On April 09, 2015, Verkhovna Rada (Ukrainian Parliament) passed a law of recognizing organizations that fought for the independence of Ukraine in the XX century such as UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army) and UNR (Ukrainian People’s Republic), the Union for the Liberation of Ukraine, Ukrainian Sich Riflemen (USS), Hetmanate (Ukrainian State), WUPR guerrilla (Western Ukrainian People’s Republic) and Carpathian Sich, OUN, Soim of Carpathian Ukraine, Ukrainian Helsinki Group and others.
“The State recognizes that the fighters for independence of Ukraine in the twentieth century, as defined in Article 1 of this law, played a major role in the restoration of Ukrainian statehood, declared the Act of August 24, 1991, which is the main prerequisite for granting legal status and honor, memory of fighters for Ukraine’s independence in the twentieth century,” the document states.
The fighters for independence will have social guarantees and benefits, and state awards:
“Public denial of the legitimacy of the struggle for the independence of Ukraine in the twentieth century recognized insult to the memory of fighters for independence of Ukraine in the XX century disparagement of the Ukrainian people and is illegal”, – the law states.
