Vasyl Kuk
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Vasyl Kuk | |
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Native name | Василь Степанович Кук |
Nickname(s) | Koval |
Born | Krasne, Galicia and Lodomeria, Austria-Hungary (now Ukraine) | 11 January 1913
Died | 9 September 2007 Kyiv, Ukraine | (aged 94)
Allegiance | Ukrainian Insurgent Army |
Years of service | 1942–1954 |
Battles/wars | |
Alma mater |
Vasyl Stepanovych Kuk (Ukrainian: Василь Степанович Кук; 11 January 1913 – 9 September 2007) was a Ukrainian nationalist activist and militant who was the last leader of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, following the death of Roman Shukhevych. In 1954, he was captured by Soviet KGB troops and spent six years in prison without a court sentence.
Biography
Vasyl Kuk was born in
Statement to the Ukrainians
In 1960 Vasyl Kuk wrote an open letter.[1] He directed his statement to the Ukrainians living outside the Soviet Union. Kuk read his letter over the Soviet radio on 19 September 1960. His letter was then reprinted by the Soviet press and eventually by the newspapers in the US and Canada.
In the letter Kuk admits his anti-Bolshevik activity before, during and after World War II, partly explaining it with his own "misguidance" and partly deploring it. Next he states that he had been arrested, but later released by decree of the Supreme Council of the Ukrainian SSR and now along with his wife is a "free citizen of Ukrainian SSR."
The main part of the letter is devoted to the proof that there is no longer any need for underground resistance in Ukraine and that rebellion against
Death and burial
Kuk died on 9 September 2007, in his apartment in Kyiv. Farewell to the last the commander-in-chief of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army was held in Kyiv at the Teacher's House, then his body was transported to Lviv, where the funeral service continued. Kuk was buried in Krasne.
References
- ^ "The Ukrainian Weekly" (PDF). p. 2. Retrieved 9 November 2018.
External links
- Encyclopedia of Ukraine entry
- BBC (Ukrainian) The last commander of UPA, Vasyl Kuk, died
- Lubomyr Luciuk, Professor of Geography, Royal Military College of Canada, Globe and Mail, September 15th, 2007