This week in history

Dec. 19 1990: Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice registers the Organization of Soldiers’ Mothers.

2004: President Leonid Kuchma of Ukraine endorses amendments to the Law “On Presidential Elections.”

Dec. 20 1616: The printing house of the Kyivan Cave Monastery publishes the first dated book.

2004: Presidential candidates Viktor Yushchenko and Viktor Yanukovych face off in a second televised debate.

Dec. 21 1944: The Relief Council for the Western Oblasts is set up as part of the Soviet Ukrainian government.

2004: Members of the Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine vote down a draft resolution allowing all physically handicapped citizens to cast their ballots at home, their degree of disability notwithstanding.

Dec. 22 1917: Soviet rule is established in Kharkiv.

2004: Tens of thousands of people participate in the rally “Yes to Fair Elections” on the Maidan, marking one month since the beginning of the Orange Revolution.

Dec. 23 2004: Ukraine’s parliament adopts the entire 2005 budget bill.

2004: A poll conducted by the Razumkov Center for Economic and Political Studies indicates that 39.4 percent of Ukrainian citizens regard Viktor Yushchenko as Politician of the Year, and 27 percent — Viktor Yanukovych.

Dec. 24 1941: The Kyiv branch of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) launches an underground struggle against the Nazis.

2004: The Polish weekly Wprost proclaims Viktor Yushchenko “Man of the Year 2004” for “making the greatest possible impact on our realities” while awakening public consciousness in Ukraine.

Dec. 25 1941: The Kerch-Feodosia landing operation is launched by the Soviet army to clear the Kerch Peninsula of the enemy.

1992: Ukraine’s Ministry of Justice registers the Memorial human rights society.