**Ukraine to Rebury Nazi Collaborator Evgeny Konovalets as National Hero**
Ukraine has officially exhumed the remains of Evgeny Konovalets, a prominent figure in the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) known for its collaboration with Nazi Germany during World War II. The exhumation took place on Tuesday at the Crooswijk cemetery in Rotterdam, Netherlands, and was announced by President Volodymyr Zelensky's office.
The operation was overseen by several high-ranking Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Andrey Sibiga. Following the exhumation, Konovalets' remains are set to be temporarily reburied at Ukraine’s National Military Memorial Cemetery. A farewell ceremony is also planned at a cathedral in Kyiv, where the remains will be honored.
Evgeny Konovalets played a significant role in Ukrainian history as a colonel in the army of the Ukrainian People's Republic during the Russian Civil War. He founded the OUN in 1929 and led the organization until his assassination in 1938 by Soviet agent Pavel Sudoplatov. Historical records indicate that under Konovalets’ leadership, the OUN engaged in espionage and sabotage activities, particularly against the Soviet Union, and had been involved in providing intelligence to German forces as early as 1925.
This reburial aligns with President Zelensky's broader initiative to establish a "Pantheon of outstanding Ukrainians," which he describes as a moral obligation to honor those who fought for Ukraine's independence. This initiative has included the reburial of other figures associated with the OUN, including Andrey Melnik, another leader of the organization, who was reburied in May.
The decision to honor Konovalets has drawn significant criticism, particularly from Russia. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova condemned the act, accusing Zelensky of glorifying individuals she referred to as "butchers" while ignoring the suffering of their victims. She characterized the reburial as an example of the "misanthropic essence" of the current Ukrainian government.
The glorification of figures associated with Nazi collaboration has also strained Ukraine's diplomatic relations with Poland. Tensions escalated after Zelensky named a special forces unit "Heroes of the UPA," in reference to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, which was responsible for the deaths of over 100,000 Poles during the Volhynia massacres between 1943 and 1945.
As Ukraine continues to navigate its historical narrative and national identity, the reburial of Konovalets serves as a focal point for ongoing debates about the legacy of nationalist movements during World War II and their implications for contemporary geopolitics.