This section features the noteworthy events and people of 2016 that defy easy classification (or could fit under more than one of our Year in Review categories).
• Representatives of Ukrainian American community organizations and institutions gathered on January 10 at the Ukrainian Restaurant in New York to bid farewell to Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev, Ukraine’s permanent representative to the United Nations from 2007 until the end of 2015, and his wife, Dr. Nataliya Sergeyev. Speaking on behalf of the community, President Tamara Olexy of the Ukrainian Congress Committee of America thanked Ambassador Sergeyev for his many years of work for the benefit of Ukraine and his exemplary cooperation with Ukrainian Americans.
Lev Khmelkovsky
Representatives of Ukrainian American community organizations and institutions gathered at the Ukrainian Restaurant in New York on January 10 to bid farewell to Ambassador Yuriy Sergeyev, Ukraine’s permanent representative to the United Nations from 2007 until the end of 2015.
• Volodymyr Yelchenko, Ukraine’s new ambassador to the United Nations, along with his wife, Iryna, hosted a luncheon reception for Ukrainian American community representatives on February 5 at Ukraine’s Permanent Mission to the United Nations in New York. Thanking his guests for their support, Ambassador Yelchenko urged the community leaders to continue their work for Ukraine and its democratic evolution.
• It was announced in February that Kyiv model-turned-designer Anna Karenina would be included in 2016 Fashion Week in New York, scheduled for September 7-15. Ms. Karenina was born in Kremenchuk in 1995 and graduated from Kyiv State University of Technology and Design. She began her modeling career at the age of 14 and designed her own line of clothing at the age of 16. Her fashions have been shown for several seasons at the Mercedes-Benz Kyiv Fashion Days. Ms. Karenina’s designs have been featured in more than 40 top international retailers in 25 countries.
• Ivan Pasichnyk, a 28-year-old hailing from Kyiv, was named as one of Forbes’ magazine’s “30 under 30” young leaders, creative inventors and entrepreneurs. Mr. Pasichnyk helped launch a project called Ecois.me, which sells specially designed sensors that track electrical energy consumption. Data from the sensors is uploaded to a website, from which a mobile app will provide tips on how to save energy – recognizing the most energy-efficient devices and finding ways to optimize their usage during energy consumption peaks.
• Hoping to raise awareness of the situation in Ukraine, first-generation Ukrainian American Maya (surname withheld by request) continued a “Walk for Ukraine” cross-country trek across the United States, which she had begun on November 21, 2015, in Front Royal, Va. Maya was motivated by a desire to do something for Ukraine; a previous long walk of 500 miles in Spain as well as time spent living in Ukraine – teaching English to orphans while in high school and summer study at the Ukrainian Catholic University while in college – helped her decide on this trek. Averaging 10-12 miles per day, Maya stopped her walk in Tennessee in May for a planned summer hiatus. She restarted in October for several weeks, reaching Arkansas – a total distance of over 800 miles – before stopping for the winter. She plans to resume the walk in the spring of 2017 when the weather improves.
• Freedom House published its annual Nations in Transit report, which monitors the democratic developments of 29 countries in the former Soviet Union, the Balkans and Central Europe, on April 12. The report warned that economic woes are threatening the stability of “entrenched dictatorships” in the former Soviet Union, the migration crises is fueling populism in Eastern Europe, and reforms in the Balkans are in retreat. The situation is particularly grim, the report noted, in the seven countries led by dictators who have been in power at least 10 years: Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Tajikistan, Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan. On a positive note, the report called Ukraine “the single most important opportunity for establishing democracy” in the region and said that the government had achieved “some progress” in reforms in 2015 but that continuing Russian occupation of Crimea, the separatist conflict in the east, widespread corruption and impunity for crimes during the political upheaval of 2014 are holding back further progress.” If Ukraine does not move forward, the report noted, “there’s a real significant threat that Ukraine falls back and continues a tradition of very, very corrupt governance.”
• The U.S. State Department’s annual human rights report, released on April 13, said that the world faces a “global governance crisis” as both governments and non-state actors increasingly infringe on human rights. Secretary of State John Kerry, writing in the report, denounced governments for cracking down on freedom of expression by “jailing reporters for writing critical stories” or targeting non-governmental organizations “for promoting supposedly ‘foreign ideologies’ such as universal human rights.” The report accused governments across the former Soviet Union of both overt repression of political freedoms and bureaucratic measures aimed at stifling opposing voices. In particular, it accused Russia of “especially” targeting individuals and organizations that have opposed the Kremlin’s forceful and illegal annexation of Crimea and Moscow’s support for separatists in eastern Ukraine. In Crimea, the report added, Russian authorities have subjected Ukrainians and Crimean Tatars to “systematic harassment and discrimination.”
• The Group for Tomorrow’s Ukraine (GTU), together with the Harvard Ukrainian Student Society, led an experiential trip to Ukraine in May for 20 Harvard University graduate students, with the goal of introducing future leaders in the public, private and non-profit sectors to Ukraine. The group, which visited Kyiv and Lviv, had a packed schedule of meetings with representatives of Ukraine’s government, members of Parliament, key figures in media and industry, Ukraine-based members of the U.S. Foreign Service, as well as cultural, historical and leisure activities. The GTU is a non-profit organization of young professionals and academics offering analysis on Ukraine and dedicated to promoting human rights as the country changes.
• Ambassador of Ukraine to the United States Valeriy Chaly was decorated with the Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit of the Republic of Poland during a ceremony at the Polish Embassy on May 23. Awarded by Polish President Bronislaw Komorowski in recognition of Ambassador Chaly’s outstanding achievements in promoting friendly Ukrainian-Polish relations, the award was presented by Polish Ambassador to the U.S. Ryszard Schnepf. In his remarks, Ambassador Schnepf mentioned not only Ambassador Chaly’s role in strengthening the strategic partnership between Ukraine and Poland, but also pointed out that Poland was the first country to recognize the independence of Ukraine. “In the face of unprecedented Russian aggression… we wish to once more be a source of support for our neighbor, to be close to Ukraine and Ukrainians,” Ambassador Schnepf noted.
Matthew Dubas
Markian Surmach poses in front of Surma, the store founded by his grandfather Myron Surmach Sr. in 1918. Surma closed in June after 98 years of being in business in New York City.
• After 98 years in business, the Surma Book & Music Company of New York closed its doors in June. Founded by Myron Surmach Sr. in 1918, the store had been operated by Markian Surmach for the last 30 years and sold pysanka-making supplies, embroidery, fabrics and trims, books and assorted items, many from Ukraine. Mr. Surmach told The Weekly: “My cultural and heritage roots are as strong as ever, but reality being as it is, the increasing costs of running the store, as well as limited personal time for family have been the main motivating factors in this decision.”
• Two Ukrainian American women were among the 17 recipients of the International Institute of Metropolitan Detroit’s 2016 Michigan International Professional Women’s Awards, which recognize distinguished women in Michigan, from different cultural backgrounds, who have succeeded in their professional endeavors and have markedly contributed both to their own ethnic community and to the Michigan community at large. The Ukrainian honorees were Dr. Anna Czubatyj and Ulana Ohar-Kushner. Dr. Czubatyj is the director of the RN to BSN completion program at South University; Ms. Ohar Kushner is a successful businesswoman. Both women are active in the Ukrainian American community.
• 2016 marked the 25th anniversary of the founding of the sister city relationship between Kyiv and Chicago, which was marked by two special events: the Armed Forces Memorial Day Weekend Run and the visit of Kyiv Mayor Vitali Klitschko. The Kyiv Committee of Sister Cities International was chosen as an official participating charity of the Soldier Field 10-Mile Run, which celebrates the service and supports the needs of the U.S. Armed Forces. Over 50 runners and volunteers participated as part of the Friends of Ukraine team, including Larysa Gerasko, the consul general of Ukraine in Chicago, and her entire staff. Three Ukrainian soldiers undergoing physical rehabilitation in the Chicago area received financial help as a result of the race. Mayor Klitschko visited Chicago to attend a roundtable hosted by Mayor Rahm Emanuel on June 1, in conjunction with the second annual Chicago Forum on Global Cities. Mr. Klitschko’s jam-packed schedule included visits to the Ukrainian National Museum, the Ukrainian Institute of Modern Art, the St. Nicholas Cathedral School, a community meeting at the Ukrainian Cultural Center and an appearance on NPR’s “Worldview,” where he stressed Ukraine’s geopolitical significance and the importance of continuing to support its European trajectory.
Mark Raczkiewycz
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Bohdan Vitvitsky points to the date (September 12) when the final applications were to be accepted for some 80 inspector general positions within the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine. Dr. Vitvitsky was tapped on August 8 to serve as an adviser to the prosecutor general.
• Former Assistant U.S. Attorney Bohdan Vitvitsky, a Ukrainian-born corruption expert from New Jersey who specialized in prosecuting and investigating complex financial fraud, joined a selection commission whose job is to choose members of a newly created General Inspectorate at the Prosecutor General’s Office of Ukraine, it was announced by Prosecutor General Yurii Lutsenko on August 8. The commission was to choose over 80 inspector generals, who “will supervise the legality of actions of prosecutors and investigators through out the prosecution system,” Dr. Vitvitsky explained. Dr. Vitvitsky was the resident legal adviser at the U.S. Embassy in Ukraine in 2007-2009. Of his current role, he said, “I wasn’t looking for this. It was presented as an opportunity to be helpful in some way that might have a little bit of an impact.” He added, “I like to find ways to be helpful, and there’s no shortage of things to do here.”
• The remains of a U.S. Army second lieutenant who was shot down near Novi Troyany, Odesa Oblast, in June 1944, were repatriated to U.S. custody at a ceremony at the National History Museum in Kyiv on August 12. The officer had been participating in Operation Frantic – a series of shuttle bombing operations against Germany during World War II conducted by American aircraft based in Britain and southern Italy which then landed at three airfields in Ukraine. U.S. Ambassador Geoffrey Pyatt and Ukrainian Deputy Chief of General Staff Sirotenko spoke at the ceremony.
• Ukraine’s Culture Minister Yevhen Nyschuk and National Television Company head Zurab Alasania announced on September 9 that Kyiv had been chosen as the host city for Eurovision 2017, edging out the other finalist, Odesa, in a 19 to 2 vote with one abstention. Other cities that had originally been considered were Dnipro (formerly known as Dnipropetrovsk), Kharkiv, Kherson and Lviv. Ultimately, Kyiv won because of its superior infrastructure; the 11,000-seat International Exhibition Center was chosen as the Eurovision 2017 venue. Ukraine was awarded the right to host Eurovision 2017 after Ukrainian singer Jamala, who is a Crimean Tatar, won the 2016 contest. Kyiv also hosted Eurovision 2005, after Ruslana won in 2004.
• On September 15, an appeal to the European community, signed by over 30 political leaders and intellectuals and titled “On being tired from being conscientious,” was released by the First of December Initiative Group. Citing Russia’s war against Ukraine, the occupation of Crimea, the armed conflict in the Donbas, tens of thousands of victims, 1.5 million internally displaced persons, daily Russian provocations and blackmail, the group said Europeans have become accustomed to these problems, routine dulls empathy, and indifference equates the victim and the aggressor. The European exhaustion with the war in Ukraine is Russia’s strongest ally, signatories noted. The appeal called on “all thinking people of our joint European community to show solidarity” and adhere to the values that created Europe’s civilization: freedom and the rule of law, the vision of a united Europe over local interests and ambitions.
• The Ukrainian Congress Committee of America (UCCA) awarded its highest honor – the Shevchenko Freedom Award – to seven individuals in 2016. The award is given to those who have displayed a remarkable understanding and given substantial assistance to the Ukrainian American community and the Ukrainian people. Five recipients were honored during the XXII Congress of Ukrainians in America held on September 23-25: Michael Sawkiw, longtime director of the UCCA’s Washington office, the Ukrainian National Information Service, and a former UCCA president; Dr. Larissa Kyj, longtime president of the United Ukrainian American Relief Committee; Marie Duplak, longtime UCCA executive secretary, distinguished editor, business owner and former president of the Organization for the Defense of Lemkivshchyna; Roma Hadzewycz, editor-in-chief of Svoboda and The Ukrainian Weekly; and posthumously, Markian Paslawsky, the only Ukrainian American to have given his life in defense of Ukraine against Russia’s most recent invasion. Mr. Paslawsky’s award was accepted by his family. Presented with awards at their offices were U.S. Sen. Rob Portman (R-Ohio), in recognition of “his continued support of Ukraine’s territorial integrity and for pursuing steadfast relations with Ukraine in recognition of its vital importance to trans-Atlantic peace and security,” and U.S. Rep. Bill Pascrell (D-N.J.) for his “deep understanding and ongoing support for the Ukrainian American community and the Ukrainian nation.”
UJE
Ivan Dzyuba was awarded the 2016 Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Medal on September 28 in Kyiv as part of the solemn commemorations of the 75th anniversary of the Babyn Yar massacre. The award was conferred by the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter.
• Ivan Dzyuba, writer and former Soviet-era dissident, received the Metropolitan Andrey Sheptytsky Medal for 2016 on September 28 in Kyiv, at a dinner commemorating the 75th anniversary of Babyn Yar. The award is given by the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine and the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter, and recognized Mr. Dzyuba for his decades-long commitment to human rights and fostering dialogue between nations, and for speaking out against xenophobia and anti-Semitism during the Soviet years.
• Dr. Boris D. Lushniak was appointed dean of the University of Maryland’s School of Public Health. Prior to his appointment as dean, Dr. Lushniak was with the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences (USUHS), where he served as professor and chair of the Department of Preventive Medicine and Biostatistics, and professor of dermatology at F. Edward Hébert School of Medicine. Before his tenure at USUHS, Dr. Lushniak served as the U.S. deputy surgeon general; in 2013-2014 he served as acting surgeon general. He retired from the U.S. Public Health Service in 2015 as a rear admiral.
• The Ukrainian Technological Society (UTS) of Pittsburgh honored U.S. Rep. Tim Murphy (R-Pa.) with its 2016 Friendship Award. The award was presented at the society’s annual dinner-dance on November 5. The UTS annually recognizes a Ukrainian of the Year or a Friend of Ukraine, individuals of local, national and international stature who have contributed to the Ukrainian community or Ukrainian scholarship, or who have demonstrated significant achievement, which brings recognition and prestige to the Ukrainian community. In accepting his award, Rep. Murphy recalled his visits to the Maidan and the lasting impression this made on him, and he reiterated his support for a strong U.S.-Ukraine relationship.
• Serhii Plokhy, one of the foremost historians of the former Soviet Union, authored a new book, a novel called “The Man with the Poison Gun,” based on the true story of KGB assassin Bohdan Stashinsky, who defected to the West in 1961. Stashinsky’s story captured the attention and imagination of the West, inspiring Ian Fleming’s “The Man with the Golden Gun,” but there were always doubts about its veracity. Using previously unavailable files from the CIA; Soviet, German and Polish archives; and memoirs and interviews of former KGB officers, Dr. Plokhy was able to put to rest much of the early theories about Stashinsky.
• The Foundation of the Ukrainian Medical Association of North America (UMANA) was among the organizations honored on December 15 at a ceremony at the Embassy of Ukraine in Washington. The award was received by Dr. Maria Krycelak, president of the UMANA Foundation. The organization was recognized for providing assistance in the training of Ukrainian medical personnel and volunteers who care for wounded soldiers. The UMANA Foundation had partnered with the World Federation of Ukrainian Medical Associations and the California Association to Aid Ukraine to raise funds enabling the teaching of Prehospital Trauma Life Support as well as U.S. Department of Defense Tactical Combat Casualty Care courses to medical personnel in Ukraine. A key component of this training was providing sophisticated technical manikins – total body simulators as wells as specialized anatomical units – for trauma response training.