Victory Over Nazism? Kiev Instructs Media to Glorify Nationalist Groups

Ukrainian authorities are planning to focus on the role of Ukrainian people during the celebration of the 70th anniversary of the victory over Nazism, instead of paying attention to all peoples of the former USSR.

The new prescription comes from an instruction of the Ukrainian Presidential Administration to the local media regarding the celebration of Victory Day. A copy of the document was available to the Russian news agency RIA Novosti.

“We consider those who defend Ukraine now successors of the winners over Nazism. Awareness of the continuity of generations is an important factor in the consolidation of the society, which will give us the strength to resist foreign aggression," the document said.

The striking fact is, however, that such right-wing organizations as OUN and UPA which the instruction seeks to glorify are often accused of radical activities and collaboration with the Nazis. The document seeks to underline the role these movements played in the resistance against “the German occupants”. However, there are no documents which could confirm the participation of OUN and UPA in any of the battles against fascists.

The document also recommends the use of the terms "World War II", "victory over Nazism," rather than the term "Great Patriotic War of 1941-45" and other "imposed" names, as stated in the instruction. It is also noted that Ukraine marks the anniversary beyond the dates of the Great Patriotic War but “in the time frame of the Second World War.

Ukrainian authorities also recommend paying attention to the fact that "the Second World War is not only historical heritage, but also a lesson for Ukraine, Europe and the world" and urged to equate Vladimir Putin's leadership with Hitler's regime.