Ukraine

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Slava Ukraini Y’all, It’s the 40th-Annual Saint George Ukrainian Festival

(Photo courtesy of Saint George Ukrainian Festival)

(Photo courtesy of Saint George Ukrainian Festival)

It’s officially feelin’ like almost-summertime, and you know what that means–  more ice cream and more murders. We trust you’re all aware that higher temps mean an uptick in lickin’ that delicious gift of mother cow teat and an increase in violent crime along with “human conflict” in general.

So if you’re feeling an incident of bad behavior coming on, it’s best to preemptively repent and do something cute, cultural, and community-oriented to quiet your demons– this weekend, get thee to the Saint George Ukrainian Festival, aka the East Village-based Slavic block party to rule them all. It helps that a century-old Ukrainian Catholic Church will be cowering over you, which– no matter what your religious (or non-religious) affiliation– is guaranteed to make you feel far too guilty to commit any dastardly deeds.

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This Photographer Captured Ukrainian Youth in Their Final Months of ‘Carefree Fun’

(Photo: © Daniel King)

(Photo: © Daniel King)

In the past year and a half, the East Village has grown accustomed to the presence of candles, messages of remembrance and fresh flowers outside 136 Second Avenue, home to the Ukrainian American Youth Foundation. This impromptu memorial has served as a constant reminder of the many lives lost during the November 2013 “Rise up, Ukraine!” anti-government uprisings in Kiev.

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Local Ukrainians Talk Sanctions, Ceasefire, and NATO Aid That May Not Do Enough

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Protest attendee dons a Ukrainian flag at Sunday’s gathering. (Photo: Jasmine Lee)

Iryna Vitkovska says NATO’s involvement in Ukraine’s conflict with Russia will not bring peace to her country. “They should have looked at it a long time ago, and not just waking up right now when it’s too late,” said the 27-year-old bartender of the Sly Fox. The bar is located on the ground floor of the Ukrainian National Home in the East Village, next to a sidewalk memorial for Ukrainians who’ve died in ongoing clashes with pro-Russian separatists.
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How Locals in “Little Ukraine” Are Responding to the Situation in Ukraine

Director

Maria Shust, Director of The Ukranian Museum (Photo: Mary Reinholz)

When Crimean citizens voted on Sunday to secede from Ukraine and unite with Russia, there was widespread apprehension in ethnic circles within the East Village – sometimes called “Little Ukraine.” Locals worried about an uncertain future for their friends and relatives living in a divided country with historic ties to Russia. Meanwhile, debates continue surrounding whether the vote was even legal.
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