UKRAINEDigestINDEPENDENCE DAY ISSUE 24 AUGUST 2014

STRUGGLE FOR HOPE OVER FEARLabours on Ukraine-Russia relationship

REVOLUTION OF DIGNITYWhy the Ukrainian nation will never be the same?

PRICE OF INDEPENDENCE National Day as reminder

UKRAINEDigestQueen Elizabeth II wishes Ukrainians

good fortune and happiness

Theres a little piece of Ukrainian history right in the Centre of London: the statue of Prince Volodymyr.

Vladimir the Great - as he is known in the English speaking parts of the world - was crucial - at the start of the Middle Ages - in making Ukraine the modern Christian European country it is today.

Each year, at the end of August, Ukrainians and friends of Ukraine gather at the statue in London to celebrate Ukraines Independence Day.

This weekend people will gather at Volodymyrs monument again: But this time the word independence has far more significance. We see with our eyes, and feel in our hearts, what it is to struggle for independence.

23 years have passed since the Communist regime collapsed and Ukraine proclaimed its independence.

In 1991, independence was taken for granted. Now than we have to struggle to prove that Ukraine is a sovereign and independent state. And - sadly - to fight for our freedom and liberty.

So this weekend isnt just for Ukraines independence. It is dedicated to the heroes who sacrificed their lives for a free and independent Ukraine; to those who stand for its territorial integrity and to save its people from terrorism and the Kremlins aggression.

I want to express my gratitude to all the friends of Ukraine for their support in such difficult times and to thank those who contributed to this issue.

So let us meet at the Volodymyr the Greats statue this weekend and show the world that freedom isnt just a word for Ukrainians. It is a way of life.

Oksana Kyzyma, Press Secretary of Ukrainian Embassy in London

from the editor

We feel in our hearts, what it is to struggle for independence

Her Majesty The Queen Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland wishes the good fortune and happiness of the people of Ukraine on the occasion of the National Day of Ukraine celebrated on August 24. The words of congratulation were sent to the Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko.

It gives me great pleasure to send Your Excellency my congratulations and warm-est greetings on the celebration of your National Day, together with my best wishes for the good fortune and happiness of the people of Ukraine in the coming year, the letter reads.

Sat, 23 Aug, Ukrainian National Flag DayFlag raising Ceremony at the Ukrainian Embassy 10.00 10.20 am, 60 Holland ParkPrayer for those who perished their lives for Ukrainian independence10.30 am at the Volodymyr the Greats statue, 79 Holland Park Sun, 24 Aug, Independence DayUkrainian Community Gathering. Prayer for the heroes of Ukraine, followed by the childrens concert 2.00 pm at the Volodymyr the Greats statue, 79 Holland Park

This weekend we pay tribute to the greatest achievement of Ukrainian nation an independent and free Ukrainian State. 23 years ago we affirmed our right to be the masters in our own home.

We, the Ukrainians, take pride in the nation to which we have the honour to belong to. Independence is our choice and it could not be different. We had enough strength and unity to make that irreversible step. Thousands of Ukrainian heroes are defending this choice today in the east of Ukraine with arms in hand.

From our great ancestors we have inherited spiritual strength and special Ukrain-ian identity, born out in glorious battles, exploits and patience of many generations.

Ukrainian Cossack State has passed on to us a firm conviction that everyone has his rights and freedoms, and everybody has an honorary duty to defend them.

It was then, when our forefathers learnt the science of honour and dignity, equality and democracy. All our subsequent history has attested that the longing for freedom remains in the popular memory forever.

Through the centuries freedom-loving Ukrainians have upheld the right to their statehood. It has never been easy. Only for the last 100 years Ukraine six times pro-claimed its independence and five times lost it mainly because of the Russian aggres-sion.

Independence is a spiritual symbol of our nation. It reminds us of what a glorious ancestry we are the children. I believe, Ukrainians will overcome all the difficulties if united. Together we can overpower any foe.

Andrii Kuzmenko, Ukraines Acting Ambassador

Together we overcome all difficulties

As we begin to celebrate the 23rd Anniversary of Ukraines Independence, we do so with mixed emotions.

Ukraine has gone through a tumultuous period in the last 12 months, dealing with major political upheavals, serious financial problems as well as a raging and unneces-sary war in the East of the country, started by proRussian separatists, financed and armed by the Russian state.

For any country, dealing with one such crisis would be difficult, for Ukraine it has been overwhelming.

But despite these difficulties, steady and positive progress is being made on the political, economic and militarily fronts although there are still many challenges and potential dangers ahead.

Ukraine has received and continuous to receive support and assistance from its western allies, and the sanctions taken against Russia are beginning to have an effect. However, now is not the time to show weakness or fracture especially within the EU, which unfortunately is beginning to be seen.

Ukraine, as a nation and its people has a great deal to offer, but it needs continued help.

The war will end and the economy arise. It will still take some time, but as a nation we must look forward to better times which will not only benefit Ukraine but also its friends on whom we can rely.

Glory to Ukraine, Glory to Its Heroes!

Zenko Lastovetskyj, President of Association of Ukrainians in Great Britain

It is not the time to show weakness

Independence for Ukraine is its true destiny.

Achieving that destiny may also liberate Russia from its tragic 20th century history. Two countries bound together by geography and history are both victims of the brutality of two world wars and a failed revolution ending in Stalins dictator-ship.

Can this story change yes of course it can! And I believe we are seeing the beginnings of that change.

The rule of law, democracy and the fight against corruption provide a country with the means to protect freedom and prosperity. It is never easy and it is never won and held without struggle.

In Britain we watch and hope for the people of Ukraine and keep our eyes on the future. The vital relationship between Russia and Ukraine can improve but only with an independent Ukraine and a Russian government respecting that independ-ence and recognising Ukraine as an equal partner in a fast changing world.

Good luck Ukraine!

Lord Soley of Hammersmith

Ukraine a struggle for hope over fear

Today, Ukraine is facing an historic battle for its very existence as it strives to become a modern, democratic and progressive European state.

The Maidan revolution which I witnessed, represented the aspiration of a new generation of young Ukrainians for democracy, equality and open and just govern-ment. Sadly many gave their lives for this ideal.

Ukraine is now confronted by the forces of Russian neo imperialism and by those who would take Ukraine backwards to a past many would rather forget than promote. The memories of the 6 million who were starved to death during Stalins Holodomor and of the 12 million Ukrainians who died in the World War II are still fresh in peoples minds.

I am confident the Ukrainian people will come through this maelstrom of terror, and the ideals of the Maidan and the Ukrainian people will overcome this adversity.

This year at the Durham Miners Gala I listened to the proclamation from Ukrainian Miners Union leaders proclaiming the support of trades unions and working people in Ukraine for a united Ukraine and I endorse this call. During this years independence day I and many others Europeans, stand alongside the Ukrain-ian people in their struggle for justice, democracy and unity.

Mick Antoniw AM, Labour Member of the National Assembly for Wales

Standing alongside Ukrainians for unity

A LONG ROAD TO INDEPENDENCEIn XX century Ukraine six times proclaimed its independence and five times lost it mainly because of the Russian aggression.

XIII cent.

1649

1764

1775

Jan 22, 1918

Mar 18, 1921

1932-1933

1937

1939 - 1945

1944

1954

Jul 16, 1990

Aug 24, 1991

Dec 1, 1991

March 2014

Mongol Empire invaded Kyivan Rus, destroying numerous cities, including Kyiv, which since IX century was its center.

Ukrainian hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky founded the Hetmanate, officially known as the Zaporizhian Host, in Central Ukraine.

During the reign of Catherine II of Russia, the Cossack Hetmanates au-tonomy was progressively destroyed. After several earlier attempts, the office of hetman was finally abolished by the Russian government.

From a direct order from the Empress Catherine II, Russian artillery and infantry surrounded the Sich, the administrative and military centre for Cos-sacks, and razed it to the ground.

The Ukrainian Peoples Republic is the predecessor of modern Ukraine that was declared at first as a part of the Russian Republic after the Russian Revolution but then proclaimed its independence.

The Treaty of Riga between Poland, Soviet Russia (acting also on behalf of Soviet Belarus) and Soviet Ukraine sealed the fate of the Ukrainian Peoples Republic.

Stalins Holodomor. 10 million Ukrainians killed in an orchestrated famine in the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

Stalins mass deportations. Mass executions and deportations as Stalin launches purge against intellectuals.

World War II. Ukraine suffers terrible wartime devastation as Nazis occupy the country. More than 5 million Ukrainians die fighting them.

Stalin deports 200,000 Crimean Tatars to Siberia and Central Asia.

Crimea is transferred to Ukraine. The economy of the peninsula was destroyed by war and its native population was deported by Stalin.

The Declaration of State Sovereignty of Ukraine was adopted by the recently elected parliament of Ukrainian SSR.

The Act of Declaration of Independence of Ukraine was adopted in the aftermath of the coup attempt on 19 August, 1991 when conservative Com-munist leaders of the Soviet Union tried to restore central Communist party control over the USSR.

Ukraine held its independence referendum, where 92.3 percent of the vot-ers approved the Act of Declaration of Independence.

Russia absorbed the Crimea after staging a military intervention in the Autonomous Republic and the city of Sevastopol, administrative divisions of Ukraine. The process caused much controversy and was viewed by many world leaders, as well as NATO, as an illegal annexation of Ukrainian territory.

Ukraine secedes Soviet Union. Meeting at the Parliament, Kyiv, August 24, 1991.

Mykhailo Hrushevsky, head of the Central Rada of the Ukrainian Peoples Republic

Hetman Bohdan Khmelnytsky, founder of the Hetmanate

REVOLUTION OF DIGNITY

The Revolution of Dignity marked a new stage in the evolution of Ukraine as an independent and sovereign state.

A wave of demonstrations and civil unrest in Ukraine began on the night of 21 November 2013 with public pro-tests in Maidan Nezalezhnosti (Inde-pendence Square) in Kyiv, demanding closer European integration. The scope of the protests expanded, with many calls for the resignation of President Viktor Yanukovych and his govern-ment.

Many protesters joined because of the violent dispersal of protesters on 30 November and a will to change life in Ukraine. By 25 January 2014, the protests had been fuelled by the perception of widespread government corruption, abuse of power, and viola-

tion of human rights in Ukraine.From student demonstration in

response to suspension of the EU deal, it turned into something far bigger. It was about guiding Ukraine away from its 200-year-long, deeply inter-twined and painful relationship with neighbouring Russia. It was about standing up for basic human rights to protest, speak and think freely and to act peacefully without the threat of punishment.

Yanukovychs decision to abandon negotiation on the Association Agree-ment with the EU in favour of politi-cal cover from Putins Russia could not be tolerated by society. As result of brutal attack by riot police against demonstrators, intended to clear the main square of students, more people flocked to Kyivs Maidan.

The inability of government to hear

their people turned out to be fatal for the government itself. The revolution was not just about getting rid of one kleptocrat. It was a broader uprising against a malevolent state which failed in its basic tasks a state in which the government robbed the public rather than served it, in which the courts cov-ered up injustice rather than rectified it, in which prosecutors perpetrated crimes instead of investigating them.

The most important outcome of the Revolution of Dignity is that Ukrain-ians are not afraid of the oppressive regime any more, and are taking re-sponsibility for their country into their own hands. The adolescent expecta-tion that a new leader would come and produce a miracle is replaced by the sober knowledge that no one but Ukrainians can build Ukraine as they want it to be.

We wont stop until Ukraine is freeThis Independence Day is a poign-ant reminder to us of a tragic year for Ukraine, the worst in our inde-pendent history.

It wont be a time of sadness though, it will be a reminder to us all of the strength of Ukrainian resolve, the resolve that ensured the survival of Ukraine over hundreds of turbulent

years as others tried to crush us, de-stroy our language, steal our history.

London Euromaidan is living proof of the strength of the Ukrainian spirit.

Back in November 2013, we started our protest against the criminal U -turn on signing the EU Association Agreement. Now, on 24 August 2014 - our 23rd Independence Day , we are in a state of war . Who could have predict-ed the nightmare that was to come? As our own Government began shooting Ukrainians on the streets of Kyiv, our own hearts bled.

London Euromaidan took a life of its own as people needed a way to express their anger and play their part. Weve organised hundreds of pro-tests, we marched 10,000 people from Marble Arch to the Russian embassy, we held flashmobs, we boycotted Rus-sian goods, we addressed the future president of Ukraine outside Downing Street where we stood day and night for many cold winter months.

Weve raised thousands of pounds to support the under-resourced Ukrainian army and weve been very vocal in the UK and international media about the many issues that have brought about the conflict from the city of Londons relationships with oli-garchs to the British Governments lack of action in honouring the Budapest Memorandum.

We wont stop until Ukraine is free, genuinely independent and strong, un-til people there can vote in democratic elections for uncorrupt Governments. Well continue until the rule of law and human-rights live up to European standards.

London Euromaidan will only stop when everyone from Donetsk to Lviv, from Kyiv to Simferopol can once again be proud to be Ukrainian and celebrate Independence Day.

Chrystyna Chymera, London Euromaidan

PROTEST THAT CHANGED THE NATION