The service was followed by a joyous banquet at the church hall, hosted by Baltimore’s “hromada.” The Rev. Vasyl Sivinsky, pastor, warmly welcomed the sailors and the two military attachés from the Embassy, Col. Andriy Ordynovych and Capt. Oleksandr Korneichuk. The harmonious church choir sang many choruses of “Mnohaya Lita” for Ukraine, its armed forces, the parishioners, the sailors and their comrades who are still unlawfully imprisoned in Moscow.
On Saturday, August 24, the sailors attended liturgy at St. Michael’s Ukrainian Orthodox Church to celebrate Independence Day. That was followed by a picnic, hosted by Baltimore’s Ukrainian Orthodox community, on the grounds of Rocky Point Park and Beach.
Andriy Chornodolskiy, a long-time leader of the Baltimore community, emceed an excellent program at the church banquet after the Sunday service. Several youth organizations were represented, including the Ukrainian American Youth Association, Plast Ukrainian Scouting Organization, and Plast’s Chornomortsi fraternity.
The Carpathia Folk Ensemble provided the entertainment, performing a few traditional dances which livened the atmosphere for the participants. The dining hall was packed with parishioners who came to celebrate this important 28th anniversary of Ukraine’s independence and to meet with the sailors.
Col. Ordynovych, the acting defense attaché at the Ukrainian Embassy, noted that today’s Ukrainian Armed Forces are so much better trained, armed and prepared to fight than they were in 2014 – when only 6,500 soldiers had enough equipment to fully engage in combat. Today, Ukraine’s armed forces stand at 250,000 well-trained and equipped soldiers. Col. Ordynovych thanked the U.S. government for its strong and consistent support of Ukraine’s military needs, with over $1.2 billion of military aid, since 2014.
Col. Ordynovych also remarked that most of the sailors present were not born yet when Ukraine proclaimed its independence on August 24, 1991, and that they represent a new generation of Ukrainians who only know of an independent Ukraine. Col. Ordynovych also stated that discussions were underway with the U.S. Department of Defense to acquire several more Coast Guard cutters in the next fiscal year [2020-2021], and that Ukraine now has the capabilities to refurbish and man these cutters on their own.
Mr. Chornodolsky read greetings from Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) and Baltimore Mayor Jack Young. Also present were Karina Mandell, Chairperson of Baltimore Odesa Sister Cities Program and Fontaine Bell, Director of Baltimore’s Sister Cities Programs. They each gave a short overview of the various activities and exchange programs underway between the two cities.
The program ended with an enthusiastic encore performance of the “Hopak” by the Carpathia Folk Ensemble.
A final official ceremony will take place on September 12 in Baltimore Harbor, where the two Coast Guard cutters will be officially handed over to Ukraine’s naval forces. Presiding over the transfer will be the newly appointed U.S. Chief of Naval operations, Admiral Michael Gilday, and Ukrainian Admiral Ihor Voronchenko.
The two Coast Guard cutters have been renamed Sloviansk and Starobilsk. Sloviansk is a city approximately 50 miles north of Donetsk, while Starobilsk is approximately 50 miles north of Luhansk. All the sailors will be returning to their home base in Odesa the following day, on September 13.