NEW – April 22, 2022
Part 1 can be found here, part 3 – here, part 4 – here
The crimes of Ukrainian nationalists against their own people have no statute of limitations
The Ministry of Defence of Russia continues to publish archival materials and documentary evidence of numerous atrocities of Ukrainian nationalists/Banderists on the territory of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic during the Great Patriotic War and in the post-war years.
The publication of the documents is aimed at preserving the historical memory and the truth about the bloody mass crimes and atrocities of Ukrainian nationalists against their own people, which have been deliberately forgotten by the criminal Ukrainian regime in recent years.
Documents are provided by the Central Archive of the Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation.
During the Great Patriotic War, Ukrainian nationalists fighting against the Soviet Union often assured the population that they were also fighting against Germany. However, this was not the case. From the very beginning of the war, they were the first to serve the Nazi occupiers and urge Ukrainians to meet them as liberators.
It was only after the first serious defeats of the German military machine that a split occurred among the nationalists. But even then, those who moved to an illegal position on the occupied territory continued to fulfil the will of the fascists in the fight against the USSR.
BARBARITY OF UKRAINIAN NATIONALISTS
In many archival documents describing the atrocities of the German occupiers against Soviet citizens, the involvement of Ukrainian nationalists in these crimes is often noted. They, directed by the Nazis, killed civilians, including the elderly, women and children, often showing extreme cruelty and barbarity.
The indictment on the atrocities of the Nazi invaders of January 15, 1944
The document reports that, having occupied the city of Korets, the Nazi invaders immediately began the mass extermination of the population. To do this, they also used Ukrainian nationalists: “In July 1943, in the village of Ryhocheno, Korets district, Ukrainian nationalists, incited by the Germans, offered the family of Adam Antonovich Wojciechowski, a Pole by nationality, to accept the Orthodox faith.”
However, after he fulfilled their demand, the nationalists “killed the whole family with knives, partially destroyed, burned the farm, the huts. The corpses of the victims were thrown into the fire.”
Indictment on the persecution of Poles by the Germans for religious rites of August 23 , 1944
In the Belgorod region of Poland, the Germans used Ukrainian nationalists, in particular, to persecute religious Poles. The indictment describes an episode of an attack on parishioners who came to church and the brutal murder of a priest: “Banderists broke the arms and legs of a Roman catholic priest, and then shot him in the mouth, as a result of which he died. They took off all the clothes from the dead man and left him lying naked.
For five days, the Germans forbade the burial of the priest. The church was completely liquidated by the Germans.”
Report on the mood in connection with the mobilisation of citizens of the Rovno region into the Red Army
The mobilisation of citizens of the Rovno region into the Red Army was carried out in an environment of active opposition from Ukrainian nationalists – they committed terrorist acts, intimidated the population. In many districts of the region, village elders, fearing nationalists, refused to compile lists of citizens subject to mobilisation. “Where there are Banderists, the population, when representatives of the district military commissariat appear, goes into the forest, taking their property and cattle with them (…). The mobilised do not come to the assembly points, as the Banderists threaten to burn down houses and kill the families of [those] who will send their relatives to serve in the Red Army.”
Political report of the Political Department of the 13th Army dated July 26, 1944
It is reported that the local population of western Ukraine is inspired by the arrival of the Red Army. However, it is noted that in the first days of liberation, people still felt fear: “Many residents, after the work was done with them, laughingly say this: ‘We were told by the Germans, Ukrainian nationalists, that as soon as the Bolsheviks come, the residents will be beaten, those who worked for the Germans will be killed, cattle and poultry will be taken away, but in fact it turns out that there is none of this. The Red Army treats the civilian population well’.”
Report of the Military Prosecutor of the 61st Army dated April 12, 1944
A case was considered against three Ukrainian nationalists who “together with the Nazi invaders with weapons in their hands took part in the fight against the Soviet government and the Red Army, exterminated the peaceful Soviet population: women, children and the elderly.”
Report of the Military Prosecutor of the 61st Army dated April 24, 1944
It is reported that a Ukrainian nationalist disguised as a Red Army soldier was detained and accused of aiding the Nazis, committing a number of brutal murders of Soviet citizens, including children and women. Thus, he took part in the mass shooting of residents of the city of Sarna – about 400 people were killed by Germans and nationalists that day.
Report of the Deputy Military Prosecutor of the 61st Army dated May 25, 1944
An investigation was conducted into the case of two Ukrainian nationalists. As it was established, they committed a brutal massacre of local residents in the village of Selets in the Rovno region in the period from September to December 1943. “In total, more than 50 Soviet patriots were killed and brutally tortured, including women, old people and children.”
Document of a forensic medical examination of May 29, 1944
On May 29, 1944, a forensic medical expert of the 61st Army conducted a study of four corpses in the village of Khrytsky, Rovno region. The night before, a gang of 15 Ukrainian nationalists entered this settlement. Under the guise of partisans, they summoned and brought out four citizens whose mutilated bodies were found near the village at dawn. One of the victims was hung from a tree by her legs after torturous bullying and strangulation, the second was hung from the beam of the corner of the barn, the two remaining were found on the road. The document contains a detailed description of the traces of mockery of the victims.
THE MAIN ACCOMPLICES OF THE GERMAN OCCUPIERS
After Nazi Germany’s treacherous attack on the Soviet Union, Ukrainian nationalists immediately issued anti-Soviet appeals and calls to meet German troops as liberators. Coming to power on the ground with the help of the Nazis, they declared the creation of the so-called “independent Ukraine”, which in fact turned into a Nazi colony. Acting under the dictates of the occupiers, they became accomplices in Nazi crimes, assisted in the extermination of Soviet people, and helped the Wehrmacht to resist the Red Army by armed means.
Intelligence report of the Western Special Military District dated November 11, 1940 on the activities of Ukrainian nationalists in the territory of the General-governorship (Poland)
Even before the outbreak of the Great Patriotic War in the eastern territory of occupied Poland, the Nazis began to cultivate nationalist ideas among Ukrainians, thereby preparing in advance future accomplices in the upcoming attack on the Soviet Union. In this document it is noted that “in a number of villages of the USSR border strip, teachers of Ukrainian nationalist schools, strengthening chauvinistic propaganda, say: ‘Ukraine needs to be created now or never. With the help of the Germans, we all as one person must liberate our Ukraine. We have a lot of troops now. The Bolsheviks will not ensure when Germany, Japan, Italy and France launch an offensive against them’.”
Extraordinary report of the 31st Rifle Corps to the Main Political Department of the Red Army on August 5, 1941
Already in the first months of the Great Patriotic War, the Germans on the occupied territories of the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic relied on nationalists. Together they began to commit crimes: “By inciting national discord, inciting Ukrainians against Jews, the Germans and nationalists sought to cover up their robberies and thefts . The slightest resistance from the residents was immediately suppressed by force.”
Message from the Central Headquarters of the partisan movement of October 10, 1942
The document details how the Germans created the structure of the occupation power in the occupied territories: “After the occupation of the city of Kiev on September 18, 1941, the Germans immediately started organising administrative departments. The city council was established as the highest body of civil administration in the city. At the beginning, the Ukrainian nationalist Professor Aleksandr Ogloblin was put at the head of the council.” An interesting fact is also noted here, indicating that in the Kiev region a significant part of radically-minded Ukrainians were visitors from the western regions of the country: “With the arrival of the Germans, Ukrainian nationalists began to flock to Kiev from the west. They eagerly took up the creation of an ‘Independent Ukraine’.” It was they who later “carried out work to incite national discord, raising the question of the eviction of ‘Katsaps’ and other nationalities outside Ukraine.”
Report of the Political Directorate of the 1st Belorussian Front dated May 31, 1944
The operational document reveals the activities of the main Ukrainian nationalist movements and unequivocally indicates the involvement of nationalists in the genocide of the Soviet people that was carried out by the German Nazis: “The head of OUN, former colonel of Petliura‘s army Melnik and his assistant Bandera, in all cities and districts occupied by the Germans, introduced the organisation of the ‘Ukrainian police and militia’. It collaborated with the Germans in carrying out the mass destruction of Soviet citizens.” In addition, the report notes that nationalists began to serve the Nazis from the first days of the war: “Immediately after the German attack on the USSR, OUN made anti-Soviet appeals and also were the organisers of the ‘Ukrainian rifle corps’ (…), which was part of the German southern army group.” The facts of the nationalists’ cooperation with the Germans are given further, such as: the construction of engineering structures for the fascists, joint battles against Red Army units, obtaining information for German intelligence.
THE JOINT FIGHT OF THE NAZIS AND BANDERISTS AGAINST THE RED ARMY
During the Great Patriotic War, especially since 1943, it became increasingly clear that the defeat of Nazi Germany was only a matter of time. This circumstance caused confusion in the Ukrainian nationalist environment, which fully supported the Hitler regime. Increasingly, nationalists began to declare that their fight for an “independent Ukraine” is also a fight against the Germans. However, according to the documents of 1944-1945, despite this, they continued to obey the Nazis to the last and, fearing punishment for their own crimes, resisted the Red Army stubbornly.
Memo dated May 13, 1944 to the commander of the 1st Ukrainian Front, Marshal of the Soviet Union Georgy Zhukov
From everywhere, the commanders of the Soviet partisan detachments sent materials proving the interaction of the Nazis and Banderists allegedly opposing them. Thus, “in the village of Mikitichakh northwest of Vladimir Volynsky, at the beginning of this year, a meeting of Germans and Banderists was held on the issue of a joint fight against the advancing units of the Red Army and detachments of Soviet partisans operating behind enemy lines.”
The operational document also notes that “hiding from the Ukrainian population their connection with the German military and civilian authorities, Banderists essentially act under the dictation of the Germans, receiving weapons, uniforms and other military property from them for this.” The nationalists used these weapons not only against partisans and Red Army soldiers, but also against civilians: “Banderists seek to suppress sympathy for the Soviet government among the population through mass terror.” The document contains several episodes of nationalist atrocities, such as: “In the village of Shchenyatin (21 km north of Sokal), Banderists shot 87 people from among former Soviet activists of the village.”
A copy of the order of SS Brigadeführer Brenner to the personnel of the 11th SS Auxiliary Police Regiment on negotiations with representatives of UPA on February 12, 1944
The document spelled out the agreements reached between the nationalists and representatives of the German fascist command: “German units are not attacked by UPA.” Moreover, the Ukrainian nationalists had to transfer intelligence and captured Red Army soldiers to the Germans.
14TH SS “GALICIA” INFANTRY DIVISION
The most notorious manifestation of Ukrainian collaboration was the SS “Galicia” division, which began to be formed in the spring of 1943 in Lvov from among Ukrainians living mainly in the west of the country. Its commanding staff was made up of Germans, and in the Wehrmacht it became registered as the 14th SS Infantry Division. In July 1944, it took part in the battles near the city of Brody, Lvov region, and as a result of successful combat operations of the Red Army, it was defeated.
Translation of the article “SS ‘Galicia’ Rifle Division” published in 1944 in the Lvov magazine “Calendar for the People”
The author of the article S. Volynets calls on Ukrainian citizens to side with the Germans in the fight against the USSR, propagandises the SS “Galicia” division, while calling Hitler nothing else than the “Fuhrer of Great Germany”. The article quotes the propaganda speech of Vladimir Kubievich, the conductor of the Ukrainian Central Committee, which was established in May 1940 on the territory of the General-governorship (Poland) with the mediation of the Nazis.
Historical logbook of the 14th SS “Galicia” Infantry Division, compiled by the Main Intelligence Directorate of the General Staff of the Red Army
The document is accompanied by the testimony of prisoners, orders of the division command, various certificates. According to the logbook, the combat debut of this Nazi unit, consisting of Ukrainian nationalists, turned out to be inglorious. In July 1944, the division, which had previously participated only in punitive operations, encountered regular units of the Red Army for the first time and was surrounded at the same time. As a result, by August 1, 1944, it was “removed from the register as defeated (being surrounded in the area southwest of Brody).”
The document also notes that a significant number of soldiers of the formation, fearing to be punished for serving the Nazis, wanted to desert or go over to the side of the Red Army. In view of this state of affairs, “German cavalrymen are behind the division’s battle formations, ready to prevent Ukrainians from deserting by force of arms.” Nevertheless, many reportedly managed to escape and join the partisans in Slovakia and Yugoslavia.
GERMAN INSTRUCTORS OF BANDERIST GANGS
Liberating the territory of Soviet Ukraine from the Nazi invaders, the Red Army units inevitably moved further west – into the Nazi lair, while leaving the remnants of Ukrainian nationalist gangs that had escaped the fighting in the rear. When the front, together with the main forces of the Soviet troops, went far enough, these armed formations intensified their sabotage and terrorist activities, thereby playing into the hands of the Nazis. The latter, acting in their own interests, even in such conditions found a way to help the nationalists, as evidenced by the materials published in the section.
Report of the commander of the 43rd Reserve Rifle Division dated March 26, 1945
In March 1945, in the Lvov region, the command of the 43rd Infantry Division carried out an operation to destroy UPA gangs. While combing the area, the Red Army soldiers came across well-fortified positions of the nationalists, who put up fierce resistance. During the battle, it was established that German military specialists were operating as part of the Ukrainian gangs: “The battle lasted 3 ½ hours, Banderists went on the counterattack up to 6 times. During the battle, commands were given by Banderists in German and Ukrainian.”
Report on the operations of the 43rd Reserve Rifle Division in the period from October 1944 to March 27, 1945
“During the fighting, it turned out that UPA gangs in most cases consisted of the SS and units of the Germans.” They also had good military training: “Many bandits passed through the German school, especially the leadership; (…) this is evidenced by the fact that, along with other trophies, a large number of ‘Field Service’ charters and a number of other textbooks were captured.” This report describes in detail, as well as schematically depicts, the structure and form of organisation of UPA gangs.
A memorandum by a member of the Military Council of the 1st Ukrainian Front, Lieutenant General Kraynyukov, on the actions of Ukrainian nationalist gangs and the fight against them
It is reported that nationalists are operating in the deep Soviet rear: “The remnants of the defeated and not-fully-finished-off (…) gangs of Ukrainian nationalists, taking advantage of the absence of large military units in the rear of the front, have recently intensified their counter-revolutionary activities.” At the same time, “these gangs have a sufficient number of automatic weapons and ammunition and are subordinate to well-trained commanders who have undergone military training in UPA field schools and special instructors trained by OUN in the Carpathians.”
In view of the current situation, the NKVD troops’ directorate for the protection of the rear was tasked by the Military Council of the Front with destroying gangs on the territory of the Lvov region within seven days. As a result of the operation carried out from August 22 to 27, 1944, 1549 bandits were destroyed by the NKVD and Red Army units, 541 were captured.
Ministry of Defence of the Russian Federation
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