An explosion of the bomb in the biggest airport of the biggest world's country killed 35 and wounded 152 people. Huge sorrow for the relatives of that people. As Ukrainians say "Вічная пам'ять"(eternal memory) for these people.
That bombing attack shows Russia has not only the biggest territory, but has also very much big problems inside its state. And Ukraine must be aware of such state's neighbourhood and must do all possible to protect itself.

In Ukraine the day of January, 22th is celebrated as Unity Day and the Day of the Union between Ukrainian People's Republic (Ukrainian abbreviation УНР) and Western Ukrainian People's Republic (Ukrainian abbreviation ЗУНР) in one state. Union's Act between two Ukrainian states was declared on January, 22th in 1919 on Sofiyska Square in Kyiv and proclaimed unity of all Ukrainian territories. Though this Ukrainian state lasted very short time, but its existence is an important page in Ukrainian history. United Ukrainian state was finally broken in 1921 when Russia got Eastern Ukraine and Poland got Western Ukrainian territories (Halychyna, Volyn' and Polissya) according to the Document of Riga's Peace, signed between Poland and soviet Russia. In that time Zakarpattya (Transcarpathia) was Hungarian territory and Romania had Bukovyna (Chernivetska region in Ukraine now). So big dream of Ukrainians to have their own state after the breakup of Austro-Hungarian Empire of 1918, that dream was also broken. The reasons were diverse. On the one side Russian Army was bigger than Ukrainian in the military operations in the Eastern Ukraine, on the another side Poland was helped with British and French Army in the war with Ukrainian Sichovi Striltsi in the Western Ukraine and finally Russia and Poland signed "peace".
But it won't be honestly when I shan't tell You about other reasons why Ukrainian territory was divided again in the XXth century. There were much differences in the views of how to rule of the country and what enemy is dangerouser (Russia or Poland) between the chieves of that Ukrainian state. That's why Ukrainian Unity Day is a few symbolic holiday too and today reminds citizens of Ukraine that citizens' unity exactly is that principal base against any enemy.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uD2utqoaH38

Celebration of Union Day on January 22th, 2011 in Kyiv. There is a tradition to take the arms each other in the streets of all Ukrainian cities and to create people's chain as a symbol of the nation's unity.

January in Lviv

From the end of 2004 till 2010 there were much popular such slogans as "Poland is Ukraine's lawyer in Europe" or "Poland is Ukrainian friend" on the TV and in the majority of the Ukrainian and Polish newspapers. But the reality showed another side, showed that it was only nice slogans. Ukrainians can name Aleksandr Kvasnievski, the former Polish president, the friend of their country, because he was for good relations between two countries in his speeches and activity, except his speeches about Stepan Bandera. But in general that two slogans "about frienship" weren't truth.
It's not a secret that Poles enjoy to travel in Lviv (Ukraine) and till nowadays many Poles consider that it is or will be Polish city! Poles also very like to visit Lviv with Polish guides and without any Ukrainian guide. Even there is special courses of the guides for Lviv in Lyublin, Eastern Polish city! One of the finest story for Poles is the legend of Lviv date's foundation: that Lviv was founded in 1340 by Polish king Kazymyr Velykyy, but indeed Lviv was founded by Danylo Halytskyy, Halytsko-Volynskyy prince (then king), in 1256. Very much guidebooks about Lviv are publishing in Poland now, just "amazing". Even one guidebook of the best Polish sights, published in the 2006-2007 years in Wroclaw, included Lviv in the list! The Polish newspaper "Gazeta Wyborcza" from December 29th, 2010 wrote very nostalgic article about Lviv and how much it was Polish city and what was a mistake when after the Second World War Lviv became soviet, not Polish. There aren't the words "territory of modern Ukraine" or just word "Ukrainian" in the article, but the article's title is "One atomic bomb - and we'll come back Lviv"!
I remember a program on the Polish TV-channel "TVP1" in 2007 about Polish demonstration against Poland's visit of the Ukrainians, deported during military operation "Visla" of 1947 from their native lands such as Lemkivshchyna, Kholmshchyna etc., former Ukrainian, present Polish territories. There were 70th-80th years old Ukrainians (in the majority) and much younger Polish people, which screamed slogans that it's their land and wishes to go home for that Ukrainians. And that old Ukrainians didn't want to take any land, but only to see the sights of their childhood. So I can't say about all these Polish activities as about friendly steps in the Polish-Ukrainian relations.
And also in European Parliament resolution of February 25th, 2010 was adopted the proposition, initiated by Polish deputates, to deplore the decision 0f the former Ukrainian president Viktor Yushchenko about the title of "National Hero of Ukraine" for Stepan Bandera, a leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) because of his so-called collaboration with Nazi. That was Polish lie, because S. Bandera wasn't for Nazi. Lviv's examlpe: Lviv was occupated by Nazi from June 1941 till July 1944. And on June, 30th the OUN proclaimed the Act of the Ukrainian Independence in Lviv. Nazi's power didn't like such Act and many OUN's members were arrested. Then S. Bandera also was arrested ans was sent into concentration camp in Zassenhaus (Sachsenhausen), East Germany, where he were from July 5th, 1941 till September 27th, 1944. And, yes, S. Bandera is Ukrainian hero, but I suppose that Poles (or their majority) not soon (or probably never) will recognize he as a hero. Because he also fought against Polish occupation of Ukraine.
But it's frequent situation in the world - not very good relations between neighbours: such was and such is. I guess it will be better to consolidate contacts in the political and economical sense with another european and world countries, to not concentrate only on the relations with Russia and Poland as it usually is in the state's power of Ukraine.
And I very hope in the best future in Ukraine.

Unbelievable events are happening in Ukraine: someone unknown blowed up monument to Stalin, soviet dictator, in Zaporizhzhya on December, 31th and today police is arresting members and chieves (15 persons according to "UNIAN") of the patriotic organization "Tryzub" in the different Ukrainian cities. Simple question: why are all that people arresting for the incident in Zaporizhzhya, when they live in the various regions of Ukraine and have just patriotic views in their life? Maybe someone from communists thinks that they all together arrived on the New Year's Eve in Zaporizhzhya to make this explosion? But few days ago the chieves of the organization "Tryzub" have already said about their unknowledge in the question who dynamited Stalin's monument. Some Ukrainian politologists and journalists suppose that this explosion could be organized by the same communists or even by the state's power. Why? "Because" can see nowadays - for arrests' beginning of those citizens, which can be just patriotic. So is cruel dictator Stalin worther for modern power than Ukrainians?...

I finally understood last year the next thing: news' and article's reading quiets me more tnan any shopping. Strange thing for many people, yes, I know it.
But...indeed I very wanted to write one special thread about Christmas and its traditions in Ukraine in this blog. But life did its sad corrections. So I promise You to write it another time.

I wish You very happy New 2011 Year and let dreams come true!

I'll never understand human behaviour in the situation when dictatorship is crossing around the country, arresting the main opponents, and others are just looking at this in the silence and are thinking "it's not mine business". Then I can say "no", it's everyone's business, because any authoritative regime near to dictatorship is dangerous for liberty and free rights of anybody. The position of closed eyes and ears and sitting silently is absolutely wrong people's position. Because at first every authoritative leader-dictator destroys his opponents, the leaders of the opposition to him, and then he makes controled men by him from others citizens of the state. I have already read many biographies of the dictators such as Stalin and Hitler etc. And may tell You that they took the power in their hands in such way - in the way of destruction of their main opposition. But who is a dictator? He's also a man as all people on the Earth, but he becomes a dictator when others keep silent and are afraid to do or to say or even to think something against him. And then he feels like a God that can do anything! It doesn't depend where dictator lives because the common feature of such authoritative men is a wish to rule whole world. That's why nobody in the world may say "it's not mine business" on the 100%.
And it's a very pity that Ukraine borders on the states of two much authoritative regimes in Russia and Belarus. But, of course, now Ukrainian state's regime isn't democratic too. I'm really wonder what will be the future of the nations in these countries. Nowadays the charge of the modern Ukrainian power in the law's breach of Yuliya Tymoshenko, the principal oppositional leader in Ukraine, and the prohibition of her movement abroad is a serious trial for her personally, and for Ukrainian society. It's sorrowful reality when others Ukrainian so-called oppositional leaders from another so-called democratic parties keep silent in this situation. Probably they think "it's not my business". Or even some of them thinks that after Tymoshenko's imprisonment the post of main oppositioner will be vacant and that someone will become a new leader of opposition. No way! Why? Because when this so-called leaders are afraid and silent now, then they'll be just hand screws in the machine of the authoritative power. The positive side of all is an understanding of simple people in Ukraine that it's not a question of sympathy or antipathy to Y. Tymoshenko, but it's a question of the beginning of the mass repressions and dictatorship or not beginning.

Today is the Saint Nicholas' Day in Ukraine - probably the most joyful and fairy holiday after Christmas. Because in the night of December 19th good Saint Nicholas secretly visites all people and gives nice gifts when someone was courteous last year or gives tree's branches, called "rizky" in Ukrainian when somebody was not very courteous. :)
Well, in the IV-th century good priest and then bishop Nicholas indeed brought secret gifts poor people and children, giving out his father's inheritance. And I believe that nowadays he is looking at the deals of his human helpers in the Day of St. Nicholas. Because men just help him to do his wonderful work - to create a tale for everyone.
I remember my childhood and awaking in the morning to see the gifts or "rizky". My St. Nicholas always put me all together. :) But once it was some deficit of rizky in Lviv's shops and good saint gave me only gifts! "Yeah, I was courteous the last year!", such I thought then. But unfortunately I was late for the lesson in the school and what do You think? Yes, I get my rizky in the school. )))
I'm also St. Nicholas' helper now and think about surprises for my small cousins. In general people do that fairy tale in the different ways. Somebody puts the presents near the pillow or in all flat's rooms (because then child will search for presents everywhere). Someone pleases some relative or fellow to be St. Nicholas for their children, dressing the special clothes of saint (few like a priest) and visiting them in the late evening of the 18th or in the early morning of the 19th of December to give the gifts buyed by that "someone" before. Another pleases relative or friend only to ring in the flat's door and to leave presents under the door and quickly go away till children don't see "St. Nicholas".
But that fine holiday is also for the adults, because anybody wants to believe in the tale. And if someone wants to create this tale, for example, for You, let him/her do it. And then maybe You'll want to create something amazing too. Secretly, of course. As real Saint Nicholas. ;)

Yesterday I saw wonderful Italian film "Big dream" on the festival "Week of the Italian cinema" in Lviv. It was film created by Mikele Placido, a famous actor in Ukraine with his role of the policeman Corrado Cattani. So, big dream of the main film's heroes was the revolution as unique way to better changes in their native Italy. The film tells about student's revolution of 1968, organized because of difference in the youth's rights to get education. Dramatic, but nice film, that tells about liberty as the principal people's need. That also tells about trust as the base of human relations. I think it's very actual film about revolitionary activity for present Ukraine.
And You know, I'm for freedom and against any dictatorship. Because every dictator isn't a leader, but the person with many complexes. And all that complexes are hidden in the view of the dictator's power, made with repressions, human deathes, policy of transformation free people into afraid slaves. So any dictator can't be a real leader in the world in the sense of the best changes for our Earth. Only man who respects liberty of anothers and who has people's trust may do something fine.
"Svobodu ne spynyty!"
"Can't stop a freedom!"