This week in history

March 18: 1913. The Ukrainian Sichovi Striltsi military organization was created in Lviv based on the Sich and Sokoly [Falcons] young men’s organizations.

1917. The first Ukrainian gymnasium was opened in Kyiv with renowned Ukrainian pedagogue P. Kholodny as its director.

March 19: 1917. By the initiative of the Central Rada first Ukrainian Holiday of Freedom was held, electing the first Ukrainian Viche.

1996. The first oil products auction took place in the Ukrainian Agrarian Stock Exchange.

March 20: 1944. In the course of the Proskurivka-Chernivtsy operation the Soviet troops of the First Ukrainian Front took Vinnytsia and forced a crossing over the South Buh.

1992. The foreign ministers of Ukraine and Armenia signed a Protocol on Cooperation in Kyiv.

March 21: 1927. The first issue of the Literaturna hazeta [Literary Gazette] (Literaturna Ukrayina [Literary Ukraine] since 1962) was published.

1982. US President Ronald Reagan signed a proclamation On the Day of Ukrainian Helsinki Group, the first US presidential act dealing exclusively with Ukraine.

March 22: 1978. The Ukrainian Helsinki Group Information Bulletin began underground publication.

1994. The Banknote Factory of the National Bank of Ukraine (Ukrainian Money Factory) was opened in Kyiv.

March 23: 1993. The Ministry of Justice of Ukraine registered the State Sovereignty of Ukraine all-Ukrainian political union.

1994. A Charter on Partnership and Cooperation was signed in Brussels between Ukraine and the European Union.

March 24: 1935. A monument to Taras Shevchenko by sculptor Matviy Manizer was unveiled in Kharkiv.

1980. The Ukrainian Catholic Church Synod opened in Rome, electing Bishop Myroslav Liubachivsky successor to Cardinal Yosyp Slipy as Metropolitan of the Ukrainian Catholic Church.