Was "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes" the slogan of the UPA movement or not?

by voronaam

Recent events prompted me to research is there any far-right connotation in the phrase "Glory to Ukraine! Glory to Heroes". I quickly found a claim linking it to Ukrainian Insurgent Army. But further search for documents revealed not much evidence to support the claim.

The sources I found so far:

  • Log of KGB questioning UPA fighter citing this as one of the slogans. The best source so far.

  • Declaration of Ukrainian Independence by UPA signed with only half of that slogan.

  • Reprint of a secret note citing two absolutely different phrases to be the slogans: «Жить или умереть» and «Смерть московскому народу»

I am sorry for Ukrainian and Russian language sources. But this are the languages I expect supporting documents to be in.

I will appreciate an answer from a historian. It is not a question to stir a political row, but a genuine interest. Thank you.

voronaam

Some more related sources and documents:

  • UPA propoganda poster with words "Воля народам! Воля людинi!" (Freedom to Nations! Freedom to people).

  • Self-describing book about UPA The title page has "Freedom to nations and people" as the first slogan. Page 39 has underlined line "We are for freedom of nations and people".

  • Questioning log Says UPA's slogan was "Украина только для украинцев" - Ukraine for the Ukrainians.

  • A book about UPA. Mentions slogans "Ukraine for the Ukrainians" (I searched for "лозунг" - did not read the full book). Also mentions "Glory to Ukraine" as the greeting (but not the part about heroes). "Glory to Ukraine" is used as the signature in some of the UPA documents. Again, without the Heroes part. There is one document (cited on page 345) which is signed with the full slogan. "Glory to Ukraine" is the most common "Glory to" in that book. Which is understandable, since this was an Ukrainian nationalist movement.

  • p491 in the previous book contains the text of the oath taken by members of one branch of OUN. It ends with "Glory to Ukrain! Glory to Heroes". In general it appears that the phrase becomes much more common after June 1943, but it did not replace the previous "Glory to Ukraine" completely.

My conclusion: the phrase was known to UPA and was used by them. It was NOT at any point their official slogan or motto.

I would still appreciate an answer or a comment from a historian though. Thanks!