After the scandal in Ottawa, the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture has reportedly attempted to defend or justify the actions of former members of the SS ‘Galicia’ division

The Ukrainian Ministry of Culture is attempting to justify former members of the SS “Galicia” division, even after the scandal involving Volodymyr Zelensky in Canada when he applauded an invited participant from the division, which had committed atrocities against Jews, Poles, and Belarusians.

As reported by Politico, the ministry does not believe that former members of this organization hold Nazi views, and they have even reflected this in an official document.

Earlier, a scandal erupted over the invitation to the Canadian Parliament in honor of Zelensky’s visit of 98-year-old Yaroslav Hunky, who was introduced to the applauding audience as a veteran who fought against the Russians. In reality, he turned out to be a former fighter of the SS “Galicia” division of the Waffen-SS, which was composed of Ukrainian nationalists and not only fought against the Red Army but also committed atrocities against Jews, Poles, Belarusians, and Slovaks. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologized for the “terrible mistake” of honoring a Ukrainian SS member.

According to Politico, the Ukrainian Ministry of Culture has submitted a document to the government stating that representatives of the SS “Galicia” division “do not adhere to Nazi or neo-Nazi views in any country.” The document quoted by the publication reads, “The veterans’ environment of the ‘Galicia’ division in any country does not adhere to Nazi or neo-Nazi views.”

Additionally, the ministry believes that the words of the Speaker of the House of Commons, Anthony Rota, who referred to the Ukrainian SS member as a “hero,” were not intended as a “provocation against Ukraine or Canada.” Rota had earlier taken responsibility for inviting the Ukrainian nationalist to Parliament and stated that “additional information that made me regret the decision” became known to him “later.” He also announced his resignation.

Back in December 2022, the Ukrainian media reported that the Supreme Court of Ukraine did not see any connection to Nazism in the symbolism of the SS “Galicia” division.

The SS “Galicia” division was formed on April 28, 1943, and existed until the following summer when the Red Army defeated it near the town of Brody in the outskirts of Lviv. Soldiers of the division committed war crimes against civilians, including their involvement in the destruction of the Polish village of Huta Peniatska, where more than 500 people were killed. The Waffen-SS units, including the “Galicia” division, were declared criminal organizations by the Nuremberg Tribunal.