On June 13, Ukraine celebrates the day of the liberation of Mariupol from the Russian occupiers, and the world celebrates the International Day of Managers of Public Associations, World Softball Day and International Albinism Awareness Day. On this day, in different eras, events took place that had a significant impact on politics, science, culture, and technological development in the world.
The day of the liberation of Mariupol from the Russian invaders
It was on this day in 2014 that Ukrainian forces conducted a military operation, as a result of which they regained control over the city. Armed confrontation in Mariupol began back in April 2014, when pro-Russian formations supported by Russia seized administrative buildings and declared the city part of the so-called “DPR”. In May, the situation worsened: there were armed clashes, storming of the city police department, and there were many wounded and dead.
Until June, the city remained partially under the control of the militants, who created strongholds and checkpoints. The liberation operation began on the morning of June 13 by the forces of special units of the Ministry of Internal Affairs, the National Guard, the Armed Forces of Ukraine and volunteer battalions, in particular “Azov”. The fighting was short, but intense: the militants suffered significant losses, some of them escaped, some were detained.
As a result of the operation, Ukrainian forces regained control over the strategically important port city, which is key for the logistics and defense of southern Ukraine. After liberation, the city became an important rear center of the Ukrainian army until 2022.
Eight years later, in February 2022, Russia launched a full-scale war and in March-May 2022 recaptured Mariupol after a months-long siege, destroying a large part of the city’s infrastructure and civilian objects.
Interesting facts
About 500 soldiers were involved in the operation. The main role was played by the “Azov” battalion, which at that time was just beginning its combat history.
The operation lasted only a few hours. By noon, the Ukrainian flag flew over the city administration again.
After the liberation, isolated subversive groups of militants remained in the city and were detained for several weeks.
After the liberation, Mariupol became the temporary administrative center of Donetsk region, as Donetsk remained under the control of militants.
The liberation of the city became a symbolic demonstration that Ukraine is capable of liberating territories even in the difficult conditions of a hybrid war.
International Day of Public Association Managers
This day is dedicated to specialists who manage public associations, residential complexes, cooperatives, condominiums and other forms of owner self-government. The main task of such managers is to ensure the effective functioning of common property, organization of service, maintenance of buildings, improvement of territories, monitoring of the execution of contracts with contractors and service providers.
Managers of public associations are responsible for balanced financing of expenses, planning of renovation works, keeping documentation, legal support of association activities and communication between owners. Their work is often related to the resolution of conflict situations, the settlement of disputed issues and ensuring the interests of all members of the association.
In many countries, including the USA, Canada, and European countries, the position of association manager is a separate profession with defined training standards, certification, ethical standards, and mandatory professional development.
Interesting facts
The date of June 13 was proposed by professional associations of the USA as a tribute to the work of managers, without whom the stable operation of residential and business complexes is impossible.
There are more than 350,000 home owner associations (HOAs) in the United States, managed by certified managers.
Today, about 25% of the US population lives in communities managed through HOAs or similar structures.
In Ukraine, the profession of the manager of a residential building received legal regulation after the adoption of the law “On the peculiarities of the exercise of the right of ownership in an apartment building” in 2015.
World Softball Day
This date is dedicated to the popularization of softball as a separate sports discipline. Softball is a variant of baseball with a number of differences: it uses a larger ball, a smaller playing field, a shorter distance between the bases, and a different technique of pitching the ball – from below the arc. The game is played at a faster pace, with fewer players per team.
Softball originated in the USA at the end of the 19th century. It was originally used as an indoor baseball training option. Over time, it turned into an independent sport with its own rules. At the international level, softball is presented in two main versions – men’s and women’s. The game is most popular in the USA, Japan, Canada, Australia and some European countries.
International softball competitions are held under the auspices of the World Baseball and Softball Federation (WBSC). From 1996 to 2008, women’s softball was part of the Olympic program, and in 2021 it temporarily returned to the Olympic program at the Tokyo Games.
Interesting facts
The first official softball game took place in 1887 in Chicago.
The diameter of a softball is about 30 centimeters, which is almost twice the diameter of a baseball.
The ball is pitched in softball from below (the so-called “windmill pitch”), which significantly changes the trajectory of the flight.
Softball is one of the most popular amateur sports among women in the United States and Japan.
In Ukraine, softball began to develop in the 1990s, today there are women’s and youth leagues, and national championships are held.
International Albinism Awareness Day
This date was introduced to draw attention to the problems of people with albinism, who face discrimination, social stereotypes, violation of rights and difficulties in everyday life.
Albinism is a rare genetic disease in which the human body partially or completely loses the ability to produce melanin, the pigment that determines the color of skin, hair and eyes. People with albinism have very light skin, white or light hair, often have light eyes, and may have visual impairment. Due to the low melanin content, their skin is extremely sensitive to solar radiation, which increases the risk of skin cancer.
In many countries, especially in Africa, people with albinism are victims of discrimination, persecution and sometimes violence because of superstitions and myths. They often have limited access to health care, education and employment.
The United Nations officially recognized International Albinism Awareness Day in 2014. The main goal of this day is to inform society, overcome stereotypes and protect the rights of people with albinism around the world.
Interesting facts
According to estimates, there is about 1 person with albinism in the world for every 17-20 thousand people. In some regions of Africa, the frequency is much higher — up to 1 case per 1,400 people.
In Tanzania, Malawi, Burundi and Zambia, there are still cases of persecution and attacks on people with albinism due to superstitions and pseudo-religious ideas.
People with albinism almost always have vision problems: nystagmus, photophobia, reduced visual acuity.
In Ukraine, albinism is rare, but it also requires proper diagnosis, dermatological and ophthalmological support.
Albinism can manifest itself not only in humans, but also in animals, birds, fish, even in plants – in nature, there are known cases of albinos among elephants, crocodiles, sharks and even spiders.
In the 19th century in Europe, people with albinism were often shown at circus performances as a “miracle of nature” – this is one example of the historical exploitation of the topic of albinism.
In Japan even in the 20th century, there were superstitions that albinism was “punishment of the gods”; fortunately, today these ideas have almost completely disappeared, but in some cultures such myths still persist.
There is a version that the image of “white-haired magicians” in many mythologies and even in fantasy (Gandalf, Saruman, the Gray Wizard) is partially inspired by the appearance of people with albinism.
Contrary to popular belief, not all people with albinism have completely red or pink eyes—most have gray, blue, or light brown eyes; the reddish hue occurs only as a result of refraction of light under certain lighting conditions.
In the 20th century, some models with albinism became famous in the fashion industry: for example, South African model and activist Thando Hopa actively fights against stereotypes about albinism in the media.
In African countries, there are recorded cases of trade in body parts of people with albinism, because local healers considered them “magical” – the UN has repeatedly published reports on these crimes.
Historical events on this day
1373 England and Portugal signed a treaty of union, which became the basis of the oldest active international treaty in the world. This alliance established long-term political and military cooperation between the two states, which is formally preserved to this day.
1589 English pirates under the command of Francis Drake launched a naval attack on Lisbon. This was one of the episodes of Anglo-Spanish confrontations, since Portugal was then under the rule of the Spanish crown, and Drake was considered one of the most dangerous pirates of his time.
1892 The first electric tram in the Russian Empire was launched in Kyiv. Its opening became an important milestone in the development of urban transport and technical modernization of the capital of Ukraine at the end of the 19th century.
1895 The first automobile race in history took place in France. They became the beginning of the development of motor sports as a separate discipline, which later turned into a global industry with millions of audiences.
1913 Americans Hudson Stuck and Harry Carstens were the first to climb the highest peak in Alaska, Mount McKinley, which is more than 6,000 meters high. Their ascent became an important event in the history of world mountaineering.
1948 Burma (now Myanmar) announced the beginning of the construction of communism, becoming one of the countries that in the post-war period chose a socialist course of development, which later led to political isolation and long internal conflicts.
1966 Pope Paul VI abolished the “Index of Prohibited Books”, which had existed for more than 400 years since 1557. The lists also included a large part of Ukrainian literary classics – the works of Ivan Kotlyarevsky, Taras Shevchenko, Ivan Franko, Vasyl Stefanyk, and Lesya Ukrainka.
1983 The Pioneer 10 space station crossed the orbit of Pluto and became the first vehicle from Earth to leave the boundaries of the Solar System. This achievement opened a new stage in the study of deep space.
1984 In the USA, the first serial mobile phone was released – Dynatac 8000x manufactured by Motorola. It cost $3,995, weighed about a kilogram, and ushered in a new era of mobile communication.
2000 Italian President Carlo Ciampi pardoned Turkish citizen Mehmet Ali Agca, who in 1981 attempted to assassinate Pope John Paul II. This pardon was the result of a personal request from the pontiff.
2000 The historic first meeting between the leaders of North and South Korea took place in the capital of North Korea, Pyongyang. This event marked the beginning of cautious attempts at political dialogue between the two states, which have been at war since the 1950s.
2009 Mass riots broke out in Tehran, the capital of Iran, after the announcement of the results of the presidential election in which Mahmoud Ahmadinejad won. The opposition accused the authorities of falsifications, which led to the most massive protests in the country in decades.
The execution of the last victim of the “witch hunt”
On June 13, 1782, in the city of Glarus (the capital of the canton of the same name in Switzerland), the maid Anna Gholdi was executed, who was accused of poisoning and witchcraft. She is considered the last victim of a “witch hunt” in Europe and the last executed “witch” of Switzerland.
Whether Anna was really a witch is still unknown. However, her lifestyle caused condemnation from the society of that time. It is known that Anna had two or three children, although she was never officially married. Presumably, the parents of the children were her employers. The accusation was based mainly on rumors — they said that Anna treated the children with herbs or added herbal mixtures to the food of the owners.
Anna was detained, and under torture she confessed to a conspiracy with the devil, who appeared to her in the form of a black dog. On the basis of her own confession, Gholdi was sentenced to death by the city council of Glarus and beheaded on the same day.
To partially remove the absurdity of the accusations of witchcraft, the judges officially framed her sentence as a punishment for poisoning. At that time, there was a saying: “What ripens quickly spoils quickly.”
226 years passed before Anna Gholdi was officially rehabilitated by the Swiss parliament as a victim of a miscarriage of justice. However, Anna Gholdi’s story did not end there. Several feature books and feature films are dedicated to her. After the official rehabilitation, June 13 became the official day of remembrance in Glarus. The government allocates about 120,000 Swiss francs each year for festive events. A large number of tourists come to the city, the main attraction of which is the maid’s house-museum.
Completion of the world’s first high-speed car race
On June 13, 1895, the world’s first high-speed car race was completed in France, the route of which ran along the route Paris – Bordeaux – Paris with a length of about 1,200 km. The organizer of the competition was the newspaper “Le Petit Journal”, which announced the holding of the race with the aim of popularizing cars and testing their reliability and speed. 19 cars took part in the race, including gasoline, steam and two electric cars.
The route, about 1,200 kilometers long, started and ended in Paris, passing through Bordeaux. Participants had to overcome the path in normal traffic conditions, which added realism and complexity to the competition.
Emil Levassor finished first in the Panhard & Levassor car. He covered the distance in 48 hours and 47 minutes. The average speed of his car was about 24 km/h, which was an impressive result for that time. The second to the finish line was Louis Rigol in a “Peugeot”, 6 hours behind. After another 5 hours, Paul Keschlen finished, also in a “Peugeot”. However, the official victory was awarded to the third finisher. According to the rules of the competition, which provided for the participation of four-seater cars, the first two cars did not meet the requirements because they were two-seaters.
Only 9 cars reached the finish line, 8 of them were gasoline cars. The only steam car “De Dion” arrived in Paris three days after Levassor. This bulky machine weighing more than three tons could accelerate to 45 km/h. But in order to refuel with water, coal and raise steam, she needed at least half an hour each time. The crew consisted of seven people. The car was equipped with couches, a kitchen and even a toilet – in fact, it was the world’s first prototype of a motorhome.
Brothers Edouard and Andre Michelin finished last in an old Peugeot. During the race, they changed pneumatic tires of their own development 50 times. However, this did not overshadow their mood: “We proved that it is possible to ride in the air.”
Creation of the first joint intelligence service of the United States
On June 13, 1942, the first joint intelligence service of the United States was created. It was on its basis that the CIA was founded after the war. Up to this point, permanent intelligence agencies existed only under the Ministry of the Navy, the Ministry of Justice and the Department of State, but their work was not effective enough. With the beginning of the Second World War, there was a need to solve strategic tasks, and as early as 1941, President Franklin Roosevelt appointed William Donovan as the coordinator of the new foreign intelligence of the United States – the Bureau of Strategic Information. Donovan was a New York attorney, former World War I intelligence officer, recipient of the US’s highest military award, the Medal of Honor, and nicknamed “Wild Bill” for his bravery. It was he who laid the foundations of one of the most effective intelligence services in the world.
The intelligence network of the Office of Strategic Services (OSS) covered Germany, Italy, France, Yugoslavia, Hungary, Czechoslovakia, Bulgaria, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, and North Africa. Probably also operated in the Soviet Union. Subversive agents were transferred to France, Belgium, Norway, Italy, Burma and Thailand.
One of the most successful OSS operations was Operation Sunrise, as a result of which, thanks to the negotiations of OSS representative Allen Dulles with SS Obergruppenführer Karl Wolff, it was possible to achieve a cessation of hostilities and the surrender of German troops in Northern Italy on May 2, 1945.
However, there were also failures. In particular, intelligence agents participated in the failed assassination attempt on Adolf Hitler on July 20, 1944 (date error in the original text, correct – July 20). After the failure of this attempt, about 5 thousand people were executed in Germany.
Signing of a 10-year bilateral security agreement between Ukraine and the USA
On June 13, 2024, on the sidelines of the Group of Seven summit in Italy, US President Joe Biden and Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky signed a 10-year bilateral security agreement aimed at strengthening Kyiv’s defense capabilities.
The text of the agreement states: “To ensure the security of Ukraine, both sides recognize that Ukraine needs significant armed forces, powerful potential and permanent investments in its own defense and industrial base, which would meet the standards of the North Atlantic Alliance.” The intention of the United States to provide long-term material, training and advisory, technical, intelligence, security, defense-industrial, institutional and other support with the aim of “developing Ukrainian security and defense forces capable of protecting sovereign, independent, democratic Ukraine and deterring future aggression” is also established.
In the event of an armed attack on Ukraine or the threat of such an attack, American and Ukrainian officials, according to the agreement, must meet within 24 hours to consult and determine what additional defense needs Ukraine needs.
The United States became the 17th country with which Ukraine signed a bilateral security agreement, and the last country from the Group of Seven. However, the security agreement with Ukraine does not require ratification by the US Congress. This means that potentially any future president of the United States could withdraw from the agreement.
