This week in history

October 26. 1939. The People’s Assembly of Western Ukraine opened, at which it proclaimed Soviet power in Western Ukraine, its entering the Soviet Union, and reunification with the Ukrainian SSR.

1947. The biggest mass deportation of Ukrainians (about 78,000) began in Ukraine’s western regions.

October 27. 1659. Yury Khmelnytsky and the Muscovite government signed a treaty in Pereyaslav, the Pereyaslav Articles, regulating political and legal status of the Cossack Ukraine in the Muscovite state.

1882. The first appearance of the Ukrainian Touring Professional Theater founded by Marko Kropyvnytsky took place in Yelyzavethrad (now Kirovohrad).

October 28. 1920. The counteroffensive of the Southern Front troops began, taking Northern Tavriya from Wrangel.

1996. The Ministry for Emergency Situations was established.

October 29. 1800. The first blast furnace was put into operation at the Luhansk Metallurgical Plant.

1918. Hetman of Ukraine Pavlo Skoropadsky issued a message to Ukrainian people marking the first six months of the existence of the Ukrainian State.

October 30. 1708. Peter I gave a letter to Zaporozhzhian Cossacks promising not to oppress them and inviting Zaporozhzhian senior officers to Hlukhiv for a council to elect a hetman.

1941. The Soviet defense of Sevastopol by its garrison, the Black Sea Fleet, and the Coastal Army began.

October 31. 1995. Ukraine completed fulfillment of its obligations under the Treaty on Conventional Forces in Europe.

1995. Verkhovna Rada passed a law On Joining the Statute of the Council of Europe.

November 1. 1939. The Supreme Soviet of the Ukrainian SSR passed a law On Including Western Ukraine into the USSR and its Reunification with Ukrainian SSR.

1991. Verkhovna Rada ratified its Declaration of the Rights of Nationalities.