Image Credit: Life.ru
Russia has placed Yaroslav Gunko, a 99-year-old veteran of the SS Galicia division, on the international wanted list, according to the Russian Prosecutor General’s Office. Gunko, who was involved in combat operations against the Red Army during World War II, is accused of participating in the murder of at least 500 Soviet civilians. This development follows Russia’s request to Canadian authorities for his extradition, submitted in December 2023.
Born in March 1925 in Urman, then part of the Second Polish Republic, Gunko volunteered for the 14th Waffen SS Grenadier Division “Galicia” at the age of 18. The division, operational from 1943 to 1945, was comprised largely of Ukrainians and was noted for its Greek Catholic composition. Gunko participated in Eastern Front battles before moving to Great Britain post-war. He married Margaret Ann Edgerton in 1951 and later emigrated to Canada, settling in Toronto. There, Gunko worked in the aviation industry and was an active member of the Ukrainian-Canadian community.
On September 22, 2023, Gunko’s presence in the Canadian Parliament drew controversy when then-Speaker Anthony Rota praised him as a “Ukrainian and Canadian hero” during a visit from President Volodymyr Zelensky. The Canadian Center for Israeli and Jewish Affairs criticized the recognition, leading to significant public outcry. Rota subsequently resigned, and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau labeled the incident a “great embarrassment.”
The SS Galicia division’s controversial legacy continues to provoke debate. Although the Supreme Court ruled last December that its symbols do not constitute Nazi emblems, the division’s wartime actions remain a contentious issue.