What do you get when you mix Ukrainian folk music and American bluegrass and Western Swing music?  The Lemko Bluegrass Band.  Musician Rost Tatomyr founded the group in 2012.  They continue to play this exciting blend of traditional music from the Carpathian Mountains and beyond in a variety of venues in Ukraine, Poland and elsewhere.  Rost Tatomyr talks about how he formed the group, their approach to its music and plans for the future.

Interview with Rost Tatomyr, founder of the Lemko Bluegrass Band

Since Russia invaded Ukraine on February 24, 2022, it is estimated that nearly 12.8 million people have been displaced.  About 7.7 million people are internally displaced within Ukraine and in need of housing.  Slava Balbek, the founder and CEO of the architectural firm Balbek Bureau, and John Shmorhun, the Chairman of the NGO MoveUkraine, discuss their respective plans to provide housing for Ukraine's internally displaced people.   https://www.balbek.com/   https://www.moveukraine.org/

New housing for internally displaced people in Ukraine

October 14, 2022 marks the 80th anniversary of the founding of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (Ukrainska Povstanska Armiia, "UPA") in Western Ukraine.  From 1942 to 1954 this group of young Ukrainian partisans fought against Germany, the Soviet Union and Poland for Ukrainian independence.  Christina Kotlar, the daughter of Julian "Levko" Kotlar, talks about her father's activity in UPA from 1944-1947 and his life-long effort working with UPA veterans and helping to chronicle their valiant struggle during World War II and afterwards.  She also touches on the current situation with Ukrainian partisans in the south of Ukraine during the Russian occupation.  For an overview about UPA read this: 
http://www.encyclopediaofukraine.com/display.asp?linkpath=pages%5CU%5CK%5CUkrainianInsurgentArmy.htm

War in Ukraine:  UPA and the long tradition of partisan struggle for independence for Ukraine

Oleg Drozdov is the owner of the well-known Ukrainian architectural firm Drozdov & Partners.  He is also the cofounder of the Kharkiv School of Architecture established in 2017.  In 2022, Mr. Drozdov cofounded Ro3kvit, a coalition of Ukrainian and international architects, urban planners and artists dedicated to assisting the recovery and reconstruction of Ukraine.   He talks about his career in architecture and why the Ukraine reconstruction effort must be based on sustainability and a partnership with civil society.  https://www.linkedin.com/in/oleg-drozdov-b25a7011/    https://www.nytimes.com/2022/11/07/magazine/ukraine-rebuild-irpin.html

Ukrainian architect Oleg Drozdov discusses his career and Ukraine's recovery and reconstruction

Ukrainian American Tamara Syby-Holovko is the Razom project lead for the Ukraine response initiative and welcome center in the New York City area.  She is also the refugee coordinator for Ukrainian Jersey City and the Vice President with Soyuz Ukrainok Branch #143.  Tamara's Ukrainian family roots in Jersey City go back more than 100 years.  Ms. Syby-Holovak discusses her efforts to help Ukrainian refugees from the Russian invasion of Ukraine get settled in the New York area.  https://www.razomforukraine.org/ 
https://www.ukrainianjc.com   https://www.unwla.org

Tamara Syby-Holovko talks about her work with Ukrainian war refugees in the New York area

Myroslav Shkandrij is Professor Emeritus at the University of Manitoba.  He is an expert on modern Ukrainian and Russian cultural history, including the avant-garde, Soviet literary politics, nationalism, imperialism and contemporary debates around decolonization.  In this interview, he covers the clash between the Russian imperial and Ukrainian liberation narratives.  He also offers his insights on the Russian war against Ukraine. 
 https://umanitoba.ca/arts/myroslav-shkandrij

Prof. Myroslav Shkandrij discusses relations between Russia and Ukraine

More than 30% of Ukraine's territory has been mined during the Russia invasion.  Kosta Schneider, Chief Creative Director at Publicis Groupe Ukraine and the Czech Republic, is the spokesperson for an important effort to raise global awareness of the critical need for demining in Ukraine.  The Minefields Honey Project is a collaboration of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, the agricultural company Kernal, the company Dronarium and the Publicis Group, a global advertising and public relations company.  https://minefieldshoney.onepage.me/

Minefields Honey Project seeks to raise public awareness for critical demining need in Ukraine

Ukrainian American Yuri Yanchyshyn has been a period furniture and wooden artifacts conservator for more than 30 years.  He has worked for many important cultural institutions worldwide including The Metropolitan Museum of Art.  In 2016 he was awarded a Fulbright Scholarship for conservation work in Ukraine.  One of Mr. Yanchyshyn's major projects has been the preservation of wooden churches ("tserkvas").  In this effort he has collaborated with  Mykola Bevz, the chair of the Department of Restoration and Reconstruction of Architectural Complexes at Lviv Polytechnic National University, Department of Architecture and Conservation.  He discusses his work and career in this interview.  https://www.periodfurnitureconservation.com/  https://www.redarchresearch.org/projects/ukraine-aid-project/

Ukrainian American wooden artifacts conservator Yuri Yanchyshyn discusses his preservation work

Tony Leliw is a London-based, freelance British Ukrainian journalist, playwright and filmmaker.  His writing career spans some 30 years and he currently is a freelancer for The Kyiv Post.  His new short film, "Ukraine's Gold", is based on the legend of Hetman Pavlo Polubotok.  It has been warmly received in the UK and abroad.    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pQKlXXtcfU8   https://www.kyivpost.com/authors/45

British Ukrainian journalist Tony Leliw talks about his career and new film "Ukraine's Gold"

Andrew D'Anieri is a resident fellow and former assistant director with the Atlantic Council Eurasia Center.  He discusses the recent trip to Kyiv of U.S. Senators Richard Blumenthal and Lindsey Graham.  They made a proposal for a new U.S.-Ukraine economic partnership in the development of strategic metals and rare earth elements.  Senator Blumenthal's upcoming fall introduction of the Stand with Ukraine Act in Congress is also reviewed.  https://www.atlanticcouncil.org/expert/andrew-danieri/

Atlantic Council resident fellow Andrew D'Anieri describes a new potential U.S.-Ukraine partnership

Peter Solowka and Len Liggins founded The Ukrainians British Punk Rock band in England in 1990.  Since then they have entertained audiences throughout Great Britain, Western and Eastern Europe with traditional Ukrainian folk songs, covers of classic British and American rock songs and their own compositions.   The duo recently published a new book about the band, "The Ukrainians:  From Kyiv to the Kosmos".  This interview includes their discussion on the history of the band and also offers their thoughts about the new book.  https://www.the-ukrainians.com/

Peter Solowka and Len Liggins discuss The Ukrainians British Punk Rock band and new book

Beginning in the 1940's, the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic was a key venue in the USSR for the development of cybernetics and information technology (IT).  When Ukraine became independent in 1991, a new wave of creativity was unleashed in the field of technology leading to the development of innovative IT companies that sought to play a crucial role in the global economy.  Serhii Kryvoblotskyi, Head of Technological R&D at the Ukrainian company MacPaw Inc., discusses this engaging book written by Volodymyr Nezorov and published by MacPaw.  https://www.innovation-in-isolation.com/

Innovation in Isolation: the Story of Ukrainian IT from the 1940's to the Present

The third anniversary of the Russian invasion against Ukraine will occur in February 2025.  Are Ukraine and Russia ready to begin peace negotiations?  Will the U.S. continue to play a major role as an ally of Ukraine, or will the incoming administration of President Donald Trump change course?  Taras Kuzio, professor of political science at National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy, offers his views on Ukraine and its current situation with the Russian invasion.  https://isad.uj.edu.pl/en_GB/taras-kuzio

Prof. Taras Kuzio discusses the current state of the Russian invasion against Ukraine

Kira Rudik is a member of the Ukrainian Parliament and the leader of the Golos Party.  Before her first election to parliament in 2019, she was a key player in Ukraine's technology industry as the CEO of Ring Ukraine.  In this interview, Ms. Rudik assesses the current social and political mood in Ukraine and emphasizes how the country continues to fight for its freedom and sovereignty despite the Russian invasion.  One of her key goals is to use the roughly $300 billion of frozen Russian assets to help support and rebuild Ukraine.  https://www.kirarudik.com/

Ukrainian Member of Parliament Kira Rudik examines Ukraine today and challenges to its independence

Christian Borys is a Ukrainian Canadian journalist who covered the Russian war against Ukraine for a while.  When he returned to Canada, he decided to create a fund-raising site for the Ukrainian army.  Eventually this effort evolved into a social enterprise based in Ukraine that produces various consumer products.  He hopes to continue this venture even after the war ends.
https://www.saintjavelin.com/pages/saint-javelin-day-2025-metal

Ukrainian Canadian journalist Christian Borys talks about the social enterprise Saint Javelin

Alexander Vindman, a Ukrainian American who was born in Kyiv, is a retired U.S. Army lieutenant colonel and former director for European affairs with the U.S. National Security Council (NSC). As a foreign area officer specializing in Eurasia, he served in the U.S. embassies in Kyiv and Moscow. Mr. Vindman received a Master of Arts degree in Russian, Eastern European and Central Asian studies from Harvard University. He also has a doctoral degree in international affairs from Johns Hopkins University. In this interview, Mr. Vindman discusses why the Trump Administration is putting pressure on President Zelenskyy to accept its framework for an initial 30-day ceasefire and an eventual peace agreement with Russia. He also reviews overall relations between the U.S. and Ukraine.  He is the author of a new book "The Folly of Realism: How the West Deceived Itself About Russia and Betrayed Ukraine”. 
 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Vindman

Retired U.S. Army Lt. Col. Alexander Vindman offers insights on the Russian invasion against Ukraine

Bohdan Nahaylo is the Chief Editor at the Kyiv Post in Kyiv, Ukraine. He is a British-Ukrainian journalist and well-known writer whose career as a    Ukraine-watcher spans more than four decades. Reflecting on the mood in Kyiv, Mr. Nahaylo does not believe Ukraine is ready for elections. He is extremely critical of the proposed U.S.-Ukraine rare earth minerals deal proposed by the Trump administration. He does not think Russian President Vladimir will accept the proposed 30-day ceasefire in the war. In this interview, Mr. Nahaylo also reviews his three years as Chief Editor at the Kyiv Post and the major challenges.https://www.kyivpost.com/   https://www.linkedin.com/in/bohdan-nahaylo-716a935b/?originalSubdomain=ua

Kyiv Post Chief Editor Bohdan Nahaylo assesses Ukraine's prospects for peace

There are about 250,000 Ukrainian parolees who have entered the United States as a result of the Russian invasion of Ukraine.  In the context of U.S. immigration law, an immigration parolee is an individual granted temporary permission to enter or remain in the United States but without establishing a path to permanent residency.  Iryna Mazur, a U.S. immigration attorney and Honorary Consul of Ukraine to Philadelphia, discusses their current status under the Uniting for Ukraine (U4U) and Temporary Protected Status (TPS) federal programs.  On January 27, 2025, the Trump administration placed all parole programs on hold, and also, Ukraine was never redesignated for another TPS period.  It is expected that the Administration will make a final decision with regards to the future of the U4U program and relevant re-parole authorizations by the end of April 2025. 
https://fimlaw.com/meet-our-lawyers/ https://www.consularcorpsofphiladelphia.org/ukraine/

U.S. immigration attorney Iryna Mazur reviews the current situation for Ukrainian war refugees

Stefan Korshak is the senior defense correspondent for the Kyiv Post English-language newspaper.  He offers his insights into how the Ukrainian army has been able to effectively counter the attacks of the Russian army with its substantially larger manpower and more military equipment.  He says the current ceasefire proposed by the United States is untenable.  Mr. Korshak also comments on the morale of the Ukrainian army and whether China has entered the war on Russia's side.  https://www.kyivpost.com/authors/11    https://www.linkedin.com/in/stefan-korshak-54821661/

Ukraine war correspondent Stefan Korshak talks about the Russian invasion

Ron Kramer's Lemko Ukrainian-American family has deep roots in the Primrose/Minersville, Pa., area.  His grandfather Wasyl Kramar arrived in the Anthracite region of eastern Pennsylvania coming from the Lemko region of Austria-Hungary, now southeast Poland, in 1897.  Ron talks about his family roots, the local Lemko Ukrainian-American community and Ukrainian Seminary Day.  Ukrainian Day is an annual event that began in the Anthracite coal region in 1933 and is now a fund-raiser for the South Anthracite Deanery of the Ukrainian Catholic Church of the Archeparchy of Philadelphia.  It is a major homecoming for Ukrainians with family from the area.  It will take place this year on Sunday, July 30th, in Primrose, Pa.

Please contact Mike Buryk at michael.buryk@verizon.net for any additional information.

Copyright (c) 2017 by Michael J. Buryk. All Rights Reserved

An interview (072017) with Ron Kramer, a Lemko Ukrainian-American, Primrose, Pa.

A Fall 2017 interview with Bruce Romanchak, who is an administrator with the Facebook Lemko Ancestry and DNA Group.  He discusses how the group was founded, what it does and how DNA can be used to find distant Lemko cousins. https://www.facebook.com/groups/LemkoAncestryandDNA/

Please contact Mike Buryk at michael.buryk@verizon.net for additional information.

Copyright (c) 2018 by Michael J. Buryk. All Rights Reserved

Interview with Bruce Romanchak, an administrator with the Facebook Lemko Ancestry and DNA Group

Ukraine Global Scholars is a non-profit 501(c)3 organization founded to help Ukrainian students get an education in the world's best colleges and universities.  Yuliya Sychikova, CEO and co-founder, talks about why the program was established and how it works. 

Please contact Mike Buryk at michael.buryk@verizon.net for additional information.

Copyright (c) 2018 by Michael J. Buryk. All Rights Reserved

An Interview with Yuliya Sychikova, CEO & co-founder, Ukraine Global Scholars

Ukrainian-British chef and cookbook author Olia Hercules discusses her family background and career and how she became a cooking celebrity in the UK.
https://oliahercules.com/

Please contact Mike Buryk at michael.buryk@verizon.net for additional information.

Copyright (c) 2018 by Michael J. Buryk. All Rights Reserved

Interview with Ukrainian-British chef and cookbook author Olia Hercules

Sergii Mirynyi, Chornobyl Tour cofounder and director of research and development, talks about the tours his company conducts in the area of the 1986 Chornobyl nuclear accident near Prypyat, Ukraine.

Interview with Chornobyl Tour cofounder Sergii Mirnyi

The Ukrainian:  Life and Culture is a new, visually engaging magazine focused on the arts and culture.  Its Editor-in-Chief, Inna Golovakha, hopes to develop a more positive image for Ukraine worldwide and promote its culture.  In this interview she talks about how she came up with the idea for this English-language magazine which is published in the U.S. in Virginia.  https://tulac.org

Interview with Inna Golovakha, Editor-in-Chief of The Ukrainian magazine

New Cave Media is an immersive storytelling studio offering 360° video and VR solutions to commercial clients around the globe.  Alexey Furman is a co-founder, the executive producer and COO with New Cave.  He discusses how the company was developed and some of the exciting projects it is doing in 360° video and VR for major clients.  http://newcavemedia.com/

Interview with Alexey Furman, Executive Producer at New Cave Media

House of Ukraine San Diego is located in the famous Balboa Park.  Along with the pavillions of other ethnic groups, this Ukrainian-American cultural institution offers various programs and activities to promote Ukraine in Southern California.  Board member Vera Skop talks about her involvement with House of Ukraine and how it has served the local Ukrainian-American community for the past 60 years.  http://houseofukraine.org/

House of Ukraine San Diego Interview with Vera Skop

Anatoli Sienczenko is President of the New Kuban Education Welfare Association in Buena Vista, New Jersey.  He is also the ataman of the New Kuban Kozaks.  He tells the story of the Kuban Kozaks and how his family emigrated to the U.S. and to this southern New Jersey community of Kozaks and their descendants.

New Kuban Kozaks interview

Christian Raffensperger is professor of history at Wittenberg University in Springfield, Ohio, and an associate with the Harvard Ukrainian Research Institute (HURI).   He discusses his scholarly exploration of dynastic relations in Kyivan Rus' and the impact on genealogy for Ukraine and Eastern and Western Europe.  The Harvard University Ukrainian Research Institute's Rus' Genealogy Project. http://gis.huri.harvard.edu/historical-atlas/rus-genealogy.html

Dr. Christian Raffensperger interview

Elona Voytovych, a multimedia journalist with the U.S. Voice of America Ukrainian service, talks about her early career and current job as a social media specialist.  She was born in Lviv, Ukraine, and emigrated to the U.S. at an early age.  Elona is now based in Washington, D.C.

Криниця (Krynytsya) --- The Well

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