Eugene Konovalec

Eugene Konovalec was born on the 14th of June 1891 in the village of Zashkiv in Lviv region. He was an outstanding and famous leader of Ukrainian nationalists. He studied at Lviv gymnasium from 1901 to 1909, and later majored in law at Lviv University. Konovalec joined the army to fight against Russian troops. He showed tremendous courage and exceptional heroism in battle on the front-line. Eugene was captured by Russians in the battle near Makiivka in 1915. Two years later, in 1917, he had a lucky escape which brought him to Kyiv, where he took an active part in the struggle for Ukrainian independence; though, he had tasted freedom only to lose it again, and was recaptured by Polls near Lutsk in 1919, however he managed to escape for the second time.
Eugene Konovalec was already in Lviv on the 20th of July 1921, determined to pursue his noble goal of achieving Ukrainian independence.
In 1922 he lived in Germany, Switzerland, and Italy, establishing close contacts with famous political leaders and statesmen.
Seven years later, in 1929, the participants of the first Congress of Ukrainian Nationalists founded the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists in Vienna, subsequently Eugene Konovalec was appointed the chairman of this, renowned for its revolutionary activity, organization. He was an energetic man who initiated close relations with political circles of Germany, Great Britain, Lithuania, Spain, Belgium, France and Canada.
His brave deeds were more often than not considered perilous by the Soviet communist regime and consequently he was eliminated by a Soviet agent in Holland on the 23d of May 1938. Eugene Konovalec was buried in Rotterdam.

Stepan Bandera

Stepan Bandera came into the world on the 1st of January 1909 in the village of Stariy Ugrinivin, Ivano-Frankivsk region. His father was a priest of Greek-Catholic church. The large extended family, as it was the custom of the time, included eight children: Martha, Stepan, Alexander, Volodymyr, Vasyl, Oxana, and Bogdan. The youngest Myroslava passed away being but an infant. In spite of the fact that Bandera’s family was large they all lived a very friendly life and highly respected each other. His father often told his children beautiful and unforgettable stories about Ukraine, Ukrainian traditions, customs, love and freedom, will and independence. Stepan’s mother died leaving small children orphans. It is necessary to say that all members of Bandera’s family struggled heroically for Ukraine. His father and some of some of his brothers were executed by Soviet Security forces and fascists. Sisters Martha and Oxana were exiled to Siberia where they spent 48 years.
Very early young Stepan joined the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. He became a very active participant of this organization. Stepan Bandera passionately loved Ukraine and his native people. His life is a great example for us all. He lived an interesting life. He devoted his own life to Ukraine and Ukrainian people. Stepan Bandera wanted to liberate Ukrainian people from Polish and Russian yoke. I must say that Stepan Bandera didn’t reach the very top of happiness but he was happy because his struggle for Ukraine was necessary, just and true. He’s our pride and hope. He’ll always live in our souls and hearts. I think that Stepan Bandera is our Ukrainian Gadfly. Such heroes never die.

Division Galicia SS

The warriors of the division Galicia SS showed immense heroism in the battle for Ukraine, Ukrainian people and for our independence. The division was involved in the most atrocious battle which took place near Brody. Many handsome soldiers were cut off in their prime there. The fields and meadows in the vicinity were sprinkled with blood of those who didn’t want to give up in one of the most horrendous battles against their wicked and sworn enemies. The soldiers are dead but they’ll always live in our hearts and souls. Their lifespan was short but the memory of their good deeds is eternal, and, moreover they have set an example worth emulating for us all. Most of them were slaughtered and badly wounded though they could not be defeated. They loved Ukraine and were longing to see it free, rich, happy, and independent from any other country.
A number of books have been written about these people and some of them owe their authorship to our countrymen. I believe that the younger generations should cherish the grateful memory of those glorious fighters from the division Galicia SS.

Andriy Melnik

Andriy Melnik is an outstanding political figure and one of the greatest leaders of the organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. He was born on the 5th of December, 1890 in the village of Volia Yakubovain Drogobich district, Lviv region. He was an officer. During the 1st World War he was at the Russian-Austrian front. He showed tremendous heroism and courage. His soldiers liked and respected him greatly. In 1916 Andriy Melnik was captured and sent to Russia.
In 1917 he made an escape with some of his comrades in arms. And came to Kiev, where he took an active part in the national struggle for the Ukrainian independence. In 1922 Andriy Melnik came back to Galicia, where he organized the Ukrainian military organization. In 1934 he was elected chairman of the Senate of Ukrainian Nationalist Organization.
During the Second World War he took an active part in the heroic fight for our Ukrainian independence. This great politician and a brave warrior was arrested many times by Polish and German powers for his progressive and revolutionary ideas and thoughts concerning Ukraine and its independence. After the Second World War A.Melnik lived in Germany and Luxemburg.
He died on the 1st of November 196 in Luxemburg.

Mikola Lemik

Mikola Lemik was born on the 4th of April 1914 in the village of Soloviy of Peremishlyany district in Galicia. After finishing gymnasium he studied at the uni9versity in Lviv. He was an active participant of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists. On the 21st of October 1933 he killed Maylow, the Russian representative of the Soviet Embassy in Lviv. Lemik wanted to attract attention of the whole Europe to hunger and hollocust, which were artificially made by the Soviet authorities in Eastern Ukraine. In 1933 Lemik was sentenced to death. In some months his verdict was changed and Lemik had to be in jail forever. At the beginning of the Second World War he was released and became one of the organizers of the so-called moving groups of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists in the whole Ukraine.
In October 1941 Mikola Lemik was arrested by Gestapo and executed for his attempts to declare the independence of Ukraine.

Simon Petlyura

Simon Petlyura is an outstanding political figure and a great leader of the Ukrainian national Liberation movement. He was born in the suburbs of Poltava on the 10th of May 1879. His family was rather rich.
From 1895 till 1901 he studied at the seminary in Poltava. In 1900 he joined the Ukrainian Revolutionary party. He worked as a teacher for some years. He lived in many cities of Russia and Ukraine. During the First World War Petlyura wrote many political articles, but the most famous of them was ‘The War and the Ukrainians’. In 1919 Simon Petlyura became at the head of the Ukrainian Army, which struggled against Bolshevik regime. In this year he captured Kiev, and tried to build a powerful Ukrainian state. In 19 Simon Petlyura went to Austria and a bit later – to Hungary and Switzerland. In October 194 he came to Paris where he began to publish his own political magazine ‘Trident’ and continued to be the chairman of the Ukrainian People’s Republic. On the 5th of May 1926 he was shot by Bolshevik agent Shwartebart. Petlyura’s body was buried at the cemetery (Montparnas) in Paris.

Roman Shukhevich

Roman Shukhevich was born on the 0th of June 1907. From 1943-1950 he was a commander in chief of the Ukrainian Insurgent (Upriseing) Army. He was an outstanding military and political figure. Shukhevich studied in Lviv, he finished academic gymnasium in that city. In 1922 he entered ‘Plast’, where he showed tremendous heroism and courage. After that Roman Shukhevich studied at the Polytechnic institute in Poland. From 1928-1929 he was called up for the Polish army. In 1929 Shukhevich entered the Organization of the Ukrainian Nationalists. In 1934 he was arrested for an attempt to kill Pyeratsky, Minister of foreighn affairs of Poland, and sent to the concentration camp ‘Bereza-Kartucka’. During the Second World War Shukhevich was an active member in the division ‘Nakhtigal’. From 1943-1950 Roman Shukhevich fought heroically against German and Russian enemies. He wanted to see Ukrain free from its enemies – Russian, German, and Polish invaders. He was killed in the battle against Soviet Security forces in the village of Bilogortci near Lviv in 1950.