Letters to the Editor

To the Editors:

In your story of the Kyiv Dynamo heroes, who suffered imprisonment and death for their soccer prowess and political courage, you did not refer to the men even once as Ukrainian. You referred to the team of the capital of Ukraine as “Russian”, “Soviet”, and “Kievan”, but not once as Ukrainian. I realize that Moscow for hundreds of years stole what it wanted from Ukrainian culture and destroyed the rest, but I thought that was over. Apparently not. Historical revisionism has not died. I am saddened, angered, and disgusted.

Denis Markian Wichar

Vancouver WA

Mr. Wichar:

Thank you for your letter.

In point of fact, it would be as incorrect to call these players all Ukrainian as it was for us to err in calling them “Russian.” The only historically correct collective term for this multi-nationality team would be “Soviet.”

—The Editors

To the Editors:

I always enjoy receiving Russian Life, and the latest with articles about “Leningrad’s” facelift and Stalingrad was no exception.

I don’t recall, however, ever seeing an article about such non-ethnic Russians as the Volga-Deutsch, many of whom left Russia and the USSR, but many of whom stayed behind and were forcefully relocated in Stalin’s terror. There are still many of their descendants in Russia (though many have “repatriated” themselves to Germany).

Anyway, I’d certainly be interested in such an article done in your usual high style.

James A. Helzer

Cheyenne, WY

Mr. Helzer:

As a matter of fact, we touched on the topic of the Volga-Germans in our June/July 2002 article on Saratov. You may order a copy of this or any other available back issue through our website, or by calling 800-639-4301. Or, for any article that has appeared in Russian Life since July of 1995, a xerox copy is available for a nominal fee. See our website or call customer service for more information.

_{— The Editors}