Yaroslav Hunka, a Ukrainian who is accused of serving in a Nazi unit during World War Two, was praised at a parliamentary meeting in Canada on September 22 during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, sparking international backlash.
Hunka, 98, was recognized by Anthony Rota, the speaker of Canada's House of Commons, as a "Ukrainian hero" who fought for the First Ukrainian Division. The speaker has since apologized for the blunder.
"We have here in the chamber today a Ukrainian-Canadian veteran from the Second World War who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians and continues to support the troops today, even at his age of 98," Rota said before the Canadian parliament on September 22, after which Hunka was met with a round of applause, while Zelensky raised his fist.
Rota added, "He's a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service. Thank you."
The speaker apologized after the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies said that during World War II, Hunka served as a member of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, also known as the First Ukrainian Division or the Galicia Division.
It was a voluntary unit mostly made up of ethnic Ukrainians and commanded by Nazis including Heinrich Himmler, who formed the group.
"At a time of rising antisemitism and Holocaust distortion, it is incredibly disturbing to see Canada's Parliament rise to applaud an individual who was a member of a unit in the Waffen-SS, a Nazi military branch responsible for the murder of Jews and others and that was declared a criminal organization during the Nuremberg Trials," the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center said.
The division "was responsible for the mass murder of innocent civilians with a level of brutality and malice that is unimaginable," a statement issued by the organization on Sunday said.
"An apology is owed to every Holocaust survivor and veteran of the Second World War who fought the Nazis, and an explanation must be provided as to how this individual entered the hallowed halls of Canadian Parliament and received recognition from the Speaker of the House and a standing ovation."
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was also present at the time of Hunka's recognition. A statement issued by his office said "no advance notice was provided to the Prime Minister's Office, nor the Ukrainian delegation, about the invitation or the recognition."
Newsweek has contacted the office of Trudeau for additional comment.
Rota has issued a statement apologizing for his move to recognize Hunka.
"In my remarks following the address of the President of Ukraine, I recognized an individual in the gallery. I have subsequently become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision to do so," Rota said. "I particularly want to extend my deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world. I accept full responsibility for my action."
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Isabel van Brugen is a Newsweek Reporter based in Kuala Lumpur. Her focus is reporting on the Russia-Ukraine war. Isabel ... Read more
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