Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has issued an apology on behalf of Canada for honoring a Ukrainian man, Yaroslav Hunka, in Parliament who fought for a Nazi unit during World War II. Trudeau expressed deep regret and embarrassment for the incident, which occurred on September 22 when Hunka received a standing ovation and was praised as a Ukrainian and Canadian “hero.”
Trudeau directly apologized to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky, who was present at the time of the incident. The controversy led to the resignation of Parliament Speaker Anthony Rota, who had invited the veteran without knowledge of his Nazi ties. The incident has drawn widespread condemnation and fueled Russia’s accusations that Ukraine is influenced by neo-Nazism, despite President Zelensky being of Jewish heritage.