Viktor YUSHCHENKO, the third president of Ukraine:
“A threat to Ukrainian statehood.”
Serhii RYBACHOK, historian:
“A bow to Moscow.”
Volodymyr MARCHUK, candidate of historical sciences, senior researcher at the Rivne Oblast State Archives:
“[A sign of] ignorance of our own history, and unwillingness to take our history as it is.”
Vitalii MASNENKO, Doctor of History, professor at the Bohdan Khmelnytsky Cherkasy National University:
“An inconsistency of the government. If there is one policy which is formed within the state, this doesn’t mean that a change of the government in this state must lead to an approach in the opposite direction. It should be consistent. There are many countries which try to foster their identity, their vision of the past, the legitimacy of their state. They have a consistent policy like that. This is not observed in Ukraine.”
Maksym HON, Doctor of Political Sciences, Rivne:
“A confrontation of models. Historical memory is the result of its modeling by intellectuals, including politicians. When Viktor Yushchenko by a corresponding resolution conferred the rank of a “Hero of Ukraine” on Stepan Bandera, the formation of one model of historical memory took place. It was about conflating what is national and sacred. Instead, the current government opts for another model, which shows a rejection of anything having to do with Ukrainian nationality, even in its liberal form. Thus, the closing of the Museum of the Ukrainian People’s Republic in Kyiv and canceling the Resolution about conferring the rank of a “Hero of Ukraine” on Bandera signify a continuation of the discussion and a confrontation of models.”
Oleh REPAN, deputy director of the Institute for Social Studies, candidate of historical sciences, associate professor, Dnipropetrovsk:
“Narrowing the view on Ukrainian history. It is notable that all these actions of the government in the sphere of historical memory are directed at the 20th century, where the Soviet identity is entrenched. In this way they suggest returning to the Soviet vision of history. Thus, the history of Ukraine, which has many aspects and is diverse, the history in which there is a place for different heroes (that is for people who, based on different positions and views, fought for the good of Ukraine — from national-communists to Bandera), this history becomes simplified and primitive. However, within the context of influence on the historical memory of Ukrainians, one should say that in the near future the mentioned actions of the government will not be of a great importance. Historical memory is not only policy, not only government’s actions. Historical memory is a lasting thing, which is not subject to conjuncture. The change of the state policy doesn’t mean immediate change of historical memory. Today there are many scientific studies and school textbooks depicting an adequate vision of history of Ukraine, therefore one cannot cancel all this at once. One can speak about impacts in the medium-term prospect — in about 15-20 years (provided that nothing changes in this period and this policy persists).”
Mykola LAZAROVYCH, doctoral candidate at the Fedkovych Chernivtsi National University, candidate of historical sciences, associate professor at the chair of documentation, information activity and Ukrainian studies at the Ternopil National Economic University, honored worker of education of Ukraine:
“Actually, it doesn’t mean anything for the historical memory of Ukrainians, for the ‘guys’ came to power not for long. But the problem is that today they make serious problems for society, and also on the international level. We revise established things again. Our state is still Ukrainian, but now Ukrainian values are banned, eliminated and persecuted. This is the worst and most horrible thing. This is not normal, for who will take into account a state which constantly revises its basic orientation? Nobody! I am sure that another government will come and justice will be returned. Not because someone will tell us: ‘We came to power and will defend our values, and they — theirs.’ Since there are eternal values. And the current government cancels these eternal values. Of course, this is very sad. However, it seems to me Bandera and Shukhevych are heroes in the hearts of a considerable part of the people and it is not important whether they were given these ranks or not, because the main thing is when a hero is a great person. There are many people now possessing the rank of a Hero of Ukraine who do not deserve it. Perhaps, Bandera and Shukhevych [would] feel uncomfortable among such ‘heroes.’”
Liudmyla BABENKO, candidate of historical sciences, associate professor at the chair of history of Ukraine at the Korolenko Poltava National Pedagogical University:
“It shows that the policy of memory in present Ukraine, unfortunately, is formed by non-Ukrainians. External factors prevail, with Russian influence being the most notable. Instead, there is an impression that representatives of the current government are waiting for some ‘sanctions’ from Moscow before making the next step. The statement of Russian Prime Minister Vladimir Putin about the nominal role of Ukraine in the victory over the Hitler’s Germany became one of the recent ‘signals.’ There was no official reaction of the Ukrainian government. So, they fear to make the ‘senior brother’ angry? So, should one expect a ‘new’ conception of the World War II?”
In Lutsk money is being gathered to erect a monument to the leader of OUN-UPA Stepan Bandera. The Brotherhood of OUN-UPA veterans of the Volyn region set up an account for donations, reported www.glavred.info referring to the press service of the Lutsk city council. According to the head of the Regional council of the Brotherhood of OUN-UPA veterans of the Volyn region Vasyl Kushnir, four thousand hryvnias were already transferred to the charitable account, but this is far from enough. “For us Stepan Bandera has remained a Hero, for us he is a symbol of the struggle for the Ukrainian State. And we believe that there will be a monument to Stepan Bandera in
Lutsk with the support of the community,” said Kushnir.
