"The film "Between Hitler and Stalin" chronicles the struggle between the Nazi and Soviet regimes, from a Ukrainian perspective. The documentary recounts the events in Ukraine on the brink of the Second World War, during the Soviet occupation of Western Ukraine (1939–1941), the German-Soviet War, the Nazi occupation of Ukraine and the second Soviet occupation of Western Ukraine (1944). 

The impact of these events, which claimed 8 to 10 million Ukrainian lives, is depicted through segments on the “scorched-earth” policies of both powers; the tragedy of the Jews; and the 2.3 million Ukrainians taken as slave labourers (Ostarbeiters). The Ukrainians’ struggle against the Nazi occupiers and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army’s fight—against both totalitarian powers—for Ukraine’s independence are is portrayed. 

The film also deals with the forcible repatriation of Ukrainians to the Soviet Union, Displaced Persons (D.P.) camps and emigration. Between Hitler and Stalin features eyewitness accounts, documentary material, rare film footage, photos and documents obtained from myriad sources." (Ukrainian-Canadian Research & Documentation Center)

Jack Palance born Volodymyr Palahniuk; February 18, 1919 – November 10, 2006) was an American actor of Ukrainian descent. He was nominated for three Academy Awards, all for Best Actor in a Supporting Role, receiving nominations for his roles in Sudden Fear (1952) and Shane (1953), and winning the Oscar almost 40 years later for his role in City Slickers (1991). (Wikipedia)

It is during 1992 Oscar awarding ceremony Jack Palance, being 73 years old, performed push-up on one arm (video)

In Shane movie, he says the line which many Americans of elder generation quoted - "And where do you think you're going?".

It is the phrase and a method Ukraine should use to stop anyone who comes on its territory uninvated to get some vodka.

"The Soviet invasion of Poland was a military operation by the Soviet Union without a formal declaration of war...

The Red Army, which vastly outnumbered the Polish defenders, achieved its targets encountering only limited resistance. Some 320,000 Polish prisoners of war had been captured.

The campaign of mass persecution in the newly acquired areas began immediately. In November 1939 the Soviet government ostensibly annexed the entire Polish territory under its control. Some 13.5 million Polish citizens who fell under the military occupation were made into new Soviet subjects following show elections conducted by the NKVD secret police in the atmosphere of terror." (Wikipedia)

Any similarities with the way Crimea was occupied? Any comparison with what has been going on in that peninsular?

Usually, when Moscow says it is going to defend someone, it means it is going to occupy and kill a lot of people. Like in Katyn Massacre.

And thousands of people it had proclaimed it was going to defend:

"..in Lviv, Lutsk, Stanislav, Dubno and in dozens of other cities in Western Ukraine there began a mass execution of political prisoners. During the first two weeks of the war, more than 21 thousand people were shot by the NKVD in the prisons of Western Ukraine. With the eastward departure of the Red Army, mass executions took place in Vinnytsia, Uman, Kyiv and other cities." (Ukraine in WWII)

On the eve of the Ukraine Independence Day, State Design Office "Yuzhnoye" conducted the hot test of the third stage of "Cyclone-4" launch vehicle. The first test of this kind in the newest history of Ukraine was successful.

"Cyclone-4", according to the the State Design Office official web-site, "is used for efficient and highly accurate injection of a single or multiple spacecraft into circular, geostationary, and sun-synchronous orbits.

The launch vehicle burns hypergolic storable liquid propellants.

The Cyclone-4 is the newest and most powerful rocket in the Cyclone family. The Cyclone rockets that have been in operation since 1969 (Cyclone-2) and are widely recognized among the most reliable launchers in the world."

Couple of years ago one American state decided to celebrate Ukraine's Independence Day, although it was a weekday. Up to other 49 states may want to consider following that example for the reasons mentioned in the Decree below or for the facts mentioned in the "UKRAINE & THE UNITED STATES" book.

Happy Indepence Day, Ukraine!

Katheryn Winnick - born in Etobicoke, Ontario, and is of Ukrainian descent. She spoke Ukrainian as her first language and did not begin speaking English until she was eight years old. She began training in martial arts at age seven, and obtained her first black belt at 13. By age 21, she had started three Taekwondo schools. She taught Taekwondo and self-defense to actors while completing her degree in kinesiology at York University, Toronto. (Wiki)

Katheryn calls on everyone to be aware of the Holodomor - Youtube Video.

Natalia Zakharenko is the real name of this Hollywood star actress ("West Side Story" film had 11 Academy Award nominations). Her grandparents had to leave the city of Kharkiv, Ukraine, because of the "Russian Revolution".

Although born in the US, Natalie spoke Ukrainian and even Russian with strong Ukrainian accent. According to "Natasha: The Biography of Natalie Wood" book by Suzanne Finstad, for one of her Hollywood roles she had to "fine-tune her Russian dialect.. to lose her parents' Ukrainian accent."

Andrew Warhola was the fourth child of Ondrej Warhola (Americanized as Andrew Warhola, Sr., 1889–1942) and Julia (née Zavacká, 1892–1972), whose first child was born in their homeland and died before their move to the U.S.

"Julia and Ondrej Warhola were Carpatho-Rusyns, who immigrated to the United States during the first quarter of the 20th century. Some scholars place the Carpatho-Rusyns as a subgroup of Ukrainians, while others see them as distinctly separate. They are an East Slavic people who today inhabit the far reaches of eastern Slovakia and southwestern Ukraine." (article)

For the first time Ukraine was mentioned in the Hypatian Chronicle.

Not Little Rus’ or something else, but Ukraine. 

Nobody heard about Moscow and Russia at that time. Learn more impressive historical facts. (Empr.Media)

"Mikhailichenko began his football career in the youth system of Dynamo Kyiv and made his debut in the Soviet Top League in 1981 being only 18 years old.

He had a great career with Dynamo winning four championships and three runner-up medals. He also won the Soviet Cup three times. His biggest success with Dynamo came when they won the 1986 European Cup Winner's Cup.

He was awarded the Soviet Footballer of the Year award in 1988, as well as two Ukrainian Footballer of the Year awards in 1987 and 1988.

In 1990, he was signed by the Italian club Sampdoria, who won their first Serie A title that season.

The following season he moved to play with the Scottish Premier Division team Rangers. With Rangers Mikhailichenko managed to win another five champion's medals. All-in-all Mykhaylychenko won championship medals in 3 different leagues, and for 7 consecutive seasons – USSR in 1990, Italy in 1991 and Scotland from 1992 to 1996." (Wiki)