Friends!

We often wonder – where is the real Ukrainian elite? And it's not about people who occupy certain positions or flaunt fortune, but those who would build Ukraine, using their efforts, understanding and skills?

I will answer this question. The real Ukrainian elite, whose actions highly developed Ukraine and its culture, did it again significant and principal on their land, almost all were killed in Sandarmokh, Karelia. Nearly three hundred of the best Ukrainians, including 25 - of Jewish origin. All of them were shot in 5 days. What a bloody gift for Stalinist regime at the anniversary of the October revolution - genuine revival of Ukraine. In general, from 27 October to 4 November 1937 1111 prisoners were killed. We know their names due to the desperate people who studied this issue, for example, journalist and writer Sergei Shevchenko.

On the 3d of November most famous Ukrainian figures – Les Kurbas, Mykola Zerov, Mykola Kulish, Valerian Pidmohylny, Grigory Epik, three guys from Krushelnytsky family and over a hundred of wonderful people died there. At the lists of executioners, they were listed as "Ukrainian bourgeois nationalists", therefore they were extremely dangerous for the Stalin regime. All of them had different fine talents, each was strong in his element. Les Kurbas - as the founder of the new Ukrainian theater, Mykola Zerov - as representative of the Ukrainian "neoclassic", a talented scientist, Mykola Kulish - as a playwright and activist of education, Valerian Pidmohylny – as an outstanding writer and Grigory Epik – as writer and member of the. And how many of them were just educated Ukrainians who loved their land and died, because Stalin's regime considered it a "terror"? They were young, eager, talented. I am sure they devoted all their life to the last day to their homeland and would do more if they remained alive.

And now their images watch from three-meter cross in Sandarmokh. It is a symbol of the terrible loss that undoubtedly influenced the course of history. In the decades to lose elite by the repressions and farmers by the Holodomor what worse could be done for Ukraine?

I'm sure every Ukrainian must remember this tragic episode of history and know that there were people who laid their lives for what we can now do even daily - to develop, praise and improve Ukraine. It should be the aim of life of young people and the older generation. We paid such a high price and to do nothing now - is the greatest defeat.