This day in history

1876: Alexander II of Russia signs the Ems Ukase banning the use of the Ukrainian language in print, save for the reprinting of old documents, as well as the import of Ukrainian publications and the staging of plays or lectures in Ukrainian.

1924: The Radnarkom of the Ukrainian SSR adopts a decree placing the historic site of Pontic Olbia/Olvia, an Old Greek colony, under go-vernment protection.

1935: The Sovnarkom of the USSR and CC of VKP(B) adopt a decree aimed helping the homeless and parentless children.

1946: Oleg Antonov’s aircraft design bureau is founded in Kyiv.

1967: Taras Shevchenko Opera and Ballet Theater of Kyiv premieres Heorhii Maiboroda’s opera Milana.

1979: Dmitry Shparo (b. 1941, Moscow) leads the first ski expedition from Eurasia to the North Pole, arranged for by the Soviet newspaper Komsomolskaya Pravda.

1989: The International Association for Ukrainian Studies (IAUS) is founded in Naples, Italy.