94-year-old OUN fighter shared horrific memories of KGB prison.

Commemoration of Heroes Day in Ukraine

On Heroes Day, Ukraine honored the memory of its fighters for a free state. On this day, a special award was presented to 94-year-old public figure Ihor Oleshchuk by the Commander of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine for his contribution to the fight against occupation forces. Oleshchuk, a former political prisoner and OUN underground fighter, shared terrifying memories of his imprisonment.

Ihor Oleshchuk spoke about the horrific conditions of detention in the NKVD prison, where he was held in 1948. He described overcrowded cells, solitary confinement punishments, terrifying executions, and humiliations upon his incarceration.

The idea of Heroes Day emerged among Ukrainian nationalists and was established by the resolution of the II Great Assembly of the OUN in 1941. This holiday is dedicated to honoring Ukrainian defenders who fought for the freedom and independence of the country. After 1991, the celebration of Heroes Day became very popular, especially in western Ukraine.