrest was illegal. (RFE/RL, with reporting by pravda.ua) Police investigate grenade attack Ukrainian authorities say they are inves- tigating a rocket-propelled-grenade attack on a building that houses the offices of two of Ukraine’s top independent news outlets

(Continued on page 13) No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 13 Manor College encourages students to “Soar in 4” College adds bachelor’s degree programs and tuition freeze, offers tuition discount

by Emily Carroll The college officially announced these two new programs Manor College in late January during an on-campus event titled “Soar in 4,” where attendees created their own ice cream sundaes and JENKINTOWN, Pa. – Furthering the dynamic develop- heard announcements from Dr. Jonathan Peri, president; ments that have occurred at Manor College over the past Joanna Bassert, VMD, director and professor of veterinary two years – the college fully rebranded, adopting the tag- technology; Jody Weaver CVT, alumni and practice manager line “You Belong Here,” welcomed the largest New Student at the Rau Animal Hospital; and Mike Landis, Liberal Studies Orientation in its history; undertook major renovations, Program director. They spoke about the new programs, as including to the library, outdoor learning spaces, class- well as the careers available with the degrees. rooms, offices and, most recently, the Ukrainian Heritage The B.S in Veterinary Technology and Practice Museum – Manor College made its most anticipated Management degree prepares students for leadership posi- announcement yet. tions in a variety of animal- and veterinary-related business- Starting in the fall of 2018 Manor will offer a Bachelor of es. This program builds upon Manor College’s AVMA- Science in Veterinary Technology and Practice Management accredited Program of Veterinary Technology. Students in and a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Studies with concentra- this program will be equipped for positions in organizations tions in pre-law, social sciences, history, entrepreneurship, such as veterinary practices, pet sitting and grooming busi- Kelly Peiffer and interdisciplinary studies (pending approval by the nesses, biomedical research facilities, diagnostic laborato- Joanna Bassert, VMD, professor of veterinary technolo- Middle States Commission on Higher Education). ries, animal shelters, mobile veterinary clinics, zoo or wild- gy, at the launch day dubbed “Soar in 4,” when Manor For many years, Manor students have asked for four- life management and USDA or other public sector positions. College announced two new bachelor’s degree programs. year degree programs to be added to Manor’s already “This program is an exciting and cost effective way to robust associate degree program offerings. With the continue your education towards a bachelor’s degree, gain tiated The Basil Guarantee, a tuition discount for all stu- majority of Manor graduates continuing their education to business know-how and expand employment opportuni- dents enrolling in either bachelor’s degree program. With obtain a bachelor’s degree and having to transfer to other ties beyond clinical practice,” said Dr. Bassert. this guarantee, students are eligible to receive a 20 percent institutions, students have been continually wanting to The B.A in Liberal Studies exposes students to liberal discount off tuition for the final two years (junior and pursue their degrees at Manor. arts curriculum. Critical thinking, problem-solving and the senior years) of the program. This tuition discount cannot Not only is Manor College expanding its academic offer- ability to research and analyze information are just a few of be combined with other tuition discounts, but it can be ings to accommodate more students, but it is also taking the skills students will learn in this program. Prof. Landis used with scholarships and financial aid. This is a limited action to make sure that students can afford their education. added, “The Liberal Studies baccalaureate/bachelor’s pro- time offer that is available for all students who enroll in the While Manor College is already the best-priced private gram at Manor provides students with an academic curric- programs between fall 2018 and spring 2020. Manor is Catholic college in Pennsylvania, it has just announced a ulum through which they can realize and optimize their currently accepting applications for these new programs. tuition freeze for the 2018-2019 academic year. When the deep intellectual and creative visions – their native pas- Located in suburban Philadelphia, Manor College is college froze tuition for 2016-2017, Manor saw an increase sions for inquiry and learning. The program, with its five America’s only institution of higher education with a in enrollment for new students and returning students, distinct concentration or learning-path options, is intrinsi- Ukrainian heritage. Manor is a private two-year college and received much positive feedback from students and cally interdisciplinary and exploratory, giving each student offering more than 30 associate degree programs in allied families about Manor’s reasonable price point. the capacity and flexibility to customize her or his learning health, science and math; business technology and legal Manor is looking for even better results from this new path in a manner conducive to realizing unique academic studies; and the liberal arts to traditional age and adult stu- tuition freeze because now students can earn a four-year and vocational-oriented purposes and visions.” dents. For more information, readers may go to www. degree for the same affordable cost. In tandem with these new programs, Manor College ini- manor.edu.

to expedite the adoption of legislation that which marks the frontline between territory ufacturing, services and construction was NEWSBRIEFS will eliminate the requirement for civic controlled by government forces and Russia- robust, but weaknesses in the agriculture activists to submit electronic declarations backed separatists. The family members and mining sectors, together with delays in (Continued from page 12) of assets, and any liability of those who were residents of Pischane village in the key reforms to further strengthen investor in central Kyiv as “hooliganism.” The attack failed to file such declarations,” stated UWC Stanytsia Luhanska district of the Luhansk confidence contributed to the modest over- on an entrance to the Kyivmiskbud build- President Eugene Czolij, according to an region and were reported missing by a all growth performance.” The World Bank ing, located in Kyiv’s Pechersk neighbor- April 11 release. (UWC) neighbor on April 7, according to police. The also noted: “Economic growth is projected hood not far from the government quarter, International Committee of the Red Cross at 3.5 percent in 2018 if pending reforms in Ukrainian soldier killed in the east occurred around 2 a.m. local time on April (ICRC) identified one of the women as Nina anti-corruption, land markets, state-owned 13, Ukraine’s Internal Affairs Ministry, cit- Ukraine says one of its soldiers has been Vasylivna, a Pischane community leader banks and privatization can be advanced in ing the Kyiv police department, said in a killed and five wounded in clashes in the who talked with the organization days earli- the next few months. This would provide statement. Police arrived at the scene after country’s east. The Defense Ministry said on er about raising chickens and growing vege- an important signal to investors. If reforms neighbors reported hearing an explosion. April 17 that Russia-backed separatists vio- tables in greenhouses to feed residents of are delayed, growth could drop below cur- Across the street from the Kyivmiskbud lated a frequently breached ceasefire 52 the frontline village. Police believe the family rent levels in an uncertain macroeconomic building they discovered a spent tube used times during the previous 24 hours, firing drove over an anti-tank mine with the car, environment as financing risks rapidly to fire a rocket-propelled grenade (RPG). artillery, machine guns, grenade launchers resulting in a large blast that killed all four. increase.” In addition, it reported that Photos of the RPG tube published by and mortars. Meanwhile, the militants Photographs posted to the website of “Ukraine faces major financing needs to Hromadske.TV and Ukrayinska Pravda, two claimed that Ukrainian government forces Ukraine’s National Police show tire tracks repay public debt and fiscal pressures from higher public sector wages and social bene- independent media outlets with offices violated the ceasefire by shelling the sepa- beside a swathe of scorched earth several fits in 2018 and 2019. Mobilizing adequate inside the building, show it to be one simi- ratist-controlled town of Horlivka in the meters wide, the destroyed car, and what international financing by completing lar to those used by forces fighting in east- Donetsk region. Ceasefire deals announced appears to be one of the bodies splayed out pending reforms in the months ahead will ern Ukraine. Other photographs showed as part of the Minsk accords – September nearby. Investigators first classified the inci- be important to maintain macroeconomic damage to the office building’s exterior, as 2014 and February 2015 pacts aimed to dent as a homicide but have since changed it stability.” Other items noted in the report: well as that of a neighboring restaurant. resolve the conflict – have failed to hold. A to a terrorist act. Forensic experts, bomb dis- “Meeting the fiscal deficit target of 2.5 per- The Internal Affairs Ministry said investiga- new ceasefire agreement was reached in posal technicians and members of an inves- cent of GDP in 2018 will require improving tors were looking through security-camera late 2017 and was meant to begin on tigative team were working at the scene. The targeting of housing utility subsidies, mak- footage and explosives experts were comb- December 23, but both sides have accused United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) ing further wage increases contingent on ing the site for clues. (RFE/RL, with report- has called the area of eastern Ukraine where each other of repeated violations since then. measures to optimize the school and hospi- ing by Christopher Miller in Kyiv) fighting has entered its fifth year “one of the (RFE/RL, with reporting by DAN and TASS) tal network and public-sector staffing, and most mine-contaminated places on Earth.” identifying affordable options to update UWC on electronic declarations for activists Family of four killed in mine blast UNICEF and the ICRC have both repeatedly public sector pensions. …The recently The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) Ukrainian police say a missing family of called on all warring parties to immediately adopted reforms in education, health, and has called upon the governing authorities four has been killed in an anti-tank mine end the use of mines, which they say have public administration seek to improve com- of Ukraine to annul legislation which explosion near the frontline in the eastern contaminated communities and put resi- pensation for teachers, doctors and public requires civic activists working on prevent- region of Luhansk, an area the United dents – especially children – in constant servants to strengthen incentives and ing and combating corruption to electroni- Nations has called one of the most mine- danger of injury and death. (RFE/RL) attract quality personnel. Achieving this in cally submit public declarations of their contaminated places on Earth. Police offi- World Bank reports on Ukraine a fiscally affordable manner will require assets. The need to annul the requirement cers discovered the bodies of a couple – both coordinating further increases in salaries for civic activists to submit e-declarations the man and the woman were 57 years old – The World Bank stated on April 10 that with time-bound measures to optimize was articulated by Ambassadors of G-7 their 38-year-old son, and his common-law “Ukraine’s economy grew by 2.5 percent in staffing and the school and hospital net- countries and leaders of the European wife, also 38, near the charred remains of a 2017, the second year of modest growth, work.” (Ukrainian Canadian Congress Daily, Union. “The Ukrainian World Congress calls Chevrolet Niva. The incident took place in a according to the World Bank’s latest based on the World Bank’s Ukraine upon the governing authorities of Ukraine wooded area near the Siversky Donets River, Ukraine Economic Update. Growth in man- Economic Update) 14 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 No. 16

COMMUNITY CHRONICLE “Music of Survival” – story of the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus – shown in Pittsburgh

by Nickolas C. Kotow pations of Ukraine, to preserve the music of the bandura, which is “pleasing to God and PITTSBURGH – The film “Music of the people.” Survival” (“Brave Seventeen” in Ukrainian) The bandura, the national instrument of was premiered in Pittsburgh on Sunday, Ukraine, found its earliest inception during March 18, to an enthusiastic audience fill- the Kozak state in Ukraine, when individual ing the hall of the Ukrainian American kobzars roamed the countryside playing Citizens Club of Carnegie, Pa. Producer, and singing songs. The bandura is a multi- director and storyteller Orest Sushko, stringed musical instrument, whose strings whose father, Makar Sushko, was the first are individually tuned, and uniquely shaped Canadian member of the Ukrainian to permit playing with both hands at once, Bandurist Chorus, introduced the film, hav- unlike a guitar, or lute, or tambura, which is ing been invited to show it in Pittsburgh by played with only one hand. It is intimately the president of the Ukrainian tied to Ukrainian culture, so much so that Technological Society, George Honchar. its playing was banned in 1876 by the tsar The film presents the story of the brave of Muscovy. 17 men who formed the Ukrainian In 1902 Hnat Khotkevych conceived of Bandurist Chorus in the winter of 1941 in the idea of having multiple players in an Kyiv under German occupation and who, ensemble and chorus. It was not until united together, endured throughout World Ukrainian independence in 1918 that the War II, and the German and Russian occu- first professional bandurist ensemble con- Courtesy of Orest Sushko On location in Kharkiv during the filming of “The Music of Survival” (from left) are: Kostyantyn Cheremsky, Volodymyr Voyt Jr., Orest Sushko, Ao Loo and Michael Ellis. cert was established in Kyiv. Many bandurist ordered to perform in the work camps of ensembles were created at this time, and a the Ostarbeiters across Germany to raise golden era of bandura performance and con- their spirits, so that their labor production certs ensued. But many players were killed would increase. The chorus eventually in the initial years of World War II. returned to Ukraine, but were forced to flee In the winter of 1941, surviving mem- to Germany in the face of the Russian bers along with newly recruited musicians advancing forces. came together as an ensemble of 17 to form After enduring and surviving the final the Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus. Hryhory days of the Battle of Berlin in April of 1945, Kytasty was appointed as its artistic direc- the chorus members fled to Munich in the tor. This was at the time of the German American Zone and were eventually liberat- occupation, and concerts were permitted ed by the Americans. In 1949, the chorus only with its approval. members were accepted into the United Their desire to be free from both Nazi States as refugees and settled in the Detroit and Soviet persecution was pointedly over- area. stated during one of the ensemble’s perfor- “Music of Survival” is available in both mances, which led to its eviction from English- and Ukrainian-language versions

Roksana Korchynsky Ukraine. Chorus members were forcibly of a single DVD disc that can be ordered transported to Germany in August of 1942. online through musicofsurvival.com. It can At the screening of the documentary in Pittsburgh: (seated from left) Orest Sushko, Roman Komichak, (standing, first row) Ted Sywy, Nickolas C. Kotow, Olexsandra Their fate was unknown. Their desire for also be streamed and downloaded online Korenovska, Anne Konecky, Marijka Zaliszczuk, Jaroslawa Komichak, Prof. Adriana freedom had led them to become workers from the same website. It is said that there N. Helbig, (standing, second row) Yaroslaw Hodowanec, George Honchar, Svitlana themselves. After several months of incar- Honchar and Damian Karpa. ceration and hard labor, the chorus was (Continued on page 16)

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COMMUNITY CHRONICLE Kipiani champions history at UCNS Ukrainian American Archives and Museum presents contemporary Ukrainian poetry in translation

by Ksenia Rychtycka HAMTRAMCK, Mich. – From its earliest oral traditions, poetry has been an integral part of Ukrainian culture – a vital force of its very psyche. In recent times, this was evi- denced during the Euro-Maidan when Taras Shevchenko’s poems were recited over loudspeakers, and poets joined in the pro- tests in full force. While the war in eastern Ukraine continues to impact families across the nation as they grapple with grief, trau- ma, depression and displacement, many contemporary poets highlight and ponder current realities, the nation’s past and what lies ahead. Iryna Starovoyt is one such poet. On Saturday, March 10, the Ukrainian American Archives and Museum of Detroit Jaroslaw Dutkewych (UAAM) presented “Grace Mahoney Reads Speaker Vakhtang Kipiani with his audience at the Ukrainian Catholic National Iryna Starovoyt’s Poems.” This was a Shrine of the Holy Family in Washington. unique bilingual reading of Ukrainian poet- that Istorychna Pravda has distributed ry from Ms. Starovoyt’s collection “A Field by Andrew Sorokowski of Foundlings.” What made it especially Grace Mahoney during her reading and throughout Ukraine, particularly in the presentation at the Ukrainian American WASHINGTON – Ukrainians still do not eastern and southern regions where compelling was that translator Ms. Archives and Museum in Hamtramck, have a sufficient knowledge and under- Ukrainian history is poorly understood. He Mahoney presented the poems side-by- Mich. side, first with a video of Ms. Starovoyt standing of their own history. For while noted that even schoolteachers are often reading in the original Ukrainian, followed Ukrainian historical scholarship has made insufficiently knowledgeable about by the English translation. The result pro- great strides since independence, its results Ukrainian history to pass it on to their stu- vided an immediacy and intimacy that have not penetrated the general popula- dents. (This writer can attest that Mr. made it easy to connect to the poetry. tion. Even the war of independence, the Kipiani is not exaggerating; while teaching Ms. Starovoyt is a poet, translator, essay- Holodomor, the second world war and the in Ukraine, he was shocked to find that ist and scholar who was born and currently Holocaust are insufficiently known. Thus, fourth-year university students had only resides in Lviv. She is also an associate pro- there is a need for a responsible “popular the vaguest idea of what happened in fessor in the Department of Cultural Studies history” that is more accessible than the Ukraine in 1918.) at Ukrainian Catholic University. Her first writings of professional scholarship but The talk was followed by questions and collection of poems, “No Longer Limpid,” more balanced and accurate than what is answers. Afterwards, Mr. Kipiani chatted was well-received by critics when it was often presented by the media. with the attendees over wine and cheese. published in 1997. In 2012-2013, Ms. This is the mission of Vakhtang Kipiani, This was the second in this year’s series Starovoyt was a research associate on the director of Istorychna Pravda (Historical of events co-sponsored by the Shevchenko Memory at War project at the University of Truth), who spoke at the Ukrainian Catholic Scientific Society. On March 16, the society Groningen in the Netherlands, where she National Shrine of the Holy Family (UCNS) participated in a Taras Shevchenko celebra- completed her second collection titled “The in Washington on February 27. tion at the Embassy of Ukraine, co-spon- Groningen Manuscript.” Her poems have Co-sponsored by the Shevchenko sored by the local branches of the Ukrainian been included in poetry anthologies, set to Scientific Society Washington Chapter, and Academy of Arts and Sciences and the music, and translated and published into the UCNS Library, and introduced by soci- Ukrainian Engineers’ Society of America, Polish, Lithuanian, Armenian and English. ety president Dr. Bohdana Urbanovych, Mr. and featuring speaker Prof. Leonid Ms. Starovoyt’s poetry delves into the Kipiani’s informal presentation in the Rudnytzky and pianist Serhii Morozov. past of the 20th century, one filled with UCNS Shawel Room provided examples of Future events of the Shevchenko Society immeasurable horror for her homeland. popular historical ignorance and how it DC Chapter and the UCNS Library, to be She shines the light on generational memo- can be remedied. He pointed out the irony held at the UCNS, include a book signing by “A Field of Foundlings” by Iryna of asking young people to defend their Jaroslaw Martyniuk on April 15, a lecture Starovoyt, translated by Grace Mahoney. (Continued on page 18) country without educating them about on Ukraine’s foreign policy by Dr. Lidiya events like the Battle of Kruty, where in Zubytska on April 29, a lecture by Prof. January 1918 young volunteers gave their Jean-Pierre Cap on Mazepa in French litera- lives not, as some believe, for a lost cause, ture on May 13, and a poetry reading by but in order to slow the advance of the Red Yarka Bohach on May 20. Pysanka master artist conducts Army long enough to permit international recognition of the Ukrainian Republic at Andrew Sorokowski is secretary of the workshop in Naples, Fla. Brest-Litovsk. Shevchenko Scientific Society’s Washington Mr. Kipiani cited the hundreds of videos Chapter.

Andrij Atanowsky NAPLES, Fla. – A pysanka workshop was recently conducted by Naples Branch 136 of the Ukrainian National Women’s League of America at Lely South Regional Library. The instructor was master pysanka artist and UNWLA member Stephanie Troy. The 25 participants enthusiastically embraced this art form; many had a natural talent. The Bohdana Urbanovych event was deemed by organizers to be a tremendous success. In addition, there are Vakhtang Kipiani of Istorychna Pravda speaks at an event co-sponsored by the two ongoing displays of Ukrainian embroidery, pysanky and other artifacts at the Estero Shevchenko Scientific Society Washington Chapter and the Library of the Ukrainian Regional Library and at the Lely Library; they can be viewed through April 30. Catholic National Shrine. – Natalka Santarsiero 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 No. 16

be done if the goal is to successfully coun- end of World War II which has been Ukraine’s security... ter Russia’s information war, he added. repeatedly dismissed by Vladimir Putin’s “Music of Survival...” Earlier in the day, Ukraine’s Russia. Two examples of dismissed inter- (Continued from page 8) (Continued from page 14) Ambassador to the United States Valeriy national agreements include Russia’s vio- American Foreign Policy Council, had Chaly was joined by two members of lation of the Treaty on Friendship, are tears at every concert of the Ukrainian spent time last summer as part of an offi- Ukraine’s Parliament, Oksana Syroyid Cooperation and Partnership between Bandurist Chorus. The same can be said of every cial delegation of international security (Samopomich), vice-chair of the Ukraine and the Russian Federation showing of “Music of Survival.” One must hear experts visiting Ukraine, including mem- Verkhovna Rada; and Artur Herasymov, signed in 1997, as well as the oft-cited the last survivors of the early chorus, Petro bers of the Jamestown Foundation, the (Petro Poroshenko Bloc), chair of the Budapest Memorandum on Security Kytasty and Mykola Liskiwsky, sharing their sto- Hudson Institute and The Heritage Rada’s Committee on Military-Industrial Assurances for Ukraine signed in 1994 by ries to really grasp and understand their courage Foundation, alongside Ukrainian Complex and Military-Technical the United States, Russia and the United in preserving the bandura and Ukrainian culture. American representatives of the CUSUR Cooperation, to present on the topic of Kingdom. The Pittsburgh showing was sponsored by the and the UCCA. “Why Ukrainian Security Matters – The In answer to the title of his presenta- Ukrainian National Association, Ukrainian He observed that “the peak time of Ukrainian Perspective.” tion, Mr. Sherr quoted Russia’s Foreign Selfreliance of Western Pennsylvania Federal Russian propaganda effectiveness has To offer another perspective, Chatham Affairs Minister Sergei Lavrov, who stated Credit Union and the Ukrainian Technological already passed,” as evidenced by the House’s James Sherr spoke at a stand- in October 2014 that “Moldova and the Society of Pittsburgh. Mr. Sushko announced that growing number of nations unwilling to alone session in the afternoon titled “Why Baltic states need to consider events in showings are being planned throughout the tolerate Russia’s obfuscations at the Ukrainian Security Matters - A Western Ukraine and draw conclusions.” If inter- American and Canadian Ukrainian communities. United Nations, as well as a similar level Perspective.” He was introduced by Orest national agreements such as those Sponsorship of the film that helps bring this of unity in this regard in the U.S. legisla- Deychakiwsky of the U.S.-Ukraine Ukraine signed on to can be so easily dis- story to local communities is aiding in developing tive and executive branches, which Foundation, who posed the question missed, then NATO members Estonia, a platform of education and advocacy centered includes the opinions he hears from both “Does the West understand why Latvia and Lithuania must surely ques- on delivering this rich musical and cultural legacy the departments of State and Defense. Ukraine’s security matters?” Mr. Sherr re- tion if their binding agreements would to future generations. The educational initiative However, in the digital realm, particularly emphasized the seriousness of the “legal remain inviolable in the coming years, he under way includes gifting a copy of the film to social media, there is still a lot of work to and treaty regime” developed after the noted. every graduating student of schools of Ukrainian studies across North America, every graduating year, in perpetuity. The first DVDs were gifted to Ukrainian school graduates after a screening of the film for students of St Vladimir’s Orthodox Parish school in Parma, Ohio, on March 24. Gratitude was expressed to Roman Komichak, host of the Ukrainian Radio Program in Pittsburgh, for announcements, to Greg Sembrat, president of the Carnegie Ukrainian Club, for hall use and food offerings, to Fred Yasnowsky for audio set-up and to Svitlana Honchar for deli- cious Ukrainian pastries. The Ukrainian Bandurist Chorus has announced a 100th anniversary tour for 2018. (Details on concert dates, times and places will be forthcoming.) The Pittsburgh community was pleased to learn of the concert date of September 9 in Youngstown, Ohio, and especially to see Nick Hladio of nearby Ambridge, Pa., who is now a member of the ensemble.

Courtesy of Orest Sushko Filmmaker Orest Sushko (left) with the last two survivors of the early Bandurist Chorus, Mykola Liskiwsky (center) and Petro Kytasty. Subscribe to HE KRAINIAN EEKLY T U or W

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ther speak nor keep silent./Losing their feedback and supports my decisions – few Chernetsky and Ostap Kin, will be released Ukrainian American... language, words grow in power.” translators are so lucky!” this fall. Ms. Mahoney is a Ph.D student in the Presented in a dual-language format, “A “A Field of Foundlings” may be ordered (Continued from page 15) Department of Slavic Languages and Field of Foundlings” is the first installment by visiting losthorsepress.org and is avail- ries that were suppressed, and only now in Literatures at the University of Michigan. “A of a Contemporary Ukrainian Poet Series able on amazon.com. recent times are being openly discussed in Field of Foundlings” is her first book of trans- published by Lost Horse Press, which is Since its grand opening last November, a new context. lations. She also writes poetry and has exhib- based in Sandpoint, Idaho. This literary the UAAM has hosted several successful In an interview with Artefact, she stated: ited her watercolor paintings in an exhibi- series is a partnership between Christine events, including “Bohdan Soroka: “…There were moments in the history of the tion titled “Invisible Women: Portraits of Holbert (founder and publisher of Lost Artworks,” an exhibit spanning the 50-year last century when our cities and villages Aging in Ukraine.” The visibility and social Horse Press) and Ms. Mahoney (series edi- career of the Ukrainian graphic artist. His became the most dangerous places on Earth, role of Ukraine’s older generation of women, tor), who originally hails from Idaho. daughter, world-class musician Solomia where only one out of a hundred survived. embodied in the iconic “babusia” (survivor, Ms. Holbert has a Ukrainian background Soroka, performed at the opening, and Dr. The memory of this time was almost com- nurturer and activist) were explored. and established the nonprofit independent Roman Hryciw spoke about the artist and pletely erased. We now know that this type Ms. Mahoney has also attended the literary press in 1998. For 20 years she has his work. In February, Dr. Andrew Dzul of collective amnesia is shameful and dan- Harvard Ukrainian Summer Institute, where made it her mission to publish books of gave a lecture and visual presentation on gerous.” she was awarded the Theodosius and Irene high literary merit and runs a one-woman “Oleksandr Kaniuka: An Artist’s Story of In very candid, conversational verse, Ms. Senkowsky Prize for Achievement in show from reviewing and editing manu- Survival, Courage and Art.” Starovoyt draws on mythology, modern Ukrainian Studies. In 2015, Ms. Mahoney scripts to book and catalogue design, type- For more information about the technology, history, memory, wordplay, iro- received a Fullbright fellowship and spent setting, marketing, promotion, etc. The list Ukrainian American Archives and Museum, nies and paradoxes to highlight her 10 months in Ukraine. Although she was is endless. Many of the books she has pub- readers may visit their Facebook page at thoughts and observations. The result is at based in Kamianets-Podilsky, she had the lished have won national awards. In addi- www.facebook.com/UAAMDetroit. times both compelling and surprising. “A opportunity to travel and meet with various tion to running the press, Ms. Holbert is foreign land – everything you desire. Until poets and scholars, including Ms. Starovoyt. very active in the literary community and you stop wanting./A homeland – everything The decision to translate the Ukrainian has organized creative writing workshops you have. Until you stop being/able to cross poet’s works came about organically. and conferences, literary readings, a state- Punishing... the ocean by swimming. It collects sweat,/ “I reached out to her to discuss her wide book contest, as well as writing work- (Continued from page 7) internet cables, and our children’s Cyrillic.” scholarship and ended up reading, loving shops for local children. Through vivid imagery, readers experi- and translating her poetry,” said Ms. The Ukrainian Poetry Series will now his war machine, which he needs to protect ence the symbolism and deep layers of Mahoney. “We get along really well and introduce readers to a diverse group of his fabulous wealth and that of a handful of meaning that resound in her work: “The have similar styles and artistic sensibilities, Ukrainian poets, both emerging and estab- his oligarch cronies. According to his pro- grass under the scythe is still alive at the so translating her work felt intuitive and lished. The second volume in the series paganda pitch, however, it’s to protect roots,/but the stems are left senseless and organic. She has also been a generous “Songs for a Dead Rooster” by Yuri Russia from the aggressive West. dead./The grass bleeds green, and can nei- author in the process. She gives thoughtful Andrukhovych, translated by Vitaly Unprovoked military incursions and the deaths of some half- million people caused by his wars – think Syria, Ukraine, Chechnya and more – should be enough to condemn ПЛЕМ’Я ПЛАСТУНОК „ПЕРШІ СТЕЖІ“ President Putin. Without appropriate pun- ishment, he orchestrates soft – but danger- влаштовує ously damaging – warfare, including cyber- attacks and fake news. Russia’s plundering „ДЕННИЙ ТАБІР ПТАШАТ ПРИ ПЛАСТІ“ of Internet information to control elections, для дітей від 4 до 6 років, які володіють shift policies, and corrode the hearts and (розуміють і розмовляють) українською мовою minds of citizens of other countries are the new weapons that must be dealt with. The West needs to continue punishing • Дитина мусить мати закінчених 4 роки життя до 31 серпня 2018 р. Вийнятків немає. Russia for its disdain for the rule of law and • Дитина мусить мати усі приписані щеплення. world peace. President Putin, who models • Дитина, яка склала Заяву Вступу до новацтва, не може брати участи в таборaх для Пташат. his aggression on that of his predecessors of Russia’s Soviet regime, has proven over Табір відбудеться на Союзівці у двох групах: and over again that Russia is not, nor does • від неділі 24 червня до суботи 30 червня 2018 р. it want to be, “one of us” – a Western democracy. It is the enemy. • від неділі 1 липня до суботи 7 липня 2018 р. The G-7 foreign ministers’ meeting pro- У справі кімнат просимо порозуміватися прямо з Адміністрацією Союзівки: vides an excellent occasion to consolidate a united approach to Russia. The time for SOYUZIVKA, P. O. Box 529, 216 Foordmore Road, Kerhonkson, NY 12446 pussy-footing around accusations that the (845) 626-5641; www. Soyuzivka.com; Fax: 845-626-4638 West is ganging up on Russia is over. All eyes will be on Canada when the for- • Tаборова оплата: $150.00 ($20.00 незворотні); оплата за два тижні 290.00 дол. eign ministers meet and make recommen- • Зголошення і таборову оплату (чек виписаний на Plast – Pershi Stezhi) надсилати до: dations on how to secure global peace. Among them will be the Ukraine’s minister Mrs. Oresta Fedyniak, 2626 W. Walton Ave., Chicago, IL 60622 of foreign affairs, Pavlo Klimkin. Tel.: 773 486-0394 (від 8:00 до 10:00 ранку) The importance of the invitation to Ukraine offered by Canada which holds the • Реченець зголошень: 30 травня 2018 р. • Після реченця не приймаємо зголошень. G-7 leadership this year, must not be underestimated. • Лікарську посвідку НЕ пересилати з анкетою зголошення. Просимо передати при Presently, Ukraine is the only country реєстрації. standing up to Russia’s military aggres- sion. It is also the front line of defense for КАРТА ЗГОЛОШЕННЯ НА ТАБІР ПТАШАТ-2018 NATO members – all of them. Moreover, Ім’я і прізвище дитини ...... Ukraine knows the Kremlin’s mentality, по-українськи і по-англійськи the weaknesses and strengths of its cyber- warfare, propaganda tools and fake news. Дата народження ...... It has had centuries of experience dealing Адреса ...... with this nasty neighbor. It also knows Телефон ...... E-mail ...... how to push back. Now other Western countries must do Просимо залучити посвідку дати народження дитини, яку вписуєтe на табір перший раз so as well. The G-7 states, like Germany for instance, are well positioned to provide ☐ від 24 червня до 30 червня 2018 р. ☐ від 1 липня до 7 липня 2018 р. leadership. Chancellor Angela Merkel is Величина таборової сорочинки дитини: ☐ 6-8, ☐10-12, ☐14-16. spot on when she says that unless Russia ☐ Залучую чек на суму $...... ☐ Резервую кімнату на Союзівці withdraws from Ukraine there will be no Nord Stream 2. And it’s correct to freeze more oligarch assets abroad. And it is para- ...... mount to investigate Russia’s hand in ім’я і прізвище матері (подати дівоче прізвище) America’s politics regardless of President Trump’s tantrums. Завваги ...... Furthermore, should President Putin ...... persist in disregarding international law he himself must be added to the sanctions list...... And further aggression from Russia must ...... Підпис батька або матері result in its removal from the SWIFT global banking system. No. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 19

Through April 29 Art exhibit, “Watercolors by Anatole Kolomayets (1927- April 27 Performance, “Adam and Eve,” with Iren Rozdobudko Chicago 2014),” Ukrainian National Museum, Chicago and Ihor Zhuk, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, www.ukrainianiannationalmuseum.org or 312-421-8020 www.uima-chicago.org or 773-227-5522

Through May 27 Art exhibit, “Martin Hurtig: A Retrospective,” Ukrainian April 27 Concert with Antytila, The Cutting Room, Chicago Institute of Modern Art, www.uima-chicago.org or New York https://geotickets.tv/events/atnytila or 201-423-2562 773-227-5522 April 27 Book presentation by the Rev. Dr. Bohdan Prach, “The April 23 Presentation by Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev, “U.N. as a Parma, OH Clergy of the Peremyshl Eparchy and the Apostolic Cambridge, MA Battlefield Between Ukraine and Russia,” Harvard Administration of Lemkivshchyna,” Pokrova Ukrainian University, www.huri.harvard.edu Catholic Church, www.ucef.org

April 23 Film screening, “Recovery Room” by Adriana Luhovy, April 28 Book presentation by the Rev. Dr. Bohdan Prach, “The Montreal Concordia University Ukrainian Student’s Union, John Warren, MI Clergy of the Peremyshl Eparchy and the Apostolic Molson Amphitheater, 514-481-5871 or Administration of Lemkivshchyna,” Ukrainian Cultural www.recoveryroomthemovie.com Center, www.ucef.org

April 25-29 Film festival, The Ukrainian Museum, April 28 70th anniversary celebration, Ukrainian Institute of New York www.ukrainianmuseum.org or 212-228-0110 New York America, 212-288-8660 or www.ukrainianinstitute.org

April 26 Presentation by Serhii Plokhii, “Atomic Energy and the April 28 Chili cook-off, Syracuse Ukrainian National Home, Cambridge, MA Arrogance of Man: Revisiting the Chornobyl Nuclear Syracuse, NY 315-395-1897 or [email protected] Disaster,” Harvard University, www.huri.harvard.edu April 28 Spring recital for violin and piano, featuring Olena Hirna April 26 Book presentation by the Rev. Dr. Bohdan Prach, “The Chicago and Linda Camp, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Rochester, NY Clergy of the Peremyshl Eparchy and the Apostolic 773-227-5522 or www.uima-chicago.org Administration of Lemkivshchyna,” St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church, www.ucef.org April 29 Dinner and dance, Ukrainian National Women’s League Fort Lauderdale, FL of America (Branch 17), Grateful Palate, 786-216-4464 April 26 Luncheon presentation on “Lemkos, Boykos and or [email protected] Whippany, NJ Hutsuls: The Ethnic Groups of the Eastern Carpathians,” Carpe Diem Club, Ukrainian American Cultural Center of April 29 Presentation by Lidiya Zubytska on Ukraine’s foreign New Jersey, [email protected] Washington policy, Shevchenko Scientific Society, Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Family, 240-205-1889 April 27 George Shevelov Memorial Lecture in Ukrainian Studies, New York by Valentina Izmerlieva, “The Cult of St. Volodymyr and Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events the Theft of History,” Ukrainian Academy of Arts and advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Sciences, Columbia University, Deutsches House, from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors http://harriman.columbia.edu and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected]. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, APRIL 22, 2018 No. 16

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Wednesday, April 25 (2018). From 1954 to 1959, Ukrainian com- event, which includes animation by Sashko Women’s League of America Branch 17 of NEW YORK: Matinee show at 2 p.m. of the poser Leonid Hrabovsky (born 1935) studied Danylenko, photographs by Margaret Morton, Miami is sponsoring “Vyshyvani Vechornytsi,” classic film “Shadows of Forgotten Ancestors” composition under the supervision of Borys and music by Volodymyr Bedzvin and Fima a dinner/dance/silent auction fund-raiser for (1964, Ukraine, 92 min.) in Ukrainian with Liatoshynsky and Lev Revutsky at the Kyiv Chupakin, plus projections. Supported by the the Ukrainian war victims at a beautiful venue English subtitles. Directed by Sergei Parajanov, Conservatory. His master’s thesis “Four Ukrainian Community Foundation of on the intracoastal waterway at the Grateful the film is steeped in Ukrainian folklore and Ukrainian Songs for Chorus and Orchestra” Philadelphia. The event begins at 2 p.m. at the Palate, 3003 NE Second Ave., Ft Lauderdale FL traditions. Director Parajanov insisted on film- (1959) won the first prize in an all-union com- UECC, 700 North Cedar Road, Jenkintown PA 33308. Contact Oresta Hamersky, 845-641- ing in the Ukrainian language and refused to petition. In the early 1960s Mr. Hrabovsky 19046; telephone, 215-663-1166; website, 5441, or Olha Sperkacz, 786-216-4464, for dub it into Russian, which led to an enduring taught theory and composition at the Kyiv www.ueccphila.org. information and tickets. Tickets are $75. struggle between Parajanov and the Conservatory. He belonged to a group of Kyiv Communist authorities. Admission is free with avant-garde, along with Vitaliy Hodzyatsky, WASHINGTON: At 1:30 p.m., the Shevchenko NEW YORK: Danny Kaye singing a Ukrainian museum admission ($8 for adults; $6 for stu- Volodymyr Huba, Valentyn Silvestrov, Yevhen Scientific Society, Washington, D.C., Branch, folk song? Join us at 2 p.m. for a special pre- dents and seniors; free for museum mem- Stankovych and Volodymyr Zahortsev. Mr. and the UCNS Library present a lecture by Dr. sentation of the Hollywood production “The bers). The Ukrainian Museum is located at 222 Hrabovsky was one of the first Soviet compos- Lidiya Zubytska on Ukraine’s foreign policy Inspector General” (1949, U.S.A., 102 min.) E. Sixth St.; telephone, 212-228-0110; website, ers to adopt minimalism as a music genre. His from 2004 to 2014. The lecture will be in starring Danny Kaye, based on the satirical www.ukrainianmuseum.org. works include dramatic, orchestral, chamber English; questions and discussion will be in play “Revizor” by Ukrainian dramatist and and vocal music. In 1990 he moved to the Ukrainian or English. Venue: Shawel Room, novelist Mykola Hohol (Nikolai Gogol). Thursday, April 26 United States at the invitation of Ukrainian Ukrainian Catholic National Shrine of the Holy Admission: $15; $10 for members, seniors, NEW YORK: A week of Hollywood classics fea- Music Society. The event will take place at the Family, 4250 Harewood Road NE, Washington students. The screening of this musical come- turing the Ukrainian American actor John society’s building, 63 Fourth Ave. (between DC 20017. Admission is free; contributions are dy is organized in conjunction with the exhibi- Hodiak starts with “The Harvey Girls” (1946, Ninth and 10th streets) at 5 p.m. For addition- welcome. For further information call 240- tion “Yaroslava Surmach Mills: Retrospective.” U.S.A., 102 min.) starring Judy Garland. The al information call 212-254-5130. 205-1889. The Ukrainian Museum is located at 222 E. screening of this musical comedy is organized Sixth St.; telephone, 212-228-0110; website, in conjunction with the exhibition “Yaroslava NEW YORK: Don’t miss this double feature FORT LAUDERDALE: Ukrainian National www.ukrainianmuseum.org. Surmach Mills: Retrospective.” Admission: Hollywood classics night with the Ukrainian $10. Join us at 7 p.m. at The Ukrainian American actor John Hodiak. At 5:30 p.m., see Museum, 222 E. Sixth St.; telephone, 212-228- Hodiak’s final film, the drama “On the PREVIEW OF EVENTS GUIDELINES 0110; website, www.ukrainianmuseum.org. Threshold of Space” (1956, U.S.A., 98 min.) with Dean Jagger. Admission: $10. At 7:30 p.m. Preview of Events is a listing of Ukrainian community events open to the public. It is a ser- Friday, April 27 see the war drama “Sunday Dinner for a vice provided at minimal cost ($20 per listing) by The Ukrainian Weekly to the Ukrainian NEW YORK: Join us at 7 p.m. for a Hollywood Soldier” (1944, U.S.A., 85 min., black and community. classic featuring the Ukrainian American actor white) with Anne Baxter. Admission: $10. The John Hodiak in “A Lady Without Passport screenings are organized in conjunction with To have an event listed in Preview of Events please send information, in English, written in (1950, U.S.A., 74 min., black and white), also the exhibition “Yaroslava Surmach Mills: Preview format, i.e., in a brief paragraph that includes the date, place, type of event, spon- starring Hedy Lamarr. The screening of this Retrospective.” The Ukrainian Museum is sor, admission, full names of persons and/or organizations involved, and a phone number film noir is organized in conjunction with the located at 222 E. Sixth St.; telephone, 212-228- and/or e-mail address to be published for readers who may require additional informa- exhibition “Yaroslava Surmach Mills: 0110; website, www.ukrainianmuseum.org. tion. Items must be no more than 100 words long. Retrospective.” Admission: $10. The Ukrainian Sunday, April 29 Preview items must be received no later than one week before the desired date of pub- Museum is located at 222 E. Sixth St.; tele- lication (i.e., they must be received by 9 am Monday morning). Please include payment for phone, 212-228-0110; website, www.ukraini- PHILADELPHIA: The Ukrainian Educational each time the item is to appear and indicate date(s) of issue(s) in which the item is to be and Cultural Center and Yara Arts Group pres- anmuseum.org. published. Also, senders are asked to include the phone number of a person who may be ent “Where the Rivers Flow.” Serhiy Zhadan Saturday, April 28 reads from his book “Mesopotamia” in contacted by The Weekly during daytime hours, as well as their complete mailing address. NEW YORK: The Shevchenko Scientific Ukrainian, while poets Wanda Phipps, Olena Information should be sent to [email protected]. When e-mailing, please do not Society invites all to a book launch of “Lines. Jennings and Isaac Stackhouse Wheeler read send items as attachments – simply type the text into the body of the e-mail message. Crossings. Accents. Composer Leonid English translations, as well as their own Preview items and payments may be mailed to: Preview of Events, The Ukrainian Weekly, Hrabovsky,” edited by Oleksandr Shchetynsky poems in reaction. Virlana Tkacz directs the 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054.