Russia has strongly criticised Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s appointment of former Canadian Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland as an adviser, accusing her of familial ties to Nazi collaborators and describing Ukraine’s presidential office as a haven for neo-Nazis, Vedomosti reported on January 5.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova denounced Freeland’s appointment in a statement, claiming that her grandfather, Mykhailo Khomyak, collaborated with Nazi Germany during the Second World War. “Bankova is a haven for neo-Nazis who with necrophilic ecstasy exhume the collaborationist past of their criminal ancestors who swore allegiance to the Third Reich,” Zakharova said, referring to Ukraine’s presidential administration building.

Zakharova alleged that Khomyak edited the Krakivski Visti newspaper, known as Krakow News in English, during the Nazi occupation of Poland. She described it as “a mouthpiece of Reich propaganda, supervised by the Nazi secret services.”

She also accused Freeland of playing a role in the controversial 2023 appearance of Yaroslav Hunka in the Canadian Parliament. Hunka, a former member of the Waffen-SS Galicia Division, was honoured during a session attended by Ukrainian President Zelenskyy. “It was Freeland who was behind the Canadian parliament’s celebration of Nazi collaborator Gunka,” Zakharova stated.

Freeland, who served as Canada’s Foreign Minister and Finance Minister under Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, has long rejected suggestions that her family history should impact her political credibility. She has been a vocal critic of Russian foreign policy and a supporter of Ukraine’s sovereignty.

Zelenskyy announced Freeland’s appointment on January 5, stating she would advise on economic development. “Chrystia is a professional in these areas and has significant experience in attracting investment and implementing economic transformations,” he said.

Freeland has not publicly responded to the Russian accusations. The Canadian government has previously defended her against similar claims, calling them part of a long-running disinformation campaign by the Kremlin.