Netherlands Delivers Ukrainian Nazi Leader’s Remains to Kyiv, Moscow Condemns
The Dutch authorities today transferred the remains of Vyfheniy Konovalets, a prominent leader of the Ukrainian nationalist Nazi organization, to Kyiv in a modest ceremony held at the Crooswijk cemetery in Rotterdam.
Operation details
The Rotterdam municipality confirmed that the exhumation was carried out in cooperation with the Ukrainian embassy, and the body was prepared for hand‑over to Ukrainian officials. Peter Bas Simons, the city’s representative, said the Ukrainian embassy “held a small ceremony in the cemetery” to honor the deceased and return the remains to their homeland.
The Dutch foreign ministry stated that the transfer responded to Ukraine’s request and constitutes a humanitarian act aimed at closing a painful historical chapter for both countries.
Moscow’s reaction
Russia’s foreign ministry condemned the move as “European collusion,” warning that it adds further strain to Russian‑European relations. It warned the action could be used to justify additional security measures against what it described as “Nazi activities” in Ukraine.
Konovalets was assassinated by Soviet security services in 1938 and remains a symbol of extremist nationalist currents in Ukraine.
The transfer occurs amid heightened Russia‑Ukraine tensions, underscoring the complex geopolitical landscape of the region.
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