Russia Charges Ukrainian Nazi Veteran Mistakenly Honoured By Canada With 'Genocide'

The incident occurred during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the Canadian parliament, prompting its speaker to quit in the face of international outrage.

Russian authorities on Friday said that they had filed genocide charges against Nazi war veteran Yaroslav Hunka, who was unintentionally hailed by Canadian parliamentarians last month, news agency AFP reported. The incident occurred during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's visit to the Canadian parliament, prompting its speaker to quit in the face of international outrage. The Investigative Committee of Russia accused Hunka in absentia with "genocide of civilians on the territory of the Ukrainian SSR during the Great Patriotic War" in a statement.

According to the report, from February 23 to February 28, 1944, Hunka and other members of his SS division slaughtered "at least 500 citizens of the USSR" in the village of Huta Pieniacka.

"Among those killed were Jews and Poles. People were shot, burned in residential houses and also in the church," it was quoted by AFP in its report. 

Russia said it was contemplating obtaining an international arrest order for Hunka and has asked Canada, Poland, and Belarus for legal help.

When the speaker of the Canadian parliament, Anthony Rota, mentioned Zelensky as a World War II hero, the elderly soldier received a standing ovation.

Russia pounced on the event, demanding that Canada bring the 98-year-old Nazi veteran to trial.

For years, Moscow has attempted to portray the pro-Western Ukrainian administration led by Zelensky, who is Jewish, as neo-Nazi, using this as a justification for its onslaught in Ukraine.

In September, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau publicly apologised after the speaker of the Canadian lower house of parliament, Anthony Rota, lauded Hunka in front of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy. Rota admitted to making a mistake and resigned.

Putin branded the standing ovations for Hunka "disgusting" and claimed they proved Moscow was correct to "denazify" Ukraine.

Ukraine and its Western allies accuse Russia of waging an unjustified campaign of aggression in order to seize territory. According to Zelenskiy, who is Jewish, charges that his administration is governed by Nazis are ridiculous.