Mit Stepana Bandery
The myth of Stepan Bandera

Summary/Abstract: The article aims to familiarize the readers with the mythologization of Stepan Bandera. This figure currently does not enjoy popularity among Ukrainians, but he is used in creating historical politics, which has a direct impact on the shaping of Ukraine’s foreign policy and relations with other countries. Using the comparative method and the method of critical analysis, the following research hypotheses were verified: Stepan Bandera is not a leader or an outstanding historical hero in the eyes of all Ukrainians, and his assessment varies regionally. Bandera is not a figure that can gain popularity in a democratic state, and contemporary Ukrainian leaders distance themselves from him. The popularity of Bandera is a myth that has become part of Polish historical and foreign policy, but also an element of the interpretation of patriotism as an opposition to Russia, more and more common in Ukraine. The conclusion of the study is that the historical memory in Ukraine is regionalised and it is impossible to consider Bandera as the hero of the whole country, and the Ukrainian perception of nationalism does not match the Polish point of view. As a kind of symbol, Bandera’s myth certainly does not play a major role in Ukraine’s social or political life, but rather serves to unite the nation around a common idea.

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