This week in history

December 16. 1917. Russia’s Council of People’s Commissars issued a Manifesto to the Ukrainian People and an Ultimatum to the Ukrainian Central Rada stating Russia would declare war on Ukraine unless the latter accepted the demands within 48 hours.

1922. The All-Ukrainian Central Executive Committee resolved to establish the Supreme Court of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic.

December 17. 1897. The first steam engine was produced at the Kharkiv Steam-Locomotive Building Plant.

1917. The All-Ukrainian Congress of Workers, Soldiers, and Peasants’ Deputies started its work, supporting the Ukrainian Central Rada.

December 18. 1942. Ukraine’s liberation from Nazi Germany began when the village of Pivnivka was taken.

1957. The CPU Central Committee and Council of Ministers of Ukrainian SSR passed a resolution On Creating a Special Scholarly Editorial Board for Preparing and Publishing the Ukrainian Soviet Encyclopedia.

December 19. 1959. The Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR approved a decision On Establishing the Yaroslav Halan Memorial Museum in Lviv.

1990. The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine registered the Organization of Soldiers’ Mothers of Ukraine.

December 20. 1616. The first dated book was published in the Kyiv Pechersk printing shop.

1906. Taras Shevchenko’s Kobzar was first published in Russian.

December 21. 1944. The Council to Assist the Western Oblasts was founded as a part of the government of Ukrainian SSR.

1991. A declaration of CIS member states was ratified in Almaty.

December 22. 1917. Soviet power was established in Kharkiv.

1972. The Bila Tserkva Tire and General Mechanical Rubber Goods Plant was put into operation.