Inside: l The case of МН17, then and now – page 9 l Photo report: Ukrainian Cultural Festival – centerfold l Our community: Perth Amboy, New Haven – page 17

ThePublished U by thekrainian Ukrainian National Association, Inc., celebrating W its 125th anniversaryeekly Vol. LXXXVII No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 $2.00

Congressional Caucus introduces bill to compel Parliamentary elections redraw Ukraine’s political map release of Ukraine’s seamen by Bohdan Nahaylo – The results of Ukraine’s July 21 snap WASHINGTON – The chairs of the parliamentary election have continued the Congressional Ukraine Caucus, Reps. biggest political shake-up in independent Marcy Kaptur (D-Ohio), Andy Harris Ukraine’s history. Political newcomer (R-Md.), Mike Quigley (D-Ill.), and Brian Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s recent landslide victo- Fitzpatrick (R-Pa.), on July 18 introduced ry in the presidential election has been repli- the SAILORS Act, or the “Stopping cated by a win on a historic scale by his party, Aggressive Incursions on Liberty by Servant of the People. Ordering Russian Sanctions Act,” legisla- As predicted by opinion and exit polls, tion that would apply sanctions to 24 Servant of the People won a clear majority, the senior members of the Russian Security first time any party has achieved such a domi- Service and their close associates until nating position in the . releases 24 Ukrainian seaman and Servant of the People captured 254 of the 424 three vessels the country illegally captured seats being contested (26 of the Parliament’s near the Kerch Strait in the Sea of Azov. 450 seats remain unfilled because elections In a joint statement, the CUC chairs could not be held in areas occupied by Russia). noted: “The United States Congress con- It won 124 seats in voting for party lists and tinues to strongly condemn Russia’s dan- another 130 in single-mandate constituencies. gerous naval assault on the Ukrainian Servant of the People also broke another Navy and the illegal detainment of 24 record. The party won just over 43 percent of Ukrainian sailors. The event represents the votes in the voting by party lists, beating the latest in a series of malicious steps the record 34.7 percent set by the Party of taken by Russia to undermine Ukraine’s Regions in 2007. democratic progress and the internation- The four other parties that managed to al rules-based order.” pass the 5 percent threshold and get into the “The international community must Verkhovna Rada lagged far behind. The pro- not stand idly by as Russia increases its Russian Opposition Platform – For Life aggression in and globally. The (Oppozytsiyna Platforma – Za Zhyttia) did United States and the free world must somewhat better than expected and secured a raise the cost of Russian incursions until total of 43 seats (including voting for political THE NEW VERKHOVNA RADA: Infographic by RFE/RL shows the num- each of the 24 Ukrainian sailors are ber of seats in the Verkhovna Rada won by parties. (NB: 26 seats are vacant (Continued on page 14) because of the Russian occupation of those territories.) (Continued on page 19) 13th annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival held at Soyuzivka by Adrian Bryttan ning gala held during this year’s festival was dedicated to support the UNA Publications KERHONKSON, N.Y. – The 13th annual Endowment Fund and to honor Svoboda and Ukrainian Cultural Festival at the Ukrainian The Ukrainian Weekly as part of the Ukrainian National Foundation’s (UNF) Soyuzivka National Association’s 125st anniversary. The Heritage Center took place over three days UNA presented a special jubilee display in from July 12 to 14. Soyuzivka’s Main House. From Ukraine, singers Taras Petrynenko, The emphasis was on transmitting cultural Tetiana Horobets and Tonya Matvienko heritage. At the UNF fund-raising gala, delighted audiences several times throughout Ukraine’s Ambassador Valeriy Chaly present- the festival. Ukrainian American Max ed gifts to UNA President Stefan Kaczaraj, UNF Lozynskyj also belted out his own songs while President Dr. Wasyl Szeremeta and UNA/UNF playing guitar. Fleet-fingered violinist Vasyl Chief Financial Officer Roma Lisovich. Popadiuk showed why he is one of the most The editor-in-chief of Svoboda and The sought after jazz and folk violinists of today. Ukrainian Weekly, Roma Hadzewycz, gave an The Ukrainian Chorus Dumka of New York, overview of the history, contributions and sig- under director Vasyl Hrechynsky, included nificance of these important publications that unique arrangements with added instrumen- have served the Ukrainian community and talists in their songs. The Ukrainian Dance nation for a combined total of over 210 years. Workshop of Roma Pryma Bohachevsky pre- The festival attracted visitors from many miered several attractive new dances choreo- states to the daily exhibits and events, as well graphed by Orlando Pagan. Mr. Pagan is also as enthusiastic audiences for the afternoon director of the Hartford-based Zolotyj Promin and evening stage shows. Arts and crafts ven- Ukrainian Dance Ensemble and choreo- dors exhibited their wares on the plaza. The graphed several numbers which the ensemble “Selo” (Ukrainian Village) presented a depic- presented during the festival. Bogdan Grytsiv tion of Ukrainian village life with live demon- Carrying on the tradition of fund-raising for Taras Petrynenko and Tetiana Horobets perform in the Saturday evening pro- important community goals, the Friday eve- gram of the 13th annual Ukrainian Cultural Festival at Soyuzivka. (Continued on page 15) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 No. 30

ANALYSIS

Belarus: Springboard or casus belli UWC offers preliminary observations terrorism. Ihor Hryb said that his son was detained when he was returning from The Ukrainian World Congress (UWC) to Ukraine. (RFE/RL) for Russian aggression against Ukraine? International Election Observation Mission released its preliminary observations dur- Two killed on ceasefire’s first day by Yuri Lapaiev from becoming a pro-Western (Valisluureamet.ee, March 13). ing a press conference held on July 22 at Eurasia Daily Monitor the Ukraine Crisis Media Center in Kyiv, Ukraine’s military on July 22 said that Recent Russian activity demonstrates two soldiers were killed and as many The Union State Treaty between Russia that Moscow has not given up on its aggres- confirming that the parliamentary elec- tions in Ukraine met international stan- wounded on the previous day when an and Belarus (signed in April 1997) sive plans vis-à-vis Belarus. On May 17, unknown explosive device was set off by an declares, in Chapter II, Section II, Articles members of the online volunteer open- dards for the conduct of democratic elec- tions. The UWC Mission, which numbered “enemy sabotage and reconnaissance 17-18, that border security falls into a source analytical community Inform group.” The casualties in the armed conflict 142 short-term observers (STOs) from 30 group of key bilateral issues that must be Napalm spotted the arrival in Baranovichy with Russia-backed militants came on the countries, closely cooperated with the solved jointly. In practice, this gives Russia (80 miles southwest of Minsk) of Russian first day when a ceasefire was supposed to Ukrainian Congress Committee of America, control over Belarus’s external borders, military personnel, potentially linked to an go into effect based on an agreement in a UWC member organization, which regis- also with Ukraine (Rossiyskaya Gazeta, incoming rotation of military unit 03522 of Minsk on July 17 between Ukrainian and tered 32 STOs. The missions of the UWC December 8, 1999). the 474th Independent Radio-Technical Russian envoys as well as members of the and the UCCA monitored the electoral pro- Despite the fact that the specific political Unit, based out of the Belarusian city of Organization for Security and Cooperation cess in 20 oblasts of Ukraine and in and economic integration laid out in the Hantsavichy (the site of a Russian Volga- in Europe (OSCE). Ceasefire road maps Ukrainian diplomatic missions in 23 coun- 22-year-old union treaty has proceeded at type early-warning radar) (Informnapalm. announced as part of the Minsk accords – tries. Although the UWC’s STOs recorded a glacial pace, bilateral defense and security org, May 17). September 2014 and February 2015 pacts minor irregularities at certain polling sta- cooperation has in fact tangibly progressed. But even more interesting was Inform aimed at resolving the conflict – have con- tions, these irregularities were not system- Russia possesses several small military Napalm’s documented sighting on June 20 of tributed to a decrease in fighting but have ic and did not impact on the election facilities in Belarus (long-range radar and the arrival in Belarus of large (unspecified) failed to hold. The OSCE recorded 75 cease- results. Russian hybrid aggression against naval communications center), and, since numbers of Russian military vehicles and fire violations through 4 p.m. on July 21. Ukraine had the worst impact on the elec- April 2016, the two countries operate the They included “three explosions, 21 projec- tions since it did not allow the Ukrainian East-European Joint Regional Anti-Aircraft armored personnel carriers (APC), to take tiles in flight, and 51 shots of heavy people to elect national deputies from Defense System. partequipment, in a military including parade the (Informnapalm.org, newest BTR-82А machine-gun and small-arms fire,” the Crimea and the occupied territories of the Moreover, the Russian Armed Forces June 26). In addition to the modern APCs, OSCE said in a report. About 13,000 people Donbas. (Ukrainian World Congress) have the right to use local Belarusian the Russian Defense Ministry announced it have been killed in the conflict since April resources, logistics and infrastructure in a was delivering 9K720 Iskander (SS-26 EU demands Hryb’s immediate release 2014 when Moscow-backed militants took time of war or in case of a possible attack. Stone) tactical ballistic missiles, Kamov up arms against Ukrainian government And the Russian General Staff possesses Ka-52 “Alligator” (Hocum B) reconnaissance The European Union has called for the forces. An additional 1.5 million people specific force deployment plans to respond and strike helicopters, Su-30 (Flanker-C) immediate release of ailing 20-year-old have been internally displaced, the largest to potential military threats to Belarus. multi-role fighters and Su-34 (Fullback) Ukrainian national Pavlo Hryb, who was displacement of people on the European Indeed, countering external (Western) fighter-bombers. According to official state- convicted in Russia of “promoting terror- continent since World War II. (RFE/RL) ism.” On July 23, Russia’s Supreme Court aggression against Belarus, followed by a ments by the Russian government, these Ukrainian soldier killed in Donbas counterstrike, was the scenario jointly prac- forces were shipped in to take part in a joint upheld a six-year prison sentence given to ticed by Russian and Belarusian armed military parade in Minsk, on July 3 – in com- Mr. Hryb, who was convicted by the North The government in Kyiv says one of its forces during the massive Zapad 2017 mili- memoration of Belarusian Independence Caucasus Regional Court in March. Mr. Hryb soldiers has been killed and nine others tary exercises. Day (Mil.ru, June 18). has said the charge against him was fabri- wounded in a battle with Russia-backed Last October, then-Russian Ambassador However, the characteristics of the above cated by Russia’s Federal Security Service separatists in eastern Ukraine. The Defense to Minsk Mikhail Babich told journalists that list of advanced, offensive weapons systems (FSB). In a statement on July 24, EU spokes- Ministry said on July 11 that separatist a regional military joint (Russian- suggest that the real reason for their woman Maja Kocijancic said the young man fighters violated a ceasefire 28 times in a Belarusian) forces group had received all appearance in Belarus may have been as “suffers from a very serious medical condi- 24-hour period, using 120- and 82-millime- necessary components for both defense and part of a covert Russian drill to practice tion which could become life-threatening at ter mortars and 122-millimeter artillery counterstrike. Mr. Babich explicitly noted, quick deployments of attacking forces onto any moment” and said Ukrainian doctors shells that are banned under the Minsk “Any attack on Belarus will be viewed as an Belarusian territory. have not been allowed to see him. Ms. peace agreements. Meanwhile, the Russian- Kocijancic called on Russia to release all attack on Russia, with all ensuing conse- Likely not coincidentally, several days backed militants claimed on July 11 that an “illegally detained Ukrainian citizens.” Mr. quences” (Tvr.by, October 21, 2018; see later, Russian President Vladimir Putin elderly woman was killed after Ukrainian Hryb went missing in August 2017 after he Eurasia Daily Monitor, October 23, 2018). declared a surprise combat readiness armed forces shelled the outskirts of the traveled to Belarus to meet a woman he met Ukrainian military commanders have check in Russia’s Central Military District. industrial frontline town of Horlivka. online. Relatives believe he walked into a been looking at these developments collec- The official reason given for the snap Ceasefire deals announced as part of the trap set by the FSB, which later told Ukraine tively and view them as potential prepara- inspection was to test Russian forces’ readi- Minsk accords – September 2014 and that Mr. Hryb was being held in a detention tion for the next phase of Russian aggres- ness to defend the central portion of the center in Russia on suspicion of promoting (Continued on page 12) sion against Ukraine. The former deputy country and deal with terrorist threats as head of the General Staff of the Ukrainian well as to evaluate these units’ mobilization Armed Forces, Gen. Ihor Romanenko, has processes (Interfax, June 24). argued that Belarus could be used as a Meanwhile, some Russian experts, like transit corridor for Russian military forces, Maj. Gen. Sergei Lipovoi, linked that snap The Ukrainian Weekly FOUNDED 1933 thus effectively turning this country into inspection to increased activity by the another directional origin of a Russian North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO), An English-language newspaper published by the Ukrainian National Association Inc., strike. He also mentioned that the northern in and the spiraling ten- a non-profit association, at 2200 Route 10, P.O. Box 280, Parsippany, NJ 07054. (Belarusian) direction offers Russia the sions between the United States and Iran Yearly subscription rate: $90; for UNA members — $80. shortest route to Kyiv – a difficult, but (TASS, June 24). Periodicals postage paid at Caldwell, NJ 07006 and additional mailing offices. important strategic target for Russian forc- However, certain Russian propagandists, (ISSN — 0273-9348) es (Apostrof, April 18, 2019). including the “Sladkov+” Telegram channel, Since 2014, Belarusian President The Weekly: UNA: proceeded to spread conspiracy theories Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 644-9510 Tel: (973) 292-9800; Fax: (973) 292-0900 Alyaksandr Lukashenka has been position- that these exercises were connected with ing himself as a peacemaker in the region – recent increased activity in Ukraine’s Postmaster, send address changes to: such as by hosting, in Minsk, ceasefire talks Donbas and even that the surprise Russian The Ukrainian Weekly Editor-in-chief: Roma Hadzewycz between Ukraine, Russia and the Moscow- maneuvers were meant to intimidate 2200 Route 10 Editor: Matthew Dubas backed separatist Donbas regions. Ukraine (T.me/s/Sladkov_plus, June 24). P.O. Box 280 Furthermore, he vehemently opposes any At the same time, another Telegram Parsippany, NJ 07054 e-mail: [email protected] usage of his country as a proxy in Russia’s channel, called “SSU mole” (purporting to war against Ukraine (see EDM, August 12, be an insider in the Security Service of The Ukrainian Weekly Archive: www.ukrweekly.com 2015). But Ukrainian commanders worry Ukraine, but widely suspected to be a that such a Russian attack could neverthe- Kremlin-led disinformation project) dis- The Ukrainian Weekly, July 28, 2019, No. 30, Vol. LXXXVII less happen against Mr. Lukashenka’s will. seminated another allegation: that Copyright © 2019 The Ukrainian Weekly In fact, some defense analysts even fear Ukraine’s Security Service is preparing a that Russia might be willing to launch an sabotage operation in Belarus. Allegedly, offensive – by kinetic or non-kinetic means “SSU mole” continued, the Security Service ADMINISTRATION OF THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY AND SVOBODA – against Belarus or Mr. Lukashenka per- had recently recruited dozens of Ukrainian Walter Honcharyk, administrator (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 sonally. In their annual report, far-right radicals and trained them for and advertising manager fax: (973) 644-9510 “International Security and Estonia 2019,” deployment to Belarus. The active phase of e-mail: [email protected] experts from Estonia’s Foreign Intelligence their offensive actions would supposedly Subscription Department (973) 292-9800, ext. 3040 Service (EFIS) forecast a high risk of swift e-mail: [email protected] military action by Russia to prevent Belarus (Continued on page 19) No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 3

Two years on, RFE/RL presses for Ukrainian journalist’s release

RFE/RL although RFE/RL has no knowledge of him added her voice to efforts on Mr. Aseyev’s monthly visits to its website in 2018, and being formally charged by any recognized behalf, writing, “It goes without saying, I sets a standard in the Ukrainian media WASHINGTON – Two years since Russia- authority of any crime. am with you in your struggle on behalf of market for independence, innovation and backed separatists in eastern Ukraine con- In August 2017, the Ukrainian govern- Stanislav Aseyev.” professionalism. firmed they were holding Ukrainian blog- ment included his name among those offi- RFE/RL has also urged the release of ger and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty cially listed for a possible prisoner Ukrainian Service contributor Oleh About RFE/RL (RFE/RL) contributor Stanislav Aseyev exchange under the supervision of the Halaziuk, who has been held by Russia- RFE/RL relies on its networks of local prisoner, RFE/RL is redoubling efforts to Trilateral Contact Group, which oversees backed separatists in Donetsk since August reporters to provide accurate news and secure his release. negotiations among the sides to the con- 2017. Crimean contributor Mykola information to 34 million people in 26 lan- “Stanislav has been held virtually incom- flict. The bipartisan U.S. Congressional Semena was convicted of separatism by a guages and 22 countries where media free- municado for two years because of his Freedom of the Press Caucus has con- Russian court in 2017 and is banned from dom is restricted, or where a professional unflinching reporting from his native demned his detention, championing him as practicing journalism and leaving the pen- press has not fully developed. Its videos Donetsk,” said RFE/RL Acting President “one of the few independent journalists to insula. were viewed over 2.6 billion times on Daisy Sindelar. “I know I speak on behalf of remain in the region under separatist con- RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service, known Facebook and YouTube in FY2018. RFE/RL a growing number of rights advocates, gov- trol to provide objective reporting.” In locally as Radio Svoboda, together with its is an editorially independent media compa- ernment officials, lawmakers and journal- November 2018, the U.S. Mission to the subsidiary Donbas.Realities and Crimea. ny funded by a grant from the U.S. Congress ists in deploring his detention and demand- OSCE urged “the Russian Federation to Realities regional units averaged 5 million through the U.S. Agency for Global Media. ing his freedom.” secure the release of Stanislav Aseyev.” In Mr. Aseyev, who also wrote for the recent weeks, U.S. Sens. Robert Menendez Ukrainian publications Mirror of the Week (D-N.J.) and Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and U.S. FOR THE RECORD and The Ukrainian Week, began blogging Congressman Eliot Engel (D-N.Y.) have for RFE/RL’s Ukrainian Service in 2014 called for his freedom. under the pen name Stanislav Vasin, con- The One Free Press Coalition, a group of tributing dozens of posts about the effects 33 prominent media organizations from Ukraine’s parliamentary elections of the conflict on daily life, schooling, poli- around the world, recognized Mr. Aseyev The following press statement is attribut- doms. We look forward to the OSCE’s final tics and culture until his detention in the this month among its “10 Most Urgent” ed to Morgan Ortagus, spokesperson for the recommendations to improve electoral summer of 2017. Separatists have report- cases of journalists under attack for pursu- U.S. Department of State. It was released on practices and encourage their implementa- edly accused him of espionage and threat- ing the truth. July 23. tion. We will work with the new Ukrainian ened him with up to 14 years in custody, Nobel laureate Svetlana Alexievich has government and the Ukrainian people as We congratulate the Ukrainian people they advance reforms critical to ensuring on this weekend’s peaceful and historic Ukraine’s success. parliamentary elections, which delivered a The United States maintains its unwaver- UCCA statement: Ukraine proves clear result and underscored Ukrainians’ ing support for Ukraine in the face of Russian commitment to democratic ideals. We wel- aggression. We continue to stand with the come the OSCE’s preliminary conclusion people of Ukraine as they build a strong, its commitment to democracy that the elections took place with overall successful, democratic country, secure with- The statement below was released in Kyiv nature, the UCCA’s 32 registered interna- respect for fundamental rights and free- in its internationally recognized borders. by the Ukrainian Congress Committee of tional election observers reported that the America on July 22. The UCCA’s Election voting process was conducted in a peace- Observer Mission was headed by UCCA ful and democratic manner that con- President Andriy Futey. UCCA Vice-President formed to international democratic stan- Quotable notes Michael Sawkiw Jr. served as deputy chair of dards – rating the elections good to very the mission, and Tamara Olexy, former UCCA good 93 percent of the time. “…We commend the sides for the disengagement of forces at Stanytsia Luhanska president and National Office director, Moreover, although only 49.84 percent that began on June 26, as forces pull out of the zone and undertake demining activi- served as mission coordinator. Long-time of the electorate voiced their vote, down ties. And we encourage the sides to use this success to make progress on full disen- UCCA international election observer Reno considerably from the over 62 percent of gagement at the two other sites that were designated. Domenico was the UCCA’s chief observer. the electorate that cast their ballots during “Despite this positive development, fighting in eastern Ukraine remains volatile the recent presidential elections, Ukraine’s and deadly. For over five years, Russia has armed, trained, led and fought alongside The Ukrainian Congress Committee of electorate has proven that they take their its proxy forces in eastern Ukraine. The result – some 13,000 people have been America’s (UCCA) International Election democratic civic duty seriously. killed as a result of Moscow’s ongoing aggression. Observer Mission (EOM), which observed The 2019 snap parliamentary elections “The only way to end this conflict is through the implementation of the Minsk the elections in every region of Ukraine, as marked an important step in consolidating agreements. This entails Russia withdrawing its heavy weapons, removing its forces well as at the diplomatic posts in the United Ukraine’s democracy. Given that these elec- and disarming its proxy forces in eastern Ukraine. Only when Russia takes concrete States – affirms that the July 21 parliamen- tions took place in a challenging political steps to de-escalate its armed attacks on Ukraine can there be significant progress tary elections met international standards and security environment, the CEC [Central towards a sustainable ceasefire. The core principles of the Helsinki Final Act that are for free and fair elections that accurately Elections Commission] made every effort the foundation of this organization are respect for the sovereignty and territorial reflects the will of the electorate. to hold elections throughout the country. integrity of States, as well as human rights and fundamental freedoms. These tenets The UCCA’s short-term observers were However, due to the illegal annexation of are enduring, as is the OSCE. The contempt that Russia demonstrates for these prin- its primary resource for assessing the July Crimea by the Russian Federation, and the ciples and commitments – through repression at home and aggression abroad – 21 snap parliamentary elections. Its elec- ongoing hostilities in the Donbas, fueled by should concern all of us. I call on Russia to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territo- tion observation methodology, which pro- Russia, the elections were not held in large rial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, extending to its territori- vides for a contribution by each observer, is parts of Donetsk and Luhansk and in the al waters. … designed to achieve an overall picture of illegally occupied Crimean peninsula. “The Special Monitoring Mission serves as the world’s eyes and ears in eastern Ukraine’s election-day proceedings. After The UCCA lauds Ukraine’s Central Ukraine, performing crucial tasks under difficult and often dangerous circumstanc- reviewing the UCCA’s one-of-a-kind elec- Elections Commission’s impartial and effi- es. Our monitors face near-daily restrictions in carrying out their duties. Again this tronic questionnaire that provides an over- cient efforts to mobilize in such a short week, forces outside government-controlled areas denied monitors access to check- all profile of polling-station activity period of time, ensuring that the July 21 points and other key areas. …On multiple occasions UAVs [unmanned aerial vehi- throughout the country and at diplomatic snap parliamentary elections took place. cles] have spotted military convoys crossing into Ukraine from Russia on roads far posts, we were able to draw our conclusion The UCCA stands with the people of from the OSCE Border Observation Mission. This week the mission again reported based on our collective experience. Ukraine in their desire for a democratic, several instances of small-arms fire and jamming targeted at UAV assets, with sever- In visiting over 150 polling stations on territorial whole and united Ukraine and al lost in recent weeks and another long-range UAV lost in late June. … election day, the UCCA’s EOM witnessed the wishes the newly elected Parliament the “The United States fully supports Ukrainian sovereignty, independence and terri- following minor infractions: the inability of fortitude to put the interests of its citizens torial integrity within its internationally recognized borders, including its territorial a few PECs [Precinct Electoral first and pass key reforms to secure its ter- waters. We do not, nor will we ever, recognize Russia’s purported annexation of Commissions] to open the polling station at ritorial integrity, strengthen democracy, Crimea. This clear violation of the principles of the Helsinki Final Act is not legiti- 8 a.m. as required by law and in a few pre- fight imbedded corruption and bring mate. Also, I don’t see how this disruption of the Russian-American relationship is cincts information displayed for the voters Ukraine closer to the Euro-Atlantic com- good for Russia, for the United States, or for any OSCE country. We join our was not correct or complete. And, as munity. European and other partners in affirming that our Minsk-related sanctions against reported in all of the UCCA’s previous elec- Lastly, the UCCA expresses its sincere Russia will remain in place until Russia fully implements its Minsk commitments. tion observation missions, physical access gratitude to its international election The separate, Crimea-related sanctions will remain in place until Russia returns full to the polling stations remains problematic. observers, many of whom for the third control of the peninsula to Ukraine in its sovereign ability.” UCCA observers noted that over 13 percent time this year volunteered their time and of the time, access to the polling stations money to participate as members of our – Statement to the OSCE Permanent Council delivered by the new U.S. ambassador was difficult. Election Observation Mission – their com- to the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe, James Gilmore, a former Thus, despite the minor infractions mitment to democracy and Ukraine must governor of Virginia. The statement was delivered in Vienna on July 11. reported, which were not systemic in be commended. 4 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 No. 30 No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 5

UNA CELEBRATES 125 YEARS: Snapshots from history, 1961, 1964, 1989, 2014

Already in its very first issue, dated September 15, 1893, Svoboda ebrating its own 70th anniversary and in the year the Shevchenko monu- atop its front page quoted as its credo the immortal words of Taras ment was built and unveiled in Washington. A special book dedicated Shevchenko: “Study my brothers, think and read, learn what others have to Shevchenko was published by the UNA in 1989 to mark the 175th to offer, but do not forget your own.” Therefore, it was no surprise that anniversary of his birth; it was titled “To our Patron – from the Ukrainian the fraternal benefit society to which Svoboda gave birth on February National Association.” The most recent UNA publication in honor of its 22, 1894, the Ukrainian National Association, chose the great bard of patron was the UNA Almanac of 2014, which celebrated the 200th anni- Ukraine as its patron. In 1961, the Ukrainian National Association, jointly versary of the birth of Shevchenko as well as the 120th anniversary of the with the Shevchenko Scientific Society, published “Our Shevchenko: UNA’s founding. A Collection of Works Commemorating the Centennial of the Poet’s Death.” Three years later, the UNA published a jubilee almanac dedicated A photo archive of UNA history has been launched on the UNA website. It is a work to Shevchenko on the occasion of the 150th anniversary of the poet’s in progress that will be expanded and refined. To take a look, go to unainc.org/una/ birth. That almanac was released in the same year the UNA was cel- the-una-is-125-years-old/. 6 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 No. 30

REFLECTIONS The Ukrainian Weekly Serving the people of Ukraine A Ukrainian political prisoner for the ages The people of Ukraine have once again made their free choice. This time in the parliamentary elections of July 21, which were the result of President Volodymyr by Askold S. Lozynskyj Zelenskyy’s announcement, in his inaugural address on May 20, that he was dissolv- Just over a year ago on July 7, 2018, a ing the Verkhovna Rada. Just as they astounded the world by electing a political Ukrainian moral icon was laid to rest. newcomer – an actor-comedian – as their president with 73 percent of the vote on was a Ukrainian nation- April 21, Ukraine’s voters have astonished observers by giving the new president’s alist by his own appellation, a freedom new party, Servant of the People, not simply a plurality, but a commanding majority fighter, dissident and one of Ukraine’s lon- in the Verkhovna Rada. gest termed political prisoner. After inde- So, what was the electorate of Ukraine looking for? First and foremost: change, a pendence Lukianenko became a politician, break from the past. As newly inaugurated President Zelenskyy had said, “My elec- diplomat, but frankly he was never suited tion proves that our citizens are tired of the experienced, pompous system politi- for that line of work. Politicians and diplo- cians who over the [last] 28 years have created a country of opportunities – the mats are rarely moral icons. opportunities to bribe, steal and pluck the resources.” Now the people of Ukraine I knew Levko Lukianenko personally, have once again spoken loudly and clearly, though voter turnout for the parliamenta- having had many opportunities to meet ry vote (49.84 percent) was lower than for the second round of the presidential elec- and converse with him. I attended his tion (61.37 percent). funeral in Kyiv and bade him farewell on The election observation missions of both the Ukrainian Congress Committee of behalf of Ukrainians abroad. America and the Ukrainian World Congress reported that the parliamentary elec- tions “met international standards.” Lloyd Axworthy, head of Mission Canada 2019, * * * said, “Ukrainians have affirmed their commitment to democratic development by They should not see your tears electing a new Parliament in an election that largely met international democratic On the night of January 21, 1961, when standards.” The U.S. State Department hailed the “peaceful and historic parliamenta- they completed the search in my apartment, ry elections, which delivered a clear result and underscored Ukrainians’ commit- they announced my arrest and suggested ment to democratic ideals.” that we walk out of the apartment. I asked As for the election results themselves, the news could be both good and bad. my wife for a piece of “salo” (cured slab of fat- Where some see an opportunity to propel reform now that many vested interests back) and some bread and then said goodbye have been ousted from the Verkhovna Rada, others are concerned about the number with no tears. I told my wife not to cry. “Don’t Levko Lukianenko of inexperienced newcomers to the Parliament – more than two-thirds of the nation- dare show tears to these Cheka (secret police) in more acceptable terms, using Soviet or al deputies elected are new faces – and worry about the multiple challenges ahead. agents. Remember they should never see your international statutes as cover. Lukianenko Yes, President Zelenskyy and his party have received an unprecedented mandate for tears, never!” I said to her. change, but there is also the danger of rule by one party – a party whose policies In the Volga automobile they seated me was transparent and outspoken. remain unclear – and the concentration of power in the hands of the Zelenskyy on the back seat with a Cheka agent on Many dissidents were reformers seeking team. Time will tell how serious the new president and the new Parliament are either side. The car moved. It was near mid- to change the Soviet system, struggling for about reforms in Ukraine and whether they are dedicated to safeguarding or night. At first I did not know where they human and national rights – the former enhancing the gains already made in establishing Ukraine on the international were taking me, and I could expect many meaning freedom of speech, assembly, reli- arena, defending its territorial integrity and protecting its language and culture. places. The traffic was behind us. Inside the gion and the later encompassing the free- A fitting reaction to the elections came from the national president of the car it was warm. The Cheka agents were dom to speak, study and write in their Ukrainian Canadian Congress, whose leaders met with President Zelenskyy during silent. I felt an emptiness in my stomach, native and cultivate the his recent visit to Toronto. “Ukraine’s new Parliament has a strong mandate from the took a piece of the salo with a slice of bread Ukrainian culture. Lukianenko went Ukrainian people to deliver on reforms,” said Alexandra Chyczij, adding “We expect and ate with satisfaction. As customary with beyond that. He manifestly declared that to see ongoing Euro-Atlantic integration, promotion and protection of the Ukrainian me I thought about sharing with my com- his aim was to separate Ukraine from the language as the sole state language, and continuation of necessary reforms.” panions but then caught myself – they are USSR, which he deemed to be the Russian Our wish for our ancestral homeland: May the Servant of the People party live up Cheka agents and so I ate alone. empire, and to institute a free and demo- to its name and truly serve the long-suffering people of Ukraine. The expectations, I was sleepy but anxious in my mind, cratic Ukrainian state and society. His dem- and hopes, of the people are great. May they not be disappointed. “Where are they taking me? What awaits ocratic ideals and his right to Ukraine’s me? I felt like sleeping because that’s what secession stemmed from his education and night is for. I dozed off. Soon the car entered personal conviction of the rule of law and an unfamiliar driveway and in a few minutes the need to defend the individual from the I was in a not large room with prison guards. state. The right to secede, after all, was Aug. Turning the pages back... They rummaged through the pockets of my guaranteed by the Soviet Constitution. coat, pants, checked everything, took the belt Secondly, and this is exemplified by the outtake from his memoirs cited above, Thirty years ago, on August 4, 1989, some 185 police and KGB from my pants and the laces from my shoes, Lukianenko was the consummate dissident agents brutally attacked a Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization filled out some papers and brought me to a 4 and political prisoner, neither surprised camp that was set up on the Palanyky farmstead in the Horodok room roughly one meter square named “the nor unnerved excessively by arrest and raion of the region in western Ukraine. box” and said “You will sleep here ‘til morn- 1989 internment. Following his first arrest he The Ukrainian Helsinki Union reported that two youngsters, ing” then locked the door from the outside. was sentenced to death, but as an attorney who managed to escape on that Friday morning, described how I examined the box, three white walls and he himself worked on the commutation of three buses, two mini-buses and three cars full of police and KGB agents in civilian cloth- the fourth consisting of the door. Some type of the death sentence to a 15-year term. He ing pulled into the farmstead, jumped out of their vehicles and attacked the participants of square well. It had a high ceiling with several saw the term not as a tragedy or an ending the Plast camp. holes for ventilation. But it was dry and not but as yet another opportunity to continue Numerous campers were reportedly beaten, including 17-year-old Roman Tlustiak, cold. The floor was painted and clean. I had a the struggle – this time with some of the who was knocked to the ground and kicked repeatedly. Bohdan Tarnavsky, 16, was beaten heavy winter coat so I lay down in my coat on best people Ukraine had to offer, fellow for photographing the incident through a window. the floor, curled up and fell fast asleep. political prisoners. He became an organizer Eight children were taken into custody in mini-buses with bars on the windows. Their * * * in prison and in the camp, and was proud whereabouts were unknown at the time. In 2006 Lukianenko published memoirs of the fact that he was as effective as a The police tore down the tents in the camp, and tore up one of the tents that was made about his period of internment in Sosnovka Ukrainian freedom fighter while in prison of blue-and-yellow material. 7. The above was the first episode, recount- as he had been as a free man. During the waning days of the , the Ukrainian Christian-Democratic Front ing his initial arrest. Lukianenko’s admoni- For Lukianenko it was always about the sought to renew Plast in Ukraine. Vasyl Sichko from Ivano-Frankivsk, who headed the tion to his wife about not letting the enemy triumph of good over evil and the big pic- party, appealed to all members of Plast in the diaspora to call for the release of the see her tears was illustrative of the man. ture of Ukraine’s freedom and democracy. detained youngsters. I am reminded once again today about Perhaps what made him an inspirational Since the collapse of the Soviet Union, Plast has seen a rebirth in Ukraine to become two striking features of Lukianenko’s life as political prisoner made him less of an effec- the largest scouting organization in Ukraine. This was made possible by the support from a prisoner. He was a unique Ukrainian tive diplomat and politician in his later Plast throughout the diaspora. Following its 2007 membership (with scouting organiza- political prisoner. His positions were years. Lukianenko could never recognize or tions SPOK and Sich) in the National Organization of Scouts of Ukraine, in 2008 Plast was always unequivocal. While many dissidents allow short cuts or political expediency. He accepted into the World Organization of the Scout Movement, which includes the Boy and political prisoners from Ukraine during was congenial and hospitable, willing to Scouts of America. the Soviet period were not clear regarding share his “salo,” and he listened to the opin- This year, the Verkhovna Rada approved on May 30 the law “On state recognition and their intentions, either because they them- ions of other, but followed the advice of encouragement of the Plast National Scout Organization of Ukraine.” The Ukrainian selves were not certain of their aims or others only when their position was based Congress Committee of America has appealed to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to sign they cleverly sought to shroud their views on solid moral grounds. I did not always the bill into law in the hopes that the legal recognition will allow for closer cooperation agree with him on tactics, but I always between Ukrainian and American youth with the aim of stronger economic, political and Askold S. Lozynskyj is an attorney based respected and loved him for his principles cultural ties between the two countries. in New York City. He is a former president of and moral high ground. May he rest in Source: “Authorities disband Plast camp,” The Ukrainian Weekly, August 13, 1989. the Ukrainian World Congress. peace and in our eternal memory! No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 7

The downing of MH17: five years later FROM FAR Ukrainian World Congress AND WIDE The Ukrainian World Congress released Buk missile system used in the attack was by Marco Levytsky the following statement on July 16. delivered to Ukraine from the Russian Over the past five years, the Russian Federation and following the crash was Federation has harbored the criminals returned to Russia, both conclusions being responsible for the killing of 298 innocent supported by both American and European data, and open source intelligence. Canadian diaspora impresses Zelenskyy, civilians on July 17, 2014, when Malaysia From the very start of the investigation, Airlines flight MH17 travelling from Russia has unashamedly promoted its ver- but concerns remain in the community Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur was shot sion of events, including accusations that down over Ukrainian territory by a Russian- Like 25 years earlier, At the meeting with Mr. Zelenskyy, the Ukraine shot down the plane, and discred- controlled missile system. Despite persis- newly elected President Volodymyr UCC delegation discussed the activities and iting the findings based on Ukraine’s inclu- tent efforts by the Kremlin to discredit the Zelenskyy made his first official foreign visit work of the Ukrainian Canadian communi- sion on the JIT. On July 30, 2015, Russia findings of the Joint Investigation Team (JIT) to Canada. Unlike Kuchma’s five-day visit in ty and described the priorities of the UCC in vetoed a draft resolution of the U.N. October 1994, which included stopovers in relations with Ukraine. tasked with determining the cause of the Security Council on the establishment of an Ottawa, Toronto, Edmonton, Saskatoon and UCC President Chyczij congratulated disaster, the overwhelming evidence gath- international tribunal to prosecute the per- Winnipeg, Mr. Zelenskyy came only to President Zelenskyy on his election victory, ered confirms that culpability for this crime petrators of the MH17 flight catastrophe. Toronto on July 1-3 and that was to partici- and stressed that the Ukrainian Canadian lies with the Russian Federation. Members of the JIT announced in The pate in the third annual Ukraine Reform community will continue to offer strong “It is appalling that on the fifth anniver- Hague on June 19, 2019, that three Russian support to Ukraine in the face of Russian sary of this criminal act of terrorism nationals and one Ukrainian would be Conference, the first two having been held aggression; support Ukraine’s continued against innocent civilians, Russia continues charged with murder over the attack on the in London and Copenhagen. NATO and European Union integration and to deny its responsibility for this tragedy. civilian jet. The trial will take place in The Also, unlike President Kuchma, who par- reform efforts; and support the develop- Kremlin spin doctors have maintained a Hague in March 2020. ticipated in several public events with the fervent disinformation campaign with the “We call on the international community diaspora, during his visit, President ment of the Ukrainian language as the sole goal of sowing doubt about the validity of to bring the MH17 executioners and their Zelenskyy was able to hold only one meet- state language. the findings while attempting to transfer Kremlin masters to justice. The top Russian ing with a delegation of the Ukrainian “We are pleased to see the president the blame to Ukraine and its authorities,” political and military commanders who Canadian Congress led by UCC National voice support for Ukraine’s further path to stated Ukrainian World Congress President gave the order to shoot down MH17 must President Alexandra Chyczij, as well as integration with the West and the develop- Paul Grod. face criminal responsibility and the Russian engage in some individual conversations ment of the Ukrainian language. We will The JIT, with representatives from the Federation must be censured,” added Mr. with Ukrainian Canadian community lead- continue to work with Ukraine on these Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, Ukraine Grod. “The Ukrainian World Congress and ers during a dinner for him hosted by goals and priorities. We thank President and Malaysia, concluded that MH17 was the global Ukrainian community stand in Canada’s Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. Zelenskyy for the opportunity to have a con- downed as a result of an exploding missile remembrance and solidarity with the fami- But like Mr. Kuchma, who appeared visi- structive dialogue and look forward to a fired from a Russian-controlled Buk missile lies and friends of the victims of the MH17 bly moved during a rendition of the broader community meeting on President system positioned in a farm field near the disaster on the fifth anniversary of this act Ukrainian national anthem by 900 students Zelenskyy’s next visit to Canada,” she stated. settlement of Pervomaiske on territory of terrorism as the quest for justice contin- of the Ukrainian Bilingual Program in But one of the UCC’s largest constitu- under the control of occupying Russian mil- ues. May the memory of the victims be eter- Edmonton, Mr. Zelenskyy too was pro- ents, the League of Ukrainian Canadians, itary forces. The JIT also confirmed that the nal and such tragedy never happen again.” foundly impressed by the dynamism of the expressed serious reservations about Mr. Ukrainian community in Canada. Zelenskyy following the meeting. Their par- “I believe that his wife, in seeing her ticular concerns were that “during his trip, Ukrainian Canadian Congress reaction, was rather overwhelmed by, and I President Zelenskyy made scant reference think he (himself) was very impressed by to Russia’s designs on Ukraine, even to The Ukrainian Canadian Congress issued cluded that Russia’s 53rd Anti-Aircraft the calibre of the diaspora and not only the identify Russia as the aggressor country.” the release below on July 17. Brigade shot down Flight MH17. The JIT calibre of the diaspora but the sort of influ- “His reluctance to state his administra- stated that it is “convinced that the Buk- ence that the diaspora has with the tion’s national security and defense policies, On the fifth anniversary of the downing TELAR that was used to down MH17 origi- Canadian government,” says Andriy including his position on pending legislation of Flight MH17, the Ukrainian Canadian nates from the 53rd Anti-Aircraft Missile Hladyshevsky, president of the Ukrainian to reform the defense and security sectors is community joins the families and friends of brigade, a unit of the Russian army from Canadian Foundation of Taras Shevchenko. no less disturbing… We also are deeply con- the victims in grief and solemn remem- Kursk in the Russian Federation.” “It was pretty clear to him – and he was cerned about President Zelenskyy’s reluc- brance. We call upon the international com- “Ultimate responsibility for this heinous all eyes and ears – that the government tance to speak clearly about his administra- munity to ensure that Russian officials crime lies with the leadership of the views the Ukrainian Canadian community tion’s commitment to restore Ukrainian sov- responsible for this appalling act of inter- Russian Federation,” stated Alexandra as a player in the country... and government ereignty in Donbas and Crimea on national terrorism are brought to justice. Chyczij, national president of the Ukrainian leaders and other parties know that the Ukrainian terms,” stated LUC President On July 17, 2014, Malaysian Airlines Canadian Congress. “The international Ukrainian community has to be seriously Roman Medyk and Managing Director Orest Flight MH17 was shot down over Russian- community must respond strongly to the engaged if they’re going to succeed in Steciw in a July 5 release. occupied territory in eastern Ukraine by a threat to international peace posed by the Canada. That was not lost on him at all and What also disturbed them was “that we Russian Buk missile. All 298 people on Russian regime.” I think from that perspective that some of did not hear from the new president a com- board were killed, including Canadian The Ukrainian Canadian Congress calls his comments, and sidebar comments a mitment to complete the goals set out by Andrei Anghel. May the Memory of the on Canada and the international communi- few of us that were able to speak to him the Revolution of Dignity. Instead, at the ty to designate the Russian Federation a briefly, was that he understood how much events in Toronto we heard high-ranking On May 24, 2018, the International Joint state sponsor of terrorism and designate foreign government officials from Europe, Ukrainians contributed to the country and InvestigationVictims Be Eternal. Team Вічная(JIT - Australia, пам’ять. Belgium, the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk “peo- the U.S., and Canada make more references how much the country depends on those Ukraine, Malaysia, the Netherlands) con- ples’ republics” terrorist organizations. to the goals and achievements of the Ukrainian Canadians in its day-to-day Revolution of Dignity than President affairs. I think, for him, coming to Canada Zelenskyy or his delegation.” was a good place to start because obviously, Mr. Zelenskyy himself added fuel to this in other countries that he will visit, the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America fire six days later when he proposed to diaspora will be strong, but not as strong as extend the lustration law preventing officials The Ukrainian Congress Committee of gade. According to their investigation, the it is in Canada where the Ukrainian com- from the Yanukovych regime from holding America on July 17 released the statement plane was hit by a Russian-made Buk 9M38 munity is so influential,” he added. public office to include those who held office that follows. missile fired from territory controlled by Ihor Michalchyshyn, executive director since the Revolution of Dignity. This was Russian terrorists, using a mobile launcher of the UCC, echoed those sentiments, add- The Ukrainian Congress Committee of trucked in from Russia and hastily returned condemned not only by the diaspora, but by ing that he heard the same from other peo- America (UCCA), the largest representative there after the attack. all G-7 ambassadors to Ukraine, who stated ple. “I think he was impressed by the depth organization of Americans of Ukrainian “The downing of MH17 is an egregious on the following day: “Electoral change and of our culture and all the rest that we do descent, joins the world community in sol- example of the Kremlin’s disregard for inno- political rotation are the norm in democracy. emnly commemorating the 5th anniversary cent life,” stated UCCA President Andriy here,” he stated. Indiscriminate bans on all participants in of the downing of flight MH17. On July 17, Futey. “Righteousness must be delivered for Both Mr. Michalchyshyn and Mr. executive and legislative governance are not. 2014, 298 innocent passengers and crew, the victims of this horrible tragedy, and the Hladyshevsky were impressed by Mr. Since 2014, we have been appreciative of flying from Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur UCCA hopes that the Russian Federation Zelenskyy’s own abilities. “He’s a very good reform progress achieved in some impor- aboard Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17, will finally accept responsibility and fully communicator, he was very well received tant areas. While it is right to hold those were murdered by a Buk anti-aircraft mis- cooperate with the international communi- with whomever he met and was very per- guilty of abusing their office to account, the sile launched from Russian terrorist-con- ty so that those responsible are brought to sonable and very engaging,” said Mr. situation in Ukraine today is, in our convic- trolled territory in Ukraine. justice,” he added. Michalchyshyn. Mr. Hladyshevsky tion, not comparable to that after the Since the horrific crash, the Joint On this solemn fifth anniversary, the described him as an “incredibly smart man, Revolution of Dignity.” Investigation Team, led by the Netherlands, UCCA’s thoughts and prayers go out to the incredibly witty. He catches the spirit of a On July 21, however, Mr. Zelenskyy fol- Australia, Belgium, Malaysia and Ukraine, victims’ families, including one American room very quickly and he is very smooth.” lowed up his unprecedented landslide has provided hard evidence that the missile citizen, and we ask God to remember all presidential victory with an unprecedented system involved in shooting down flight those who perished and grant them eternal Marco Levytsky may be contacted at MH17 came from a Russian military bri- peace. [email protected]. (Continued on page 19) 8 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 No. 30 No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 9

NEWS ANALYSIS: The catastrophe of МН17, July 17, 2014

by Andrii Ordynovych the Kremlin began an information cam- paign to discredit these results, distorting On July 17, 2014, a Boeing-200ER of the nature and status of the information Malaysia Airlines was shot down in the sky obtained by the investigation. The Russian over the part of Ukraine’s Donetsk region media and high-ranking officials argued controlled by Russian militants. The passen- that “the reported results of the investiga- ger plane was flying a regular route from tion are just one of the versions that many Amsterdam to Kuala Lumpur. All 298 people experts disagree with.” The Russians also on board were killed – 283 passengers, argued that the findings of the investigation including 80 children, and 15 crew members. are “preliminary,” that is, they can be The Malaysia Airlines passenger list changed as new information is received. shows that its Flight 17 (MH17) was carry- All these statements are patently false. ing 193 Dutch nationals (including one Today, there are no “different versions of with dual U.S. nationality), 43 Malaysians the catastrophe,” as the international inves- (including 15 crew), 27 Australians, 12 tigation has identified all the causes of Indonesians and 10 Britons (including one MH17’s downing, namely, the type of mis- with dual South African citizenship). There sile, its launch site, the origin of the Buk were also four Germans, four Belgians, missile system and its delivery route. In three Filipinos, one Canadian and one New addition, the list of suspects is clear. Zealander aboard. That is, all the data published by the That day, Russian military aggression investigation are established facts with against Ukraine directly affected people indisputable argumentation and solid evi- from various parts of the world. dence. In addition, Dutch investigators have An international Joint Investigation repeatedly stated that there is no longer Team (JIT), which included representatives any additional information that could from the Netherlands, Belgium, Australia, change the conclusions as to the causes of Ukraine and Malaysia, was set up to investi- MH17’s crash. gate the causes of the disaster. The investi- The process of collecting evidence and gation was conducted from two perspec- tives: technical and criminal. Michael Bociurkiw all credibly established suspects is ongoing. On July 21, 2014, the United Nations At a gathering of next-of-kin in Utrecht, the Netherlands, a sunflower represents each тгеIn final June determination of this year, theof the JIT faultnamed level four of Security Council adopted resolution No. of the 298 victims of the downing of MH17. The sunflowers represent the fields in men it alleged were involved in bringing 2166 requiring Russian insurgents who eastern Ukraine where the plane was shot down five years ago. the missile into the area in eastern Ukraine controlled the site of the disaster and the from which it was fired, and charged them surrounding area to refrain from any action on the causes of the MH17 catastrophe, in but will be presented in court. The with the murders of 298 passengers and that would skew the picture of this event. which the findings were based on an experi- European Space Agency (ESA) also provid- crew. It announced that international arrest The resolution also called on all states and ment to explode a missile next to the cabin ed its satellite images and the findings of warrants had been issued. The suspects, responsible persons to cooperate fully in of an IL-76 aircraft. However, experts noted relevant experts to assist in the investiga- whom prosecutors plan to try in March international investigations. that the Russians had deliberately created tion. The investigators argued that both 2020 under Dutch law, are: As soon as it became clear that that conditions during the experiment that dif- American and European data confirm their Russian troops had shot down a civilian fered from those studied by the JIT: the mis- conclusions regarding the site of the missile former colonel in Russia’s FSB intelligence flight, the Kremlin launched an aggressive sile in the experiment was located much launch and that the Buk missile system was service,• Igor according Girkin (also to knownprosecutors. as Strelkov), He was a informational attack against Ukraine in further away from the cabin than the JIT delivered from Russia. given the minister of defense title in the reb- order to distract the investigation, conceal had determined was the case in the actual Another attempt by Moscow to mislead el-held eastern Ukrainian city of Donetsk. the true picture of the events and accuse explosion of MH17. Such manipulations the investigation and the international Ukraine of this crime. were designed to obtain the desired result. community was a story about “Russian who was employed by Russia’s GRU mili- The very first “official” version of the The version of a Ukrainian Buk in the vil- radar data” which features the moment of tary• Sergeiintelligence Dubinsky agency, (known was asa deputyKhmury), of events disseminated by Moscow was a fake lage of Zaroshchenske was officially rejected the MH17 catastrophe. In September 2016, Mr. Girkin and was in regular contact with about a “Ukrainian attack aircraft.” An offi- in September 2016, when the JIT presented on the eve of the publication of an interim Russia. cial of the Russian Federation’s Ministry of the first results of its criminal investigation. report on the criminal investigation, - Defense stated at a briefing on July21, Three important facts were established: Moscow stated that it “had found the origi- mer soldier of Russia’s GRU military intelli- 2014, that “at the time of the MH17 catas- nal radar data,” which it previously claimed gence• Oleg agency Pulatov special (known forces as Giurza), and deputy a for trophe there was an SU-25 of the Ukrainian series missile (most likely 9M38M1) with a “was not saved.” The key argument was head of the intelligence service in Donetsk. Air Forces nearby.” This fake was effectively 9H314M• MH17 warhead, was shot launched down from by a the 9M38- Buk that, without the data from Russian radar, it promoted by Russian officials, Russian pro- missile system from a farm field near the was allegedly “impossible to establish pre- national who has no military background pagandistic media and Russian militants in settlement of Pervomaiske, not far from cisely the causes of the disaster” and there- but• who Leonid led a combat Kharchenko, unit as a commander Ukrainian the Donbas. Snizhne. fore the results announced by the JIT could in eastern Ukraine. But the “Ukrainian attack aircraft” ver- not be trusted. Details of the charges against these sus- sion was officially rejected on October 13, of the missile launch was under the control But as far back as January 2016, the pects will be outlined later, during criminal 2015, when the Netherlands Security of Russian• At the militants.time of the catastrophe, the site Dutch prosecutor officially stated that the proceedings. Council presented the final report of the Dutch Safety Board had enough informa- According to an agreement among technical investigation, stating that the to Ukraine from the Russian Federation tion from radar and satellite data, and that Australia, the Netherlands, Ukraine, plane was shot down by a Buk missile sys- and,• Theafter Buk the MH17missile downing, system was was deliveredreturned any additional radar data would not change Malaysia and Belgium, the suspects will be tem armed with a 9H314M warhead. All to Russia. the conclusions of the investigation. In prosecuted in accordance with Dutch law other versions (an accident caused by a In addition, investigators carefully checked addition, Moscow’s statement was dis- and the case will be heard by a court in the technical malfunction or a human error, a the Russian version of events and concluded missed by the investigation and experts Netherlands beginning in March 2020. terrorist act aboard the aircraft) have also that the Zaroshchenske site, which Moscow who said that the characteristics of the The JIT, whose investigation continues, been officially refuted. insisted on, also was under the control of Russian Utes-T civilian radar do not enable has previously said it has a long list of per- Later, in September 2016, Russia’s Russian militants on July 17, 2014. it to capture small objects moving at great sons of interest and has repeatedly Ministry of Defense gave up the version it The JIT stated that every day between speed such as a Buk missile. appealed for witnesses. had created, recognizing that there were no 100 and 200 investigators and experts On May 24, 2018, during the presenta- Russia, once again, has denied any role foreign aircraft near MH17. worked on the investigation (nearly 100 tion of the preliminary results of its investi- in the MH17 shootdown. After the “Ukrainian attack aircraft” ver- investigators continue this work); 1,448 gation, the JIT officially stated that MH17 During a briefing, Fred Westerbeck, the sion failed, the Kremlin began to insist that fragments of the aircraft were examined had been brought down by the Russian air representative of the Dutch prosecutor’s “MH17 was downed by a Ukrainian Buk and incorporated into the case; the investi- defense Buk missile system belonging to office, noted that Russia has been refusing from the village of Zaroshchenske that was gators requested the assistance of intelli- the 53rd Air Defense Brigade, which is to answer questions about the disaster for controlled by the Ukrainian Armed Forces.” gence and security services from different based near Kursk. The investigators deter- more than a year. Also, Russia accused the Joint Investigation countries 60 times; 500,000 photos and mined that the Buk left Kursk on wJune 23, It’s worth mentioning that journalists – Team of “improperly defining the type of videos, including those obtained from the 2014as , later transported to Millerovo in researchers from Bellingcat, The Insider missile” used. To “confirm” its version, Internet, were analyzed; nearly 200 wit- the Rostov region, and from there to east- and McClatchy D.C. Bureau – are investigat- Moscow resorted to various tricks and nesses were questioned; 150,000 tele- ern Ukraine. ing open-source information, contributing deceit. The manufacturer of Buk missile sys- phone calls were listened to and analyzed; As of May 2018, the investigation had substantially to the investigation of the truth tems, Almaz-Antey, published its own report 6,000 reports were needed to record all the identified the causes of the disaster of about what happened to Malaysia Airlines collected information. MH17 and those involved. Flight 17. They are analyzingphotos, videos, The investigation was also provided Once the Joint Investigation Team pre- satellite images, social networking accounts Col. Andrii Ordynovych is the military with images of American satellites and a sented the first results of its criminal inves- and other information from the Internet. attaché and the acting defense attaché at report by U.S. intelligence agencies, which tigation, which directly accused Russia of the Embassy of Ukraine in the U.S. cannot be revealed for reasons of security the shootdown of the passenger airliner, (Continued on page 16) 10 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 No. 30

The young men of the Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Workshop. PHOTO REPORT: 2019 Ukrainian Cultural Festival All photos in this series by Bogdan Grytsiv.

The Zolotyj Promin Ukrainian Dance Ensemble. The Dumka Chorus conducted by Vasyl Hrechynsky.

Varenyky-eating contest participants. A dancer prepares for the show.

Backstage (from left): MCs Bogdan Tabaka and Larysa Bajus with performers A Bukovynian dance presented by the dance workshop. Tonya Matvienko, Tetiana Horobets and Taras Petrynenko. No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 11

Violinist Vasyl Popadiuk. The Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Ukrainian Dance Workshop’s “Pryvit.”

Singer Maksym (Max) Lozynskyj. Singer Tonya Matvienko. At the film festival.

At the food court. Halyna Shepko’s demonstration of weaving at the “Selo.”

UNA executive officers (from left): President/CEO Stefan Kaczaraj, CFO/ The Ukrainian National Foundation’s president, At the UNA information booth. Treasurer Roma Lisovich and COO/National Secretary Yuriy Symczyk. Dr. Wasyl Szeremeta. 12 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 No. 30

residents of the two regions in April 2014, NEWSBRIEFS when fighting began between Ukrainian government forces and Russia-backed mili- (Continued from page 2) tants, to benefit from a simplified proce- February 2015 pacts aimed at resolving the dure to get a Russian passport. The Russia TO PLACE YOUR AD CALL Walter Honcharyk (973) 292-9800 x3040 conflict – have contributed to a decrease in president has already widened the catego- or e-mail [email protected] fighting but have failed to hold. A new cease- ries of people eligible for fast-track pass- fire agreement was reached on March 8, but ports by adding Ukrainians who once lived SERVICES PROFESSIONALS both sides have accused each other of in Ukraine’s Crimea region before it was repeated violations since then. (RFE/RL) annexed by Russia in 2014, as well as citi- zens of Iraq, Yemen, Syria and Afghanistan Chaly: Replacement should come ASAP who were born in Russia during the Soviet Valeriy Chaly, Ukraine’s outgoing ambas- era. (RFE/RL’s Russian Service, with sador in Washington, says that given the reporting by Reuters) importance of the United States as a country, Volker on Moscow’s passport move his replacement “should come sooner than later.” In a July 21 interview with Voice of Kurt Volker, the special U.S. envoy to America, Ambassador Chaly said his dismiss- Ukraine, says Russia’s move to fast-track al by presidential decree on July 19 “was the granting of citizenship to all residents absolutely normal” because the requisite of the Ukrainian regions of Donetsk and four years tenure for his post had expired. Luhansk runs counter to efforts to achieve “This wasn’t news for me,” Mr. Chaly said. “As peace in an armed conflict that is in its sixth SERVICES the acting ambassador, I’m ready to as soon year. Ambassador Volker said in a tweet as possible submit the new candidate here posted on July 18 that by expediting for approval by the U.S. government. If this is Russian passports for Ukrainian citizens, done quickly then that is the right way to do the measure “flies in the face [of] the spirit it.” President Volodymyr Zelenskyy dis- of the Minsk agreements.” He added, missed him and 11 other ambassadors on “Russia needs to fulfill its Minsk obliga- July 19, including the envoys to Morocco, tions.” Russian President Vladimir Putin’s South Africa, and Armenia. Ambassador July 17 decree expanded qualification for Chaly has represented Ukraine since July the simplified procedure that had only 2015 and helped gain support for sanctions applied to residents in the non-govern- OPPORTUNITIES to be imposed and periodically extended on ment-controlled parts of the easternmost Russia for illegally annexing Kyiv’s Crimean area of the Donbas. Ukraine and the West peninsula in 2014 and for backing pro- decried the move as an attempt to under- Earn extra income! Kremlin separatists in the easternmost mine Ukrainian sovereignty and was seen The Ukrainian Weekly is looking regions of Donetsk and Luhansk. He also as an effort to provoke Ukrainian President for advertising sales agents. pushed for the United States to continue pro- Volodymyr Zelenskyy and undermine his For additional information contact viding technical assistance and lethal weap- electoral win in April. Kyiv has declared Walter Honcharyk, Advertising Manager, Russian passports issued under this proce- The Ukrainian Weekly, 973-292-9800, ext 3040. ons to combat the Russian-supplied militants in the Donbas where an armed conflict has dure illegal. In response, President raged since April 2014, killing more than Zelenskyy ordered the Foreign Affairs 13,000 people. “In general, I’m satisfied, I will Ministry to simplify the procedure for dias- HOUSE FOR SALE: leave with pride and my head up high,” he pora Ukrainians to receive citizenship, told Voice of America. Prior to his appoint- according to a July 17 post on the official 5521 Route 23C, Jewett, NY ment, he was briefly deputy head of ex- presidential Facebook page. Mr. Zelenskyy President ’s office. In said he also wants the citizenship proce- near the Ukrainian Catholic Church at Hunter Mtn. 2006-2009 and 2010-2014, Mr. Chaly was dure to be simplified for foreigners who are 3 bedrooms, 2 1/2 baths, bi level with wrap around the deputy director general of the leading deprived of their rights or liberties. Russian Razumkov Center policy center in Kyiv. In President Putin has already widened the porch. Hot tub and mountain views. The house is in April 2010, he resigned as deputy foreign categories of people eligible for fast-track very good condition with essential furniture. $250,000. affairs minister after occupying that post passports by adding Ukrainians who once for six months in of the security lived in Ukraine’s Crimea region before it Contact Romana Rainey, 518-589-1024. policy that former President Viktor was annexed by Russia in 2014. (RFE/RL) Yanukovych pursued. (RFE/RL) No agents, pls. Sentsov-Vyshinsky swap is proposed Putin widens citizenship offer Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s office has proposed a prisoner Russian President Vladimir Putin has exchange with Russia involving Ukrainian signed a decree expanding the simplified filmmaker Oleh Sentsov, who is jailed in Mill-Run Tours procedure for obtaining Russian citizen- The Professional’s Choice Since 1974 Russia, and Russian journalist Kirill ship for all residents of Ukraine’s eastern Vyshinsky, who is in detention in Ukraine. 424 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10017 Donetsk and Lugansk regions. The July 17 The proposal came after President Tel: (212)486-9840 • Fax (212)223-8129 move comes after Mr. Putin, just days after Zelenskyy and Russian President Vladimir www.millrun.com Volodymyr Zelenskyy won Ukraine’s presi- Putin discussed by telephone a possible We are one of the largest Air Consolidators in the U.S. hiring for our dential runoff on April 21, issued a decree prisoner swap on July 11. Mr. Zelenskyy’s Headquarters in New York City: Travel Reservation Agents • Vacation & to simplify the process for Ukrainian citi- press secretary, Yulia Mendel, announced the Group Travel Agents • Accountants / Bookkeepers • Receptionists zens in “certain areas” of the eastern proposal on Facebook late on July 18, hours Luhansk and Donetsk regions – a reference after Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov We are ready to do training for quali ed applicants such as bilingual to those parts held by separatists – to get speakers and computer experts urged Kyiv to release Mr. Vyshinsky as a first Russian citizenship. Decried by Ukraine step toward the normalization of relations If quali ed and interested, submit your Resume to: [email protected] and the West as an attempt to undermine between the two countries. Mr. Vyshinsky, Ukrainian sovereignty, the move was seen who headed the office of Russia’s state-run as an effort to provoke Mr. Zelenskyy and RIA Novosti news agency in Ukraine, was undermine his electoral win. Kyiv has arrested in May 2018 on treason charges declared Russian passports issued under and faces up to 15 years in prison if found KULINSKI MEMORIALS this procedure illegal. The expanded decree 809 SOUTH MAIN STREET • MANVILLE, NJ 08835 now allows all those who were permanent (Continued on page 15) TEL. 908-722-3130 FAX 908-253-0027 TOLL FREE 800-458-5467 [email protected] • Serving Ukrainian families for over 60 years • Over 40 granite colors to choose from • Custom etchings • House appointments available • Serving the tri-state area • 5 minutes from South Bound Brook, NJ

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in 2014. It split last year, with the break- Parliamentary... away Opposition Platform – For Life, led by and Viktor Medvedchuk, tak- (Continued from page 1) ing center stage. The latter has captured 43 parties and in single-mandate constituen- seats. Meanwhile, the cies). ’s Batkivshchyna failed to get into the Parliament, securing Historical recollections of Odesa (Fatherland) party narrowly beat former about 3.5 percent of the votes. President Petro Poroshenko’s European Among the losers from the reformist “Odessa Recollected: The Port and the Solidarity into third place: Batkivshchyna camp are several of the best-known young People,” by Patricia Herlihy, Harvard obtained 26 seats to ’s liberal activists who emerged during the Ukrainian Research Institute. Brighton, 25. And rock star Svyatoslav Vakarchuk’s Revolution of Dignity, some of whom Mass.: Academic Studies Press, 2018. 256 pp. party Holos (Voice) managed to just get in, unsuccessfully sought to create a new ISBN: 978-1-61811-736-6 (hardcover) $42. winning 20 seats. Democratic Alliance. They include Serhiy Odesa, a Black Sea port founded by Voter turnout, at 49.84 percent, was the Leshchenko, Svitlana Zalishchuk and Catherine the Great in 1794, shortly after lowest so far in all of Ukraine’s parliamen- Leonid Yemets; Mustafa Nayyem and the territory was wrested from the Ottoman tary elections since 1991. Hanna Hopko did not run. Empire, became a boomtown on the south- The final configuration within the new Some observers were surprised that the ern fringe of the Russian Empire. Catherine Parliament will only be known after the 46 political parties led and and the early administrators of the city, such independent candidates, and 10 represent- Ihor Smeshko, both of whom did reasonably as the Duke de Richelieu, promoted settle- ing other parties who were elected, indi- well in the presidential election, failed to cate with whom they will align. Servant of cross the 5 percent threshold. This also was ment by Europeans in addition to the Greek, the People will have no problem producing the case with the parties led by Volodymyr Italians and Jews who came on their own the 226 votes required for ordinary majori- Groysman and Mikheil Saakashvili, and the initiative to take advantage of economic ties in voting within the Verkhovna Rada, far right Svoboda. Another surprise was that opportunities in the robust grain trade with but will need 300 votes in the case of con- a new party hastily established by a contro- Europe. More ethnically diverse by far than stitutional amendments. versial blogger living in Europe as a self- St. Petersburg, Odesa became a remarkable Being in such a strong position, Servant declared political refugee, Anatoliy Shariy, independent-minded, large cosmopolitan of the People does not need to form a for- managed to win 2.3 percent of the votes, city, attracting and producing noted writers, mal coalition with any other party, which overtaking even Svoboda. artists, musicians and scholars. would tie its hands somewhat in deciding On the other hand, the election purged Imperial Russian tsars and Soviet lead- Union will find in this book a helpful whom to propose for prime minister, as the Verkhovna Rada of many of the main ers maintained an ambivalent attitude resource for their research and teaching. well as the parliamentary speaker, deputy controversial and seemingly immovable fig- towards the maverick city, appreciating the A native San Franciscan, Dr. Herlihy speakers and heads of committees. The ures accused of being anti-Ukrainian, cor- fame and fortune it generated, but also graduated from the University of California, party’s leader, Dmytro Razumkov, has rupt, auxiliaries of the oligarchs and/or anti- leery of the activities of secret foreign Berkeley and obtained her Ph.D. in history made this clear and kept his still hopeful reform. They include Serhiy Kivalov, Borys national societies, pogromists, revolution- from the University of Pennsylvania. She is potential partners – Holos and possibly Kolesnikov, Dmytro Dobkin, aries and simply the perceived lack of patri- the author of “Odessa: A History 1794- Batkivshchyna – waiting. Rozenblat, Serhii Pashinsky, Ihor 1914” (Harvard University Press. 1987); otism in the singular city so far away from One of the surprises was that Servant of Kononenko, Serhii Kaplin, “The Alcoholic Empire: Vodka and Politics the heart of Russia. With the withering of the People did even better than it had and numerous others. The discredited for- in Late Imperial Russia” (Oxford University the lucrative grain trade by the time of the expected in the 199 single-mandate con- mer military pilot Nadiya Savchenko also Soviet Union, Odesa became a neglected Press, 2002); and “Vodka: A Global History” stituencies traditionally associated with was rejected, receiving a mere eight votes. city, drained of its foreign flavor. (Reaktion Books, 2012). She is professor corruption and the “buying” of votes. Many Around three-quarters of the new With the independence of Ukraine in emerita from Brown University (2001) and of the most controversial national deputies Verkhovna Rada will be first-time national 1991, hopes were raised that the architec- Louise Wyant Professor Emerita, were defeated by Mr. Zelenskyy’s political deputies. The youngest, 23-year-old tural beauty and economic prospects of the Emmanuel College (2009). newcomers. In fact, Servant of the People Svyatoslav Yurash, represents Servant of city would be revived. Given the current Currently she is adjunct professor at the broke another record, the People; the oldest, Yuliy Yoffe of hostilities in eastern Ukraine with the Watson Institute for International and winning 130 of the single-mandate constit- Opposition Platform – For Life, is 78 and potential of the Odesa area becoming a pos- Public Affairs, Brown University, associate uencies compared with 113 won by former was first elected to the Soviet-era Ukrainian sible land bridge to the Crimean peninsula, at the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute President ’s party in Parliament back in 1990. The number of the fate of the former “Pearl of the Black and the Davis Center for Russian and 2012. women elected has grown from 47 in 2014 Sea” hangs in suspension. Eurasian Studies at Harvard University. Dr. Mr. Zelenskyy’s party took all the single- to 87l; women now constitute 20.5 percent The present book brings together – Herlihy is a former co-master (with David mandate seats in the capital, and Mr. of the national deputies. indeed, re-collects – some of the most valu- Herlihy, who passed in 1991) of Mather Razumkov wasted no time in calling on the In short, the election has resulted in a able and thought-provoking research on House Harvard University (1976-1986). government to cooperate with the presi- rebooting of the Verkhovna Rada, with Odesa and its culture, community and She has six children and six grandchildren. dent in replacing as head of major changes also awaited in the govern- economy published by Patricia Herlihy For additional information, readers may the Kyiv City State Administration (an ment and other areas of political life. For over several decades of her work. Scholars visit the publisher’s website, www.academ- appointed position that is different from many, this is the breakthrough they have of Ukraine, Russia and the former Soviet icstudiespress.com. the elected position of mayor). been waiting for – one they hope will now Servant of the People came first in all but kickstart the reform process, facilitating the three regions. In Lviv, Holos pushed the passage of reform legislation aimed at party into second place. This itself was major revamping the legal and law enforcement Poetry by Attyla Mohylny upset in a region that had strongly backed systems as well as stepping up the fight “Contours of The City,” by Attyla Mohylny, Mr. Poroshenko in the presidential election. against corruption translated by Michael Naydan. London: It also confirmed the party as a nationwide However, skeptics and political oppo- Glagoslav Publication, 2017. 140 pp. ISBN: force whose appeal is not limited to any spe- nents fear that the majority secured by 978-1-911414-57-5 (paperback), $26.50. cific region. In the Donetsk and Luhansk Servant of the People will consolidate regions, Servant of the People was second power in the hands of the president and The poetry of Attyla Mohylny’s after the Opposition Platform – For Life. note that, in the absence of proper checks “Contours of the City” completely breaks The big losers were, first and foremost, and balances, this is worrisome. Other with the tradition of rhyme and meter that some of the political parties that were observers of the political scene have dominated Ukrainian poetry until only prominent in Ukrainian politics after the expressed concern that the Verkhovna recently. Though largely overlooked when Revolution of Dignity. The People’s Front, Rada is being flooded with inexperienced it first appeared during the political transi- led by , which gained the newcomers, who are vulnerable to political tion to Ukrainian independence in 1991, most votes in the parliamentary election in manipulation and being bought off. “Contours of the City” arguably comprises 2014, has disappeared completely. Its coali- Although some irregularities were one of the finest collection of free verse tion partner, the Petro Poroshenko Bloc, reported, both external and internal observ- written in Ukrainian. newly reconstituted as European Solidarity, ers have not reported any serious concerns Mr. Mohylny was a part of transitional which won 132 seats in 2014, now has 25. about the election’s fairness, and have wel- and transformational group of writers who Batkivshchyna has managed to increase its comed it as another example of democracy dramatically turned from Soviet-imposed seats from 19 in 2014 to 26. Samopomich advancing in Ukraine. The difficulties facing censorship to create new directions and a (Self Reliance), led by Lviv Mayor Andriy would-be voters among Ukraine’s huge pop- new poetics for Ukrainian culture. Born in Sadovyi, and ’s Radical Party, ulation of internally displaced persons or 1963, Mr. Mohylny died at the young age of which formerly had 33 and 22 seats, those outside of the country have been 45. He received a degree in philosophy respectively, failed to cross the 5 percent noted as issues still to be tackled. from the Taras Shevchenko Kyiv State “Mavka and the Ant King.” He continued to threshold. Whatever now happens, the political University and worked mostly as a teacher, work on writing short stories and a novel Despite the war with Russia and the map of Ukraine has been redrawn. editor and journalist during his lifetime. until his untimely death. occupation of Crimea and the eastern Commentators are largely in agreement He authored two books of poetry early The translator, Michael M. Naydan, is a Donbas where they enjoyed support, the that the country has entered a new chapter in his career: “Tumbler Pigeons Above the Woskob Family Professor of Slavic pro-Russian forces have improved their in its history, replete with new opportuni- Rooftops,” and “Contours of the City,” along Languages and Literature at Pennsylvania position. The Opposition Bloc, reconstitut- ties but also immense challenges and with the text for the children’s book, State University. ed from the Party of Regions, won 29 seats imponderables. No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 15

to a Dutch museum when Russia seized the NEWSBRIEFS peninsula in 2014, saying it needed more information. The items, known as the (Continued from page 12) Scythian gold, are in the Netherlands guilty. A Kyiv court on July 19 extended his because they were borrowed from four pretrial custody by two months, to museums in Crimea and one in Kyiv for an September 19. Mr. Vyshinsky’s arrest came exhibition in early 2014 at Amsterdam’s amid accusations in Kyiv that RIA Novosti- Allard Pierson Museum. They were sent Ukraine was participating in a “hybrid infor- before Russia forcibly annexed Crimea Провід 5-го куреня Уладу Старших Пластунів mation war” waged by Russia against from Ukraine in March 2014. In 2016, a Ukraine. The Security Service of Ukraine court in Amsterdam ruled that the collec- і 20-го куреня Уладу Пластових Сеніорів (SBU) said Mr. Vyshinsky, who at the tion was part of Ukraine’s cultural heritage ОРДЕН ХРЕСТОНОСЦІВ moment of his arrest had dual Russian- and should be returned to Kyiv. The court stated that only sovereign states could ділиться сумною вісткою, Ukrainian citizenship, received financial що 7 липня 2019 року відійшов у Вічність support from Russia via other media com- claim objects as cultural heritage. Museums panies registered in Ukraine in order to dis- in Moscow-controlled Crimea appealed the пл. сен. керівництва guise links between RIA Novosti Ukraine ruling, saying that the artifacts are part of and Russian state media giant Rossiya Crimea’s heritage. (RFE/RL, based on Segodnya. They also said he was receiving reporting by Reuters and TASS) some 53,000 euros (about $60,000) a Meeting to restart “Normandy format” month from Russian sources for his work and that the money was sent to him through Foreign affairs advisors of Ukraine, . Weeks after his arrest, Mr. Vyshinsky Germany, France and Russia met in Paris on announced that he had given up his July 12 to relaunch the “Normandy format” Ukrainian citizenship, called his arrest a of negotiations, reported Europeyska “political order,” and suggested that he was Pravda (European Pravda), citing Deutsche arrested in order to use him in a swap with Welle. The German side said the negotia- Moscow for a Ukrainian being held in tions were based on the latest positive св. п. Володимир Рак Russia. Mr. Sentsov, a Crimean native who developments in eastern Ukraine. Meeting колишній Великий Майстер Ордену Хрестоносців, opposed Russia’s 2014 takeover of the participants were designing further steps Ukrainian peninsula, was arrested by the for implementation of the Minsk agree- колишній Станичний Пластової Станиці в Ню-Йорку, Moscow-imposed Crimean authorities in ments that first of all include a ceasefire, the довголітній член вищих пластових проводів. May 2014 and charged with planning the DPA news agency reported. The meeting of В імені Ордену складаємо горем прибитій Родині firebombing of pro-Russia organizations in foreign affairs advisors of the Normandy наші найглибші співчуття. Crimea. A Russian court convicted him on four was agreed upon during President multiple terrorism charges in August 2015 Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to Paris and Вічна Йому пам’ять! and sentenced him to 20 years in a maxi- Berlin in June. (Ukraine Crisis Media Center) mum-security prison. Human rights activ- З Хрестом і Мечем! ists and Western governments have called Canada increases police deployments on Russian authorities to release the film The Royal Canadian Mounted Police director, saying his arrest and trial were (RCMP) on July 8, said it was is “pleased to politically motivated. In recent weeks, coordinate the extension and expansion of Ukrainian and Russian officials have been Canadian police deployments to Ukraine.” talking about a possible swap of all Russians Following a renewed commitment by the and Ukrainians held in the two countries. government of Canada to support Ukraine’s (RFE/RL, with reporting by Ukrinform) reform agenda, up to 45 Canadian police will Seamen’s pretrial detention extended deploy to the country, more than doubling the previous maximum of 20, the RCMP A Moscow court has prolonged by three noted. The additional deployments will Ділимося сумною вісткою, що months the pretrial detention of 24 extend an additional two years, to 2021. у вівторок, 9-го липня 2019 pоку, Ukrainian sailors detained by Russian forces Canadian police deployed to Ukraine serve in відійшла у вічність наша along with their three naval vessels in one of two missions: a bilateral mission with найдороща Мама, Бабця і Прабабуся November near the Kerch Strait, which links the National Police of Ukraine or the the Black Sea and Sea of Azov. The Lefortovo European Union Advisory Mission for св. п. district court ruled on July 17 that 13 of the Civilian Security Sector Reform (EUAM sailors must stay in detention until October Ukraine). “Our continuing contribution of Надя Пінковська 24, while the remaining 11 will be held until highly skilled police officers will help train October 26. Russia has held the Ukrainian and mentor Ukrainian police, with the ulti- нар. 25-го вересня 1925 року, sailors since its forces fired on, boarded, and mate goal of improving safety and security in довголітня членка Хоpу „Думка“ seized their vessels near the Kerch Strait on their communities,” said RCMP Commiss- і колишній дириґент церковного хору November 25, 2018. Moscow claims the ioner Brenda Lucki. “Having professional, св. Володимира в Елизабет, Ню Джерзі. Ukrainian vessels illegally entered Russian well-trained and well-equipped police ser- territorial waters near Crimea, the Ukrainian vices is key to fostering stability, making peo- Похорон відбувся в п‘ятницю, 19-го липня 2019 року, peninsula that Russia occupied and took ple and communities feel more secure, and в церкві св. Володимира в Елизабет, Ню Джерзі. over in 2014. The sailors face up to six years enhancing the rule of law in fragile and con- in prison if convicted. The United States and flict-affected states.” Led by the RCMP, Похована на цвинтарі св. Андрія в С. Бавнд-Бруку, Ню Джерзі. other Western countries have called for the Canadian police serving in Ukraine support Ukrainian sailors’ release, calling their Ukraine’s police reform efforts. They offer Залишилися у глибокому смутку: detainment illegal. (RFE/RL’s Ukrainian training and strategic advice to strengthen донька - Христя Клюфас Service, with reporting by TASS and Interfax) the capacity and effectiveness of the National син - Андрій Пінковський з дружиною Джекелин Police of Ukraine in the realms of police safe- Court postpones verdict on Crimean gold внучка - д-р Марта Клюфас з мужем Марком Платош ty, criminal investigations, and preventing внук - д-р Григорій Пінковський з дружиною Карлі A Dutch appeals court has postponed its and responding to gender-based violence. внучка - Линдзі Міган з мужем Ерек verdict on the ownership of a collection of (Ukrainian Canadian Congress Daily правнуки - Мар‘яна і Маланка Платош gold artifacts from Crimea that was on loan Briefing) - Лукас Пінковський - Мекинлі і Паркер Міган ceremonies, Larysa Bajus and Bogdan ВІЧНА НАДІ ПАМ‘ЯТЬ! 13th annual... Tabaka, entertained the audiences at all the stage shows and introduced the numerous В пам’ять св. п. Наді, родина просить складати пожертви (Continued from page 1) performers. на: St. Joseph’s Adult Care Home strations of weaving and decorating tech- Entertainment was provided also by Sasha Gutmakher with the annual vare- 125 Sister Servants Lane niques. Sloatsburg, N.Y. 10974 Roman Brygider introduced showings of nyky-eating contest, and guests could his beautifully edited and rich mosaic film dance at “zabavas” on Friday and Saturday “Our Ukrainian American Legacy,” and evenings, with live music by the ensembles actor Mr. Lozynskyj gave lots of behind-the- Udych and Anna-Maria. scenes details about the forthcoming movie * * * DEATH ANNOUNCEMENTS A photo report about the Ukrainian “Hutsulka Ksenia.” Death announcements should be sent to the Advertising Department by e-mail New York State Sen. Jen Metzger Cultural Festival appears in the centerfold. th to [email protected] or by fax to 973-644-9510. Deadline: Tuesday noon before appeared at the start of Saturday’s stage Next week: More features about the 13 the newspaper’s date of issue. For further information call 973-292-9800, ext. 3040. show to greet the audience. The masters of annual festival. 16 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 No. 30

what he does when the puck is on his stick. es any and all challenges, accepts his role Where Makar stands out is how he process- and respects his teammates. Proof of this is Cale Makar a name to remember es the game at an extremely quick level and how he arrived ready to contribute as a is capable of making the most of what is sixth defenseman against Calgary in the Twenty-plus years ago when Ukrainian Brooks Bandits, a gold medal in the World given to him. This makes it almost impossi- first round of the 2019 Stanley Cup play- Gary Makar and Laura MacGregor were Junior A Hockey Challenge and a gold ble to defend: if even he cannot anticipate offs. All he did was score what proved to be seeking a name for their newborn son, they medal with Team Canada at the 2018 what he’s going to do until he sees what’s in the game-winning goal in the 6-3 settled on Cale. Gary was working in the World Junior Tournament begin the list on front of him, how can opponents defend Avalanche victory. Calgary Flames marketing department at the team level. against him? He, too, is poised with the puck, The future looks very bright in Colorado, the time when Cale Hulse was a key mem- Individually, the Hobey Baker award fol- but does not move it as well as Karlsson or particularly on defense. Connor Timmins, ber of the team’s defense corps. They both lowed Makar being the only player in the get it on net as accurately. Some claim Makar another champion on Team Canada’s 2018 liked the name and chose it for their son. history of the RBC Cup (Canada’s Junior A skates a bit better than Karlsson, plays hard- WJC squad, was a second-round pick in The name Cale Makar shot into promi- national championship) to be named MVP er on the puck and is better defensively. At 2017 and projects as an NHLer in 2019- nence in mid-April of this year, when in a and top defenseman in back-to-back years. 6-feet and 192 pounds, Makar will be a 2020. Samuel Girard came over from span of four days he won the Hobey Baker He was rookie of the year in the AJHL heavier presence in the NHL. Nashville in the three-team Matt Duchesne Award (U.S. college hockey’s top player), (Alberta Junior Hockey League) and the He’s definitely an offensive defenseman trade, and there are holdovers Tyson Barrie played in the Frozen Four championship Canadian Junior League, then was named who will pinch in at the blueline, carry the and Nikita Zadorov. Add it all up and this game (losing to Minnesota-Duluth, 3-0), top defenseman in the AJHL in 2016-2017. puck end-to-end and be daring on a pass, up-and-coming defense corps becomes signed a three-year entry-level contract Makar flew under the radar because he but he tends to only take risks that he can more than a handful for the opposition to with the Colorado Avalanche and then did not play major junior and chose not to back up. Instead of joining Canada’s deal with when it comes to mobility on the scored a goal on his first shot in his first play in a prominent university hockey pro- Olympic team in 2018 as a seventh defen- ice. Partnering this defense with a strong, ever NHL game, a 6-2 victory over Calgary gram. He further declined an invitation to seman, he chose to stay with his UMass talented group of forwards plus solid goal- in the Stanley Cup playoffs. join Canada’s Olympic team in 2018, teammates for three weeks during a key tending means a very bright hockey future The odds are good the hockey world will instead being resolute in his convictions, part of the season. He dutifully finished his for the Colorado Avalanche. be hearing his name a lot in the future. It holding loyalty as an important personal second college season, leading his Likewise for hockey’s top prospect, may even appear on the Norris Trophy a character trait. UMass recruited him in his Minutemen to the Frozen Four final before named Cale Makar. few times for being selected the NHL’s most first year of Junior A hockey and he stuck deciding to turn pro. Makar musings: He dressed in jersey No. outstanding defenseman. The fourth overall with the Minutemen even when the coach Makar is totally committed to his stud- 10 in Colorado’s playoff games, firmly selection of the Avalanche in 2017 was who recruited him was fired and replaced ies, carrying a 3.5 grade-point average, establishing himself as a two-way threat on rated the No. 1 prospect outside the NHL in by ex-Ottawa assistant coach Greg Carvel. intent on working to earn his degree in the Avalanche blue-line; he contributed a poll of NHL scouts and player personnel This turned out to be a blessing for both sports management in the future. The plan offensively with a goal and five assists, was directors. Anyone who saw Makar play for parties, as Carvel was in Ottawa for the first was at least two years in college, where he more than capable defensively (+3) and the University of Massachusetts Minutemen two years of Erik Karlsson’s NHL career would develop his skill set, followed by a gave out his share of aggressive hits while the last two years agreed he had NHL skat- and immediately recognized the similari- smooth transition to pro hockey. skating with fellow youngster Samuel ing, NHL hockey IQ, NHL passing and an ties between the two defensemen. From juniors to world tournaments to Girard; he also saw time on the Avs’ second NHL shot. In summation, he has all the tools. Comparing a 20-year-old who has college through to the Frozen Four, at every power-play; and he further contributed He’s also amassed quite a full trophy appeared in a handful of NHL games to a level he reaches, there seemingly is zero with 10 takeaways and ten blocked shots; case thanks to his penchant for winning – multiple Norris Trophy winner and one of adjustment time. Makar’s game is tailor- he had no problem being accepted as one on team and individual levels. UMass’ first the best defensemen of his generation is made for today’s high-speed NHL, where of the guys in the locker room. Hockey East regular season championship, very heady praise. The two are not identical, mobile and intelligent defensemen are a Ihor Stelmach may be reached at two Alberta Junior League titles with the primarily because Karlsson is unique with most coveted asset. The youngster embrac- [email protected].

voluntarily handed the technical part of the Despite the fact that Moscow is con- its guilt in the death of passengers aboard The catastrophe... investigation and the key role in the crimi- stantly declaring its “readiness to facilitate” MH17. In addition, the United States called nal investigation to the Netherlands in the investigation into the cause of the on Russia to respect and comply with U.N. (Continued from page 9) order not to be accused of bias. MH17 catastrophe and “render any neces- Security Council Resolution 2166 from Independently of the official investiga- It is evident that Russia does not meet sary assistance,” the reality is the exact 2014, which obliges all countries to cooper- tion, Bellingcat established the number of any of the above criteria to participate in opposite. ate fully with the investigation in order to the Buk missile system from which MH17 the Joint Investigation Team. Russia’s state- On July 30, 2015, on the U.N. Security identify and prosecute those involved. The was downed, the military unit to which it ments about “non-recognition of the results Council Russia vetoed a draft resolution on State Department said: “ It is time for belonged, the system transportation route of the investigation” are simply elements of the establishment of an international tribu- Russia to acknowledge its role in the shoot- and the convoy vehicles and identified the propaganda. nal to prosecute the perpetrators of the ing down of MH17 and to cease its callous circle of individuals involved in the acci- Another attempt by Russia to avoid MH17 downing. Of the 15 countries partici- disinformation campaign.” dent. responsibility is its arguments that “the pating in the U.N. Security Council, Russia Also, the governments of the Bellingcat experts are cooperating with blame for the catastrophe lies with Ukraine was the only one to vote against. The posi- Netherlands and Australia issued a joint the Joint Investigation Team and providing since it didn’t close the airspace in the area tion of Moscow cannot be explained as any- statement underscoring that responsibility it with all the information they unearth. of hostilities.” The Russian media went thing other than an attempt to protect the for destroying MH17 rests with Russia. According to Eliot Higgins, the investigative even further, saying, “it is not so important perpetrators of the disaster from criminal In the final statement of the Ukraine-EU journalism community’s founder, who downed MH17, what is important is responsibility. summit, held on July 8 of this year in Kyiv, Bellingcat’s findings coincide with those of that Ukraine didn’t close the airspace.” The chairman of the Dutch Safety Board, European Union leaders and Ukraine’s the Joint Investigation Team. But already in its first report the JIT Tjibbe Joustra, also claimed that Russia was President noted that In an attempt to discredit the investiga- noted that International Civil Aviation trying to hinder the investigation: “Every July 17 will mark five years since the disas- tion and avoid responsibility, Russia also Organization (ICAO) rules did not require time Russians come with new stories and ter of MH17, which took the lives of 298 distorts the rules of international law per- Ukraine to completely close the airspace, new speakers. I got the impression that people, and emphasized: “We expect the taining to the investigation of plane crash- while Kyiv’s increase of the lower threshold they are trying to reject the report, whatev- prosecution of the perpetrators of this trag- es. It claims that “Ukraine should not have for permitted civil aviation flights to 9.75 er the pretext. During a single week, edy to be effective and call on the Russian been included in the Joint Investigation kilometers (32,000 feet) was in accordance Russians twice or thrice changed their Federation to acknowledge its responsibili- Team (JIT) since it is an interested party. In with international law. The MH17 catastro- position.” ty and cooperate fully in order to restore turn, Moscow cannot recognize the results phe occurred at an altitude of 10,058 And, from the very beginning of the justice.” They also expressed their “confi- of the official investigation as Russia has meters (33,000 feet). investigation, Kremlin-controlled militants dence in the independence and profession- not been participating in the Joint There is another important point that of so-called Donetsk people’s republic pre- alism of further legal procedures.” Investigation Team (JIT).” Moscow will never admit. ICAO standards vented international experts from carrying The catastrophe of the Malaysia Airlines In fact, in accordance with international require countries to report on the deploy- out their work by blocking their access to Boeing 777-200ER airliner was a continua- law, the JIT is to include the following coun- ment of their air defense systems in the the site of the plane’s crash. It is also worth tion of the Russian Federation’s “hybrid” tries: the country on whose territory the area of civil aviation flights. Whether it be noting that the report of the Dutch (asymmetric) armed aggression launched aviation accident took place; the countries an armed conflict or military drills, the Prosecutor’s Office states that surgical sta- against Ukraine, but the tragedy of MH17 whose citizens suffered; the country in state that puts its air defense on alert is ples were found in some bodies of the vic- has affected many countries around the which the aviation company is based. supposed to close the airspace in the area tims of the MH17 catastrophe, suggesting world. Russia’s failure to accept responsi- Separately, black box decoding experts and of its operation and to warn the ICAO there- that militants had attempted to remove bility and its impunity for this and other representatives of a plane’s manufacturer of. The fact that Russia had not warned missile fragments from the corpses. criminal acts create conditions for are invited. Moreover, under international ICAO of its air defense in the civil aviation Following the presentation on May 24, increased aggression as well as the poten- law, the country on whose territory an avia- flight zone makes Moscow responsible for 2018, by the JIT of the interim results of its tial for new catastrophes – something tion accident took place also has the right the open airspace over the Donbas on July investigation, the United States and the Russia’s current political leadership does to lead the investigation. However, Ukraine 17, 2014. European Union called on Russia to admit not understand. No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 17

COMMUNITy CHRONICLE Parish festival brings community together PERTH AMBOY, N.J. – On Saturday, June the beautiful church, socializing with 22, the church grounds of Assumption friends and neighbors, and enjoying incred- Ukrainian Catholic Church in Perth Amboy, ible Ukrainian dance performances. N.J., swelled with neighbors and those who Father Ivan Turyk, the pastor of the traveled quite a distance to appreciate church, said that “The festival always creates Ukrainian culture, crafts, foods and enter- an atmosphere of hospitality,” as people can tainment at the seventh annual parish festi- come and have fun, and at the same time, “it val. becomes an expression of our faith.” Throughout the sun-filled day, more “God blessed the festival with perfect than 3,000 guests enjoyed themselves, eat- weather, which helped to bring many peo- ing the delicious Ukrainian food, listening ple to the festival. The reviews were won- to lively Ukrainian music, taking tours of derful; a lot of people told us that it sure is a

Festival volunteers at Assumption Ukrainian Catholic Church in Perth Amboy, N.J. big crowd this year and said they had a hundreds of pieces of homemade desserts. great time,” Father Turyk noted. Some 415 pounds of meat were used to The festival was honored by the pres- prepare shish kebab. ence of U.S. Congressman Frank Pallone (D- The pastor said it was wonderful to N.J.), Mayor Wilda Diaz of Perth Amboy and know that the church has so many hard- Bishop Andriy Rabiy, auxiliary bishop for working parishioners and school parents the Ukrainian Catholic Archeparchy of who are doing their best to help keep the Philadelphia, who opened the celebration church and a parish school financially sta- with his blessing and a prayer. A great time ble. “This was yet more proof that the and great food was enjoyed by all those Assumption Parish community shines who attended. when we all work together as one family,” The parish served 6,000 varenyky, 1,550 he noted. stuffed cabbage (holubtsi), 250 pounds of Source: Assumption Ukrainian Catholic Preparing the shish kebab. kovbasa, 80 cases of Ukrainian beer and Church.

Father Ivan Turyk, pastor, with Bishop Andriy Rabiy, auxiliary bishop for the Ukrainian Catholic The Barvinok Ukrainian dance troupe performs at the parish festival. Archeparchy of Philadelphia. Pastor marks 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – On June 23, Father Iura Godenciuc, pastor of St. Michael the Archangel Ukrainian Catholic Church in New Haven, Conn., celebrated the Like Love 25th anniversary of his priestly ordination. He cele- brated the divine liturgy with his brother, Father Vasile Godenciuc, who preached in Ukrainian, and Father The Ukrainian Jordan Lenaghan, O.P., who preached in English. Also Weekly in attendance were Fathers Stepan Yanovsky and Albert Forlano. A beautiful community lunch followed. Father Iura Godenciuc has been the parish priest for the New on Facebook! Haven community since 2002. He is seen above with his www.facebook.com/ wife, Juliana, and son, Chip. – Paul A. Zalonski TheUkrainianWeekly 18 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 No. 30 No. 30 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 19

August 1-2 Pysanka workshop with Sofia Zielyk, Music and Art August 5-8 Embroidery workshop with instruction by Lubow Jewett, NY Center of Greene County, [email protected] Jewett, NY Wolynetz, Music and Art Center of Greene County, or www.grazhdamusicandart.org [email protected] or www.grazhdamusicandart.org August 1-4 72nd annual convention, Ukrainian Orthodox League, Emlenton, PA Foxburg Inn Hotel, All Saints Camp, 724-659-3116 or August 7-11 Sacred Music Workshop, Kobzarska Sich Bandura www.uol.orthodoxws.com/convention.html Emlenton, PA Camp, All Saints Camp, www.banduracamp.org

August 2-4 Canada’s National Ukrainian Festival, Selo Ukraina, August 8 through Art exhibit, “Blue Collar” by Cleveland Dean and Dauphin, MB http://cnuf.ca or 877-474-2683 October 6 Anthony Adcock, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Chicago 773-227-5522 or www.uima-chicago.org

August 3 Presentation by Brian Bonner, Chicago Business and August 9-11 Softball tournament weekend, Ukrainian American Chicago Professional Group, Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, Ellenville, NY Youth Association camp, www.cym.org/us-ellenville or www.uima-chicago.org 845-647-7230

August 3 Concert, Gould String Quartet with violinist Atis August 11-17 Choral Workshop, Kobzarska Sich Bandura Camp, All Jewett, NY Bankas, Music and Art Center of Greene County, Emlenton, PA Saints Camp, www.banduracamp.org [email protected] or www.grazhdamusicandart.org August 12-17 Icon Workshop III, “Archangel Icon,” Archangel Carnegie, PA Studios, [email protected] August 3-5 Lemko Vatra, Lemkivshchyna Resort, Durham, ON www.lemko-olk.com or [email protected] August 13-15 Ukrainian Dance Camp, Svoboda Dancers, Dance North Battleford, SK Connection Studio, 306-490-7586 or 306-480-7729 August 3-5 Servus Heritage Festival, Ukrainian Pavilion, Edmonton, AB www.heritagefest.ca August 15-17 Saskatoon Folkfest, Ukrainian Karpaty Pavilion, Saskatoon, SK Prairieland Park, www.saskatoonfolkfest.com August 4 Parish picnic, St. Nicholas Ukrainian Catholic Church, August 15-18 46th annual St. Josaphat Ukrainian Festival, Buffalo, NY [email protected] or 716-852-7566 Rochester, NY St. Josaphat Ukrainian Catholic Church, www.rochesterukrainianfestival.com August 4-17 Bandura Course, Kobzarska Sich Bandura Camp, All Emlenton, PA Saints Camp, banduracamp.org August 17 Hamilton Ukrainian Day on the Bay, Ukrainian Canadian Hamilton, ON Congress – Hamilton Branch, Hamilton Waterfront August 4-17 Folklorama Festival, Spirit of Ukraine Pavilion at Dock, [email protected] or www.ucchamilton.ca Winnipeg, MB Soul Sanctuary and Ukraine/Kyiv Pavilion at Maples Collegiate, 204-982-6210 or [email protected] Entries in “Out and About” are listed free of charge. Priority is given to events August 5-7 Ukrainian folk motif painting course, Music and Art advertised in The Ukrainian Weekly. However, we also welcome submissions Jewett, NY Center of Green County, [email protected] from all our readers. Items will be published at the discretion of the editors or www.grazhdamusicandart.org and as space allows. Please send e-mail to [email protected].

But in a worst-case scenario, the disin- Belarus... formation campaign could also be com- bined with a “false flag” sabotage operation (Continued from page 2) by Russian special operations forces in begin this coming August (Tgstat.com/ru/ Belarus. Moscow might then attempt to channel/@SBUmole/, June 24). blame Kyiv for these crimes in order to jus- Both of the aforementioned disinforma- tify a new Russian invasion of Ukraine to tion narratives have since been amplified “defend” its Belarusian ally. by multiple anti-Ukrainian bloggers and Finally, Russia might use the threat of enigmatic Telegram channels. The true possible invasion as saber rattling leverage goal of these efforts remains hazy, but a in its negotiations with the Ukrainian gov- number of possibilities are worth consid- ernment, for example regarding federaliza- ering by regional defense experts and tion or returning the occupied Donbas – Russia watchers. based on Russian conditions. This apparent information warfare cam- paign could be part of Russia’s prepara- The article above is reprinted from tions for a coming, unannounced “Zapad”- Eurasia Daily Monitor with permission from style (that is, West-facing) large-scale mili- its publisher, the Jamestown Foundation, tary exercise. www.jamestown.org.

legislation and for Russia to immediately Congressional... release the Ukrainian sailors.” On November 25, 2018, Russia’s Security (Continued from page 1) Service (FSB) carried out an unprovoked returned home and the vessels released. naval assault on 24 Ukrainian sailors and This bill sends a powerful message to the three Ukrainian naval vessels. Russia con- Ukrainian sailors and their families that the tinues to illegally detain the sailors and the American people have not forgotten their vessels and refuses their release despite a відбудеться 28-29 вересня 2019 року heroic struggle to protect their nation’s court order to do so under International democratic trajectory and sovereignty,” the Tribunal for the Law of the Sea. в Центрі Української Спадщини «Союзівка» statement continued. “We call on our в Кергонксоні, Н.Й. House colleagues to support this bipartisan Source: Office of Rep. Marcy Kaptur Крайовий З’їзд УПС відбудеться elected as independents in single-mandate Canadian... constituencies will flock to the gravy train в п’ятницю ввечорі, 27-го вересня 2019 року. as they have done in the past. (Continued from page 7) This will leave Mr. Zelenskyy with a absolute parliamentary majority in greater mandate than any president has Реєстраційні матеріяли будуть вислані електронно Ukraine’s parliamentary elections. had in the history of independent Ukraine. і будуть доступні на пластовій мережі США Undoubtedly, the majority his Servant of While that may allow him to implement www.plastusa.org. the People party enjoys will be strength- sweeping reforms, such a concentration of ened even more as those national deputies power can be worrisome. 20 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, JULY 28, 2019 No. 30

PREVIEW OF EVENTS

Saturday, August 3 “Celebrate Liberty and Unity” and will fea- CHICAGO: The Chicago Business and ture another collaborative effort of Voloshky Professional Group invites members and the Ukrainian Dance Ensemble, Iskra Ukrainian community to a presentation by Brian Dance Ensemble, violinist Innesa Tymochko Bonner, chief editor at the Kyiv Post, titled Dekajlo and Vox Ethnika orchestra. This “Independent Ukraine needs independent year’s special guest performers are the journalism.” Mr. Bonner will discuss the mis- Korinya Ukrainian Folk Band and Master sion, challenges and achievements of Yang’s School of Martial Arts. A social dance Ukraine’s oldest English-language newspa- to the live music of the Vox Ethnika will fol- per as well as the significance of the recent low at 4:30 p.m. Delicious Ukrainian foods presidential and parliamentary elections in and baked goods, picnic fare, cool beverages Ukraine. The event will be held at the and refreshments will be plentiful. Vendors Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, 2320 W. are welcome. An arts and crafts bazaar and Chicago Ave., at 6 p.m. Admission is $10. a children’s fun area will be open all day. Admission: $15; students, $10; children Sunday, August 25 under 15, free; parking is free. A limited HORSHAM, Pa.: Tryzub Ukrainian number of discount tickets is available American Sport Center will host the 28th online. For further information: 267-664- annual Ukrainian Independence Folk 3857, [email protected], or www.tryzub.org. Festival and Outdoor Summer Concert at The sponsor is a 501(c) (3) tax-exempt non- Tryzubivka, County Line and Lower State profit charitable organization; proceeds roads, Horsham, PA 19044. Doors open at benefit youth and adult amateur sports and noon. The concert at 1:30 p.m. is titled cultural, fraternal and community programs.

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

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