This week in history

July 9: 1917. The presidium of the Central Rada was created, headed by Mykhailo Hrushevsky.

1993. The Russian parliament passed a decision according to which Sevastopol was proclaimed a Russian city and major military base of the united Black Sea Navy.

July 10: 1941. The Battle of Smolensk began, the defensive and offensive operations of the Soviet troops being of great importance in frustrating Hitler’s Blitzkrieg.

1994. Leonid Kuchma was elected president of Ukraine.

July 11: 1917. The first meeting of the Small Rada, the Central Rada’s steering committee including representatives of non-Ukrainian communities, took place.

1996. Mass protest actions and strikes began at Ukrainian mines demanding that wage arrears be paid.

July 12: 1941. The USSR and Great Britain signed a treaty on joint action in the war against Germany.

1996. The people’s deputies of Ukraine swore allegiance to the people of Ukraine in accordance with the new Constitution.

July 13: 1923 The Presidium of the Central Executive Committee of the USSR passed a decree On Creating the People’s Commissariat on Military and Naval Affairs.

1935. The Politburo of the Central Committee of the Communist Party (bolshevik) of Ukraine passed a decision On Liquidating the Ukrainian Branch of the Society of Old Bolsheviks.

July 14: 1925 . The Ukrainian National Democratic Association was founded in Lviv.

1927. The Council of People’s Commissars of Ukrainian SSR approved a resolution On Creating Maritime Nature Preserves on the Black and Azov seacoasts.

July 15: 1920. The Kyiv Higher Institute of Public Education (now the Drahomanov Ukrainian State Pedagogical University) was founded. 1944. The Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council was created.