Batkivshchyna
members of parliament Vyacheslav Kyrylenko, Ivan Stoiko and Oleh Medunytsa
registered a bill recognizing the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN)
and the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), as World War II combatants.
“Our bill
is aimed at restoring historical justice, and aims to eliminate the
consequences of lawlessness and tyranny at the hands of the leadership the
Union of Soviet Socialist Republic and the Ukrainian Soviet Socialist Republic,
as well as to restore the civil rights of OUN members and UPA fighters” –
said Kyrylenko.
The bill defines
the period of September 1939 until the end of 1956 as when OUN members and UPA fighters
fought for national liberation and recognizes them as combatants that fought
for Ukraine’s independence in World War II.
According to the bill, by receiving combatant status, social benefits will be
provided to UPA veterans.
