INSIDE: l UNA Forum, launch of “Guide to Life” – page 5 l Miss Soyuzivka 2017 crowned – page 11 l UCU to consecrate new church complex – page 16 THEPublished U by theKRAINIAN Ukrainian National Association Inc., a fraternal W non-profit associationEEKLY Vol. LXXXIV No. 35 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 $2.00 Poroshenko greets Ukraine Military parade in Kyiv marks on 25th anniversary in Kyiv 25th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence Dear Ukrainians, People’s Movement of Ukraine, no People’s Heroic Ukrainian troops, Rada? Unless Vyacheslav Chornovil had put Your Holiness and Your Beatitude, his energy and displayed constancy to pur- Mister President Duda, highly-esteemed pose? guests, Although we celebrate only the 25th “In view of the mortal danger surround- anniversary of our Independence, in fact, ing Ukraine in connection with the state we are far older. Next year, we shall com- coup in the USSR on August 19, 1991; con- memorate the centenary of the Central tinuing the thousand-year tradition of state Rada and the start of the Ukrainian nation- development in Ukraine; proceeding from al revolution of the 20th century. And after the right of the nation to self-determination that, in two years – the millennium of in accordance with the Charter of the Yaroslav the Wise inauguration for prince- United Nations, … the Verkhovna Rada… dom. This is the true age of “the tradition of solemnly declares the Independence of state development” mentioned in the Act. Ukraine and the creation of an independent Therefore, declaring independence Ukrainian state – Ukraine.” became an expected outcome of our histor- These are the words from the most ic development, a joint victory won by mul- important document in the contemporary tiple generations of Ukrainians, who fought history of Ukraine adopted 25 years ago to and died for our national identity, state the day. independence and own colour on the Official website of the President of Ukraine world’s political map. Thirty years earlier, Levko Lukyanenko Tanks roll on Khreshchatyk Street in Kyiv during a military parade marking The disputes continue in university was sentenced to death for fighting for the Ukraine’s 25th anniversary of independence. rooms, kitchens at homes and social media, state independence. Later on, he was “par- whether we obtained or won our indepen- That defiance toward ceaseless Russian doned” (in quotes) and spent a decade in by Mark Raczkiewycz dence? The answer is absolutely obvious aggression was on full display along Kyiv’s Soviet jails, concentration camps and exile. for me: of course, we won it. We won it by KYIV – Perhaps the first Ukrainian city to main thoroughfare of Khreshchatyk Street However, I am sure Levko Lukyanenko intelligence, sweat, and our blood. hear the national anthem on Independence on August 24 during the country’s 25th could not have been happier and could not May the memory of the heroes fallen in Day was Russia-occupied Donetsk. At about year of renewed independence. President have even dreamt of getting larger compen- the battles for our free, independent 6 a.m. hidden loud speakers started blaring Petro Poroshenko had ordered a military sation and award for all his life sufferings Ukraine live forever. Eternal glory to them. the first words of the anthem, “Ukraine parade for a third consecutive year intend- than the opportunity to draft the Act of * * * hasn’t perished yet.” The daring audio per- ed to underscore the nation’s military capa- Declaration of Independence of Ukraine. The parade crews answer to the Supreme formance lasted about 30 minutes as star- bility. But it was the first year that high- We enjoy an occasion to think again of Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces tled passersby gazed in bewilderment at the lighted hardware rolled fresh off factory the role of personality in history. Could we of Ukraine: central intersection of Artem and Tamansky floors and newly designed uniforms, mark- have used the chance we were granted at “Glory to the heroes! Glory to the heroes! boulevards, according to a closed-captioned ing Ukraine’s efforts to shed its outdated the turn of 80-ies and 90-ies, if someone Glory to the heroes!” video posted by Novosti Donbass, an inde- Soviet past. else were the first person in the Ukrainian pendent news outlet based in the Donetsk SSR, but not Leonid Kravchuk? If we had no (Continued on page 14) Oblast city of Sloviansk. (Continued on page 18) Ukraine wins 11 medals at Rio, finishes in 22 place in medals count by Ihor N. Stelmach Countries winning the most Olympic and Matthew Dubas medals recruit, develop, train and retain elite young athletes in elite training facili- The United States led the way with 121 ties staffed by elite trainers and coaches. medals won at the 2016 Rio Olympics. This requires tremendous financial China (70), Great Britain (67) and Russia resources including government funding, (56) rounded out the top four. Next were private capital and sponsors. It requires Germany, France, Japan, Australia and Italy. extreme commitment from all parties Ukraine ranked 22nd out of 207 participat- involved in an elite developmental process ing nations, finishing amid countries like that takes many years to establish, and Poland, Jamaica, Cuba and Uzbekistan. even more years to bear fruitful results. This year’s total of 11 medals (two gold, Theoretically the process never ends – it five silver and four bronze) is down from continues to churn out classes of elite per- 2012’s haul of 18, 2008’s total of 27 medals formers in most sporting disciplines. One and 2004’s sum of 22 medals. Going back might refer to it as a pipeline. further, Ukraine won 23 total medals in both Independent Ukraine is still struggling 1996 and 2000. We see a definite decline in economically and the ongoing war in the the country’s performance over the last eastern part of the country is limiting the eight years. In order to understand why the allocation of funds to sports. It would not lack of success in the ultimate international NOC-Ukr.org be a stretch to claim some potentially elite sporting competition, it is necessary to Saber fencer Olha Kharlan serves as flag-bearer for Ukraine during the closing examine several key variables. ceremonies of the 2016 Rio Olympics. (Continued on page 18) 2 THE UKRAINIAN WEEKLY SUNDAY, AUGUST 28, 2016 No. 35 WINDOW ON EURASIA For Vladimir Putin, diplomacy is a form Putin taps minister as envoy to Ukraine told the August 19 gathering in Sevastopol that Ukraine attempted to carry out sabo- MOSCOW – Russian President Vladimir tage attacks in Crimea because Kyiv is of ‘information terrorism,’ says commentator Putin has appointed Dmitry Livanov as the “reluctant or unable” to implement the president’s envoy on trade and economic Minsk Accords. He was referring to by Paul Goble NATO, an appointment that had the effect ties with Ukraine. Mr. Putin accepted Prime of making any real discussions between Moscow’s claim earlier this month that it Minister Dmitry Medvedev’s proposal to Vladimir Putin’s attempt to impose a Moscow and Brussels impossible. had thwarted a Ukrainian plot to carry out appoint Mr. Livanov at a working meeting longtime Kremlin loyalist as his ambassador All this has roots in the Soviet past, Mr. sabotage in the region. Kyiv has denied the at Belbek Airport in Sevastopol, on the to Ukraine, something Kyiv has rejected and Yakovenko continues. In May 1939, Stalin existence of any such plot and Western offi- prompted Moscow to say that it won’t replaced as foreign minister Maksim Russian-occupied Crimean peninsula, on cials say Moscow has failed to produce con- appoint anyone else, highlights the Kremlin Latvinov with Vyacheslav Molotov, a August 19. Mr. Livanov had served since vincing evidence of one. On August 17, leader’s view of what diplomats are for, change which opened the way to the war 2012 as education minister. Mr. Putin also European Union President Donald Tusk Moscow commentator Igor Yakovenko says. with Finland and the Molotov-Ribbentrop agreed with Mr. Medvedev to appoint Olga said Russia’s account of the events was For Mr. Putin, Mr. Yakovenko says, diplo- Pact which in turn opened the way to the Vasilyeva as Russia’s new education minis- “unreliable.” Mr. Putin told the Security mats are not those who succeed by finding second world war in Europe. ter. Ms. Vasilyeva was deputy chief of the Council that “it looks like our partners in points of agreement among countries and “Putin’s world,” the Russian analyst says, presidential directorate for public projects. Kyiv have made a decision to aggravate ten- thus minimize or avoid conflict but rather “is constructed quite simply.” Diplomacy is (RFE/RL, based on reporting by RIA sions.” Nonetheless, Mr. Putin said Russia foot soldiers engaged in his war against “a secondary sphere,” and a diplomat is lit- Novosti and Interfax) was not planning to cut off diplomatic rela- other states whose job is to recruit allies tle more than “a cover for the conduct of Party will not campaign in Crimea tions with Ukraine “despite the unwilling- within those states and misinform the special operations, above all those involv- ness of… Kyiv to have full-fledged diplomat- world about what Russia is doing (kasparov. ing force.” Thus, for Mr. Putin, the task of a KYIV – Russia’s opposition PARNAS party ic relations at the level of ambassadors.” ru/material.php?id=57A6415100DBD). diplomat is to “babble, distract attention … will not campaign for Russia’s upcoming Russia was holding a military exercise in By ignoring the customary practice of while real people do real things” and then legislative elections in the annexed region of Crimea as Mr.