A group of Canadian supporters of Ukraine’s war with Russia crossed a line during a recent speech by Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. They recognized and cheered for a former World War II Nazi soldier who had fought against the Russians.
During Zelenskyy’s visit to Canada on Friday, where he addressed Parliament and urged the nation to reaffirm its support for Ukraine, parliament erupted in applause for Yaroslav Hunka, a former member of a military unit, Waffen-SS, which fought for the Nazis.
Watch:
🚨 Zelensky Honors Literal Nazi 🚨
— Benny Johnson (@bennyjohnson) September 24, 2023
Meet Yaroslav Hunk.
Hunk is a Nazi who fought with the 14th division of the Waffen SS against the Russians in Ukraine in WWll
Hunk assisted in the systematic extermination of Ukraines Jewish population and installation of a Nazi dictator in… pic.twitter.com/3ctFoJ4rS7
Jewish advocacy organizations quickly slammed the Parliamentary leadership for honoring Hunka as a “hero”.
From Fox News:
Canadian Jewish organizations and social media critics are slamming the Canadian Parliament for giving a man who fought for the Nazis a standing ovation during an event featuring Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s visit to the country.
“FSWC is appalled that Canada’s Parliament gave a standing ovation to a Ukrainian veteran who served in a Nazi military unit during the Second World War implicated in the mass murder of Jews and others. An apology and explanation is owed,” the Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center, a Canadian nonprofit dedicated to educating people on the Holocaust, wrote on X, previously known as Twitter.
I was in Parliament for Zelenskyy’s speech. When a supposed war hero was introduced, I stood up and applauded. I assumed he was a partisan who fought communist occupation after WWII. Now I’ve learned he was a volunteer member of an SS unit, I feel sick to my stomach. #cdnpoli 1/6
— Jason Cherniak (@Cherniak) September 24, 2023
Social media erupted with criticism directed at the Canadian House for celebrating Hunka, with some referring to him as a “literal Nazi” and a “monster.”
Trudeau blamed the error on the Speaker of the House of Commons, Anthony Rota.
Speaker Rota apologized, acknowledging the mistake and expressing gratitude to Holocaust survivors and war veterans. Rota said that an explanation for how Hunka came to be honored would be provided at a later date.
CBC reported:
“I have subsequently become aware of more information which causes me to regret my decision to [honour Hunka]. I wish to make clear that no one, including fellow parliamentarians and the Ukraine delegation, was aware of my intention or of my remarks before I delivered them,” Rota said.
“I particularly want to extend my deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world,” he added.
Rota said he accepted “full responsibility” for his actions.
Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre held Trudeau responsible and demanded a personal apology from him.
It has come out today that Justin Trudeau personally met with and honoured a veteran of the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (a Nazi division).
— Pierre Poilievre (@PierrePoilievre) September 24, 2023
Liberals then arranged for this Nazi veteran to be recognized on the floor of the House of Commons during the visit of the… https://t.co/9JFUEqsdW8
