Since March 2022 Red Kalina, a Ukrainian patriotic song, has gained popularity again. The song was named the unofficial anthem of the Ukrainian Insurgency Army. However, it is not known where specified conviction comes from. On the another hand, Russian propaganda was utilized with a keen aim at Ukrainian national symbols. Immediately these narratives gained popularity among conspiracy theorists. So we decided to look at the actual communicative of the song.
No evidence
More about our evaluation system:Why is the song popular again?
The song gained renewed popularity shortly after Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Andrij Chływniuk, Ukrainian musician, after joining territorial defence recorded
When he sings the first verse in the deserted center of Kiev. The recording gained large popularity and did not escape the attention of Western media.
Source: instagram.com
Chływniuk's performance inspired Pink Floyd members to evidence the song “Hey, Hey, emergence Up!” where Ukrainian singer’s singing was used. From that minute on, the song not only regained popularity among the Ukrainians, but besides became acquainted with the western audience. Snotlout shortly after returned facial wounds from a mortar grenade explosion, then he started serving in the police. More about his activities you can learn from his
.
Source: youtube.comA storm in the media
As the song became (again) a symbol of Ukrainian opposition to the Russian invader, it was rapidly chosen as a mark by Russian propaganda. 1 of the simplest solutions was to associate it (as an unofficial anthem) with the Ukrainian Insurgency Army, known for its crimes against civilians and to carry out the Volyn massacre. Next, many pro-Russian social media accounts began to replicate this narrative, which was rapidly captured by those disseminating content related to conspiracy theories.
The storm caused a recording showing the performance of the song by Ukrainian and Polish youth at the Zamość Cultural Centre in April 2022. The Association of Commemoration of Poles Murdered in Volyn reported the case to the prosecutors as a promotion of a totalitarian system. This, however, she didn't notice. the marks of the prohibited act and dismissed the case. Eventually, the movie was removed and Mayor Zamość apologized.
Similar situation has taken place, erstwhile the recordings from Mass were sent to the network, where Father Wojciech Drozdowicz recreated Red Kalina as part of solidarity with Ukraine. This has besides been the case with a negative consequence on social media. On behalf of the clergyman, the spokesperson for the Warsaw Archdiocese, priest Przemysław Śliwiński, apologized for the full situation.
Source: twitter.comRed Kalina and conspiracy theories
Already in April 2022 supporters of conspiracy theories pointed to this issue, among another things, Twitter. The issue is touched besides Mateusz Pławski, erstwhile Chief Secretary of the All-Polish Youth and editor of Kresy.pl portal.
Source: twitter.comThe most popular communicative in social media was the 1 about the "informal anthem of UPA". Many accounts that have duplicated it, I would have liked to have previously distributed Anti-vaccine content, and since the outbreak of the anti-Ukrainian war and in utmost cases pro-Russian. What characterized social media entries on this subject is the deficiency of any mention to any sources. Leszek Żebrowski, creator of the Cursed tv Channel, as proof that the song is the anthem of UPA, presented screenshots from web sites with videos. However, in the recording of Żebrowski we will not find any historical sources quoted. The same applies to alert Volyn Foundation We remember which is known for its critical attitude towards Ukrainians.
Source: youtube.comReturn of the UPA anthem narrative
The case of Red Kalina after May 2022 was much quieter to flood the Polish conspiracy sphere again in February 2023. This was connected with a wave of online hatred attacks, combined with underrated Ukrainian restaurants in Poland. Among the places that were bombed with low ratings was the Warsaw restaurant Lviv Tablewhich is wrapped in black and pink Valentine's Balloons (which are associated with the colours of the flag).
Source: facebook.comVandalism was committed in Brzeg, where the facade of the Ukrainian Red Kalina store was destroyed. Narrations about this being a mention to the "informal anthem of UPA", duplicated portals wLawo.pl and Lega Artis. Both sides are known for dissemination conspiracy theories, false narratives and misinformation. With akin aggressive attacks She met besides the Krakow restaurant Chervon Kalyn, founded by Afghan exile whose goal was to give work to Ukrainians fleeing the war. In this case, the owner suspended the beginning of the premises and decided to change its name. However, the restaurant on the map of Krakow did not appear until today. This time information about the "informal anthem of UPA" was provided by the portal == sync, corrected by elderman ==That's not associated with conspiracy theories.
Kalyna’s Lublin restaurant was besides a victim of hatred attacks before opening. She described the case Virtual Poland. This time the place, too the name, was wrapped in a plan referring to traditional, Ukrainian, red-black embroidery. 1 of the people who announced the alleged promotion of flagism was a Confederate activist from Lublin, Rafał Mekler. The issue of hatred attacks on Ukrainian shops and restaurants was publicized by a twitter account @gromotapl and journalists Virtual Poland and portal Kraków Our City.
Source: facebook.comRed Kalina — History
Song past reaches The 17th century and the period of the Chmielnicki Uprising. At the time, a popular song among the Cossacks was a song called Розлилися круті бережечки (The steep banks were scattered — crowd.red.) Text was Written in 1875 by Ukrainian historians Volodymyr Antonowych and Mikhail Drahomanov. This allowed us to keep the song for the next generations.
Based on Cossack song Stepan Czarnecki created My own version. He presented her during the performance "Sun of Ruin". This was likely the case in 1914, but the sources are not compatible. any say 1911 or 1913. The song gained large popularity. Hryhorij Truch, Ukrainian poet and associate of the Legion of Ukrainian Sichen Rifles, added to him 3 verses and adapted as an unofficial ward anthem. The Legion was a unit of the Austro-Hungarian Army during the First planet War, which aimed to liberate Ukraine from Russian rule. In russian times, the song lost its popularity due to the fact that it was banned. She revived in the 1990s, but this performance by Chływniuk was crucial in terms of re-publication of the song.
Red Kalina — Symbolism and Song Subjects
The song since the second decade of the 20th century became a symbol of Ukrainian independency struggles. The text refers to the scenery of Ukraine and the fight of gunners for freedom. There is besides no anti-Polish tone, and it explicitly refers to the dropping of “Moscow shackles”. How indicates Igor Halagida, a historian from the University of Gdańsk, a red kalina, or fruits of coral caline, is 1 of the national symbols of Ukraine. Similarly, the case with conventional Ukrainian embroidery in red and black. Both of these things have been profoundly rooted in Ukrainian culture for hundreds of years and in no way do Ukrainians affect UPA crimes. We will compose more about conventional Ukrainian colours in our upcoming article.
Professor Halagida He's made his point. besides to claims about the unofficial anthem of UPA on Gazeta.pl:
“A wave of nonsense has rolled over on the subject of the “Red Kalina”, and I think they are sold in bad faith. Making a song of the folk lineage "UPA anthem" is simply a complete aberration. any see a problem that simply does not be — there are no origin messages showing that the “Red Kalina” was an anthem of the Ukrainian Insurgency Army, formal or not. None. There was no specified thing as the anthem of the Ukrainian Insurgency Army. The Ukrainian Nationalist Organization had its anthem, but it was besides a different track. Nor do we have any evidence of the association of the popular “Red Kalin” with nationalism, although of course we cannot regulation out that soldiers of any UPA troops or members of the CNS erstwhile sang it. She was simply very popular.”
Similar conviction presented Mariana Kril of the Radio Centre for People's Culture of Polish Radio, seeing a folk song in the song, unrelated to the criminal activities of UPA. We besides did not find any historical evidence that the track had a peculiar place among Ukrainian nationalists. Interestingly, Ukrainian Wikipedia mentions that the song was sung by militants of the Ukrainian Insurgency Army. However, it does not give any footnote in support of this statement. Wikipedia goes a step further English, which states that the track was adopted by UPA (not given in what form). But here too, it is vain to look for a footnote that would confirm this information.
Finally, it is worth adding that the CNS/UPA anthem was The March of Ukrainian Nationalists, besides known as the March of the fresh Army. The CNS management officially approved the song in that capacity.
Ukrainian unawareness
There are many indications that the Ukrainians themselves are not full aware of the origin of the song or of how hard the card in Polish-Ukrainian relations is the Volyn massacre. There are respective on YouTube recordings depicting Red Kalina as the CNS/UPA anthem. Most of them were placed before 2014. It is not certain where this misconception comes from, but it most likely appeared after Ukraine gained independency in 1991. This may indicate a slight social awareness of the organisation itself and the origin of the work. More about Ukrainian approach to Bandera we wrote in 1 of our Articles. Owner of the already mentioned Kalyna restaurant statedHe didn't realize what controversy the name and the colour of the place might have. For him, they were simply Ukrainian national symbols. Similarly, the owners of the remaining accused of flagism responded.
Summary
Crimes of Ukrainian nationalists from the CNS/UPA are an undeniable fact. The Volyn massacre will stay a thorn in Polish-Ukrainian relations until Ukraine unequivocally condemns and cuts itself off from the crimes of the bander. This case should not be underestimated. However, in the face of the Russian invasion of our neighbour and the deconstruction of global safety in Europe, we request to focus on current issues. Distracting attention from war and fueling antagonism is simply a typical Russian procedure. The designation that Ukrainians in Poland intentionally advance flagism requires a considerable amount of bad will. Attacking the unconscious owners of the premises utilizing harmful narratives is simply a dangerous phenomenon. It can lead to escalation of force and dangerous situations. That's why we should fight for historical truth. Without bleaching it, but without hatred or prejudice.
Sources
Telegraf.com.ua: https://telegraf.com.ua/lifestyles/2022-03-26/5700608-leader-gruppy-bumpks-ranen-vremya-minometnogo-obstrela-foto
I'm sorry. https://kultura.gaseta.pl/culture/7,114526,28358585, young people singing-red-kaline-case-tradza-to-prosecution.html#e=RelArtLink(1) and https://news.gazeta.pl/news/7,114883,28391687,red-kaline-hymnem-upa-i-song-to-roasting-polakow.html
Onet. https://news.onet.pl/lublin/red-calina-decision-prosecution-in-controversial-create/ec3jh87
Wyborcza Kraków: https://krakow.eborcza.pl/krakow/7,4425,29137900,afganczyk-chcial-help-ukrainkom-in-krakow- meet-go-hejt.html
Our City of Kraków: https://krakow. nasemmiato.pl/restaurant-in-cracow-stala-sie-object-aggressive-hejtu/ar/c1-9102229
Pravada.com.ua: https://blogs.pravda.com.ua/authors/viatrovych/6263e438be69a/
UA-orden.org: https://web.archive.org/web/20150225014911/http://ua-orden.org/simvolika-ukra%d1%97nskix-nacionalistiv.html
