This week in history

Feb. 12 1921: The Standing Council on the Struggle against Banditry is formed under the Commander of the Armed Forces of Ukraine.

1960: Ukraine’s first experimental nuclear reactor becomes operational.

Feb. 13 1942: Ukrainians start being deported en masse to Germany as slave laborers.

1960: The Council of Ministers of the Ukrainian SSR resolves to organize factory colleges as well as industrial enterprises and workshops at institutions of higher education.

Feb. 14 1574: In Lviv the first printer Ivan Fedorov issues The Apostle, the first book published in the Ukrainian lands.

1919: The Ukrainian National Council passes a law on the use of the Ukrainian language in all government institutions.

Feb. 16 1994: In Almaty officials representing the defense ministries of Ukraine and Kazakhstan sign a communique on expanded contacts between these ministries.

Feb. 17 1919: The Directory approves a declaration to the governments of the Entente and the US, requesting assistance in the struggle against the Bolsheviks.

1943: The third conference of the leadership of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (B) (Bandera faction) begins, recognizing the necessity of a struggle against the USSR and Nazi Germany and categorically condemning any collaboration with the Nazis.

Feb. 18 1966: The first edition of the 17-volume Ukrainian Soviet Encyclopedia comes off the presses.

1972: The Council of Ministers of the USSR adopts a resolution on the organization of Symferopil State University.