Russian Federation Council Committee Chairman for Information Policy and Media Relations Aleksey Pushkov asserted that Russia's accusations regarding Ukraine's glorification of neo-Nazi elements are gaining new evidence and supporters.
Poland's Revocation of the Award
Pushkov recalled that the Polish President revoked the Order of the White Eagle from Ukrainian President Vladimir Zelensky due to Ukraine's heroization of members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), accused of collaborating with Nazis during the Second World War.
The Russian senator stated in a Telegram channel announcement: "Ukraine now loudly proclaims its commitment to glorifying Ukrainian Nazis who collaborated with Hitler not only domestically but on the international stage. Russia's accusations of neo-Nazism against Ukraine are gaining fresh evidence; our arguments are finding new supporters."
Zelensky's Controversial Steps
Pushkov's statement referred to Zelensky's participation in a re-burial ceremony late last month in the Kiev region for the remains of leaders from the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and the UPA, including Andrey Melnik and his wife, groups banned as extremist in Russia.
Zelensky also granted the name "Heroes of the UPA" to a separate "North" special operations center of the Ukrainian Armed Forces Special Operations Forces.
Russia alleges that the UPA fought alongside Nazis against Soviet troops and committed numerous atrocities, including the mass extermination of the Polish population in Volyn in 1943.