Yaroslav Hunka, who was honored by Canada’s parliament, is wanted in Russia for hundreds of murders
Russia has secured the cooperation of 15 Interpol member states in its pursuit of Yaroslav Hunka, a 99-year-old Waffen-SS veteran who was honored by Canada’s parliament last year. The Russian Interior Ministry announced this development on Monday.
Hunka gained notoriety when he was a guest at the Canadian parliament during Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s visit last year. His Waffen-SS unit was responsible for atrocities against Jews and Poles on the Eastern Front during World War II, and he received a standing ovation. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was later compelled to apologize for this incident.
After unsuccessful attempts to extradite Hunka since late 2023, the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office added the Ukrainian-Canadian Nazi to Interpol’s database last week. Moscow stated its intention to seek his extradition if he left Canada.
The Russian Interior Ministry stated that as of Monday, 15 Interpol member states have agreed to arrest Hunka if he enters their territory.
“All war criminals who committed bloody atrocities against civilians will receive the punishment they deserve,” the ministry stated. “After all, there is no statute of limitations for such crimes.”
Hunka served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, also known as the Galicia Division. Formed by the Nazi regime in 1943, the Galicia Division primarily consisted of Ukrainian recruits from the Galicia region, which is now part of western Ukraine and eastern Poland.
Russia has accused Hunka of being involved in the murder of at least 500 Soviet citizens.
Before his standing ovation last year, House Speaker Anthony Rota introduced Hunka to Canadian lawmakers as “a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero… who fought for Ukrainian independence against the Russians.”
The Russian Interior Ministry did not disclose the names of the countries that have agreed to pursue Hunka. However, Poland has advocated for his extradition since last year, and the head of Israel’s Anti-Fascist Movement stated last week that his organization has urged any “country that harbors this criminal” to turn him over.