This week in history

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

2004: A poll conducted by the Razumkov Center for Economic and Political Research 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.

Dec. 26 1947: A CP(b)U Central Committee plenum discharges Lazar Kaganovich and elects Nikita Khrushchev its first secretary.

2004: Ukrainian residents come to the electoral districts to elect the President of Ukraine for the third time in two months.

Dec. 27 2004: President Alexander Kwasniewski of Poland praises Viktor Yushchenko for the support and trust he has from the Ukrainian people.

2004: Head of the OSCE ODIHR Election Observation Mission Gert Arens praises the work of election commissions during the runoff voting.

Dec. 28 1920: The Union Treaty on Mutual Recognition of Sovereignty and Independence between Ukrainian and Russian Republics is signed in Moscow.

2004: US Secretary of State Colin Powell declares that the US intends to cooperate closely with the winner of the Ukrainian presidential elections.

Dec. 29 1964: The first turbogenerator of the Kyiv Hydroelectric Plant goes into operation.

2004: The Central Election Commission publishes the final results of 100 percent of the votes, according to which 52 percent of Ukrainian voters voted for Viktor Yushchenko and 44.19 percent-for Viktor Yanukovych.