Ukrainian National Army

The Ukrainian National Army was officially formed on April 15, 1945, and was under the command of General Pavlo Shandruk. It was created to integrate Ukrainian military units that were engaged in combat against the Soviet Union.

The UNA included several military units, such as the 1st Galicia Division (previously known as the 14th Waffen Grenadier Division of the SS (1st Galician)), although there is no formal evidence of this renaming. Other components consisted of the 2nd Division, which was organized into two brigades: the Free Ukraine Anti-Tank Brigade and a second brigade formed from remnants of the Ukrainian Liberation Army and other Ukrainian units, led by General Petro Dyachenko. Additionally, there were smaller groups, including B Group, led by General Taras Bulba-Borovets, and the Ukrainian Free Cossacks, led by Colonel Tereshchenko.

The primary goal of the Ukrainian National Army was to consolidate all Ukrainian military units fighting against the Soviets under a unified command. The intended strength of the army was projected to be 220,000 personnel. However, by the end of the war, Shandruk was able to assemble approximately 50,000 soldiers.

By May 7, 1945, the UNA, under Shandruk's command, was located in Western Austria after a gradual withdrawal from Slovenia that began in February 1945. As Soviet forces advanced, the army split into several groups, with some heading towards the Italian border and ultimately surrendering to the British Army's 15th Army Group, while others moved towards the German and Swiss borders, surrendering to the US Army's 6th Army Group. Following the capitulation, UNA soldiers were interned in Northern Italy.

After the war, Shandruk sought protection for his forces from deportation to the Soviet Union, meeting with Polish General Władysław Anders in London. Anders successfully advocated for the Ukrainian soldiers, who were considered former citizens of the Second Republic of Poland, allowing many to remain in the West. Some former UNA soldiers later joined the French Foreign Legion, while other splinter groups surrendered to either Soviet or Western Allied forces, facing repatriation.

The Ukrainian National Army maintained a contentious relationship with the Russian Liberation Army, led by General Andrey Vlasov, and was never subordinated to it.