Yaroslav Hunka

Yaroslav Hunka is a Ukrainian-born Canadian World War II veteran known for having served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, also called the 1st Galician Division, during the Second World War.

Yaroslav Hunka is a Ukrainian-born Canadian World War II veteran who served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, also known as the 1st Galician Division. He became the subject of international controversy in September 2023 after being recognized in the Canadian House of Commons during a visit by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, which led to public apologies and political fallout.

Early life

According to multiple sources, Hunka was born in 1925 in Urmań/Urman, a location that was part of Poland at the time and is now in Ukraine. Available reporting provides limited biographical detail beyond these facts.

World War II service

Hunka served in the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS, also referred to as the 1st Galician Division, a formation under Nazi command. Sources consistently identify his service in this unit, though they differ in emphasis on his specific role.

2023 parliamentary controversy

Hunka gained international attention after being applauded in the Canadian House of Commons during Zelenskyy’s visit in September 2023. The recognition drew criticism from Jewish organizations, politicians, and commentators, and triggered apologies within Canadian politics. The Speaker of the House, Anthony Rota, later resigned as a result of the incident.

Later life in Canada

After the war, Hunka emigrated to Canada, with some reporting noting a period in Britain before that move. Public coverage of his later life focuses primarily on his wartime service and the 2023 controversy rather than a broader personal biography.