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Ukraine honors Nazi collaborator, drawing Israeli condemnation

From Jerusalem Post · () English

Translated from English and summarized by DistantNews. Read the original for the full story.

At a glance

News Named sources Context piece
  • Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky honored a controversial nationalist leader who collaborated with Nazis, drawing criticism from Israel.
  • Andriy Melnyk's organization, the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, promoted antisemitic rhetoric and some members participated in the Holocaust.
  • Israel's Holocaust memorial, Yad Vashem, expressed deep concern, stating that honoring such figures undermines Holocaust remembrance.

Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelensky has honored Andriy Melnyk, a Ukrainian nationalist leader from the 20th century, during a reburial ceremony that has drawn sharp criticism from Israel. Zelensky described Melnyk and his wife, Sofia Fedak-Melnyk, as “iconic Ukrainians of the 20th century who are deeply respected.”

iconic Ukrainians of the 20th century who are deeply respected

· Volodymyr ZelenskyyDescribing Andriy Melnyk and his wife during the reburial ceremony.

Melnyk led a faction of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) during its collaboration with Nazi Germany in World War II. While the OUN opposed Soviet rule, it also espoused antisemitic views, and some members were involved in the Holocaust. Melnyk himself was later detained by the Nazis as relations soured.

The reburial at Kyiv's National Military Memorial marks the latest instance of Ukraine commemorating nationalist figures linked to Nazi collaboration. Previous instances include designating Stepan Bandera's birthday as a holiday and unveiling a statue honoring a leader whose regime was associated with pogroms against Jews.

Glory to every Ukrainian hero! Glory to all our Ukrainian warriors! Glory to our people!

· Volodymyr ZelenskyyIn a post on X/Twitter marking the ceremony.

Yad Vashem, Israel's Holocaust memorial, voiced deep distress over the commemoration. The institution stated on X that such honors come at the expense of historical truth and the memory of Holocaust victims. Israel's Foreign Ministry echoed these concerns, emphasizing that there is no place for ignoring historical truth regarding Nazi collaborators.

grateful to everyone who has worked to make such returns of great Ukrainian figures possible and to give the Ukrainian People their own pantheon of heroes.

· Volodymyr ZelenskyyIn a post on X/Twitter marking the ceremony.

Zelensky, who is Jewish, posted on X that he was “grateful to everyone who has worked to make such returns of great Ukrainian figures possible and to give the Ukrainian People their own pantheon of heroes.” He also proclaimed, “Glory to every Ukrainian hero! Glory to all our Ukrainian warriors! Glory to our people!”

deeply troubled by such national commemorations, which come at the expense of historical truth and the memory of Holocaust victims.

· Yad VashemIn a post on X criticizing the reburial.
About this summary

Originally published by Jerusalem Post in English. Translated, summarized, and contextualized automatically by DistantNews, with a note on how the source frames the story. Not individually reviewed before publishing. How this works.

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