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Set on the banks of the Dnieper river in lush parkland is a hauntingly beautiful memorial to a horrific episode in history, the Holodomor, which means death by hunger. Entering the park past the guardian stone Angels of Sorrow, visitors can hear quiet but clear chimes, and your eye is drawn to the soaring Candle of Memory memorial atop the underground Hall of Memory.

It was not until 2006 that the Holodomor, a devastating famine which took place in the Ukraine region of the Soviet Union, was recognized in the Ukrainian parliament as a deliberate act of genocide against the countrys people. The artificially introduced food shortage created under Stalin was at its peak in June 1933, with nearly 28,000 people starving to death every day. Estimates have put the total number of fatalities at approximately 4 million.

Historians today believe the genocide was planned by Soviet leaders to quash any attempts at Ukrainian independence and prevent uprising from farmers who resisted collectivization (confiscating all private farms and livestock and making them government-owned) under the Soviet regime.

In 2008, 75 years after the famine-genocide, a memorial to the victims was opened in Kyiv, recognized as a national museum two years later. Inside the memorial complex is a striking statue named The Bitter Memory of Childhood, showing a young girl holding some wheat, a tribute to the most helpless victims of the famine: children. Inthe Blackboard Alley, boards list the names of the 14,000 villages and towns in Ukraine that suffered, many of whose residents remain nameless to date.

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Holodomor Victims Memorial - Atlas Obscura

WARSAW, Poland Poland and Ukraine said Tuesday they are working toward developing a regional gas hub that would end Central and Eastern Europe's dependence on Russian supplies and keep prices in line with European standards.

The region still relies to some extent on Russian natural gas and has been exposed to political pressure from Moscow, which has at times in the past limited supply volumes or hiked gas prices. Governments in the region have been reducing their imports of gas from Russia and seeking other sources. They have also been trying to become more energy-efficient, a task Ukraine still needs to fully undertake.

Poland is increasingly importing gas from other regions. Its new liquefied natural gas port has received deliveries by sea from Qatar and is expecting a delivery from the United States this week. Poland is also proceeding with a project to bring in North Sea gas.

Poland is sending some resources on to Ukraine, after the country cut imports from Russia in 2015. In response, Russia has threatened to end its gas transit through Ukraine, which would mean a significant loss of income for Kiev.

Government officials participating in a Poland-Ukraine Gas Conference on Tuesday said the planned hub should be in place by 2022 on the Polish-Ukrainian border.

"We now have enough infrastructure to move onwards with the hub," said Sergei Makogon, deputy head of Ukraine's oil and gas company, Ukrtransgaz.

A nation of 38 million, Poland uses 15.3 billion cubic meters of gas a year, of which 11.1 billion cubic meters are imported. Ukraine, with almost 43 million residents, uses 33.2 cubic meters of gas, with 11.1 billion cubic meters imported from its western partners.

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Poland, Ukraine develop gas hub for independence from Russia ... - Fox News

GENEVA, June 7. /TASS/. Swiss Federal Councilor Didier Burkhalter called on Kiev to take steps towards the decentralization of power in Ukraine, to up democratization efforts as well as to enhance the fighting against corruption, according to Wednesdays statement from the main diplomatic office of Switzerland.

The statement cited Burkhalter as saying, that although a host of important reformations had been already implemented, Ukraine still had to brace itself for stepping up efforts in the direction of democracy, power decentralization and eradication of existing corruption incidents.

Switzerlands diplomatic body state that during Burkhalters visit to Ukraine on June 6-7, the Swiss diplomat stressed particularly that contacts between the countrys mainland and self-proclaimed regions should be encouraged.

Burkhalter said that Switzerland was waiting for the developments in the political sphere of Ukraine and such progress should lead to peace in the region.

The Ukrainian city of Mariupol was the first venue for Burkhalters visit to Ukraine on Tuesday, and today he traveled to the countrys capital of Kiev, where he met for talks with his Ukrainian counterpart Pavel Klimkin.

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Switzerland urges Ukraine to decentralize power and initiate fight against corruption - TASS

Alexei Druzhinin//Sputnik, Kremlin Pool Photo via AP

MOSCOW, June 7. /TASS/. Russian President Vladimir Putin will definitely come up with a reciprocal reaction in case Ukraine introduces visa regime for Russia citizens, presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said on Wednesday.

"We kept reiterating for quite a while that such decisions [of Ukraine to introduce visa regime for Russians] will be followed bya reaction based completely on reciprocity," Peskov told journalists.

"I can say that the reciprocal measure would undoubtedly follow," he said. "The nature and the scale of the reciprocal measure is another matter, which will be first of all determined by the Russian president."

Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov stated on Tuesday that in case Ukraine introduced visa regime with Russia, Moscow would answer with mirror-reflection measures putting in force the visa regime for Ukrainian nationals as well.

The top Russian diplomat added that a large number of Ukrainian migrants, about 2-3 million, were currently staying in Russia.

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Putin will 'definitely react' in case Ukraine introduces visa regime, spokesman warns - TASS

Malta registered their first victory in nearly four years after securing a 1-0 win over Ukraine.

Malta went ahead three minutes later. Alex Muscat sent a long ball towards Zach Muscat who guided home a close range header.

The Ukranians failed to respond and Malta created another good opportunity. Muscat sent another good cross in the direction of Alfred Effiong and the Balzan striker headed wide.

The Maltese side kept showing good play and had another opportunity on the 38th minute. Muscat who was being a constant threat down the right side delivered a low cross towards Effiong who finished slightly wide.

Ryan Fenech nearly gifted Ukraine the equaliser on the 42nd minute. The Balzan midfielder sent a careless back pass in the direction of Viktor Kovalenko. The Ukrainian forward went through, but Andrew Hogg rushed out of his position and blocked his effort.

Andriy Shevchenkos side had another attempt on goal in the additional time prior to half time. Following a free-kick, the ball went in the path of the unmarked Seleznev. However, the Ukranian player slotted the ball wide.

During the second half, Ukraine had more possession but were unable to come up with any real threat.

In fact, the first chance of the second half was created on the 71st minute. Yehven Konoplyanka saw his shot from a free-kick ending up off target.

On the 87th minute, Shepeliev Volodymyr of Ukraine received the ball inside the penalty area and hit a powerful drive that sailed wide.

Despite Ukraines efforts, Malta kept firm to take a 1-0 win which will sure boost the confidence ahead of Saturdays World Cup qualifying match against Slovenia.

Maltas last win dates back to the 19th of November 2013. On that day, Malta won 3-2 against the Foroe Islands.

Malta starting line-up: Andrew Hogg, Steve Borg, Andrei Agius, Ryan Fenech, Clayton Failla, Andre Schembri, Bjorn Kristensen, Alfred Effiong, Zach Muscat, Steve Pisani, Alex Muscat

Ukraine starting line-up: Andriy Pyatov, Oleksandr Kucher, Taras Stepanenko, Andriy Yarmalenko, Rusian Mainovskyi, Mykola Morozyuk, Yevhen Seleznev, Serhiy Sydorchuk, Yaroslav Rakytskyi, Viktor Kovalenko, Matvienko Mykola

Referee: Alexander Harkam (Austria)

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Friendly | Malta 1 Ukraine 0 - MaltaToday