Serhii Plokhy

But the myth of Bandera lived, and all the members of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists and then the Ukrainian Insurgent Army that fought against the Soviets all the way into the early 1950s, they were called Banderites. They were called band riots by the Soviet authorities. They were known also in that way to the local population.

So there was a faraway leader that barely was there on the spot, but whose name was attached to this movement for really liberation of Ukraine at that time. Again, the battle that failed.

So there was a faraway leader that barely was there on the spot, but whose name was attached to this movement for really liberation of Ukraine at that time. Again, the battle that failed.

So there was a faraway leader that barely was there on the spot, but whose name was attached to this movement for really liberation of Ukraine at that time. Again, the battle that failed.

This label is certainly promoted first by the Soviet propaganda and then by Russian propaganda. It works very nicely. If you focus on the years of collaboration, those were the same years when Joseph Stalin collaborated with Hitler. We have the same reason to call Stalin a Nazi collaborator as we have the reason to call Bandera a Nazi collaborator. We look at the situation in the Pacific.

This label is certainly promoted first by the Soviet propaganda and then by Russian propaganda. It works very nicely. If you focus on the years of collaboration, those were the same years when Joseph Stalin collaborated with Hitler. We have the same reason to call Stalin a Nazi collaborator as we have the reason to call Bandera a Nazi collaborator. We look at the situation in the Pacific.

This label is certainly promoted first by the Soviet propaganda and then by Russian propaganda. It works very nicely. If you focus on the years of collaboration, those were the same years when Joseph Stalin collaborated with Hitler. We have the same reason to call Stalin a Nazi collaborator as we have the reason to call Bandera a Nazi collaborator. We look at the situation in the Pacific.

In Indonesia, in other places, the leaders who worked together with Japanese with the idea of promoting independence of their countries, after the Japanese collapse, become leaders of the empire. So the difference with Bandara is that he never becomes the leader of empire, and immunity that comes with that position certainly doesn't apply to him.

In Indonesia, in other places, the leaders who worked together with Japanese with the idea of promoting independence of their countries, after the Japanese collapse, become leaders of the empire. So the difference with Bandara is that he never becomes the leader of empire, and immunity that comes with that position certainly doesn't apply to him.

In Indonesia, in other places, the leaders who worked together with Japanese with the idea of promoting independence of their countries, after the Japanese collapse, become leaders of the empire. So the difference with Bandara is that he never becomes the leader of empire, and immunity that comes with that position certainly doesn't apply to him.

But there are other parts of his life which certainly put this whole thing in question. The fate of his family, his own time in the German concentration camp certainly don't fit the propaganda one-sided image of Bandera. In terms of him being a hero, that's a very, very interesting question because he is perceived in Ukraine today not by...

But there are other parts of his life which certainly put this whole thing in question. The fate of his family, his own time in the German concentration camp certainly don't fit the propaganda one-sided image of Bandera. In terms of him being a hero, that's a very, very interesting question because he is perceived in Ukraine today not by...

But there are other parts of his life which certainly put this whole thing in question. The fate of his family, his own time in the German concentration camp certainly don't fit the propaganda one-sided image of Bandera. In terms of him being a hero, that's a very, very interesting question because he is perceived in Ukraine today not by...

by all and probably not by the majority, but by many people in Ukraine as a symbol of fighting against the Soviet Union and by extension against Russia and Russian occupation. So his popularity grew after February 24th, 2022 as a symbol of that resistance.

by all and probably not by the majority, but by many people in Ukraine as a symbol of fighting against the Soviet Union and by extension against Russia and Russian occupation. So his popularity grew after February 24th, 2022 as a symbol of that resistance.

by all and probably not by the majority, but by many people in Ukraine as a symbol of fighting against the Soviet Union and by extension against Russia and Russian occupation. So his popularity grew after February 24th, 2022 as a symbol of that resistance.

Again, we are talking here about myth and mythology, because Bandera was not leading the fight against the Soviet occupation in Ukraine, because at that time he was just simply not in Ukraine. He was in Germany, and you can imagine that geography mattered at that time much more than it matters today.

Again, we are talking here about myth and mythology, because Bandera was not leading the fight against the Soviet occupation in Ukraine, because at that time he was just simply not in Ukraine. He was in Germany, and you can imagine that geography mattered at that time much more than it matters today.

Again, we are talking here about myth and mythology, because Bandera was not leading the fight against the Soviet occupation in Ukraine, because at that time he was just simply not in Ukraine. He was in Germany, and you can imagine that geography mattered at that time much more than it matters today.

The Ukrainian independence was their goal, and they were there to work with anybody who would support and in one way or at least allow Ukraine. The Ukrainian independence. So there is no question that they are just classic nationalists.