Ukraine: The Ukrainian National Assembly - Ukrainian Self Defence (UNA-UNSO): whether it targets primarily Jews or whether all ethnic and religious minorities are equally targeted; whether it is active in Odessa; its methods or targeting and victimizing persons; whether its members wear uniforms and, if so, their colour and style; the police protection available for persons who are targeted or victimized (January 1996 - April 1999)
| Publisher | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada |
| Author | Research Directorate, Immigration and Refugee Board, Canada |
| Publication Date | 1 April 1999 |
| Citation / Document Symbol | UKR31738.E |
| Cite as | Canada: Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada, Ukraine: The Ukrainian National Assembly - Ukrainian Self Defence (UNA-UNSO): whether it targets primarily Jews or whether all ethnic and religious minorities are equally targeted; whether it is active in Odessa; its methods or targeting and victimizing persons; whether its members wear uniforms and, if so, their colour and style; the police protection available for persons who are targeted or victimized (January 1996 - April 1999), 1 April 1999, UKR31738.E, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aca47c.html [accessed 3 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
For information on the anti-Semitic activities of the UNA-UNSO in Ukraine current to 25 July 1997, please consult UKR27256.E of 25 July 1997.
A 23 October 1998 Polish Radio emission states:
The Eaglets' Cemetery [part of the Lychakivskyy cemetery containing graves of Poles killed during the Polish-Ukrainian war of 1918-1919] in Lviv [western Ukraine] has again been vandalized. Ukrainian nationalists from the organization UNA-UNSO have smashed the inscription plate on the monument which reads: To the Unknown Heroes Fallen in Defence of Lwow [Polish name for Lviv] and the Polish southeastern Marches. The [Polish] consul-general in Lviv, Wincenty Debicki, who visited the cemetery, has reported that the entire event was observed by four officials from the (?Berkut) group, who had as their task the protection of the cemetery [after earlier incidents].
For information on the organization and ideology of the UNA-UNSO, please consult pages seven and eight of the February 1999 IRB Issue Paper, Ukraine: Situation of Jews, which is available at Regional Documentation Centres.
No additional information on the UNA-UNSO in Ukraine could be found among the sources consulted by the Research Directorate.
This Response was prepared after researching publicly accessible information currently available to the Research Directorate within time constraints. This Response is not, and does not purport to be, conclusive as to the merit of any particular claim to refugee status or asylum. Please find below the list of additional sources consulted in researching this Information Request.
Reference
Polish Radio 1 [Warsaw, in Polish]. 23 October 1998. "New Acts of Vandalism at Polish War Cemetery in Ukraine." (BBC Summary 26 Oct. 1998/NEXIS)
Additional Sources Consulted
Electronic sources: IRB databases, Internet, NEXIS/LEXIS, REFWORLD, WNC.
Resource Centre country file on Ukraine. January 1998 - February 1999.
Transitions [Prague]. January 1998 - November 1998.
Unsuccessful attempts to contact oral sources.
