Skip to main content
Advertise with the Morning Star
Former SS soldier Yaroslav Hunka was given shelter in Britain after WWII
Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau apologises for the events surrounding Ukraine President Volodomyr Zelensky's visit at a media availability in Ottawa, Ontario, on Wednesday, September 27, 2023

FORMER SS soldier Yaroslav Hunka, whose standing ovation in the Canadian parliament this week scandalised the world, was given refuge in Britain after World War II, the Morning Star can reveal.

Despite having served in the Galician division of the Waffen-SS, a unit associated with massacres of Jews, Poles and other civilians during the war, Mr Hunka was allowed to settle in Britain.

He emigrated to Canada in 1954 and was presented to that country’s House of Commons as a hero this week, receiving an enthusiastic reception from, among others, visiting Ukrainian President Volodomyr Zelensky and Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.

The 95th Anniversary Appeal
Support the Morning Star
You have reached the free limit.
Subscribe to continue reading.
More from this author
Labour MP for Stretham Bell Ribeiro-Addy speaks at a rally outside Kings Cross Station, London, November 30, 2022
Labour Party / 9 September 2025
9 September 2025
MUSICAL CHAIR AT No 10: Prime Minister Sir Keir Starmer addresses the reshuffled Cabinet on September 9 2025
Eyes Left / 10 September 2025
10 September 2025

A ‘new phase’ for Starmerism is fairly similar to the old phase – only worse. ANDREW MURRAY takes a look

Labour Party / 4 September 2025
4 September 2025
Related articles
Yaroslav Hunka (right) waits for the arrival of Ukrainian Pr
Exclusive / 28 September 2023
28 September 2023
The Waffen SS Galicia Division veteran whose celebration in the Canadian parliament has caused outrage entered Canada by way of Northamptonshire, where he lived after the war, avoiding any semblance of justice. KENNY COYLE investigates