I am Oleksandr Shovkaliuk and my wife, Alla Shovkaliuk, were born and raised in Ukraine. In 2021, working through our partner organization the American Children’s Fund of Moldova and Ukraine (AFCMU), we helped initiate a U.S. Congressional delegation to Ukraine. From August 12-16, 2021, Members of the U.S. congress were able to see first-hand the importance of strong U.S./Ukraine relations. Subsequently, we opened to open a fund to support cultural diplomacy and people-to-people dialogue in Ukraine and for Ukrainian refugees around the world. We will develop programs with partners on key global issues, including humanitarian assistance to children and their families, and offer basic services and opportunities for creativity, education and maintain the well-being.
The purpose of this trip was to better understand the complexities of the region through meetings with representatives of the Ukrainian government, business and culture. Participants discussed economic development issues with the private sector, young entrepreneurs, and the US business community. The trip also reviewed the efforts made by Ukraine to stabilize the border areas in order to prevent human trafficking and smuggling of goods and weapons. Ukraine is an important country for US interests in Eastern Europe. It is critical for all members of Congress to better understand the current dynamics and strategic challenges.
The program started with a briefing on Friday, August 13, 2021, by senior staff of the U.S. Embassy Kyiv; the Members were briefed on U.S. positions and priorities. This led the groundwork to productive meetings with the Ukrainian government, business, and civic leaders. Following the briefings, the delegation met with the leadership of the Ukrainian Headquarters of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), a United States government-funded organization that broadcasts and reports news, information and analysis to countries in Eastern Europe and Central Asia. At RFE/RL they learned of the work it is doing in Ukraine as well as the organization’s current difficulties in Russia and Belarus. After its meeting at RFE/RL, the delegation met with the head of Administration of Kharkiv, Ukraine’s second-largest city and a major cultural, scientific, educational, transport and industrial center. Discussions focused on the need for people-to-people contacts to build a base for economic, scientific, and cultural exchanges. These business-focused talks continued throughout the program in working lunches and dinners which explored how to increase U.S. investment and opportunities in Ukraine.
The delegation also met with businessman Alexander Kravchenko, who spoke about the state of the railway and proposed a business project for the reconstruction and restoration of locomotives.
REPAIR AND VISION OF THE MAIN PARK OF LOCOMOTIVES
MODERNIZATION OF THE EXISTING LOCOMOTIVE PARK
Due to excessive wear and tear of traction in accordance with Ukrzaliznytsia and the presence in the State of enterprises for the construction of new modern locomotives, we propose to consider an innovative project to modernize existing shunting locomotives by deep modernization of locomotives of the ChME3 series.
Which includes: KR (overhaul)and modernization of trolleys, KR and modernization of pneumatic equipment, production of the main frame, installation of new traction and diesel engines, installation of new auxiliary diesel equipment systems, body production, cab production, control panels, production and installation of electrical equipment, the formation of a modern control system for traction rolling stock. The project involves the use of a wide range of US-made goods.
Namely: Caterpillar (USA) or Cummins (USA) diesel engines, WM Copeland compressors, General Electric’s Super Skid power modules, Exide Technologies batteries, microprocessor, electronic equipment, ancillary equipment, machines, tools etc..) and software.
The peculiarity of this project is that the main part of the supply of components, equipment and units are products manufactured by US companies, the share of which will be from 60%. Implementation of this project in the frame work of economic assistance to the state of Ukraine by the
United States of America on the implementation of programs of the Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine p.265 of March 24, 2021.No.276-., which provides for the modernization of Ukrzaliznytsia’s rolling stock, will open a
significant market for goods and services of US enterprises and significantly improve the situation with the renewal of traction rolling stock on Ukrainian railways.
PLAN OF LOCOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP
(І stage)
PLAN OF LOCOMOTIVE REPAIR SHOP
(І stage)
SCHEMATIC PLAN OF ZONING OF THE REPAIR SHOP
Project amount: 15.0 million US dollars, of which the required investment is 14.0 million US dollars. The amount of investments required to complete:
-First Phase of construction and launch of operating activities $8.5 million US dollars -The second Phase of construction is $6.5 million US dollars
– Estimated revenue per unit:
-modernization of existing locomotives 300-400 thousand with a cost of 0.8-1.2 million US dollars. Planned number per unit/year: modernization of existing locomotives up to 20 units.
For comparison: the cost of a new shunting locomotive of foreign production from 2.5 million US dollars
_________________________________________________________________________________
The congressmen also listened to representatives of teachers where they revealed a lot of difficulties teaching children with autism and kids with disabilities.
_________________________________________________________________________________
Additional highlights of the program on Saturday, August 14 and Sunday, August 15 included meetings with Ukrainian veterans’ groups at which the physical hardships resulting from Russian aggression, the border wars. and in the temporarily occupied territory of Crimea were discussed. An important governmental meeting was with Mr. Volodymyr Taftay, Head of the Space Agency of Ukraine at which U.S./Ukraine cooperating in space was explored.
A moving part of the program was a visit to the Holocaust memorial Site of Babi Yar and then a meeting with the remaining Ukrainian ”Righteous Among The Nations”. Babi Yar, a small valley in Kyiv, is one of the most solemn and harrowing sites in Europe. There, the Members learned about the site where just 80 years ago, on September 29th and 30th, 33,771 Jews, were rounded up by the German Nazis and their collaborators and brutally murdered. Men, women, and children were murdered, simply because they were Jews. Following the visit, the Members attended a lunch in honor of Mrs. Nina Bogorad who is 96 years old, and the oldest living Ukrainian Righteous.
In 1942, at the age of 17, she brought into her home a young wounded Ukrainian soldier, who fled the Germans twice. His situation worsened and she wanted to take him to the Underground (partisans) doctors, he refused, explaining to her that in addition to being in the Underground, he was also a Jew, and could be given up by anyone. Understanding the incredible risks involved in harboring a Jew, she did so regardless. Mrs. Bogorad was recognized as one of the Righteous Among The Nations by Israel’s State Holocaust museum in 1992, the title bestowed to non-Jews who risked their lives to save Jews from the Holocaust, from the almost 23,000 Righteous recognized, only 169 are still living, and just 18 are still alive in Ukraine.
Eco Global International is honored to be able to arrange programs that foster dialogue and advance U.S. strategic interests. All Eco Global International’s Congressional Programs adhere to regulations set forth by the U.S. House Committee on Ethics and are approved prior to travel
Eco Global International 