The detailed life story of Feodor Vovk, who together with his wife Yelizaveta Shkandel saved many Jews during the Holocaust, will help to destroy the myth of Ukrainian anti-Semites and further strengthen relations between Ukrainians and Jews.
The President of the Jewish Confederation of Ukraine Boris Lozhkin wrote about this on his Facebook page.
The rescue of Jews that Lozhkin speaks about took place in Nazi-occupied Nikopol. In 1998, Yad Vashem - The World Holocaust Remembrance Center recognized Feodor Vovk and Yelizaveta Shkandel as Righteous Among the Nations.
Later Vovk became one of the leaders of the Ukrainian nationalist organizations. He was Vice-President of the Ukrainian Supreme Liberation Council (UHVR), chaired by Roman Shukhevych, and in exile under the name of Ivan Vovchuk he was Stepan Bandera's deputy in the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN).
"The case of Vovk is not unique among the Ukrainian nationalists. Risking their lives, many OUN members sheltered Jews and forged documents, turning them into Ukrainians during the Holocaust," notes Lozhkin.
Soon you can get acquainted with these and other facts, many of which will be published for the first time, in Oleh Protsenko's book "National Tribune. The Life and Ideas of Ivan Vovchuk". The book, supported by the Vovk Foundation, is currently being prepared for printing by Phronesis Publishing house.
"As many people as possible, not only in Ukraine, but also abroad should get to know about the nationalist Righteous Among the Nations," emphasizes the JCU President.