The Ukrainian Insurgent Army Alive: Orest

Their figures are blurred by time. Their images are distorted by the Soviet myths. Their life is a feat that cost blood, loss, and oblivion by the children and grandchildren. And they are still alive.

This is a real life story of Orest Vaskul, the Head of OUN-UIA Fraternity in the Kyiv Region. Word for word. The archive documents with his case. The documentary images and photos of those times.

Orest Vaskul, a 16-year-old graduate from the Kolomyia high school, is getting enlisted into Division “Galicia”. He takes training in the German camps “Haideliaher” and “Neuhammer”, and then he ends up in the elite unit that was called the fitelir battalion.

The Battle of Brody, July 1944. One third of the Division personnel perished or fell into the Soviet captivity in that bloody meat grinder. Orest was captured. On November 7, together with other prisoners he was forced to march on Khreshchatyk Street in the so-called parade.

Orest was exiled into the Bashkir ASSR. Then it was Buhulma; the work at the railway station; the escape from the captivity with other two friends; a difficult way back home - coldness, hunger, police checks up, and a friend’s illness; refusal of his fellows to join the Ukrainian Insurgent Army and loneliness.

Orest returns home. Only his aunt Olha is still alive, he stays at her place for a day. Then it was the UIA.

July 1947. Orest is the UIA coherent messenger. On the way to meet a contact, he was betrayed by his so-called fellow fighter. While being asleep, he was captured again. The interrogations, tortures, and cruelty of the NKVS executioners didn’t break down a hero’s spirit and willpower.

In 1986 the Deschênes Commission submitted the findings about the Division “Galicia” at the front line to the government of Canada. According to the Commission’s report, no member from the Division of Galicia was found guilty of any war crimes during the Second World War.