Pavel Litvinov is a former Soviet dissident and human rights activist who played a key role in protesting state repression in the U.S.S.R. 
he was among the eight protesters who staged a rare demonstration on Red Square against the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia
which lasted only a few minutes before KGB agents arrested the participants
Livinov was sentenced to five years of internal exile
Coming from an elite political family — his grandfather
was Josef Stalin’s foreign minister in the 1930s — he remained a vocal critic of Soviet policies until the country’s dissolution
where he continued his advocacy for human rights. 
the 84-year-old retired math and physics teacher closely follows global events. 
The Moscow Times spoke with him about freedom of speech in modern Russia
including Donald Trump’s decision to dismantle Voice of America — a media outlet the Soviet dissident viewed as one of the few uncensored sources of information
This speech has been edited for length and clarity
“The closure of VOA is a small detail in what the Trump administration and Trump himself are doing right now
VOA has been one of the most important sources of information and commentary throughout my life
Deutsche Welle and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty
These were all sources of information that came from abroad — foreign radio or
people don’t listen to foreign radio — they don’t need foreign media
people usually read only American newspapers
there was essentially just one newspaper and one radio station
they had different names — like Pravda
But they were all controlled by the same source: the Communist Party
which trained Soviet journalists and editors on what could and could not be reported
we knew we were hearing something that was not approved by the government
And that was almost the only free source of information because the main source — the official press — was censored
There were special people who read every book before publication
these ‘hostile voices’ were jammed by the Soviet authorities
They would broadcast noise over the same frequency or play a Soviet program at a higher volume to drown it out
The fact that we managed to listen to it was almost a miracle
we would leave the city to listen because jamming was stronger in Moscow
That radio gave us life. We became familiar with [<a href="https://www.nobelprize.org/prizes/literature/1970/summary/">Nobel Laureate</a> and Russian writer Alexander] Solzhenitsyn&rsquo;s work when he was already banned in the Soviet Union because it was broadcast by VOA
whom we loved &mdash; his unforgettable voice
When I joined the demonstration on Red Square in 1968 against the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia
That was when the jamming resumed &mdash; something we hadn&rsquo;t seen in years in that time
they turned the jamming back on and it didn&rsquo;t stop until the end of the Soviet Union
And the fact that America no longer needs VOA only proves that
Press freedom is what distinguishes a free state from an unfree one
senseless war against Ukraine &mdash; a war Moscow started for no reason
The official press cannot remain completely silent about what&rsquo;s happening
Freedom &mdash; whether in Russia or in America &mdash; depends on knowing something beyond the official narrative
American presidents have never liked critical press &mdash; no one likes being harshly criticized
But they have rarely tried to ban it.&nbsp;
A free press is life and it must be fought for.&nbsp;
I have fought for it all my life and believe that nothing is more important.&rdquo;
Russia's Prosecutor General's Office has designated The Moscow Times as an "undesirable" organization
criminalizing our work and putting our staff at risk of prosecution
This follows our earlier unjust labeling as a "foreign agent."
These actions are direct attempts to silence independent journalism in Russia
The authorities claim our work "discredits the decisions of the Russian leadership." We see things differently: we strive to provide accurate
We, the journalists of The Moscow Times, refuse to be silenced. But to continue our work, <a href="https://www.themoscowtimes.com/contribute?utm_source=contribute&utm_medium=article" title="we need your help">we need your help</a>
please support us monthly starting from just $2
and every contribution makes a significant impact
independent journalism in the face of repression
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The study of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) variability at the level of whole mitogenomes has significant implications for the fields of human evolution and population genetics
we present the results of a study of the complete mtDNA variability in Belarusians from the southeastern part of the Republic of Belarus
It was found that Southeast Belarusians are characterized by a high diversity of mitochondrial genomes
The analysis of genetic distances between European populations showed significant differences between the studied Belarusian sample from the bulk of East European populations
The results of the phylogeographic analysis indicated the presence of the West Asian component (12.6%) in the Belarusian mitochondrial gene pool
which can account for the observed genetic differences between Belarusians and other Eastern Slavs (Russians and Ukrainians)
The East Asian component of the mitochondrial gene pool of the studied group of Belarusians is represented by haplogroup C5c1a (2.3%)
The results of the phylogeographic analysis indicated that this mtDNA subclade is predominantly present in the gene pools of Slavic peoples
The evolutionary age of haplogroup C5c1a is ~4000 years and
the appearance of C5c1-haplotypes in the eastern regions of Europe may be linked to the migrations of the Caspian steppe populations to the west during the Bronze Age
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Tsybovsky for providing samples for this study
Institute of Biological Problems of the North
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2024 at 4:16 AM ESTBookmarkSaveThe flow of Russian crude oil via the Druzhba pipeline into the Czech Republic has restarted
“The supplies have been restored this morning and crude oil from the Druzhba pipeline is flowing into the Czech Republic normally,” Orlen Unipetrol
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Telly Award winner Boris Litvinov joins ad agency Left Off Madison as president
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the last being an eSports FIFAe World Cup 2023 competition
for the World Weightlifting Championships (WWC) which began on Sunday
The WWC will be part of the qualifiers for the Olympic Games in Paris
which the Israeli team of two men and two women are hoping to enter
David Litvinov will compete in the over 109 kg category
Arthur Mogordomov for the up to 102 kg category
Both Nicole Bella Rubanovich and Celia Gold will be competing in the up to 71 kg category
<a class="Link_link__72PFA Link_inline__NFcHM" href="https://x.com/i/web/status/1698394672194789633" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://x.com/i/web/status/1698394672194789633</a>
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"It's really a great honor for us to have this opportunity
it's a victory over politics,” Litvinov expressed his enthusiasm during an interview with Kan
Israeli Weightlifting Federation CEO Pavel Kolosovsky also stressed the importance of the event
saying "it's a very important day for us and we also intend to make history during the competition."
<a class="Link_link__72PFA Link_inline__NFcHM" href="https://x.com/i/web/status/1698652114241646941" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">https://x.com/i/web/status/1698652114241646941</a>
Security issues were carefully addressed in collaboration with the local authorities
According to the Israeli Weightlifting Federation head there has been no opposition from the Saudis
we exchange information every day to enable our delegation to arrive and depart safely,” Kolosovsky said
the competition will be very tough," Litvinov confided to Kan
"Our main goal is to meet the Olympic criteria
It would be fantastic if one of our athletes achieves this at this next competition."
This was the second time Israeli athletes entered Saudi Arabia, the last being an eSports tournament for the <a data-is="component-link" href="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/sport/1688882028-israeli-gamers-competing-in-saudi-arabia-for-fifae-club-world-cup-bring-big-hope" title="https://www.i24news.tv/en/news/middle-east/sport/1688882028-israeli-gamers-competing-in-saudi-arabia-for-fifae-club-world-cup-bring-big-hope" target="" class="link">FIFAe World Cup 2023</a>
and comes amid increased efforts for a normalization agreement between the two Middle Eastern countries
Everyone has something they fear on a deep level. It could be a simple fear of spiders, or something intense <a href="https://www.verywellmind.com/fear-of-vulnerability-2671820">like abandonment or vulnerability</a>
But our fears let us know what to avoid in order to prevent a dangerous or unpleasant situation
but there is usually a reason why they exist
And acknowledging that you have certain fears or worries is the first step in overcoming them
Aries is most afraid of being conquered. This powerful zodiac is constantly looking for dynamic relationships, but it scares them to give up control. <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2020338197/what-makes-aries-happy-astrology-zodiac-sign">Aries enjoys always being on top of things</a>
so being overcome by any other influential force or person frightens them
RELATED: <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2018313173/astrology-facts-misconceptions-about-aries-zodiac-signs">3 Facts (And Common Misconceptions) About Aries You Should Know</a>
Taurus is known for being relentless and strong, but their biggest fear is being defenseless. They are afraid of having nowhere to run to and having no means of protecting themselves. Because <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2021342429/why-are-taurus-so-hard-love">Taurus is so stubborn and uncompromising</a>
it scares them to give up their power in any way
RELATED: <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2017307082/ultimate-taurus-compatibility-guide-understanding-love-and-relationships">What Taurus Is Like In Relationships</a>
This gentle zodiac sign is in constant need of affection and action
but hates being confined to anything specific
RELATED: <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/gemini-friendship-compatibility">Gemini Friendship Compatibility With All Zodiac Signs</a>
Cancer’s biggest fear is being exposed and having their deepest secrets coming to the surface. Though they don’t have anything to hide, they are frightened of having to lay their personality bare. <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2020337654/why-are-cancers-so-moody">It scares Cancer</a> to think that one day someone will figure them out completely
RELATED: <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2020338621/best-cancer-memes-describe-this-zodiac-sign">50 Best Cancer Memes That Describe This Zodiac Sign</a>
<a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2020338288/what-makes-leo-annoying-zodiac-sign-astrology">Leo loves to be at the center of attention</a> and in the spotlight
But their biggest fear is being humiliated
Leo can’t stand the thought of getting the wrong kind of attention
especially if it means losing the positive reputation they have built
RELATED: <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2016298059/horoscope-personality-traits-leo-women-zodiac-signs-astrology">The One-Of-A-Kind Traits Of A Leo Woman In Life And Love</a>
Virgo pays very close attention to details; they are meticulous and careful, <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2020338143/what-makes-virgo-happy-astrology-zodiac-signs">sure to do everything the correct way</a>
They don’t want to make any mistakes or do anything that’s less than perfect
RELATED: <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2018310079/personality-traits-virgo-zodiac-sign-astrology-horoscope">20 Best And Worst Virgo Personality Traits</a>
Libra is most afraid of being misrepresented. <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2020337308/why-libra-so-powerful">They care for their public image</a> and want others to see them as the loyal
It would be absolutely devastating for Libra if their reputation were to be destroyed somehow
RELATED: <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2018315887/dark-side-libra-zodiac-sign-personality-traits-astrology">Libra Dark Side: Bad &amp; Negative Traits Of The Libra Zodiac Sign</a>
<a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2017308727/scorpio-zodiac-sign-horoscope-dates-personality-traits-and-astrology-sign-compatibility">Scorpio loves honesty and values friends</a> who are loyal
That’s why Scorpio’s biggest fear is being betrayed
They just can't stand the idea that someone close to them would suddenly turn against them
RELATED: <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/scorpio-decans">Scorpio Decans: The 3 Different Types Of Scorpio Personalities</a>
Sagittarius loves to explore and seek out adventures, constantly going to new places for new experiences. They believe that one should always live life to the fullest, so their biggest fear is being suffocated or trapped. <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2018315279/what-is-the-dark-side-sagittarius-personality-traits-astrology">Sagittarius doesn’t want to be stuck</a> in the same place doing something that leaves them with no freedom
RELATED: <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/sagittarius-friendship">Sagittarius Friendship Style And Best Friend Compatibility</a>
Capricorns are known to judge others silently while staying in complete control of their own actions. But their biggest fear is failure. <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2017306790/capricorn-zodiac-sign-guide-horoscope-dates-personality-traits-astrological-sign">Capricorn is responsible, disciplined</a>
and has very high standards for themselves
so if they are unable to finish a task completely
RELATED: <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/capricorn-enemies">4 Zodiac Signs Who Are Capricorn's Worst Enemies</a>
Aquarius has a deep fear of being imitated. <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2020333846/why-aquarius-is-so-weird-astrology-horoscopes">This zodiac sign is one-of-a-kind</a> and extremely individualistic
so it scares them to think there might be someone masquerading as them
Aquarius’ individuality is such a large part of their personality
RELATED: <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2019329342/8-reasons-why-aquarius-zodiac-signs-best-friend-astology">What It's Like To Have Aquarius As A Friend</a>
<a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2017306884/pisces-zodiac-sign-guide-horoscope-dates-personality-traits-astrological-sign">Pisces is a sensitive soul</a> who enjoys having close emotional bonds with others
That’s why their biggest fear is being flat-out rejected
Pisces wants other people to accept them for who they are
and are afraid of other people seeing them and immediately turning them down
RELATED: <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/pisces-decans">Pisces Decans: The 3 Different Types Of Pisces Personalities</a>
Helen Luc is a Los Angeles-based freelance writer and journalist whose work has appeared in Bustle, Los Angeles Times, YourTango, and Chegg. Her writing focuses on mental health, astrology, and relationships.
© 2025 by Tango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved.
Dmytro Litvinov joined the Norwegian National Ballet in the autumn of 2024, after one year with the Norwegian National Ballet 2 (NNB2). With NNB2, he danced in works as Balanchine&rsquo;s Allegro Brillante, Nacho Duato&rsquo;s Remanso and Le&oacute;n and Lightfoot&rsquo;s Step Lightly.&nbsp;
Ukrainian Litvinov (b. 2004) has his education from the Tanz Akademie in Zurich. Among the major productions he was a part of during his time in Zurich, are How I Know You by Leo Mujić, Rendezvous hint den Kulissen by Maged Mohamed, and Core by Francesco Annarumma.&nbsp;
is associate professor of history at Brooklyn College. She is the author of <a href="https://utorontopress.com/us/new-soviet-gypsies-3" rel="">New Soviet Gypsies: Nationality, Performance, and Selfhood in the Early Soviet Union</a> (2013) and <a href="https://www.bloomsbury.com/in/esperanto-and-languages-of-internationalism-in-revolutionary-russia-9781350160668/" rel="">Esperanto and Languages of Internationalism in Revolutionary Russia</a> (forthcoming in 2021)
Edited by<a href="/users/samhaselby" class="sc-2e8621ab-1 hUSbLR">Sam Haselby</a>
Save<a class="inline-flex bg-grey-light-bg p-5 text-center font-mono text-grey-mid text-xs leading-relaxed tracking-widest duration-200 hover:bg-black hover:text-white" href="/syndication?article_slug=the-peoples-ambassadress-the-forgotten-diplomacy-of-ivy-litvinov&amp;article_name=Madame comrade&amp;author=Brigid O’Keeffe&amp;date=29 March 2021">SYNDICATE THIS ESSAY</a>EmailSavePostShareIn late 1941
the society pages of American newspapers alighted with news of the newest power couple in Washington
Maxim Litvinov – Stalin’s commissar of foreign affairs in the 1930s – was already known to Americans as the affable Old Bolshevik who’d paved the way for the United States to formally recognise the Soviet Union in 1933
Now he was back in DC as the Soviet Union’s wartime ambassador to the US
Reporters marvelled at the dowdiness of Ivy’s dresses
the pair’s shabby clothes represented the challenges facing the embattled Soviet Union
East Coast socialites and powerbrokers eagerly welcomed the Litvinovs as ‘exotic’ emissaries of a Soviet reality that
was at once unimaginable and in need of translation
The couple became overnight celebrities as ‘invitations piled up like a snowfall at the embassy’s front door’
Into this American spotlight stepped Ivy Litvinov
ready to shine in her unofficial diplomatic role as the Soviet ambassador’s wife
She had prepared for this moment in the previous two decades
when her Moscow apartment had served as a receiving room for foreign visitors to the USSR eager for the type of conversation that only Ivy could provide
she occupied a unique and precarious position in the Soviet capital
she had welcomed Anglophone visitors to her table for tea and lively conversation in her native tongue
Madame Litvinoff took on an outsized role in Soviet diplomacy precisely because she could speak fluently to those visitors in their own language
empathy and witty ripostes to Anglophone guests to the USSR who often entered her living room in a state of culture shock
she was ready not only to reprise her role as the Soviet Union’s English-speaking hostess
but also to chase her full potential as a Hollywood-style celebrity in the land of American capitalism
She set out to make ‘Madame Litvinoff’ a household name
While Maxim tended his ambassadorial duties
she might have spoken in English on behalf of the Soviet Union
but it was always in her own distinctive voice
Yet Ivy Litvinov still speaks meaningfully to us today – about women and power
and the creative ways that the spouses of prominent politicians have found to assert themselves on the world stage
Madame Litvinoff promoted better relations between the Soviet Union and its Anglophone admirers and critics alike
Dismissed to the margins of history with the insufficient descriptor – ‘British-born wife of Maxim’ – Ivy and her thankless ‘women’s work’ both deserve history’s spotlight
While he debated Marxist theory with comrades
Ivy made no apology for her admitted ‘petit-bourgeois’ outlook and urged him to read the novels of Jane Austen
Maxim handed her a copy of The Intelligent Woman’s Guide to Socialism and Capitalism (1928) by George Bernard Shaw
adding the caveat that ‘he doesn’t know much about it
Ivy and Maxim rambled the English countryside
Maxim had warned Ivy that ‘when the drum of revolution calls me I shall follow it
socialist revolution in Russia was as unimaginable as the prospect of her and Maxim separating in its wake
While she tended to the couple’s growing family – they had a boy and girl – Maxim tended to socialist revolution in his homeland
The promises the couple had once whispered to one another surely now rang in Ivy’s ears
Maxim was sent back from London to Moscow in a prisoner-exchange that the British government negotiated with the new Bolshevik regime
Ivy and the couple’s two young children joined him in Moscow in 1923
Ivy felt out of place and out of sync with the Bolsheviks’ revolutionary tempo
She spoke few words of Russian and admittedly cared even less to understand the socialist revolution to which her husband had dedicated his life
The British artist Clare Sheridan remarked in surprise upon meeting Ivy that she ‘did not seem to be very political or revolutionary’
Ivy Litvinov did stick out like a sore thumb among the foreigners who sojourned to the early Soviet Union
She was unrepentantly bourgeois and had travelled to the USSR with one goal in mind: to keep her family together
The socialist revolution to which her husband had devoted his life neither interested nor appealed to her
She shared little in common with the thousands of enthusiastic foreign Leftists who travelled to the Soviet Union in the interwar period intent on helping to build socialism and to ignite worldwide proletarian revolution
As the 20th-century mecca of socialist revolution
Moscow shone as a red beacon of a better world to come
one that would be built by proletarian hands
socialists travelled to the cosmopolitan headquarters of Bolshevism and brought with them their revolutionary dreams as well as the individual hopes they pinned to the Soviet star that promised to guide them
Many women and men who moved to the Soviet Union in these years did so with the intention of seeing the revolution through to its triumphant conclusion
translators and spies for the Communist International (Comintern)
Others took up work in Soviet factories or in the fields of the new collective farms
Some married Soviet citizens and started families
They left behind their old worlds and built new lives for themselves in the Soviet Union
scores of other foreigners arrived on Soviet soil as tourists eager to see the revolution with their own eyes
Among the thousands of foreign tourists who travelled to the USSR in these years were fellow travellers who wanted to catch a glimpse of a heroic future that they hoped might one day belong to them too
Yet many sceptics also travelled to the Soviet Union – they wanted to witness firsthand a revolution that ideologically repulsed and frightened them
workers and cultural critics – people from all walks of life arrived in Moscow and Leningrad during these years as tourists to the land of the socialist future
Ivy Litvinov was thus one of many foreigners trying to make her way in the early Soviet Union
Yet hers was a singular experience of expat life in the USSR
It was only love and marriage – a personal rather than ideological attachment – that had brought her to there
she scarcely could have imagined that her husband would in the 1930s emerge as the top diplomat of the world’s first workers’ state
Ivy’s private papers reveal the profound loneliness she felt once flung into this unexpected Soviet life of hers
she soon found her feet in her role as the wife of a Soviet ambassador
artist or journalist who visited the Soviet Union in the late 1920s and ’30s
While Ivy’s charismatic personality charmed most of her Anglophone guests all on its own
there was no underestimating the unexpected joy of entering her home and speaking freely
Ivy soothed them with casual conversation and offered them respite from the bewilderment and estrangement they typically felt in Soviet company
The Kremlin relied on Madame Litvinoff to deploy her English in the service of nurturing the Soviet Union’s beneficial relationships with prominent Anglophone visitors
the American comedian Harpo Marx arrived in Moscow to entertain Soviets on a goodwill comedy tour
His trip coincided with the announcement of the belated recognition by the US of the Soviet Union – a negotiation brokered by Maxim Litvinov and Franklin Delano Roosevelt
Harpo Marx was overcome with apparent culture shock
His English-speaking Soviet guide was humourless and terse
The comedian’s efforts to converse with Soviets fell flat
‘The Russians didn’t understand me and I didn’t understand them,’ Marx later recalled
he angrily announced that he was calling off his tour
He heard a mellifluous voice on the line speaking to him in English – finally
calling to reassure Marx and salvage his goodwill tour
his tour in the Soviet Union didn’t seem so hopeless
‘the whole complexion of Russia seemed to change
It didn’t look so grey anymore.’ For the remainder of his journey
he was greeted by rapturous crowds of Soviets who laughed at his routines
he felt foolish for having wanted to make an abrupt return home to the US
Emlen Evers was 20 years old when she accompanied her father Joseph Davies to Moscow when he assumed the post of the US ambassador to the Soviet Union in 1937
She didn’t speak Russian – at least not yet – and soon confronted how lonely it could be as a young person living in the American embassy compound in Moscow
Upon first meeting Ivy at the Litvinovs’ apartment
Evers wrote that ‘she appears typically Russian until she speaks in very British English and then one is reminded that she was born in England … She is very gracious and makes one feel at ease immediately.’ Subsequent teas only further endeared Evers to Ivy
‘It is so nice to be able to speak English,’ she confessed in another diary entry
Evers wrote of a tiresome tea at the Turkish embassy where she and her hosts attempted to carry out a conversation with the aid of an interpreter
‘After a half an hour nothing seemed important enough to say,’ Evers sighed
Fulfilling one’s social obligations as the US ambassador’s daughter in Moscow was so much easier and more pleasant at Ivy Litvinov’s
‘She is English born,’ she explained to her mother
While Ivy might have sometimes begrudged her hostess duties on behalf of the Commissariat of Foreign Affairs
Even tiresome foreign visitors were known to bring her gifts – desirable consumer goods not easily found in the USSR
Vanity Fair celebrated Ivy Litvinov as the ‘unofficial hostess of the Soviet Union’ who ‘befriended many Americans confused by a new regime’
Ivy’s role as Soviet hostess for Anglophone artists
intellectuals and dignitaries gave her the opportunity to fashion herself as a cosmopolitan intellectual in her own right – a budding celebrity on the global arts scene
It enabled her to position herself as an English writer improbably marooned in the Soviet Union
Ivy embraced the curiosity of her position and sought to capitalise on it in the transnational arts scene of the interwar years
Ivy wrote to Mabel Dodge Luhan – an arts patron in the US whom she had never met in person but whose book she had recently devoured
She wrote too of the impossibility of ever visiting Luhan in person to discuss their shared literary interests
because of visas and politics and non-money-for-the-fare
I’ve got to stay in Russia – and like it.’ Ivy urged Luhan to consider a visit to the USSR
If Ivy was already feeling despondent in 1932 about her diminishing prospects for travel abroad
the remainder of the decade brought only greater worries as each year passed
she was no longer permitted to take trips home to England
Stalinist xenophobia rolled through Moscow like merciless storm clouds
the Litvinovs lived in abject fear – especially after Maxim’s humiliating dismissal from the post of commissar of foreign affairs in 1939
Maxim and Ivy were perhaps more surprised than anyone that they’d managed to survive the late-Stalinist 1930s without suffering arrest or execution
Some have surmised that the couple’s international renown might have been what spared them the fate suffered by many of Maxim’s Old Bolshevik comrades and their families during these dreadful years
A new life and new possibilities beckoned the Litvinovs at the USSR’s darkest hour
In the wake of the apocalyptic Nazi invasion of the Soviet Union in 1941
Stalin appointed Maxim as ambassador to the US – a needed ally at a desperate moment for the Soviet Union and the world
Maxim had won over Americans once before – not least with his jovial wit
delivered in English spoken with a thick Russian accent
Maxim and Ivy arrived on US soil on the eve of the Pearl Harbor attack
The Soviet Union and the US eyed one another warily
but came together in an uneasy wartime alliance
The Litvinovs helped to bolster this alliance immediately upon their arrival
As Life magazine reported in February 1942
the couple was given a lavish welcome reception by Joseph Davies and his heiress wife Marjorie Merriweather Post ‘with Champagne
The party snarled traffic as everybody who was anybody sought entrance to the soon-to-be legendary gala event
‘All was glamour and gaiety,’ wrote one American reporter
surmising that ‘probably no foreign ambassador ever has been so magnificently greeted’
Maxim and Ivy appeared at ease as they hobnobbed with American powerbrokers and socialites
and the party ensured that they were the talk of the town
Ivy soon sat for interviews and photo sessions
Her name was top billing at charity events for Russian War Relief
while Maxim ‘was the man responsible for putting Soviet Russia and the US back on speaking terms again’
it was Ivy who was now ‘winning the friends and influencing a great many people’
intelligent lady’ whose warmth transformed the Soviet embassy in Washington
She was admired for her ‘complete lack of chichi’
Ivy emerged on the Washington scene as a people’s ambassadress – a trusted voice who could speak plainly about Soviet life and translate its realities to the American people
She appealed to Americans with her no-nonsense banter and quick wit
but instead Madame Litvinoff – a brash but winning personality whose honest opinions rolled off her tongue in melodic British English
She was celebrated as ‘a lady who would give a straight answer to a fair question’ – even when she delivered unwelcome criticisms of American life
she and Harpo Marx drank Champagne in honour of the Soviet victory in Stalingrad
insisting that the Soviet Union offered Americans an edifying example of ‘a successful solution of racial problems’
there were ‘no segregated districts or schools and the idea of places of entertainment to which certain races could not find access would simply not be understood there.’ Her children
played happily with their classmates who represented the diversity of the multiethnic Soviet Union
‘I cannot feel that racial minorities in the USA have as yet won the fair treatment which racial minority groups enjoy in the USSR,’ she said
Ivy might have spoken to Americans in their shared language
but she wasn’t going to tell them only what they wanted to hear
when Ivy Litvinov’s confessed ‘bourgeois’ mindset flamboyantly revealed itself
Her fondness for life in the US was apparent
She travelled to California on the dime of Warner Brothers and shopped the rights to her pulp novel Moscow Mystery with film executives
Moscow announced that Maxim was removed from his post as ambassador to the US
Ivy stayed behind for several months to conduct her own private farewell tour
she recited for reporters a laundry list of the American consumer goods she was eager to deliver into the hands of her family: vitamins
books and a ‘toy American tank for her grandson’
When pressed to discuss diplomatic relations
Ivy generalised that ‘I think America and Russia should be nearer and nearer as time goes on.’ When asked if she’d miss anything about the US or its ‘political philosophy’
Ivy replied that she would miss ‘the gadgets’
Ivy’s sadness at saying goodbye to her life in the US was difficult to disguise
she was returning to a certain loneliness she’d known for decades as an oddly positioned Soviet outsider living in the Kremlin’s shadow
She was going to miss much more than American consumer goods
she wrote despairingly of her imminent departure from the US: ‘It is the end of life for me
Ivy’s sadness at departing the US went still deeper
she and Maxim had considered defecting to the US
Yet abandoning the Soviet Union would have meant abandoning their children and grandchildren too
the Litvinovs returned to the devastated Soviet Union and attempted to rebuild their lives there
Maxim was shuffled into a quiet retirement
He was officially dismissed from his last post in 1946
leaving Western observers to mourn his departure from the diplomatic scene
‘The world will miss Maxim Litvinoff,’ one American newspaper opined
‘It will miss not only the friends he made for Russia
but also the temperate and compromising influence he always strove to exert on his diplomatic colleagues.’ Though it went unremarked in the Western press
had been retired from her unofficial role as the Soviet Union’s English-speaking hostess
Ivy’s world in Moscow narrowed considerably
she still received Western visitors whom she’d first invited into her Moscow home decades before
at the height of Maxim’s diplomatic career
many of which were published in her favourite American publication
She cultivated a deep friendship with her editor at the magazine
as the two women traded professional and personal news in letters that travelled across the Iron Curtain
an ageing Ivy frequently begged for more letters – from MacKenzie and from her American friends from the olden days
Ivy’s longtime friends in the West sensed in her missives a worsening isolation
a desperation to connect with those who spoke her language
Ivy thrilled at epistolary exchange and despaired at an empty mailbox
She yearned for news from friends abroad – people who felt to her a world away
did Ivy Litvinov make a return home to England for good
taking with her suitcases stuffed with her personal papers and manuscript drafts
She had returned at last to her own homeland – to the life of ‘English talk
English writing’ for which she’d longed for so many years
one spent largely in a modest apartment in the English seaside town of Hove
She died of complications of a heart attack in April 1977
When Stalin’s Soviet Union most needed to be able to find a common language with the Anglophone West
it time and again turned – somewhat warily
As the Soviet Union’s unofficial English-speaking hostess
cracked jokes and frequently revealed her own bourgeois sensibilities
symbolising for them the possibility of friendlier relations with the Soviet Union
With her disarming personality and unmistakable British accent
Madame Litvinoff humanised the USSR and reassured her English-speaking guests and audiences
Her husband Maxim is rightly remembered as one of the most consequential diplomats of the 20th century
Yet Ivy Litvinov also played a diplomatic role of considerable significance – one that has been too easily forgotten
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<a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/">Pro Hockey Rumors</a>
August 5, 2024 at 9:35 am CDT | by <a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/author/jpepdx" class="entry-author-link" itemprop="url" rel="author">Josh Erickson</a> <a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/08/jared-mcisaac-signs-with-czech-team.html#comments">1 Comment</a> 
Free agent defenseman <a target="_blank" href="https://www.eliteprospects.com/player/266786/jared-mcisaac">Jared McIsaac</a> has signed with Czech club HC Litvinov after spending the last six years in the Red Wings organization, <a target="_blank" href="https://hcverva.cz/article/11594">according to an official release</a>
was a second-round pick of the Wings back in 2018 but never got the chance to make his NHL debut
The high-end passing threat battled injuries for a good chunk of his time with Detroit and spent most of his four professional seasons to date playing for their AHL affiliate in Grand Rapids
McIsaac&#8217;s tenure in Switzerland was unremarkable
He appeared in just three regular-season games and one playoff game for the club
averaging bottom-pairing minutes and going without a point
When Ambri-Piotta&#8217;s season ended in March
Detroit loaned him out to the Providence Bruins
McIsaac again struggled with just two assists in 10 combined regular-season and playoff games
it wasn&#8217;t surprising to see the Red Wings non-tender McIsaac when his contract expired this offseason
It&#8217;s not that he hasn&#8217;t shown upside at the professional level
He did have two seasons of 20-plus points with Grand Rapids in 2021-22 and 2022-23 and looked like he may still have some sort of NHL future
but things just didn&#8217;t work out for the former QMJHL All-Star and Defensive Rookie of the Year
<a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/czech-extraliga">Czech Extraliga</a>| <a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/transactions">Transactions</a> <a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/players/jared-mcisaac" rel="tag">Jared McIsaac</a>
<a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/08/jared-mcisaac-signs-with-czech-team.html#comment-120168" class="comment-time-link" itemprop="url" title="August 5, 2024 at 11:48 am" data-fv-time="1722876488">9 months ago</a>
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Viktor Fainberg (right) with Pavel Litvinov (centre) and Tatiana Bayeva (left)
Soviet dissidents who protested in Red Square
Moscow in 1968 (CTK Photo/Vit Simanek/Alamy Stock Photo)
he fills the space in his compact living room in the suburban New York City garden apartment he shares with his wife
It was on 21 August 1968 that Soviet troops invaded Czechoslovakia
demolishing the “socialism with a human face” of its leader
with seven comrades – including the group’s organiser
poet Natalya Gorbanevskaya (and her baby in a pram) – met in Moscow’s Red Square to unfurl a banner that turned out to be life-changing
Its message was plain: “Hands off the CSSR [Czechoslovak Socialist Republic].” Within minutes
the KGB arrived to forcibly take them away to camps or psychiatric hospitals
was arrested and sent to internal exile in a Siberian mining town for five years with his then wife
“I was in prison for several months and then in exile and had to work in the mines
I couldn’t leave the village; I couldn’t get permission to travel,” Litvinov said
I had a very strong feeling of what is fair and unfair
and that people have to treat each other gently and with respect.”
The Litvinov family was well known in both dissident and Soviet ruling circles
once Joseph Stalin’s people’s commissar for foreign affairs until he was deposed in 1939 because
he became an obstacle to warmer ties with Adolf Hitler
“I was 11 when my grandfather died; we were good friends,” he explained
“He was already disappointed in the Russian revolution and the Bolsheviks.” His parents’ home was a gathering place for dissidents
“Most important was Russian literature from the 19th century –Pushkin
Lermontov&#8230; They expressed a feeling of compassion toward helping others under the autocratic state,” he said
were crucial – not only the literary classics but also records of the dissidents’ trials in real time
Litvinov deconstructs the samizdat publication process for me
somebody would gain access to the court and bring the information home
“They would write the transcript by hand; then we would find someone who had a typewriter,” he said
“I would print pages on very thick photographic paper
The book would be photographed and developed in a darkroom
Sometimes we would have a party to read the book
We would read Doctor Zhivago in half a night
Then I would give a film to a friend from Leningrad
and someone would come from Kyiv – same procedure.”
Litvinov’s strategy was to appeal to allies outside the Soviet Union
And that’s the connection to Index on Censorship
he co-wrote with dissident Larisa Bogoraz an Appeal to World Public Opinion
Some of the foreign correspondents translated it to English
In the evening we would always listen to the BBC
They said Stephen Spender read about it&#8230; and Spender called Igor Stravinsky
Mary McCarthy[and] famous American and English writers and composers
It was so touching when they interviewed Stravinsky
He said – in Russian – ‘My teacher[Nikolai] Rimsky-Korsakov suffered from Russian censorship and that’s why I signed this letter
because these people protested against censorship’.”
The appeal didn’t keep Litvinov and his group out of prison
opening a path between Litvinov and Spender
And it led to the creation of Index on Censorship
“Mary McCarthy said that the letter had more influence than napalm did in Vietnam,” he said proudly
“Our fight was a fight for freedom of speech
Censorship could be when they don’t let you publish a book
Litvinov sent a letter to Spender suggesting an international council to support democracy in the Soviet Union
along with a publication to promote the situation there
“When I returned [from Siberia],there was a young man – now I realise that he was 10 years older than I
Scammell asked Litvinov if he knew more about what Scammell was doing now
with a smile appearing after all these decades
Now I have a job at a magazine as editor of Index on Censorship.” The idea that Litvinov had broached with Spender had come to fruition in his absence thanks to him
“We became friends and Scammell was eventually kicked out of Russia,” Litvinov remembered
Scammell organised lectures for Litvinov at British universities and invited him to join the Index editorial board
I wonder whether Litvinov thought that repression could return to Russia after all this time
he sees a direct line to what’s happening there
“It is a continuation of the kind of thing that happened with Russia and Czechoslovakia
Ukraine was [always]a threat to the Soviet empire
It was clear for all of us that if Ukraine would survive on its own there would be no more Soviet Union
half of the political prisoners in the Gulag after World War I were Ukrainian&#8230; people strongly felt their national identity and culture
A lot of dissidents became our friends.” But he didn’t consider war
“I really didn’t expect it until the last minute
Russia really has to lose badly or Russia will start another imperialist adventure,” he said
there were very terrible KGB people but among them there were at least people who were ideological communists
In Putin’s generation they didn’t believe in communism or Marxism
They believed in secret police and dirty tricks and spying.” He describes his surprise at how so many people find Putin palatable
The KGB executed millions of people and he is still proud
If he would say they did some good things and some bad things&#8230; but nothing.”
In 2006 he retired from his 30-year job as a science teacher at a Westchester school and today he stays in close touch with those who have left
He does what he can to support dissent inside the country
especially backing a new generation with fundraising and encouragement
“There is a group to whom I am very close – OVD-Info
The guy who started it is in Germany and they are available 24/7
there will be a lawyer at the police station
They are the next generation of dissidents.”
having performed heroic actions that exiled him from his birth country
I was ready for much worse conditions than I had in Siberia
Then I emigrated and saw America and Europe
I feel like I am more American than Russian.”
Because it looked like Putin had a good chance
but now because of the crazy war that makes no sense
This article is from the winter issue of Index on Censorship, which will be published shortly. Click <a href="https://www.indexoncensorship.org/2022/12/crown-confidential-how-britains-royals-censor-their-records/">here</a> more information on the issue.
The psychological toll of living in a warzone is causing young people to lose their ability to speak
Rape victims on campuses are being urged to keep quiet, with people's reputations prioritised over stopping sexual violence
President Kais Saied's rule is becoming increasingly authoritarian
Index rounds up of some of the key stories covering censorship and free expression from the past seven days
For over 50 years, Index has published work by censored writers and artists. Subscribe below to get regular updates from our incredible contributors.
Index relies entirely on the support of donors and readers to do its work.
Help us keep amplifying censored voices today.
The second eclipse season in 2024 lasts from September 3 through October 16
with the fall eclipse season's horoscopes bringing powerful surprises
The collective has experienced eclipse energy throughout the year beginning with the Full Moon lunar eclipse in Libra on March 25 followed by the New Moon <a href="https://science.nasa.gov/eclipses/future-eclipses/eclipse-2024/where-when/" rel="nofollow">solar eclipse in Aries on April 8</a>
This potent cardinal energy impacted all of us since it forced us to look within and implement changes needed involving areas of our chart where the Aries energy is located
the energy shifts with the September 17 eclipse in Pisces
The lunar eclipse in this water sign will be the prelude to the 2025 story unfolding next year
Saturn and the Full Moon will be in the same sign
making this a moment to close some vital chapters before the end of the year
The changes you've experienced with the North Node in your sign have helped you rediscover yourself
All of the lessons from earlier this year are helping you feel more proud of yourself
you may encounter challenges that switch up your planning process
You are reminded to be more methodical and patient with your moves now that Mars will be in Cancer for the next several months
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Eclipse season will make you more proactive with taking care of yourself as well as being <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/most-important-relationship-boundary-each-zodiac-sign">mindful of your boundaries</a>
your energy will once again be directed toward your goals and dreams with a greater focus on periods of rest
Eclipse season is also pushing you to take on new challenges while applying the wisdom you acquired during Saturn in Aquarius
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While we prepare for another ride in the mutable rollercoaster, the eclipse in Pisces on September 17 will be a defining period for you as you can see how your career or vocational goals continue to blossom. When the eclipse energy returns to the sign of Libra on October 2, you will see how those <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/zodiac-sign-makes-best-personality-hire-workplace">empowering connections you have made</a> continue to help you find meaning in the work you do
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What makes this eclipse season more interesting is that Mars is now in your sign
You are entering a new cycle where you will have more responsibilities that may feel exhausting before Mars stations retrograde later in the year
the eclipse in Pisces on September 17 will help bring you more knowledge that can help you get back to basics when the October 2 eclipse in fellow cardinal sign Libra reminds you that stability is essential at home before you can thrive in the public sector
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Searching for your power will be a theme of the eclipse in Pisces on September 17
You are reminded of your source of energy and expansion during this transit
as you can feel an awakening when it comes to ego and self-acceptance
When the eclipse energy moves into Libra on October 2
you may see how your social connections gain momentum
allowing you to feel more comfortable expressing your ideas
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Learning to take on projects that can help you learn and master your skillset may result from the September 17 eclipse in Pisces. Saturn’s lessons are teaching you <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/your-unique-success-archetype-based-your-zodiac-sign">how to be the best at school or wor</a>k
the eclipse in Pisces will show you how much growth you have made in the last several years
Once the October 2 eclipse begins, you can take the steps needed to <a href="https://dosomething.org/article/7-easy-ways-turn-dreams-into-reality" rel="nofollow">make your dreams a reality</a>
and confidence and feel energized to thrive
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you'll set off at a welcome new pace since you can use the eclipse energy to reflect and plan for what you can accomplish next year
When the October 2 eclipse in your sign happens
more of the lessons you encountered earlier this year will be brought back to your attention
Your independence may shine through as well as how you have taken on and adapted to roles where your leadership skills may have radiated
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you may be adjusting to the changes that the Mercurial season has brought to the collective
Use this moment to enhance trust in your creative process
it can be a perfect time to celebrate and appreciate your partner
The October 2 eclipse in Libra soothes and can feel therapeutic as you focus on yourself
The energy you experience during this time aligns well with meditation to induce further healing
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Although it may feel like you are in a nebulous cloud
things will work themselves out when you trust yourself
The September 17 eclipse in Pisces sets the stage for energy that will be powerful in the next year
Continue finding your balance at home and learn not to give too much to your career or vocational goals
The public spotlight can wait once you establish a solid foundation
The following October eclipse is a reminder to celebrate those small victories since it will be a period of reflection since you may see the fruits of your labor
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Opportunities may flourish for you during eclipse season as Pluto’s entry back in your sign gives you more power and motivation to succeed
the energy now can be a lot about how good you are at socializing and preserving those friendships that have allowed you to evolve
The potent eclipse in October will continue the themes from the Pisces transit
Learn to listen to others and maintain the peace at school or work because you will gain more respect from others when you play nice
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If you've been struggling with creative blocks
the September 17 eclipse brings a lot of inspiration and creative power
Once the October 2 eclipse in Libra takes the stage
romantic energy comes back into the picture to close out a cycle that began earlier this year
This is the time to reflect on and elevate meaningful friendships and romantic connections
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While the Nodes continue to be in the signs of Aries and Libra, you have learned a lot about letting go of material things and <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/unconventional-money-habits-zodiac-signs">making changes to your financial situation</a> through saving and budgeting
When the September 17 eclipse in your sign occurs
this can be a powerful moment where you will do a lot of internal work and healing in order to incorporate a lot of self-love and care
It can be an emotionally empowering period as you step into this new chapter
RELATED: <a href="/zodiac/each-zodiac-signs-secret-soulmates">Each Zodiac Sign's 2 'Secret' Soulmates, According To Astrology</a>
A.T. Nunez is an Afro-Latina Astrologer and philosopher living in NYC. She is passionate about astrology and aims to <a href="https://cosmicsocialite.wordpress.com/author/cosmicsocialite/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">continue writing more about stargazing</a> in the future
© 2025 by Tango Publishing Corporation All Rights Reserved
July 26, 2024 at 9:00 pm CDT | by <a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/author/brianlarose" class="entry-author-link" itemprop="url" rel="author">Brian La Rose</a> <a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/2024/07/ondrej-kase-re-signs-in-czechia.html#respond">Leave a Comment</a> 
The 28-year-old had some success in the NHL early in his career
notching 57 goals and 67 assists in 258 games over parts of seven seasons
concussion troubles repeatedly set Kase back to the point where he missed nearly the entire 2022-23 campaign aside from just over 11 minutes of ice time in Carolina’s season opener
Needing a reset, Kase decided to return home last season and joined Litvinov alongside his brother <a href="https://www.hockey-reference.com/players/k/kaseda01.html?utm_medium=linker&amp;utm_source=www.prohockeyrumors.com&amp;utm_campaign=2024-07-26_hr" target="_blank" rel="nofollow noopener">David Kase</a>
 Not only did Kase stay healthy but he also led his team in scoring with 23 goals and 31 assists in 48 games
 His 54 points were enough to put him in third place league-wide in that department
That landed Kase a spot on the Czechs’ entry at the World Championship back in May
 Kase played a prominent role for the hosts
picking up seven points in ten games along the way to a gold medal
it wasn’t surprising to see his name pop up among potential international free agents looking to get back to the NHL
he cited family reasons as a factor in deciding to stay at home for at least one more year
 If he can have another showing like his 2023-24 performance
there’s a very good chance he’ll be back on the NHL radar next spring as well
<a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/czech-extraliga">Czech Extraliga</a>| <a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/transactions">Transactions</a> <a href="https://www.prohockeyrumors.com/players/ondrej-kase" rel="tag">Ondrej Kase</a>
Cadets from the Ryazan academy graduating class of 2016 pose for a photo in a break from training
Three of the cadets in the image have since been killed in Ukraine
was posted on the OK social media account of one of the dead men
By <a href="mailto:maria.tsvetkova@thomsonreuters.com">MARIA TSVETKOVA</a> in New York, and <a href="mailto:polina.nikolskaya@thomsonreuters.com">POLINA NIKOLSKAYA</a> and <a href="mailto:anton.zverev@thomsonreuters.com">ANTON ZVEREV</a> in London
with a military orchestra playing and a Russian Orthodox priest sprinkling holy water
a new class of officers graduated from the Ryazan paratroop academy
The young men in their starched parade uniforms were the elite of Russia’s armed forces
the embodiment of President Vladimir Putin’s pledge to make the armed forces stronger
The graduates of the Ryazan academy - a paratroop version of West Point in the United States or Sandhurst in Britain - were the next generation of military leaders
Some of the two dozen graduates went to a reception at the Kremlin three days later
“You will need to carry out difficult and weighty tasks… I am sure that the officer corps will always stand up reliably for the defence of the motherland.”
Reuters traced all but one of the class of 2016
Their stories offer a window on Russia’s secretive military
which doesn’t share data on casualties or the strength of its forces
Three of the graduates were killed in Ukraine in the early months of the invasion in 2022 and a fourth was killed in October 2023
 A fifth was decorated for bravery and a sixth was captured by Ukraine then released in a prisoner exchange
All but three of the Russian nationals in the graduating class are still in the Russian military
who researches Russia’s armed forces at Belgium’s Egmont Royal Institute for International Relations
noted that while the 2016 class is too small a sample to draw wide conclusions
the relatively low casualty rate serves as a reminder that Russia’s military
battered by a months-long Ukrainian counter-offensive
said in August it believes 50% of Russia’s paratroopers deployed to Ukraine have been killed in action or wounded
tenacious opponent,” Van Bladel said of Russia’s military
Russian lines are “not collapsing … Russians are an effective force
Three other Western experts on Russian military staffing said the paratroops have recovered somewhat after heavy losses at the start of the war
The Kremlin referred Reuters’ questions for this article to the defence ministry
The Ryazan Guards Higher Airborne Command School
Around 170 of its graduates have been awarded the “Hero of the Soviet Union” or “Hero of Russia” medals
Most of the class of 2016 arrived five years earlier
believed the army had too many commanders so Ryazan took in no officer cadets in 2010 and in 2011 the intake
 On average the annual intake is around 300 officer cadets
Most of the new students were Russian but over a third were on secondment from Belarus - a mark of the close military and political alliance between Putin and Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko
Some of the cadets had a distinguished military pedigree
who has served as a senior Russian paratroop commander
 according to residence records and two fellow cadets
decorated a “Hero of Russia” after he escaped separatist rebels during an uprising in Russia’s Chechnya region
Other recruits came from more modest backgrounds
from Russia’s historically Buddhist Kalmykia region
was inspired to join because his older cousin had studied at the academy
Yuri Kudryashov was brought up by a single mother
according to a 2016 profile in a Ryazan newspaper
A grainy video recorded by one of the cadets on a mobile phone gives a glimpse of their experiences at the academy
drove armoured vehicles and used firearms on a shooting range
the cadets celebrated by setting off fireworks
a baby-faced cadet from near the Arctic Circle
appears in group photos taken at the barracks with a guitar under his arm
A video posted on social media by Vladimir Vasilenko
shows Vasilenko standing in an alleyway smashing a glass bottle over his own head as other cadets cheer him on
they were feted as the future of the Russian army
was interviewed by the defence ministry’s TV station as an example of a new
Defence Minister Sergei Shoigu sent his deputy to read out a message at the graduation ceremony
“I express my firm belief that this new graduating class will make a worthy contribution to keeping our military units battle-ready and in high morale,” Shoigu wrote
Reuters found out what happened to them by speaking to six members of the group
and by examining their social media accounts and public records
was the first of the 2016 class to be killed in Ukraine
and did tours of duty in Chechnya and Syria
Badmayev phoned home and told his family he was on exercises in Russian-annexed Crimea
was part of a force assigned to seize a bridge across the Dnieper River in southern Ukraine
His relative said an explosion near him tore off half his face
He was identified by the talisman around his neck
the cousin who inspired him to join the military
a plaque in Badmayev’s memory was unveiled at his former school in the town of Lagan and local officials offered up Buddhist prayers
took part in the same operation to seize a bridge over the Dnieper
A Ukrainian Telegram channel published a video in March 2022 showing Bikoyev under interrogation
Bikoyev declined to comment when Reuters contacted him
The next 2016 graduate to be killed was Maxim Mikutov
He was a senior lieutenant and deputy commander of a company in a paratroop brigade
the south-eastern Ukrainian city where Russian forces spent months trying to root out besieged Ukrainian fighters
His father said Mikutov was killed on April 12
The funeral wake was held at his parents’ home two weeks later
Litvinov’s mother said her son was a captain in the 56th paratroop assault brigade based in Kamyshin in the Volgograd region
Litvinov’s photo looks out of a billboard with the words: “To be a warrior is to live for eternity!”
In photographs the cadets posted on social media from their Ryazan academy days
Litvinov appears alongside Yevgeny Mikhailov
a blonde cadet with a round face and a ruddy complexion
Mikhailov was killed fighting in Ukraine on Oct 15
died when his vehicle was hit by Ukrainian fire
posted on her social media account later the same month: “Your soul is in the eyes of our children
Surviving members of the Ryazan class of 2016 have stayed in touch with the families of their dead comrades
Badmayev’s relative said a group of former classmates visited to pay their respects
Mikutov’s father said classmates and their families are putting together a book of remembrance and are raising funds for a memorial
An examination of publicly-reported deaths shows that at least 207 Ryazan ex-cadets have been killed since Russia launched its invasion
a figure that represents around 4.5 percent of graduates over the past decade
Ukrainian intercepts show Russian soldiers’ anger at losses
The Africans fighting on Russia’s front line in Ukraine
On Orthodox Christmas Putin vows to back soldiers who 'defend' Russia
who graduated from Ryazan after the class of 2016
he was one of the soldiers chosen as a backdrop for Putin’s 2023 New Year’s Eve televised address to the nation
his mother Galina posted on social media that Schnaider died
Local media said he was killed fighting in Ukraine
Reuters could not independently verify the media reports
At least seven of the graduates have survived tours of duty in Ukraine
one of four students who graduated with a distinction
posed in a group photograph with Putin at the Kremlin reception in June 2016
Shikin took part in an operation to seize the military airport at Hostomel
according to an account he later gave to a group of students
The airport was intended to be a bridgehead for an aborted assault on the Ukrainian capital
Shikin was awarded the “Hero of Russia” medal in March 2022 for his part in the war
Of the surviving members of the Ryazan class of 2016
12 are not  serving in the Russian military
One of the Russian cohort works for Russian Railways
another left the military after breaking his leg in a skiing accident
stayed on to serve in the Russian military and married a Russian paratroop officer called Yekaterina
The couple declined to comment when Reuters reached them
Four of Dailidko’s countrymen are in the Belarussian military
according to Reuters interviews and data shared with Reuters by Belpol
Two others stayed in Russia in civilian jobs
the cadet who smashed a bottle on his head
The last of the Belarussian graduates has since joined the French Foreign Legion and done at least one tour of duty in Mali
the man has written: “I sincerely wish victory for Ukraine!” Reuters has independently verified his identity and that he served in the French Foreign Legion
He asked not to be identified in this article
citing a fear of reprisals back home in Belarus
and Polina Nikolskaya and Anton Zverev in London
Edited by Christian Lowe and Janet McBride
Bomb disposal experts detonated an aerial bomb from World War II today
on the grounds of a chemical plant near Litvinov
The explosion sounded and a cloud of dust began to rise from the site at 12:13 pm
police reported on social media that the bomb had been safely destroyed
production at the Czech Republic&#8217;s largest chemical complex was halted due to the discovery of the rare munition and its blasting
Preparations for the controlled explosion lasted several days; a wall of sandbags was built around the bomb and firefighters used special equipment and drones
Traffic and public transport between Most and Litvinov was stopped
According to initial information from the blast site
&#8220;The detonation of the bomb was successful
at 12:14 we confirmed visually that the detonation took place,&#8221; wrote the fire service on social media
Police posted a picture of the area after the blast on social media
The bomb was safely destroyed,&#8221; they wrote.&nbsp;
According to the director of the Czech Police Bomb Disposal Service
after an inspection of the surrounding area
The British bomb was found by workers during excavation work last week
The ammunition was not allowed to be moved until 1pm on Tuesday because of the risk of spontaneous explosion
Orien Unipetrol halted production at a neighbouring refinery after the bomb was found last Wednesday; as a result
the petrochemical part of the plant lost raw materials
and the company had to start downsizing the ethylene unit
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The publication of the preliminary results regarding the plane crash involving Azerbaijan Airlines near Aktau on December 25
by Kazakhstan's Ministry of Transport has reignited discussions surrounding the tragedy
we wish to provide our analysis of the interview given by renowned Russian aviation expert Andrei Litvinov to Igor Zyryanov
host of the Air Crash Investigation channel—one of Russia’s most popular platforms dedicated to the analysis of aviation accidents
It is worth mentioning that this is not the first time Litvinov has appeared on the channel; his previous interviews have offered a well-balanced and professional perspective on aviation disasters
the expert seemed to display a certain level of carelessness regarding key details
which we believe warrants further examination
One of the key topics raised in connection with the report was the timing of the mechanical impact on the aircraft and the announcement of the "Carpet" plan
there was a gap of several minutes between these two events
This leads to one of the main questions for those following the incident: why was the signal to activate the "Carpet" plan issued only after the aircraft was struck
Andrei Litvinov explained that the "Carpet" plan was announced after the plane had left Grozny’s airspace following two unsuccessful landing attempts
"After it was hit?" In response to this crucial but simple question
Litvinov offered a rather unclear answer: "Yes
Because they already saw something flying there; drones were in the area
The reaction to the situation began immediately
He continued: "Had 'Carpet' been announced before the plane entered the zone
it wouldn't have entered Grozny's airspace at all
Since the plane entered and attempted to land twice
there was no reason to announce 'Carpet' at that point
The drone had not been present over the airfield for two hours; it appeared suddenly
There was no reason to announce 'Carpet' before that
it would have had to fly 1,000-1,200 kilometres from the Ukrainian-Russian border
Is it really possible that the Russian air defence only spotted it over Chechnya
The key question is why did the air defence systems open fire before the "Carpet" signal was announced
but it lingered in the air after the host's following words: "The plane was hit at 13 minutes..
And the 'Carpet' signal was announced at 15 minutes..
two minutes later." Litvinov responded by reiterating his earlier statement: "That's right
an air alert isn’t announced until something is coming in
They announced 'Carpet' when they realized there were foreign objects flying in the Grozny airfield zone."
In light of the lack of a clear answer to the implied question
we will interpret Litvinov's words as follows: while air defence identifies the threat and announces the "Carpet" signal
opening fire in a danger zone could theoretically happen
let’s refer to the Russian Federation Government Resolution No
2024) "On the Approval of Federal Rules for the Use of Airspace of the Russian Federation," which regulates actions in emergency situations
"In the case of unlawful crossing of the state border of the Russian Federation
the use of weapons and combat equipment of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation against an intruding aircraft
as well as the appearance of unidentified aircraft and other material objects in airspace
air defence authorities issue the 'Carpet' signal
which requires the immediate landing or removal from the relevant area of all aircraft in the air
except for aircraft involved in combating intruding aircraft and performing search and rescue operations
Air defence authorities convey the 'Carpet' signal
as well as information about the boundaries of the area where the signal is in effect
to the corresponding centres of the Unified System
The Unified System centres immediately take measures to remove aircraft (land them) from the area where the 'Carpet' signal is active."
This provides the official framework for issuing the "Carpet" signal and the associated procedures for dealing with violations and unidentified objects in Russian airspace
From the context of this excerpt and guided by common sense
it can be concluded that "the use of weapons against the intruding aircraft" should follow the announcement of the "Carpet" signal
the very purpose of such an operation is undermined
as the "Carpet" plan is a preventative measure
when there is a threat to the safety of airspace
let’s also remind that the crew of the Azerbaijani aircraft was not informed about the "Carpet" signal before
Despite the identification of the drone and even "action against it," civilian aircraft continued flying because no order was given to stop their flights
The "Carpet" plan was only discussed after the strike on the civilian aircraft and when it became clear that the situation was out of control
This is also evident from the conversations published in the report
all these inputs raise significant questions for Russian air defence and early warning systems
"Let's return to our speculations regarding air defence
They say to us: 'Why aren't you speaking up?' But even now
so what should we say about something we don’t understand
And these splinters scattered in different directions and hit the plane?"
official Baku has already confirmed that it possesses a fragment of a missile from the "Pantsir-S" system
which was retrieved from the wreckage of the aircraft and identified through international expertise
let’s entertain for a moment the possibility that the fragments indeed represent shrapnel from a destroyed drone
would this fact change if it were confirmed
it would further strengthen the belief that fire was opened at the aircraft from air defence systems
it doesn’t matter whether a drone was nearby or not
or whether the strike was directly on the aircraft or on an object near it
This raises the question even more sharply: why did air defence operators allow themselves to open fire before the "Carpet" signal was announced
And this is despite the fact that the electronic warfare system disabled the GPS of the Azerbaijani aircraft long before the mechanical impact occurred
Andrey Litvinov is an experienced pilot and expert whose speeches we always listen to with great interest
his latest comment has raised some surprise and even doubt about his competence in certain aspects of aviation
Could his speech on one of Russia’s largest YouTube channels dedicated to aviation have had a different objective
it is important to note that there was no clear explanation provided—perhaps because no explanation could be offered
There are too many glaring facts that point to the contrary
Litvinov does not outright deny the involvement of air defence as the most likely scenario
but his words seem to try to obfuscate the issue of military command's responsibility
We can understand the concerns of an expert who may hesitate to pass judgment on the actions of his own country
we feel it is necessary to point out the omissions in his commentary for the benefit of all viewers
If we look at high-ranking Soviet politicians over the USSR’s three quarters of a century
I think the nearest we have to one is Maxim Litvinov (1876-1951)
Remembered today as the main proponent of “collective security” against Nazi Germany in the 1930s
Litvinov had been born Meir Henoch Wallach in Bialystok (now in Poland but then part of the Russian Empire) as the scion of a Jewish banking family
He changed his name to Litvinov aged 22 when he joined the Russian Social Democratic Labour Party (RSDLP)
In 1903 he became one of Lenin’s supporters when the Party split into Bolsheviks (the majority) and Mensheviks (the minority)
Nobody who has seen his early portrait (from 1902) could doubt his revolutionary credentials
where he continued to work for the revolutionary cause in Russia by buying
In 1907 he attended the fifth Party Congress
where he shared accommodation with Joseph Stalin
That association led to close lifelong contacts between them
even what could be called friendship — assuming that Stalin was capable of having such sentiments
the police finding him in possession of 500 rouble notes which had been taken in a robbery in Georgia (robbing mail coaches was one of Stalin’s specialities) in the previous year
The Tsarist government asked for his extradition
but it was denied by the French government
presumably keeping the banknotes as corpus delicti
who stood by his side all his life and often helped him with a woman’s insight in his diplomatic work
After the Bolsheviks took power in November 1917
he acted as their unofficial representative in London
he was immediately entrusted to work on diplomatic problems involving prisoner exchanges
In 1921 he was appointed by Lenin as First Deputy People’s Commissar of Foreign Affairs and was promoted by Stalin to be Commissar (effectively Foreign Minister) in 1930
He started his international diplomatic career by supporting the idea of disarmament
Ever since our ancestors invented the club they had been reluctant to abandon it
attempts to put disarmament in practice were all unsuccessful
Litvinov’s reputation does not rest on that
He rose to fame as the most consistent critic of the Italian and German dictatorships and of the Japanese attack on China
He defined aggression: what is and what is not aggression in terms of international relations
Stalin gave him a relatively free hand; he was too busy killing off his friends and enemies at home
Foreign policy was not yet one of his priorities
In the interval between 1933 and his dismissal in 1939 Litvinov tried to erect a cordon sanitaire round the European dictatorships
He wanted to build an alliance between France
He managed to change Soviet foreign policy
based on class war at the time by the Comintern
They held the view that the workers of the world would soon unite to build happy Communist states all over the world
The idea was to support the local Communist parties and oppose all other political forces
The best example of this policy was their attitude to the German Social Democrats
They called them Social Fascists and regarded them as enemies
 Litvinov’s policy was to unite all forces opposing fascism
It was the policy of the Popular Front: to unite all anti-aggression forces independently of where they stood in the political spectrum
Had it united the paramilitary forces of the Social Democrats (Reichsbanner) and of the Communists (Roter Frontkampferbund)
they might have been able to rule the streets in Berlin
keeping the Brownshirts (SA) at bay and delaying — perhaps even preventing — the Nazi takeover
Was the policy of the Popular Front successful
The only country in Europe that had a Popular Front Government was France
In the 1936 elections the parties supporting the Popular Front government there had 368 seats in the Chamber of Deputies out of a total of 608 
It was unable to sustain all  the social refoms (eg the 40 hour working week) combined with rearmament and support for the Spanish Republicans in their war with the Nationalists
On the 3rd of May 1939 Litvinov was dismissed as Foreign Minister by Stalin
U-turns are traditionally difficult to explain
Stalin was obviously thinking of a Soviet-German Pact
could not possibly negotiate such agreement
The second question is more difficult to answer
Did Stalin remember the times they spent together in London in 1907
He would not have had the slightest hesitation putting Litvinov’s name on the list of those to be liquidated
Stalin probably realised that friendship with the Germans could not possibly last
He might have wanted to keep Litvinov for the times when the Germans would again be enemies
He might have been preparing for that inevitable conflict
the aim being to gain time and use it to prepare Soviet defences for the German assault
Stalin was remarkably naïve about the Germans honouring the treaty
The last Soviet train delivering war material for the Third Reich crossed the border the day the Germans attacked
The Soviet Army collapsed like a castle built on  sand
In the first few weeks of the war the Germans advanced more than a thousand kilometers
The only thing that saved the Soviet Union was the Russian winter
So how does this explain Litvinov’s survival
To my mind the best explanation is that he missed his slot
By the end of 1939 Stalin was running out of Old Bolsheviks spying for the Germans
A trial of Litvinov on his own might have given him too much importance
The English language Wikipedia quotes two scenarios proposed by other members of the Politburo
According to Molotov Litvinov’s survival was due to some random factors delaying trials (I presume it could have been the suicide of a key witness or the arrest of a prosecutor)
is quoted saying that Litvinov was assassinated on Stalin’s orders by staging a traffic incident
This scenario is denied by Litvinov’s family who maintain that he died of a heart attack at home
The same thing (that he died natural death) was told me by his granddaughter Masha Slonim
She added to it that her grandfather always slept with a loaded gun under his pillow
The Russian language Wikipedia gives a lot of further information on the preparation of a Litvinov trial for which Beria already had witnesses lined up the usual way
Meanwhile Germany attacked and Litvinov suddenly became useful
Having said above that the Soviet Union was saved by the Russian winter
I could say by the same degree of approximation that Litvinov was saved by the German assault
 In November 1941 Stalin appointed him Soviet Ambassador to the United States
Litvinov and his wife became an instant success in Washington
They did a lot to ensure US support for the Soviet Union
both within and without the Lend-Lease scheme
I want to answer my question: was Litvinov a “good guy?” All that was written about him above would qualify him as one
But he is also on record denying Stalin’s famines in the Soviet Union and being on Committees judging his innocent victims
If the Soviet archives are ever opened we might learn the truth
Until then probably the best assumption is that there were no good guys in the higher echelons of the Communist Party and the Soviet government
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In the northern part of the Czech Republic
The population of Litvinov is fewer than 25,000 people
a blue-collar town most notable in the Czech Republic for two reasons: It’s the site of the biggest oil refinery in the country and a traditional hotbed for a particular type of high-octane attacking hockey
1 thing,” says 2020 NHL Draft–eligible prospect Jan Mysak
“It’s an Extraliga city, so I figured it would be fine,” recalls <a class="ath_autolink" href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/team/avalanche/">Colorado Avalanche</a> goaltender <a class="ath_autolink" href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/player/pavel-francouz-mp3uFNuTBYUKBtzy/">Pavel Francouz</a>
and it took me like two minutes to go through the city
“So I figured the next day I’d try the other way
‘Where is the city?’ I did some Googling and realized it was only 25,000 people
If Litvinov is lacking in population and physical scope
that takes nothing away from its extraordinary hockey history
Litvinov probably belongs on the list of great historic hockey factories alongside places such as Essex County
Ivan Hlinka, the first real Czech-born star at the <a class="ath_autolink" href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/">NHL</a> level
He went on to coach the legendary 1998 Czech gold medal-winning men’s team at the Nagano Winter Olympics
Nearly a third of that roster was composed of players who were born or grew up in Litvinov
the coach,” recalls longtime NHL centreman Robert Lang
“It was special for us because all of us were from the same town
but this was the biggest tournament in hockey that had ever happened at the time.”
The list of NHL players from Litvinov goes on
And while the assembly line of high-end NHL talent coming out of Litvinov has slowed over the past generation
a player tabbed as a possible first-round draft pick in this year’s draft
“They have the most European players from one city that played in the NHL historically — up there with Ornskoldsvik in Sweden,” says retired NHL forward Radim Vrbata
What follows is a collection of stories about the historic Czech hockey hotbed that you’ve never heard of
Growing up as a big HC Litvinov fan and a talented player from the area
Mysak basically grew up in the shadows of the 1998 gold medal-winning team from the Nagano Olympics
I heard a lot of stories about the golden generation from Litvinov,” Mysak recounts
“They were together most of the time; they worked together
It seems the legends relayed to Mysak are true
“We won the national championship like almost every year
playing with Marty Rucinsky and Robert Reichel — even though he went and played for the men’s team at 16 and left us hanging — but from those days
It was literally like you had 25 best friends
You knew each other better than your siblings knew you.”
it’s not that the coaching was different and it’s not that they were doing anything outside of the box
It was just a burst of high-end athletic talent all coming together in the same class — a bunch of competitive
talented guys just spending time together and pushing one another athletically
‘What did you guys do special?’ And the answer is nothing
and we were excited in the fall to get back on the ice
But it was always fun because we were playing with our best friends.”
so I pretty much grew up there,” Lang says
And you think you’re kind of doing OK — then we’d play them
but you lost by 10 or more and had no chance the whole game
Litvinov has produced a ton of NHL talent over the years
but that talent all seems relatively similar
a player such as Jiri Slegr — a two-way defender — stands out as the exception
There’s a premium placed on attacking hockey in Litvinov
and they just attacked and didn’t really play defence much,” Francouz says
“My first year there it was the same story
I think that’s why we won the championship in 2015
there’s stories about Litvinov — that if you go to Litvinov
you’re going to see a lot of goals,” says Mysak
We love to watch good hockey — not 1-0 or 2-0 hockey
a player like Robert Reichel or Martin Rucinsky
Young players grow up watching those players
the hockey team itself averages over 5,000 fans per home game
more than a fifth of the town’s population
Support that ubiquitous speaks to the bond that HC Litvinov has with the community
HC Litvinov is not just a team — it’s a lifestyle
And part of that lifestyle is knowing that you’re going to see some scoring
“Litvinov always, the men’s team always, played a style kind of like ‘go for broke,'” says Lang with a laugh. “It was fun hockey to watch. It doesn’t win you championships. And I hate to say that because you’d play the equivalent of the <a class="ath_autolink" href="https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/nhl/team/devils/">New Jersey Devils</a>
but it was solid defence and all that stuff
Vrbata has recently taken a keen interest in Litvinov
Since he retired from the NHL following the 2017-18 campaign after a 16-year career
He’s also become a sports media entrepreneur
Vrbata teamed up with Czech journalist Frantisek Suchan and former Phoenix Coyotes draft pick Jakub Koreis to form a company called Bez Frází
“It’s kind of like a Czech version of The Players’ Tribune,” Vrbata says
“We saw a big hole in Czech media where there was always the same people in media and on television
it was always about Jaromir Jagr as a hockey player or Pavel Nedved and Petr Cech
but there were other athletes that we knew had great stories and deserved to have a chance to be heard
There’s so many other athletes — whose stories should be told and who should be heard — who have unbelievable life stories.’ That’s how we started.”
Bez Frází has a website with articles penned by Czech athletes
They publish a book every year and make documentary features
Their latest documentary, their third, is called <a href="https://itunes.apple.com/ca/movie/factory-on-ice/id1517706032">“Factory on Ice,”</a> and it follows Litvinov’s beloved local team through a relegation scrap that culminates in a do-or-die game against Jagr’s team
Think “Sunderland ‘Til I Die,” but for Czech hockey
I tried to follow as best I could,” says Mysak
which he followed from Canada after joining the Hamilton Bulldogs of the Ontario Hockey League midseason
“I was so nervous during that last game against Kladno
and I’m glad — and so is every Litvinov fan — that they won it!”
The focus of the new Bez Frází documentary was actually serendipitous
The original goal was to spotlight an unprecedented outdoor game in Dresden
As the margin for error tightened as HC Litvinov slid to the bottom of the Czech Extraliga standings late in the year
The Dresden game became an opportunity for some cool visuals
as the documentary itself became about an all-out brawl for HC Litvinov’s survival in the Czech Extraliga
“That movie got special because of how it shaped up,” Vrbata says
even though they finished second- or third-last
There’s no chance you can ever script that.”
HC Litvinov has a reputation as a team that doesn’t get relegated and plays in high-scoring games
it hasn’t been a team that has racked up championship banners
“The story goes: The older generation were talking about how at the end of their career
they’d go back to Litvinov and win the title,” Vrbata says
but Rucinsky was the guy that finally got the championship for the town
and Francouz was a big part of it — he was a big reason they won.”
In a world where your average NHL goaltender has a similar stature to an NBA two-guard
He’s also the rare southpaw goaltender who catches right-handed
Francouz didn’t break into the NHL until the age of 28
Now he’s one of the best backups in the league
he got his first chance to start in a top professional men’s league
“They didn’t have a good year the year before I came there
so the people were pretty depressed about the team,” Francouz says
“They thought they were going to suck again
I knew it was a big chance for me to play in the highest Czech level
Among those memories is the championship run in 2015
Francouz posted an absurd .953 save percentage across 17 playoff games that season
His playoff performance was a big part of what caught the KHL’s eye and permitted him to move up on his circuitous path to the NHL
“He was probably the most famous player from that team,” Mysak recalls
“He was a big hero to the ladies of this town too
but he was one of the most important players from that team to win the championship; there’s no question
a town more famous for cheering for goals than against their prevention
an undersized southpaw goaltender like Francouz resonated
He laughs about how he still never has to pay for a drink there
it was awesome,” Francouz recalls of the championship-winning season
“The whole city came out to the square — more than 10,000 people
We knew it was going to be special for the people there
something I think people will never forget
I meet people and they’re still very nice to me
People want to shake my hand and say thank you
Over 5,000 fans fill the Ivan Hlinka Stadion in Litvinov on every game day
There are a lot of hockey teams that have a deep connection with their community
“You would travel across — even though Czech is a small country — back then
we’d travel to what’s now Slovakia to play teams on the other side of the country
They’d sometimes get beat up because that’s how it was in those days
The unique fan culture in Litvinov is said to be one you have to experience
I have to go because they have those sausages,” Vrbata says
but don’t mention that I went there after both the first and the second period!”
The sausages aren’t just memorable for a former professional athlete who
They’re also part of the game-day experience for the players
as soon as the doors open to the building and fans start coming in
we’d have to close the windows because the smell was coming in the locker room,” Lang says
now I feel like having a beer and a sausage; I can’t smell this!'”
for a local kid who grew up going to nearly every game
the 2015 title Francouz backstopped HC Litvinov to looms large in his hockey imagination
of winning the Czech championship,” Mysak says
I have a dream that one day I will be the player that helps win another championship for Litvinov
whose name is called before the end of the second round
That hasn’t too often been the case lately
The unprecedented success enjoyed by the golden generation hasn’t been replicated by the next one
Litvinov has still produced quality prospects
but it hasn’t churned out NHL stars at the dizzying level it managed to in the 1990s
“The pool of talent is definitely different,” says Lang
who currently resides in California but often visits and still stays in touch with friends back home
on the first day of signups for kids who are 5 or 6 years old
Mysak is something of the next torchbearer for hockey in Litvinov
but he can recognize the difference in the experience of the generation that came before and his own
kids have mobile phones and computer games and there’s more distractions,” Mysak suggests
and they had a big group of competitive guys together
(Top photo of Jan Mysak: Petr Sznapka / CTK via AP Images)
Affirm spinoff Resolve raised $60m from investors including its parent company..
Top 50 Rising Stars 2022 (in alphabetical order by CVC unit): Alexander Litvinov
the corporate venture capital (CVC) unit of Russia-based steel and steel-related mining company Severstal
was founded in 2018 and invests in new productions technologies and advanced materials
joined the unit in August 2019 and focuses primarily on its wood business Sveza
with an emphasis on cellulose and biorefinery
Litvinov said: “I see lots of old ideas coming back due to new conditions
often related to either sustainability or digitalisation
And surely it is extremely interesting to touch disruptive ideas rather than something established and old-fashioned.”
Ivana Molchanova on the other hand joined Severstal Ventures from an investor relations role out of interest in the venturing space
said of Molchanova: “She proved an extremely fast learner and a great analyst
In a few months we had her closing follow on deals with almost no supervision
No detail is left unnoticed and no amount of unstructured data is a challenge.”
Molchanova highlighted: “I am particularly pleased to have worked on and contributed to the investment committee approval of our participation in Modumetal’s series A2 investment round
“I was able to see how the funding we have helped the company complete a business turnaround
It is now on track to meet its financial year 2021 targets and milestones
while also engaging with Severstal as a prospective client
The Severstal Ventures team is generally very committed to helping its portfolio companies through difficult times.”
Fernando Moncada Rivera is a reporter at Global Corporate Venturing and also host of the <a href="https://globalventuring.com/podcasts/">CVC Unplugged podcast</a>
Which corporates are backing which startups
Find details about global CVC units in the CVC Directory
Comprehensive data on the current trends in corporate investment 
GCV provides the global corporate venturing community and their ecosystem partners with the information
insights and access needed to drive impactful open innovation
 Across our three services - News & Analysis
and the GCV Institute - we create a network-rich environment for global innovation and capital to meet and thrive
At the heart of our community sits the GCV Leadership Society
providing privileged access to all our services and resources
The week begins with the New Moon in Virgo on September 2nd
allowing us to put together the missing puzzle pieces from the Mercury retrograde transit in August
Venusian energy will prevail with the Moon in Libra on the 4th
bringing us a period of more optimism and creative expansion
Mars changes sign on the same day, adding more Cardinal energy to the sky. The heavy Mutable energy slowly breaks down as changes continue. On the 7th, the Moon enters Scorpio, closing the week with Martian energy to <a href="https://www.health.harvard.edu/healthbeat/9-tips-to-boost-your-energy-naturally" rel="nofollow">energize us for next week</a>
The week begins with the New Moon in Virgo on the 2nd
teaching you to be a lot more diplomatic with friends and colleagues
You can utilize this period to work on your planner and look at your schedule for the month
The Moon in Libra allows you to connect with new artistic projects that can serve to relax and calm you
While the Moon in Scorpio allows you to set the foundation for a new journey that helps you take control of your career and ambition
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Coming to terms with the changes that have happened throughout the last month allows you to radiate and stand out. The <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/meaning-new-moon-each-zodiac-sign">New Moon in Virgo</a> will be your chance to speak words of devotion to your partner
The New Moon in Libra helps you to connect with your element and experience the creative energy that inspires you
you can elevate your relationship by deepening your connection with others
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you could surprise yourself by taking time to take a trip or explore areas around your neighborhood
cooking or just settling into the comforts of home can help you feel recharged and ready to go
Having the Moon in Scorpio may be a period where you embark on another adventure through books or immersing yourself in a new show
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Uncovering your talents could be a theme of this New Moon in Virgo since working on something new during this time can bring a lot of positive surprises now that Mercury is direct
A time to collaborate on projects to make them come to life
And the Moon in Scorpio may allow you to feel more aligned with your goals for your career
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Having the New Moon in your sign can feel like a pleasant birthday gift
A period to honor and root for yourself as we continue your magnificent season
exploring the concept of self-love gets stronger and this could be the start of building a better relationship with yourself
The Moon in Scorpio can bring you a lot of clues regarding what you want to do and how to channel your talents and abilities to create a fascinating period
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A period of passion and enchanting moments will be connected with this week
The New Moon in Virgo can bring back the passion for education
You are here to evolve and meet with people who will spark your adoration of learning which is carried through the Moon in Libra
it is a good period to connect with your romantic partner and show them your emotional and vulnerable side
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The New Moon in Virgo can make you evaluate the goals you have as well as the ones you share with those in your circle
You are entering a new cycle that continues to push you ahead as you become more comfortable with the spotlight
The Moon in Libra reminds you to take breaks when necessary
it can be a perfect way to recharge before the new week begins now that Mars is in a water sign
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As the New Moon in Virgo illuminates the highest point in your chart
this can be a potent transit that activates your relationship house
Knowing how to say you are sorry and reach a compromise with your partner will be important and the lessons will carry on into the Libra Moon that may spark more romance in your life
you will be more inspired to take things at a slower pace and experience the moment
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Because you are <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2015275909/people-aquarius-sign-tend-be-successful-and-famous">determined to continue succeeding</a>
the New Moon in Virgo will help you get the praise you deserve from those in positions of power
Similar themes continue with the Moon in Libra putting focus on your career and goals
Breakthroughs are easy now with Venus also in the same sign
Spending time with your partner can prove to be exciting and nourishing for the heart
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this may be a wondrous time when you get back on track and become enamored with what you can create and accomplish
The Moon in Libra adds a lot of air energy to the mix
allowing you to feel self-assured and prepared to create more
You will not feel limited by the prospect during this time
The Moon in Scorpio can bring a spark to your career house
giving you the fuel to triumph and you may feel unstoppable during this time
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The New Moon in your relationship house brings a new view to your romantic life
It is one of the periods that can allow you to evolve
you can allow yourself to find your strength as you analyze how Saturn in Pisces’ lessons have shaped you
The Moon in Scorpio adds potent water energy that can add some spark to your relationships
Expect to meet new people during this transit
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A.T. Nunez is an Afro-Latina Astrologer and philosopher living in NYC. She is passionate about astrology and aims to <a href="https://cosmicsocialite.wordpress.com/author/cosmicsocialite/" target="_blank" rel="nofollow">continue writing more about stargazing</a> in the future.
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Max Litvinov initially trained as an engineer
After working as a video game programmer soon after studying
“The job didn’t satisfy me at all; crappy games
no motivation to grow as a professional,” explains Max
“I spent a lot of time daydreaming while at work
things that don’t exist – always transforming and in constant motion
I wanted to capture them and began sketching
spent years self-studying and became a freelance artist.”
Animation gave Max the ability to “embody any dream” and “create worlds where [he] sets the rules” with total control over every element
Max decided to study at renowned animation school La Poudrière
“Studying animation in France was a wonderful experience
my views and knowledge have been expanded in a big way,” he says
When we last featured Max there were only a few short animations from his time at school
the animator is freelancing again and his portfolio continues to grow with commissions from MIT Technology Review among others
One of his latest projects is an animated pizza commercial for Yula Pizza
“Some fellows from my hometown decided to open a pizzeria and commissioned me to do a promotional video,” says Max
“It’s the first time I’ve done something food-related and it was quite a challenge to make the pizza look appealing.” Created in Max’s signature style
the animator hand-drawn style is humorous with a bizarre edge
“While I admit my work has always the same distinct tone
recognisable graphics and recurring themes
I prefer not to determine it with a specific style
being open to any influences,” explains Max
my animation is more formalistic than narrative
quite mechanical and if it was done 30-40 years ago
it would be put into an avant-garde/experimental box.” Max is influenced by old school European and Soviet animation
“The making of animation is extremely time consuming
While learning more options and acquiring new tricks
it takes longer for me to make decisions,” he says
“I spend hours and hours adjusting geometry of each frame to make the movement look as interesting and alluring as possible
now I have to set the time limits for finishing each step
The beauty of Max’s illustrations and animations is his ability to see the world in a way no one has done before
“I try to capture a childish feeling that means everything around us is ambiguous and can become an element of a game,” he says
“I try to take simple action and transform it into a rollercoaster.”
<a class="link-reset" href="/authors/rebecca-fulleylove">Rebecca Fulleylove</a>
Rebecca Fulleylove is a freelance writer and editor specialising in art
She is also senior writer at Creative Review
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Porous is a beautifully tender and tactile meditation on healing from sexual trauma
How Studio Dumbar/DEPT® developed a free and open-to-the-public festival to foster creativity
community and experimentation within the ever-evolving motion design landscape
London-based creative embraces an enchanting interplay between medium and message
A hypnotising hybrid of imperfect prints and digital code – are these analogue animations the dream clubbing visuals
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where Nikolaj Litvinov was killed after being struck by a vehicle (Pic: Paul Mealey)
A man who died in a single-vehicle collision near Balla has been named locally as Nikolaj Litvinov
A native of Eastern Europe, Mr Litvinov was<a href="https://www.mayonews.ie/news/local-news/1619715/male-pedestrian-dies-after-being-hit-by-a-vehicle-near-balla.html" target="_blank" rel="noopener"> walking on the N60 at Carrowntober Oughter, Manulla, shortly before 11 pm on Tuesday, October 1, when he was struck by a car.</a>
The emergency services were contacted immediately and attended the scene
where he passed away despite attempts to save him.&nbsp;
had been living in Mayo for a number of years previously
He resided at the bottom of MacHale Road in Castlebar.&nbsp;
he kept to himself,” one local told The Mayo News.&nbsp;
Gardaí are appealing for witnesses to the collision which claimed Mr Litvinov’s life to come forward
They are also seeking any road users with camera footage (including dash-cam) who were travelling in the area at the time of the incident to provide it to the investigating Gardaí
Anyone with information is asked to contact Castlebar Garda Station at 094 903 8200
the Garda Confidential Line at 1800 666 111
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Minster Alan Dillon at the opening of the new offices
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<a href="http://www.unipetrolrpa.cz/en/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" adhocenable="false">Unipetrol RPA SRO</a>-Rafinerie, the refining arm of <a href="http://www.unipetrol.cz/en/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" adhocenable="false">Unipetrol AS</a> and parent company <a href="http://www.orlen.pl/en/pages/default.aspx" target="_blank" adhocenable="false">Polski Koncern Naftowy SA</a> (PKN Orlen)
has let a contract to Finland’s Neste Jacobs Oy to perform a comprehensive study of the 5.4 million-tpy refinery in Litvinov
Neste Jacobs will perform the energy efficiency study using its proprietary NAPCON energy performance analysis
which includes a combination of high-level process know-how and modelling skills
The planned modular approach to the refinery’s energy performance will identify potential areas of feasible improvement and create a practical action plan to implement the proposed improvements
To be fully customized based on Unipetrol’s needs
the study specifically will review existing energy consumption and production within the refinery process units
including pinch analysis to identify opportunities to improve heat integration of processes as well as ways to maximize benefits of fired heater operations at the plant
Alongside analysis of the refinery’s energy efficiency
the study also will include an assessment of wastewater optimization opportunities to help minimize water usage and wastewater recycling
The study comes as part of Unipetrol’s commitment under its energy management system certification to maintain and make ongoing improvements to a sustainable energy efficiency program at the refinery
the member of Unipetrol’s board of directors responsible for research and development
Unipetrol RPA completed integration of both the Litvinov refinery and 3.3 million-tonne/year Kralupy refinery into its newly created organizational unit—Unipetrol RPA SRO-Rafinerie—as of Jan
While both refineries were operated by former Unipetrol subsidiary Ceska Rafinerska AS (CRC), the CRC subsidiary was dissolved and ceased to exist with the Jan. 1 integration, Unipetrol said (<a href="http://www.ogj.com/articles/2015/05/unipetrol-takes-100-ownership-of-czech-refineries.html">OGJ Online May, 4, 2015</a>)
Unipetrol’s 2015 buyout of CRC follows the company’s overall strategy for 2013-17, in which the operator said it would focus capital investment on projects designed to further integrate the refining and petrochemical segments of its business in order to guarantee secure feedstock supplies for its petrochemical operations (<a href="http://www.ogj.com/articles/2014/07/unipetrol-buys-out-eni-for-ownership-of-czech-refining-company.html">OGJ Online, July 3, 2014</a>)
In addition to the Litvinov and Kralupy refineries—the Czech Republic’s only two—Unipetrol RPA also owns and operates a 544,000-tpy ethylene plant in the Unipetrol-owned Chempark Zaluzi petrochemical complex in Litvinov
The Litvinov steam cracker resumed full operations earlier this year following $167.8-million reconstruction program and additional preventative maintenance works in the wake of an August 2015 explosion and ensuing fire that led to the unit’s extended shutdown (<a href="http://www.ogj.com/articles/2016/09/unipetrol-wraps-cracker-repairs-at-litvinov-petchem-complex.html">OGJ Online, Sept. 1, 2016</a>)
the cracker returned to full and steady operation on Mar
10 following the company’s decision in late February (based on results of a regular inspection) to once again shutter the unit to replace part of a piping system that
while not directly affected by the August 2015 incident
was upgraded as a precautionary measure to ensure safe and reliable future performance
The year, Unipetrol said it will continue to focus on working to complete its grassroots polyethylene 3 (PE3) production unit at its Chempark Zaluzi Litvinov plant, on which construction started in June 2016 (<a href="http://www.ogj.com/articles/2016/06/unipetrol-breaks-ground-on-polyethylene-unit.html">OGJ Online, June 7, 2016</a>)
At a capital cost of 8-billion koruna—the biggest investment to date in the history of the Czech petrochemical industry—the 270,000-tpy PE3 unit remains on schedule to be commissioned in mid-2018
Contact Robert Brelsford at <a href="/cdn-cgi/l/email-protection#87f5e5f5e2ebf4e1e8f5e3c7e8e0ede8e9ebeee9e2a9e4e8ea">[email&#160;protected]</a>
the 1988 Olympic gold medalist in the men's hammer throw
The Russian track and field federation said in a statement that Litvinov "suddenly fell" from his bicycle while riding back from a practice session in the southern city of Sochi
The federation said an ambulance crew "arrived immediately after being called but was unable to save him."
Litvinov was a two-time world champion in the hammer throw and won Olympic silver in 1980
He remains the Olympic-record holder after throwing 84.80 meters to win the gold medal in Seoul
Litvinov later coached athletes including his son
who is a former European bronze medalist in the hammer
The IAAF is deeply saddened by the news that Sergey Litvinov of Russia
a former world and Olympic champion in the hammer
whose fierce rivalry with Yuriy Sedykh during the waning years of the Soviet Union in the 1980s helped rewrite the record books in the event
made his first major championships appearance at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow at 22
He then captured back-to-back world titles at the first two editions of the IAAF World Championships in 1983 and 1987
before taking Olympic gold in Seoul the following year
His 84.80m winning effort in 1988 is still the Olympic record
Litvinov set three world records during his career
breaking the previous mark set by Sedykh by 1.02m
Sedykh reclaimed the record later that year but Litvinov retook it two years later with an 83.98m throw in Moscow on 4 June 1982 to become the first man to break both the 82 and 83-metre barriers
He ended his career with an 86.04m lifetime best set in 1986
still the second farthest throw of all time
Upon retirement Litvinov turned to coaching
Among his charges was his son Sergey Litvinov junior
who won bronze at the 2014 European Championships
The  270,000-tonnes/year main—or “natural”—production line of the new PE3 unit is  now fully operational
enabling the plant to use its entire production capacity  to manufacture advanced types of natural PE
Operational  testing and delivery of the unit’s 100,000-tpy second—or “black”—line will  occur once coronavirus-related restrictions are lifted
Designed  to replace the complex’s existing 120,000-tpy PE1 unit
the two-line PE3 unit  will join the remaining 200,000-tpy PE2 unit to boost Unipetrol’s overall  high-density PE (HDPE) production at the site to 470,000 tpy from its current  320,000 tpy
Part  of Unipetrol’s strategy to further integrate its own and parent company <a href="https://www.orlen.pl/EN/Pages/default.aspx" target="_blank">Polski  Koncern Naftowy SA’s</a>  (PKN Orlen) refining and petrochemical  businesses
the 9.6 billion- koruna PE3 unit stands as the biggest investment  to date in the history of the Czech petrochemical industry
Unipetrol’s chairman of the board of directors
Technip  Italy SPA—now a part of TechnipFMC PLC—delivered engineering, procurement, and  construction services for the PE3 unit, which is equipped with Ineos  Technologies Ltd.’s proprietary Innovene S slurry technology for production of  mono and bimodal HDPE (<a href="https://www.ogj.com/refining-processing/article/17250371/unipetrol-breaks-ground-on-polyethylene-unit">OGJ Online, June 7, 2016</a>)
Robert Brelsford joined Oil & Gas Journal in October 2013 as downstream technology editor after 8 years as a crude oil price and news reporter on spot crude transactions at the US Gulf Coast
He holds a BA (2000) in English from Rice University and an MS (2003) in education and social policy from Northwestern University
but so are melanoma and skin cancer rates: this
“The problem is that people use sunscreen as a ‘permission slip’ to tan,” said <a href="https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/ivan-litvinov">Dr. Ivan Litvinov</a>
an Associate Professor in the Department of Medicine and Chair of the Dermatology Division at McGill University and co-author with Dr
Pingxing Xie of two recent studies that explore the sunscreen paradox
“People think they are protected from skin cancer because they are using a product marketed to prevent a condition.”
Most people don’t apply enough sunscreen or stay in the sun for hours after applying sunscreen in the morning
“This gives them a false sense of security,” said Litvinov
To understand the factors between varying incidence rates of melanoma in the Atlantic provinces of Canada
a group of researchers including Litvinov and Peláez conducted 23 focus groups
In <a href="https://www.mdpi.com/2072-6694/15/19/4726">the study</a>
they found that Canadians living in Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island – provinces with high melanoma incidence rates – were more likely to report using sun protection
more aware of the health risks of sun exposure
they also received more sun exposure due to warmer temperatures and a tendency to engage in outdoor activities
Similarly, in <a href="https://aacrjournals.org/cebp/article-abstract/doi/10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-23-0545/729043/Gene-Environment-Analyses-in-a-UK-Biobank-Skin?redirectedFrom=fulltext">a second study</a> of the United Kingdom Biobank by Jeremian
the researchers documented that sunscreen use was surprisingly associated with a more than twofold risk of developing skin cancer
“These combined findings suggest a sunscreen paradox
whereby individuals with higher levels of sun exposure also tend to use more but not an adequate quantity of sunscreen or other sun-protection measures
providing a false sense of security,” said Litvinov
Interventions to address knowledge and practice gaps in sun protection and skin cancer prevention must consider this sunscreen paradox and the unique norms of communities around the world
but it is also the least effective way to protect your skin when compared to sun protective clothing
but without getting a sun burn or a suntan,” said Litvinov
McGill University is home to exceptional students
and staff from across Canada and around the world
It is consistently ranked as one of the top universities
It is a world-renowned institution of higher learning with research activities spanning three campuses
300 programs of study and over 39,000 students
including more than 10,400 graduate students
<a class="button--outline" href="https://www.mcgill.ca/newsroom/">Visit the McGill Newsroom </a>
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It’s the best episode of Homeland’s fifth season
Etai (Allan Corduner) appears briefly only so that he might not only reunite Carrie (Claire Danes) and Saul (Mandy Patinkin)
(“Both our hearts were broken,” Carrie says of the rift that developed after she refused to support Saul’s bid for the C.I.A
and Etai asks her to be more graceful: “Yes
Weaker.”) After the two share a much-needed and heartfelt hug
Homeland jumps back to its winning formula: Carrie and Saul together
looking for evidence that a red-haired American is a traitor
in which it was revealed that the Germans had been using the C.I.A
but in actuality to bug her phone and purse
and the intimacy and complexity behind his motivations are what set Homeland above procedurals like Blindspot
“I was asleep for 10 years; you woke me up,” and yet able to compromise her privacy for the greater good
There’s depth to their conversation too: Allison suggests that it would be ridiculous for Saul to have been a Mossad agent all of these years even as she stands secretly accused of being a Russian agent for a comparable stretch of time
Although some of the episodes that have provided the foundation for that irony were on the weaker side
it speaks to the relative consistency of the writers’ room that there’s been character growth
and that there’s a shared history to build on
hoping Allison will incriminate herself when the BVD informs the C.I.A
that there’s a senior Moscow section chief planning to defect to America
the plan fails; instead of running to her handler
but not to the United States: “I don’t know one goddamn thing about her
after upping the ante (Astrid implies that this defector is planning to out a Russian mole in the Berlin office)
The following 10 minutes operate almost like a one shot
tied together by Sean Callery’s entrancing score
with Homeland burning through seemingly every trick in the spy book
Allison uses a pre-arranged call code to signal her Russian handler
and then methodically disassembles and tosses her phone
constantly switches platforms and trains as she looks for any tails
and works her way to a suspected SVR safe house in a neighboring village
Carrie and company continue to watch thanks to an overhead drone
even though the audio cuts out within the dead-zone compound
waiting for what they believe to be unequivocal confirmation that Allison is a traitor
She even goes so far as to stare Dar Adal (F
insisting that he’s just compromised her operation
Unrelated to any of this is the other (unfortunately) major plot of Homeland
the one in which Peter Quinn (Rupert Friend) has been taken captive by ISIS
which plans to use him as a test subject for the sarin gas they plan to unleash on Berlin if their demands aren’t met
The only connection to the rest of the series is that
he’s forced to spend his time passively watching others
doing his best to influence them with conversation with his guard
Qasim isn’t fully invested in the ideology (he’s there only because he’s the cousin of their ringleader)
serves as the filter through which the writers can criticize ISIS
Quinn convinces Qasim to watch videos of the effect sarin gas has on victims
it’s much harder for him to muster up the conviction behind party lines like “Nobody’s innocent
not when you’re sending soldiers to slaughter Muslims” or “Terror is the necessary product of the Caliphate.” Whereas the playing field is level between Carrie and Allison in their cat-and-mouse game
everything’s philosophically stacked against Qasim: There’s no real argument on whose hands all the blood will be on should the West fail to cave to ISIS’s demands for the recognition of an Islamic state
and that makes the discussion hardly worth having
When Qasim suggests that “Whatever happens is Allah’s will” and Quinn retorts
“Maybe it’s Allah’s will that you stop this,” it’s hard to interpret that as anything more than direct criticism of the so-called inaction of those who don’t rise up (at great personal risk) to fight Islamic fundamentalists
Whatever happens on a television show is the will of the writers
There needs to be more of a reason to show Quinn foaming at the mouth after exposure to sarin gas (potentially faking it
as Qasim’s injected him with a counteragent) than the simple need for a dramatic cliffhanger
For more Homeland recaps, click <a href="/tag/homeland/">here</a>
This article was originally published on The House Next Door
Aaron has been playing games since the late ’80s and writing about them since the early ’00s
He also obsessively writes about crossword clues at The Crossword Scholar
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which covers dissent in the Soviet Union and Russia today
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on May 5 announced they had facilitated Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash&#x27;s escape from Russia to France after she fled house arrest on April 21
 (Updated:  May 6, 2025 6:22 am)<a class="" href="/drones-target-moscow-second-night-in-a-row-russian-official-claims/">Ukraine&#x27;s drones target Moscow second night in a row, Russian official claims. </a>Debris from one of the drones reportedly fell on the Kashirskoye Highway
The reported attack comes just days before Russia&#x27;s Victory Day parade and three-day &quot;truce.&quot; 
A Russian drone attack on Odesa Oblast on May 5 killed one and caused damage to local infrastructure
&quot;We appreciate that Germany plays a pivotal role in supporting Ukraine throughout the years of war
Ukraine is also grateful for your personal commitment,&quot; President Volodymyr Zelensky said
MPs will be able to ask questions and learn more about the details of the agreement in meetings with Economy Minister Yulia Svyrydenko May 6-7
MP Serhii Sobolev told the news outlet Suspilne
The ratification vote is scheduled for May 8
Attacks against the border villages of Bilopillia and Vorozhba damaged civilian infrastructure and triggered emergency evacuations
the regional military administration reported
&quot;I look forward to working with President Erdogan on getting the ridiculous
war between Russia and Ukraine ended — now!&quot; U.S
Putin&#x27;s Victory Day truce &quot;doesn&#x27;t sound like much
if you know where we started from,&quot; Trump told reporters at the White House on May 5
Far-right Euroskeptic candidate George Simion
head of the Alliance for the Union of Romanians (AUR)
Bucharest Mayor Nicusor Dan placed second with 20.99% of the vote
and the candidate from the ruling coalition
&quot;It requires the continuation of contacts between Moscow and Washington
which have been launched and are now ongoing,&quot; Kremlin spokesperson Dmitry Peskov said
set to operate within the Council of Europe
will focus on Russia&#x27;s political and military leaders
by <a rel="dofollow" class="MultiAuthorsSection_authorSectionName__bw3E0" href="/author/kateryna-hodunova/">Kateryna Hodunova</a>Major General Andrii Kovalchuk
the ex-head of Southern Operational Command
(Ukrinform/NurPhoto via Getty Images)Andrii Kovalchuk
have been promoted and will leave their current posts
confirmed for the Kyiv Independent on April 11
Lawmaker <a href="https://t.me/oleksiihoncharenko/41049">Oleksii Honcharenko</a> said on April 9 that Kovalchuk and Litvinov were dismissed from their respective commands
adding that these changes would not be &quot;the last ones.&quot;
Honcharenko announced the same day that Major General Hennadii Shapovalov
the ex-commander of the 59th Motorized Infantry Brigade
was appointed as the new head of the Southern Operational Command
who previously served in the Territorial Defense Forces
According to the military&#x27;s statement
Litvinov became a deputy head of Ukraine&#x27;s National Defense University
and Kovalchuk was appointed as the head of the Odesa Military Academy
Litvinov has served as the head of the Eastern Operational Command since August 2021
He was also a combat training deputy commander of the Northern Operational Command in 2017
Kovalchuk has been deployed as a peacekeeper to U.N. missions in Kosovo, Liberia, and Cote d&#x27;Ivoire. He also participated in combat operations in <a href="https://kyivindependent.com/tag/donetsk-oblast/">Donetsk Oblast</a> at the beginning of the Russian invasion in 2014 before the assault on Luhansk International Airport
Kovalchuk was awarded the title of Hero of Ukraine
Kovalchuk was appointed the head of the Southern Operational Command in August 2021. The following year, Kovalchuk commanded the southern <a href="https://kyivindependent.com/tag/counteroffensive/">counteroffensive</a> in the <a href="https://kyivindependent.com/tag/kherson-oblast/">Kherson Oblast</a>
He was also credited by the General Staff as the one who planned the counteroffensive in <a href="https://kyivindependent.com/tag/kharkiv-oblast/">Kharkiv Oblast</a>, which was commanded on the ground by General <a href="https://kyivindependent.com/tag/oleksandr-syrskyi/">Oleksandr Syrskyi</a>
Kateryna Hodunova is a News Editor at the Kyiv Independent
She previously worked as a sports journalist in several Ukrainian outlets and was the deputy chief editor at Suspilne Sport
Kateryna covered the 2022 Olympics in Beijing and was included in the Special Mentions list at the AIPS Sport Media Awards
She holds a bachelor&#x27;s degree in political journalism from Taras Shevchenko University and a master&#x27;s degree in political science from the National University of Kyiv-Mohyla Academy
By <a href="https://www.cartoonbrew.com/author/chris-mcdonnell" rel="author" class="fn byline" title="Chris McDonnell" itemprop="name">Chris McDonnell</a> | 06/13/2017 7:28 pm | <a href="https://www.cartoonbrew.com/artist-of-the-day/max-litvinov-148341.html#cmnt">2 Comments</a>
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Each zodiac sign's weekly horoscope for the week of June 3 to June 9
revealing how the week's astrology influences our actions
The Taurus moon on the 3rd will give us all something to discuss and with Mercury entering the sign of Gemini on the same day, we can expect a thrilling week of socializing. It's a good moment to consider the impact that Jupiter's stay in Taurus has had on us for the last year, but the new moon in Gemini on June 6 is a welcoming party for <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/jupiter-gemini-2024-horoscopes-each-zodiac-sign">Jupiter's entry into this sign</a>
The collective will feel the momentum of this transit for the next several weeks and it can be the perfect time to catch up with people
share some good moments and enjoy the season
the moon will enter cozy Cancer on the 7th
allowing us to recharge before the upcoming week
Refreshed and prepared to take on the world with the moon in Taurus
you could feel a lot more motivated to socialize or complete pending tasks
a transformative energy you'll feel for the next six months
you can see your energy levels balancing with the moon in Cancer
RELATED: <a href="/zodiac/most-influential-astrology-transits-june-2024">How The 9 Most Influential Astrology Transits In June 2024 Will Affect You</a>
Starting the week with the moon in your sign can be a slight advantage. You are bringing the heat back, and <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/zodiac-signs-will-experience-incredibly-lucky-gemini-season-may-20-june-20">this Gemini season</a> has you focusing on success
Things get much more creative when the new moon in Gemini joins the stellium to help you celebrate and stay connected with your purpose
The moon in Cancer adds to your creativity and optimism this week
Your season is the recipe the collective needs since it brings many opportunities and communication
The week brings things into perspective once the moon in Taurus helps you recalibrate and adjust to what the week has planned for you
The moon in your sign enhances your optimism and energy
which will continue until the moon in Cancer brings about relaxation
The beginnings of your chapter will start with this transit and will also reflect the impact that Jupiter will have on you for the upcoming year
Crafting many things this week comes quickly with the moon in the friendly sign of Taurus helping you bring about better connections with others
Your honesty radiates and you will be in reflection mode
The new moon in Gemini allows you to tap into what your subconscious needs
read a good book and journal to your heart's content
the moon in your sign can reflect the beginning of a new chapter that will carry on next week
RELATED: <a href="/2024374956/2-zodiac-signs-most-likely-achieve-abundance-june-2024">2 Zodiac Signs Most Likely To Achieve Abundance In June 2024</a>
Success is on your mind as the moon in Taurus creates a beautiful period where you can complete the work you started during the Jupiter in Taurus transit. This is a potent energy that the <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/meaning-new-moon-each-zodiac-sign">Gemini new moon</a> will allow you to connect and explore your dreams and desires
You are not afraid to share your visionary side with others
and this motivation will continue for the next six months
Setting the mood for calm is the Moon in Cancer
As an <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/earth-signs">earth sign</a>
the moon in Taurus helps balance and gives you much hope as you begin to see what this Gemini season is about
Your goals become more apparent with the new moon in Gemini
allowing you to see beyond your horizon and envision what you can accomplish next year
the moon in Cancer will enable you to stay connected
driven and open to strengthening your relationships
Welcoming new things is <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/what-do-during-gemini-season-improve-your-life">what Gemini season is all about</a>
You surround yourself with inspirational people who boost your creativity and confidence
you set the stage for new beginnings that will be enhanced during the new moon in Gemini
learn and continue growing in your career or pursue your dream vocation
Romance is in the air on Monday with the moon in Taurus
An analysis of what you learned during the Jupiter in Taurus transit can be meaningful now as you are open to uncovering new things and learning
more relationship dynamics will be analyzed by you for the next six months
RELATED: <a href="/2024374817/each-zodiac-signs-weekly-tarot-card-reading-june-3-9-2024">Each Zodiac Sign's Weekly Tarot Card Reading For June 3-9, 2024</a>
The moon in Taurus gives you a reasonable period of calm before the potency of the new moon in Gemini lights your relationship house
you will understand what you seek in a partner and what you want them to bring to the table
Current romantic relationships will also be thoroughly dissected by you this week and for the following year
Prepare to examine <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/2024374867/each-zodiac-signs-weekly-love-horoscope-june-3-9-2024">this week's meaningful transits' impact on your romantic life</a>
The moon in Taurus will make things interesting
letting you consider the past and how those lessons have influenced the present
The new moon in Gemini will bring you back to feeling centered as you create new solid foundations to help catapult your career
While the moon in Taurus helps you settle and feel serene
giving you the self-assurance to do what you want without limiting yourself
the next six months can be a moment of connecting with others
Those in relationships can feel the romance intensifying
The moon in Cancer later in the week allows you to have practical discussions surrounding your day-to-day
As a <a href="https://www.yourtango.com/zodiac/mutable-signs-astrology">mutable sign</a>
the energy today will be one that can help you become closer to your ambitions
The moon in Taurus is where your academic side radiates
The new moon in Gemini brings you opportunities to build something from home
Research more about what interests you and expand beyond your imagination regarding your career prospects
RELATED: <a href="/2024374613/3-zodiac-signs-are-basically-universes-favorites-june-2024">3 Zodiac Signs That Are Basically The 'Universe's Favorites' In June 2024</a>
Photo of Iryna Litvinov and Olena Litvinov at the Refugee Art Show in St
Photo courtesy of the Litvinov family.&nbsp;
Nearly nine months after touching down in the United States
the unending resilience of Ukrainian mother Iryna Litvinov and her daughter Olena – in addition to the ceaseless support of their host family - have moved the two refugees out of their shared guest bedroom in Michael Warchol’s home and into a place of their own.&nbsp;
With the possibility of a life long-term in the U.S
Iryna and Olena’s story paints a picture of what modern asylum looks like for many migrants across our country – a battle both with cultural identity
Iryna and Olena found their new home while taking evening English classes at a church in Bon Air
The church was cleaned by an older Ukrainian woman who was looking to retire from her job and lived in a small house near the church
Ira was able to take over her position and residence for a very affordable price.&nbsp;
While opportunities like this made it possible for the two women to maintain their livelihood and independence
Warchol described that in many ways they found themselves with an identity unrecognizable to the one they had within the country they were born
Iryna has a doctorate in economics and most recently held a position at the Kharkiv National University of Economics. Established in 1912 by renowned economist Simon Kuznets, and with just over 10,000 students enrolled, <a href="https://www.hneu.edu.ua/en/">KHNUE</a> is the largest institution of research and higher education in the eastern part of Ukraine
the experience she has accumulated throughout her career is not able to be used properly due to the language barrier
with a budding focus on the interactions between design and user experience
while her job at a nearby McDonald’s has given her an opportunity to improve her English
the rest of her formal education has ground to a halt
the support from the Richmond community has given Ira and Lena opportunities to share their personal experiences through art
grounding them in their identity and creating a space for expression
In May, a community arts fair called Arts in the Park gathered around Iryna’s inspiring works, giving her a booth to display a collection of oil paintings. With a few <a href="https://instagram.com/refuge.in.art?igshid=MzRlODBiNWFlZA==">social media accounts</a> &nbsp;and a <a href="https://www.nbc12.com/2023/05/04/i-want-my-work-give-people-joy-arts-park-feature-ukrainian-refugees/">feature on a local news channel</a>
attention and donations steadily flowed into Iryna’s tent throughout the weekend
Olena’s artistry has manifested in poetry, earning her a place in the <a href="https://www.reestablishrichmond.org/">ReEstablish Richmond</a> <a href="https://www.reestablishrichmond.org/youth-resources">Narratio Fellowship program</a>
which has a mission to provide resettled refugee youth with opportunities to share their stories through various storytelling mediums.&nbsp;
manager of the University of Richmond’s International Office of Education
which included a trip to New York City in July where she showcased her work at the Museum of Modern Art
While work on integrating Iryna and Olena into their new life began immediately
Warchol found that stable footing took time
a car and health appointments – proved arduous missions
“It took a solid three to four months to make things happen,” Warchol said
I think we sort of expect things to be instantaneous.”
the prospect of opening a bank account is exciting and relatively simple
A Saturday morning trip and a couple of clicks leave them with a shiny &nbsp;card and newfound independence
Yet for two Ukrainians who have no social security numbers and are on a two-year parole program
establishing financial freedom took rounds of mailing documentation
verification and learning how to funnel their earnings independent of the Warchol family
obtaining health and dental care was a tedious task.&nbsp;
“There [have] been a lot with medical conditions for them,” Warchol said
“Instances where maybe they didn’t receive the best care in Ukraine.”
While Ukraine boasts a universal system where healthcare is deemed a legal right, grappling with severe corruption, underfunding and lack of accessibility has led to <a href="https://www.who.int/europe/news/item/24-10-2022-accessing-health-care-in-ukraine-after-8-months-of-war--the-health-system-remains-resilient--but-key-health-services-and-medicine-are-increasingly-unaffordable">inadequate outcomes</a>
With the beginning of a violent war only inflaming an already unstable system
“We knew it was going to be time intensive,” Warchol said
“But we really didn’t know what that would look like.”&nbsp;
interpreted on the fly in a doctor’s office when the translator failed to show up
What the Warchol family is doing is not entirely unique
with more and more Ukrainian refugees starting their journey in the U.S
In April of 2022, President Biden announced <a href="https://www.uscis.gov/ukraine">Uniting for Ukraine</a>
Citizenship and Immigration Services program that provided pathways for Ukrainian citizens and their immediate family members to come to the United States and stay for two years of temporary parole
Any Ukrainians participating in the program would need a sponsor in the U.S
who agreed to support them during this period
With the grim reality of the war stretching on
the Warchol and Litvinov families have begun efforts to bring Iryna’s mother
“The process is much slower,” Warchol said
“many are trying to game and cheat the system
and the USCIS is more cautious about who they are letting in.”
With the upcoming election posing a possible threat to the continuation and amount of funding for the Uniting for Ukraine program
many refugees like Iryna and Olena are left with limited time to solidify their futures in the United States
and the two year expiration date on the horizon
the Warchols found an immigration attorney who met with Iryna and Olena
and a group of Ukrainian refugees to discuss the different pathways
constant communication has linked the two women to their families
Between Iryna’s daily phone calls with her mother and detailed pictures of American grocery stores sent over text
excitement over novel experiences continues to be shared
guidance and support of the Warchol family has provided a comfortable and necessary foundation for Iryna and Olena
it is their own optimism that has warmed them to new and often daunting experiences
the two of them hosted ten other Ukrainians at their new home
This sparked the beginnings of a network of understanding
a relief from the barriers of language and the shared navigation of a new life.&nbsp;
Contact writer Sophia Demerath at sophia.demerath@richmond.edu.&nbsp;
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The CIA and BND combine forces to catch Allison
Dima Litvinov, a <a href="https://www.theguardian.com/environment/greenpeace" data-link-name="in body link" data-component="auto-linked-tag">Greenpeace</a> campaigner
was the first member of the Arctic 30 to be allowed to leave
His fellow activists are expected to leave Russia in the coming days
He told told the Guardian of his relief at leaving Russia and arriving in Finland
My last memory of Russia is the border police woman who told me I should not be proud of myself
'Why don't you do these things in the United States?' she asked
Litvinov was one of 30 people who were arrested in September after a protest at a Russian offshore oil rig and spent two months in jail before being granted bail in November
Hooliganism charges were dropped after Russia's parliament passed an amnesty law that was seen as an attempt by the Kremlin to assuage criticism of the country's human rights record before the Winter Olympics in Sochi in February
Litvinov said the Arctic 30 had been warmly received by ordinary Russians
but treated as criminals intent on destroying Russia by government officials
&quot;They saw us as criminals involved in a conspiracy against Russia
They say that we are trying to push Russia from its rightful place on the Arctic shelf,&quot; he said
Litvinov is the fourth generation of his family to be imprisoned in Russia for political activity
His great-grandfather Maxim Litvinov opposed Tsar Nicholas II before being made Soviet foreign minister
His grandfather Lev Kopelev was imprisoned by Stalin for 10 years for opposing the regime and speaking out against Soviet atrocities against German civilians in the second world war
Lev was imprisoned with his friend Aleksandr Solzhenitsyn and was the inspiration for the main character in Solzhenitsyn's novel First Circle
was one of seven people who protested against the Soviet invasion of Czechoslovakia in Red Square
for which he was sentenced to internal exile in Siberia when Dima was six years old
The family left Russia when he was 11 and Litvnov now holds US and Swedish nationality
He said that he was surprised to be released
especially as he was interrogated on Christmas Eve
They owe me a medal for trying to save the Russian environment,&quot; he said
&quot;The amnesty is just a way for the authorities to save face but we are still described as violent criminals that the Duma
Litvinov was given his passport with an exit visa stamped in it on Thursday
along with a letter explaining that the authorities had decided not to prosecute him for illegally entering the country
We were taken in international waters and forcibly taken to Russia
I collected my bag and said goodbye to my friends and got on the train to Helsinki,&quot; he said
Litvinov was released on 22 November after six weeks in prison in Murmansk and two weeks in St Petersburg
but it was really just a much more comfortable prison cell
We could only stay in the hotel and we could not leave the city
There was the same psychological pressure as prison
Litvinov expected to meet his wife in Helsinki and spend a night there before taking a ferry to Sweden for a holiday before returning to campaigning
&quot;I'm going to decompress and enjoy the rest of Christmas
The Arctic has still not been saved and there's a lot to be done,&quot; he said.