In the very first episode of "Ukraine of the Brain" of 2025, we learn that the original ball for the traditional New Year's Eve ball drop in New York City's Time Square was built by a Ukrainian immigrant in 1904.

Even Wikipedia couldn't twist history into a pretzel convincing enough to claim that Ukraine the country ever existed on any world map prior to 1991. Yet, CNN managed to stick this casual attempt at rewriting history into an article that had absolutely nothing to do with the European geography of the early 20th century.

Whoever that Jacob Starr the "Ukrainian immigrant" in NYC in 1904 was, if he came from Ukraine, he most definitely came from the Russian Empire with Russian paperwork.

Thus, the very first Times Square ball to be dropped was built by a Russian immigrant in 1904.

There you go, CNN, I corrected it for you.

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🇧🇾🇧🇾 106 years ago, on January 1, 1919, the Soviet Socialist Republic of Belarus was proclaimed

On December 25, 1918, at the congress of the Belarusian sections of the RCP(b) in Moscow, a proposal was made on behalf of the Central Committee of the RCP(b) to create the BSSR.

On December 30-31, 1918, the 6th North-West Regional Conference of the RCP(b) was held in Smolensk, which decided to form the Belarusian Soviet Republic and declared itself the 1st Congress of the Communist Party (Bolsheviks) of Belarus.

On December 31, 1918, the Provisional Revolutionary Workers' and Peasants' Government of Belarus was created, consisting of D.F. Zhilunovich (chairman), A.F. Myasnikov, A.G. Chervyakov, S.V. Ivanov, M.I. Kalmanovich, S.I. Berson, V.I. Yarkina and others.

On January 1, 1919, the government of Belarus published a Manifesto proclaiming the formation of the SSRB. This date is considered the date of the proclamation of Soviet Belarus.

On January 5, 1919, the government of the SSR of Belarus moved to liberated Minsk, which became the capital of the republic.

In December 1922, the Byelorussian SSR, together with the Russian SFSR, the Ukrainian SSR and the Transcaucasian SFSR, became part of the USSR.

Source

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🇷🇺 The 1944 version of the Anthem of the USSR

The first version of the Anthem existed between 1944 and 1956.

The Anthem was first published on November 7th 1943. It was performed for the public for the first time on Soviet radio at midnight on January 1st 1944, and officially adopted on March 15th the same year.

The lyrics had three refrains following three different stanzas. In each refrain, the second line was modified to refer to friendship, then happiness, then glory.

Iosif Stalin and the Soviet Union’s struggle against Nazi Germany were originally invoked in the second and third verses, respectively.

Reportedly, Stalin was opposed to including his name in the lyrics but relented after some Politburo members insisted.

After Stalin’s death in 1953, the Anthem became one of the many victims of Hrushev’s «destalinisation» and was performed without vocals all the way until 1977.

At that point, Sergey Mihalkov, the author of the authentic lyrics, wrote updated lyrics, that "cancelled" Stalin.

Below, the authentic lyrics of the Anthem, the official English version and a verbatim translation.
In the next post, the updated version.

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The Official CPSU translation from 1944

Unbreakable Union of freeborn Republics
Great Russia has welded forever to stand!
Created in struggle by will of the Peoples,
United and Mighty our Soviet Land!

Chorus:
Sing to our Motherland, Free, and Undying,
Friendship of people is a reliable stronghold!
Flag of the Soviets, Flag of the people,
From Victory to Victory lead us on!

Through tempests, the sunrays of freedom have cheered us,
Along the new path where great Lenin did lead,
Be true to the people, thus Stalin has reared us,
Inspired us to labor and Valorous Deed!

Chorus

Our army grew up in the heat of grim battle,
Barbarian invaders, we'll swiftly strike down.
In combat the fate of the future we'll settle,
Our country we'll lead to eternal renown!

Chorus

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Verbatim translation

An unbreakable union of free republics,
The Great Rus’ sealed forever.
Long live, the creation by the people's will,
The united, mighty Soviet Union!

Chorus:
Be glorified, our free motherland,
Reliable stronghold of the people's friendship!
Banner of the Soviets, the banner of the people,
May it lead from victory to victory!

Through storms, the sun of freedom shone on us,
And Great Lenin illuminated our path.
Stalin taught us to be faithful to the people,
To labour and achievements, he inspired us!

Chorus.

We raised our Army in battles,
And swept the vile invaders from the path!
In battles, we determine the fate of generations,
We bring glory to our Fatherland!

Chorus.

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👉 Information source - Russian Wiki
👉 Video source - YouTube

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