Sofia Andrukhovych weighs in on Canadian controversy, emphasizes need for nuanced Ukrainian history

Acclaimed Ukrainian author Sofia Andrukhovych, whose latest novel has garnered recognition for its exploration of Jewish-Ukrainian history, commented on the recent controversy involving an SS Galicia Division veteran who received applause in the Canadian parliament.

In an interview with the Pryamyi Channel, Andrukhovych said she found the incident “very sad” and speculated that it had been part of a “manipulation” or setup. She also emphasized that the episode underscores the necessity for Ukrainians to grapple with the complexities of their history.

“Retelling the key events of certain periods, we must remember that we also have to acknowledge a part of the guilt. To dispel a stereotype, we must recognize the part of the stereotype that is real and not dismiss it. We have a problem when we try to present ourselves as victims, as saints, who have never done anything bad. There were anti-Semites among Ukrainians, but not all were,” she said.

Last month, Andrukhovych’s novel “Amadoka” received the Ukrainian Jewish Encounter Prize, an award that recognizes works promoting Ukrainian-Jewish understanding.

During the interview with the Pryamyi Channel, she recounted a conversation with a German journalist who asked if her book’s portrayal of characters committing evil acts during the Holocaust had led to defensive or negative reactions from Ukrainian readers.

Andrukhovych told the journalist that the novel’s confrontation of Holocaust history in Ukraine, as well as its depiction of a tragic love story between a Ukrainian woman and a Jewish man, elicited the most “sincere feedback” from readers. She said the journalist was surprised that Ukrainians would be willing to examine historical wrongs, especially when the country is currently facing daily hardships.

For Andrukhovych, the current challenges Ukrainians face may actually make them more open and empathetic in confronting painful aspects of their history

“ I think that moments like this are the way to understand the suffering of other people. In such moments, you can feel the wounds of other people with your own wounds. Perhaps now is the time to mourn the tragedies of people who also make up and have made up Ukraine,” Andrukhovych added.

Main image: Valentyn Kuzan/craftmagazine