Democrats in the House of representatives passed a bill to give Ukraine eight billion dollars in loans for war that probably would never be repaid. The Democrat party is the solid Ukraine war monger party so much so that they may be regarded as Banderites. Eighteen House Republicans were collaborators. President Trump would probably veto the bill if it ever reached his desk.
Banderite is a popular term these days in Ukraine apparently, while for Russians the term means, in effect- fascists. When Russians call the Ukraine opposition fascist, in some cases they are referring to the Banderites.
Gemini explained the meaning and origin of the term Banderite.
Gemini– “A Banderite (or Banderovite) is a term that historically referred to members and supporters of the radical, ultra-nationalist faction of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN-B), which was led by Stepan Bandera during World War II. [1, 2]
Because the term has a highly complex, dark, and fragmented history, its meaning changes significantly depending on who is using it. [1, 2, 3]
Historical Origins (World War II Era)
- The Split: In 1940, the OUN split into two factions. The younger, more radical wing followed Stepan Bandera and became known as the Banderites. [1, 2, 3, 4]
- Nazi Collaboration and Resistance: The Banderites initially collaborated with Nazi Germany during the 1941 invasion of the Soviet Union, hoping the Germans would recognize an independent Ukrainian state. When Germany refused and arrested Bandera, the relationship fractured. The paramilitary arm of the faction, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), went on to fight against both the Soviets and the German forces. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6]
- Atrocities: During the war, the UPA and Banderite factions were responsible for massive war crimes, including the ethnic cleansing and slaughter of up to 100,000 Polish civilians in the Volhynia massacres, as well as participating in localized anti-Semitic pogroms against Jewish populations. [1, 2, 3]
Divergent Modern Perspectives
Today, the legacy of the Banderites is a major focal point in the modern political and cultural landscape: [1, 2, 3]
In Poland and Israel: For Poland and Jewish communities, the term remains deeply offensive and directly tied to brutal wartime atrocities, ethnic cleansing, and collaboration with fascist regimes. [1, 2, 3]
In Russian Discourse: The Russian government and state media heavily use “Banderite” as a pejorative and propaganda buzzword. In this context, it is applied broadly to almost all modern Ukrainians, the pro-Western Ukrainian government, or anyone supporting Ukrainian sovereignty, framing them as modern-day fascists or neo-Nazis. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]
In Ukraine: Perspectives within Ukraine are varied. In Western regions especially, Bandera and his followers have been heavily romanticized since the 1990s purely as symbols of fierce anti-Soviet resistance and state sovereignty. Many modern Ukrainians embrace the slogans historically tied to the era—such as “Slava Ukraini” (Glory to Ukraine)—as expressions of patriotism against modern foreign aggression, often decoupling it from the historical atrocities committed by the OUN-B. [1, 2, 3, 4, 5]”
