Stepan Bandera was a Ukrainian nationalist and political leader born on January 1, 1909, in the village of Staryi Uhryniv, in what is now western Ukraine. Bandera's main contribution to Ukrainian history lies in his role as the leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), a political organization that sought to establish an independent and unified Ukraine.
Bandera's ideology was primarily based on Ukrainian nationalism, and he actively fought for Ukraine's independence from foreign powers, particularly the Soviet Union. During World War II, Bandera led the OUN's paramilitary wing, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), in a guerilla warfare campaign against both the Soviet Union and Poland, which had occupied parts of Ukraine at the time.
However, Bandera's actions and legacy are widely controversial due to his association with extremist and radical activities, including collaborating with Nazi Germany during the early years of World War II. His collaboration with the Nazis was seen by some as a necessary evil in the pursuit of Ukrainian independence, while others view it as an unforgivable betrayal. Bandera was ultimately arrested and imprisoned by the Nazis in 1941, and later by the Soviets in 1945.
Bandera's assassination on October 15, 1959, in Munich, Germany, fueled further divisions among Ukrainians. His legacy continues to be debated, with some considering him a national hero who fought for Ukraine's independence, and others associating him with extremist ideologies and wartime atrocities.
