VILLAGE OF KOSMACH Kosmach is a 6,000 people Hutsul* village hidden in the Ukrainian Carpathians, 350 km (220 miles) south of Lviv. Kosmach is composed by 32 localities and its area is about 90 km² (56 sq mi). It is the largest European village in area. This village is very authentic and people live with their traditional and folk way of life. People who watched Vincente Minelli’s movie BRIGADOON with Cid Charisse and Gene Kelly will understand me without having to spell things out. Between the 1940’s and the middle of the 1950’s, Kosmatch was the center of the resistance of the UPA (Ukrainska Povstantcha Armia). This “Ukrainian insurrectionary army” was the only army who was fighting against the Soviet invasion in the west part of Ukraine. This is why during the last elections Victor Iouchtchenko (pro-European) won with 4001 votes against 40 for Victor Ianoukovitch (pro-russian). Since 2004, I’ve had the chance to regularly stay at Dmytro Pojodjouk’s place. He is a journalist, local congressman, and Kosmach’s mayor. He is a man with inner resources and he has an exceptional sense of humour. He knows the Hutsuls culture and traditions better than anyone. He showed me this green setting where forests are lungs of Europe. Unfortunately they suffer from deforestation and private profits are not destined for the village! Thanks to Dmytro! (*) People living in a part of the Ukrainian Carpathians.

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