This week in history

December 18: 1942. Ukraine’s liberation from the Nazis began with the capture of the village of Pivnivky.

1957. The KPU Central Committee passed a decision on creating a scientific editorial board for preparing and publishing the Ukrainian Soviet Encyclopedia.

December 19: 1919. The All-Ukrainian Revolutionary Committee arrived in Kharkiv, the Ukrainian SSR capital since then until 1934.

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

December 20: 1616. The first dated book was published at the Kyiv Pechersk Monastery’s printing shop.

1995. A Memorandum of Understanding was signed in Ottawa (Canada) between the governments of Ukraine and G7 countries and the Commission of the European Commonwealth on closing the Chornobyl Power Station.

December 21: 1966. The Soviet Union launched Luna-13 [Moon-13] space vehicle, the first to successfully land on the Moon.

1991. A declaration proclaiming the creation of the Community of Independent Countries (CIS) was signed in Alma Ata.

December 22: 1920. The Eighth All-Russian Congress of Soviets took place, approving the State Plan for the Electrification of Russia.

1942. The Presidium of the Supreme Soviet of the USSR founded medals For the Defense of Leningrad, For the Defense of Odesa, For the Defense of Sevastopol, and For the Defense of Stalingrad.

December 23: 1873. The Shevchenko Literary Society, renamed into Shevchenko Scientific Society in 1892, was founded in Lviv.

1917. The first Ukrainian paper money was issued.

December 24: 1924. The Communist International passed a decision to dissolve the (opposition) Ukrainian Communist Party (Ukapisty).

1982. The maiden flight of AN-24 Ruslan transport plane took place.