Friends!

Friends, today is 130 years from the birth of Vasyl Atamanyuk known by the pseudonym of Vasyl Yablunenko. He was an excellent writer. Unfortunately, Atamanyuk died early, at the age of 40, became a victim of Stalin's terror, as well as other prominent representatives of Ukrainian intelligentsia of the time.

He was born in a peasant family in the village Yabluniv, now Ivano-Frankivsk region. The family had five children, lived very poorly. He studied at the Kolomyia gumnasium, and in the First World War he moved to Vienna, where he continued to study. There Atamanyuk published his poetry book. During the service in the Austrian army he entered the law faculty of Lviv University. Later he became a translator in Presbyuro and then in the Legion of Ukrainian Sich Riflemen. At the time of the Central Rada Vasyl was secretary of the newspaper "Struggle", head of "work school".

In 1922 Atamanyuk moved to Kyiv, was one of the organizers of the literary union "Western Ukraine". He was arrested on the 31st of January, 1933 in Kiev. Accused that "Atamanyuk was one of the leaders of the Kiev chain of " Ukrainian military organization. " They told that his organization "Western Ukraine" was aimed at organizing counterrevolutionary rebel forces.

On the 1st of October, 1933 he was sentenced to five years in prison and sent to a concentration camps "Karlag", later - "Solovki". He asked for resquing, still believed that justice can prevail, "After the arrest of the incredible efforts of several investigators who mocked over me, I have been beaten for twenty days, was not allowed to sleep and go, forced to constantly run, threatened about various torture and so on. I was brought to the weak-willed unconsciousness, and I was forced to confess under dictation to nonexistent crimes, "- he wrote.

Instead, special three of NKVD on 9th October, 1937 changed his sentence. It sounded^ "Atamanyuk-Yablunenka Vasily has to be shot."

Vasyl Atamanyuk was shot in Sandarmokh November 3, 1937.

Today we have to remember all those people, whose names are not currentlypopular, but they are engraved in the history of Ukraine and bloody shot lists.

Friends!

Today we celebrate the birthday famous Ukrainian writer, one of the most influential creators of modern Ukrainian literature – Juriy Andruhovych. In August 2016, he received the Goethe Medal for having had a hand in "migration culture" - because of his works and translations. Andruhovych - the person who is the personification of "Ukrainian identity." Moreover, many of the current events in Ukraine, he predicted back in 2010.

Juriy Andruhovych was born on 13th of March, 1960 in Stanislav (now Ivano-Frankivsk) attended the special school number 5 in-depth study of the German language. Learned as the editor in the Ukrainian Printing Institute in Lviv. He worked in the newspaper, he served in the army. In 1994 he defended his thesis on the works forbidden in Soviet times Ukrainian poet Bohdan-Ihor Antonych.

Many know Andruhovych as a leader of thepoetic group Bu-Ba-Bu ( "Burlesque, buffoonery, balagan"). Its work was a response to the social events of the 1980s, the semi-official opposition to existing literature.

Together with colleague Yuri Izdryk they began to publish the first in Ukraine postmodern magazine "Thursday".

was the- author of the novels "Recreations", "Moskoviada," "Perversion", books of poetry and essays. In addition, he translated into the Ukrainian "Hamlet" by Shakespeare, the works of German and American poets. Themselves writer's works also were repeatedly translated.

Juriy Andruhovych during euromaidan read "The task 5.12" from the artistic community, which was addressed to the authorities and the opposition, which urged them to allow people to just live and build their country.

"Because we all live like this, that if we do not enter the daily fight against monsters, we absorb. No matter what - or personalized swollen to the size of whole countries. "

Happy Birthday, Yuri! Wish you health, inspiration and harmony.

Friends!

Today, Jews around the world celebrate Purim - a holiday in memory of the miraculous escape of Jews at the time of the Persian king Ahasuerus (5 century BC) The name of the holiday comes from the word "Pur", which means "lots".

In the Book of Esther narrated the history of this holiday. Once the king Ahasuerus held a great feast, he wanted to boast of the beauty of his wife Vashti. But she refused to go to the guests, who incredibly offended ruler.

Then to his palace was brought a lot of beautiful girls, so he chose another wife. He liked Esther, the Jewish girl, an orphan. She grew up with a cousin - Mordecai. Esther became queen, but didn’t tell Ahasuerus about her origins.

Instead, Ahasuerus appointed as his adviser person, that hated Jews - Haman. Everyone was feared of him, except Mordecai. He never bowed before him for that Haman decided to punish not only the rebellious man, but all Jews. He casted lots to determine when to physically exterminate Jews. It was the 13th day of the month Adar. And Mordecai learned of his plan and told Esther.

It is, despite the ban to come to the king without an invitation that threatened her with death, she wentto talk. Invited ruler with Haman to the feast. She told Ahasuerus about her origins and the threat under which the whole Jewish people came and asked him not to kill anyone. King fulfilled her wish and ordered the execute Haman. Ironically, on the very gallows that Haman has prepared for the brother of the queen.

The king issued a special decree by which all the Jews of Persia had to defend his life. Adar 13, the day that Haman choosed the day of the death of Jews, they killed thousands of haters. The next day - celebrated their salvation.

And now Purim is one of the most important holidays of the year. For two days, made merry feasts, carnivals and masquerades. Traditionally, people prepare a special dish - "ears of Haman" - triangular cakes with jam. All lots of wine, so they cannot distinguish the names of Haman and Mordecai.

Friends! This once again proves that it is not necessary to give up ever, salvation will come and we should believe in that and fight for it. I wish you all joy and happiness in this festive day!

Friends

Today I want to tell you about the terrible tragedy that occurred in Israel on the 11th of March, 1978. In the history, the events of the day came as the Coastal Road massacre in which were killed 39 Israelis (13 of them - children) another 70 were injured.

What happened on that terrible day? 13 militants of Fatah were planning a terrorist attack in Tel Aviv. They had reached the city by sea in rubber boats. But they failed to comply route. Two terrorists were drowned in the sea, eleven went ashore near Zichron Yakov. Group was managed by a of nineteen-year-old Dalal al-Mugrabi.

At first, terrorists met the photographer - American Gail Rubin. She loved landscape photography, made shots when a fateful meeting occured. Militants questioned the woman about the location and shot her. One of the terrorists of Fatah later said the cause was a visa. Gail said that she received it from the government of Israel, Dalal said that she had to ask her about it, because the land – is hers, not Israelis.

After that killing terrorists divided. Some - took the bus, others - taxi. The bus was full of tourists, they returned from the tour of workers of the cooperative "Egged". For the first time they were able to get acquainted closer with colleagues and to their families in an informal trip to stalactite caves.

The ultimate goal of the militants was a hotel in Tel Aviv. Subsequently, the two groups merged in the bus where they were holding hostages. Along the way, the terrorists fired cars that drove past.

Finally, Israeli security forces managed to stop the bus, they shot its wheels. One of the drivers from the cooperative "Egged" volunteered as the mediate because he knew Arabic. But when he went to the border to security forces, militants shot him in the stomach. He died in hospital.

The negotiations were disrupted, passengers fell into despair and tried to escape. Then the terrorists opened fire on unarmed people .. And finally - blew up a bus.

9 militants were eliminated, among them - Dalal al-Mugrabi. Two were captured alive. They were exchanged after seven years' of imprisonment in an Israeli prison. One of them later became a member of the Revolutionary Council of Fatah. Palestinians made a real icon from Dalal. In her honor named streets, military and police schools, camps and school. It seems thatthere is nothing to add.

Israel remembers the terrible grief. Even the terrible bus survived until now - he is in the Museum of buses in Holon. Because there is tragedy, along with the most tragic scenario that movie – is nothing. For this is reality.

Eternal memory to the fallen.

Friends!

On this day in 1787 was born Ustym Karmalyuk - Ukrainian legend, our "Robin Hood" - a noble thief and a national hero. Stories about him were collected by Mykola Kostomarov and Taras Shevchenko, he even was dedicated the opera. Who was he, a living legend?

Ustym Yakymovych Karmalyuk was born in the village Holovchyntsi (now the village Karmalyukove in Vinnytsia region). His parents were peasants, serfs of the local landowner Andrew Joseph Pihlovsky. Ustym has been rebellious since childhood, for the rebel character he was arrested at the master's economy. Then, in 1811, he first escaped from custody. The landowner could not accept the fact that his slave had such character, so he decided to give a guy to the royal army - for 25 years. From there he fled almost immediately and decided to return to his native land and restore order there.

Karmalyuk gathered with the same wayward and brave men like himself and burned mansion of the landowner Pihlovsky. His property he gave to farmers. Ustym was quickly caught by the punitive squad members. He was sentenced to 500 strokes of the rod and detention in the Crimea. But Karmalyuk fled once again. Then he started a real rebel peasant movement in the Ukrainian lands. Peasant riots broke out in different cities. Ordinary people supported Karmaluk, offered him assistance and food. Interesting fact - the movement of Karmalyuk was joined not only by Ukrainian, but also by Poles and Jews. Some of them were his closest aides, never betrayed Ustym. For that they were tortured and deported to Siberia. Karmalyuk because of such a friendship knew not only Russian, but also Polish and Yiddish.

In 1817, Moscow finally caught Karmalyuk, he was sentenced to death. But at the last moment sentence was changed into 25 lashes, branding with a hot iron, and a 10-year of exile in Siberia. But Karmalyuk .. escaped from prison once again and continued his work. Karmalyuk was extremely popular, he was joined by new supporters. It was difficult for his family: Ustym was twice married. Evdokia – his first wife died, leaved him two children. Second wife was Mary, she gave birth to three more. The smallest son Ostap gave up his father when he was caught again. Ustym tried to impersonate a Russian in prison, when the son ran into his arms. Karmalyuk was thrown in Kamenetz-Podolsk fortress ... but he organized his fourth escape together with other prisoners! He was wounded and chained to a stone pillar in the tower, which was later named in his honor.

Subsequently Karmalyuk was sent to Siberia, then - to Tobolsk. Ustym fled again - in the fall, during a night storm, he broke the bars, gathered all the inmates shirts and tied them into a long panel. By the end, he threw it at the fence of the prison. After that all the prisoners escaped, leaving an empty cell.

He always came back to continue his struggle. Once Karmalyuk took gold from the master-extortionist and began to give it to the poor women who were walking nearby. In parting, he said: "Take your gold, let your children at home stop crying... And when I’ll die, remember Karmalyuk ...".

He was a true historical superhero, elusive avenger for the life he has several times been jailed and fled - so strong was his desire to fight.

Ustym Karmalyuk died on the night of the 10th of October, 1835 in the village Track Korychentsi. He was betrayed. Karmalyuk was killed. According to legend Karmalyuk was not killed by a bullet, but with silver buttos, because it was the only way to kill the sorcerer (otherwise people could not explain his escapes and wins). Body of Ustym was drove by the villages to make farmers afraid. Hero was buried in Letechev, and Moscow Tsar Nicholas I personally called killer of the Karmalyuk to St. Petersburg, to reward him with the diamond ring.

Perhaps the years have passed, the story has become more a legend and is not similar to a simple biography. But most importantly, what we can learn from it - truly courageous spirit never dies, regardless of any obstacles.

Friends!

The 9th of March 9, 1814 - the date that is well-known by all Ukrainians. On this day was born Taras Shevchenko - the most famous Ukrainian poet and national hero and symbol of Ukraine.

I think all of you know his biography and I won’t surprise you with interesting facts of his life. So today we should not talk about how Taras Shevchenko lived, but about the memory that he left.

It would seem, more than two centuries passed, but the things that he wrote is still relevant.

Taras Shevchenko in Ukraine remains a symbol and its struggle. His "Fight and you’ll overcome, God helps you" – became the slogan undying Ukrainian people. Young people are still hardening around his figure. Today only Shevchenko Park, near the monument to Taras gathered hundreds people. And it is - just the beginning! At 16.00 they will simultaneously read out the poem "in the dungeons" (I am the same, or will ...). Along with Kyiv, this verse will be heard in other parts of Ukraine and the world. This - the final event of the flashmob «Global Shevchenko», which has become really international. Before the birthday of the poet more than 3,500 participants from 25 countries and 132 settlements of Ukraine made a picture next to the monument to Shevchenko in their city. Even in the occupied Crimea, despite the ban of the birthday of Taras, there were people who came to lay flowers at the monument to Kobzar in Simferopol. And this despite the fact that police photographed them all.

Friends, this activity proves once again – Ukrainian is strong nation that remembers its history and heroes. Let us now recall in the comments the quotes and poems of Taras, which are the most "catchy" for you.

Friends!

I sincerely want to congratulate all my readers with the International Women's Day.

The world started to celebrate it in 1977 - when a special UN resolution called on all countries to declare the 8th of March the Day of struggle for women's rights. First a women worker’s strike took place on the 8th of March, 1857 in New York. Women demanded the same wages as men.And also - 10-hour working day and normal working conditions. The second wave of the struggle for women's rights began in the late 19th century in England, it was the so-called movement of suffragettes.

Despite the fact that the Institute of National Remembrance believe that within decommunisation this holiday has to be canceled as a relic of the Soviet Union, many Ukrainians believe that the 8th of March now regains its fight-for-rights character and allows women to go out today to protest. Today they are hold in Kyiv, Lviv, Kharkiv and some other cities. Also, there will be a number of art events and public discussions. In Kyiv march will be held under the slogan of struggle against violence against women by the state.

Friends! On this day, I want to express my admiration and respect for all women. You are strong, purposeful, sometimes more desperate and determined than men. I would like to separately thank those women, who are now serving in the area of ATO. I wish you strength, goodness, light and harmony!