The visit comes at a time of crisis in the Ukraine. It has been struggling for the past seven years of independence from the former Soviet Union to provide answers for everyone. With the economy in decline, other social problems flourish. Teachers are bribed to hand out good grades. The municipal police departments are regarded as corrupt.
Organized crime is said to be the only segment of society putting capitalism to work.
Local connections Those traveling to L'viv included Andre von Oettingen of Davis, a member of the Uman-Davis Sister City board of directors. Von Oettingen visited relatives in L'viv. His cousin, Ella Babinsky, and her husband, Gennadiy, live with their two grown children and their young granddaughter in an apartment in the city. May. Her husband and son work together transporting goods and equipment wherever the need takes them. They are fortunate to have an aging Mercedes van and in fact are doing well enough to have a new color TV in their living room and a satellite dish to bring in myriad channels from all over Europe.