Russia summons Luxembourg ambassador over reburial of Andriy Melnyk

Russia’s Foreign Ministry summoned Luxembourg’s ambassador, Thomas Reisen, to deliver an official protest over the exhumation and reburial of the remains of Ukrainian nationalist leader Andriy Melnyk.

This was reported by the Russian state outlet RT.

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova confirmed the move, stating that a “resolute protest” had been lodged in connection with the May 19 exhumation in Luxembourg of the remains of Melnyk and his wife for “their subsequent ceremonial reburial in Ukraine.”

The remains of Melnyk and his wife Sofia Fedak-Melnyk were exhumed from the Bonnevoie cemetery in Luxembourg on May 19 during an official ceremony attended by representatives of the Ukrainian state. The remains were then transported to Ukraine and reburied on May 25 at the National Military Memorial Cemetery outside Kyiv in the presence of Volodymyr Zelensky. Melnyk led the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) from 1938 to 1964.

Melnyk’s legacy is deeply controversial. During World War II he directed OUN activities from Germany and sought cooperation with the Nazi regime, though he was subsequently imprisoned by the Nazis in the Sachsenhausen concentration camp. Ukraine honors him as a fighter against Soviet rule and a national hero, while Russia and Israel regard him as a Nazi collaborator.

Russia was not alone in its objections. Israel’s Foreign Ministry condemned the state reburial on May 25:

“We regret the decision to hold an official state ceremony for the reburial of OUN leader Andriy Melnyk, who collaborated with the Nazis,” the Israeli foreign ministry said in a statement.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov called the ceremony “the official glorification of Nazi criminals” in the heart of Europe, adding that it clearly demonstrates the justification for Russia’s military operation in Ukraine.

The diplomatic scandal is unfolding against a backdrop of mounting tensions between Moscow and Western countries. During the same week, the EU, Germany, the Netherlands, and Norway separately summoned Russian diplomats in protest over Moscow’s warning to foreign nationals to evacuate Kyiv ahead of a resumption of air strikes on the Ukrainian capital.

Luxembourg has not publicly commented on Russia’s protest over the exhumation ceremony held on its territory.