Declassified Materials on Andriy Melnyk
Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service has released declassified materials from the NKVD-KGB's operational case file on Andriy Melnyk. The publication coincides with the transfer of Melnyk's remains and those of his wife, Sofia Fedak-Melnyk, from Luxembourg for reburial at the National Military Memorial Cemetery near Kyiv. The documents, long held under a secrecy classification, include biographical summaries, records of Melnyk's service in the Ukrainian Sich Riflemen, and evidence of surveillance and assassination attempts against him.
Andriy Melnyk and Soviet Intelligence Agencies
After the 1938 killing of Yevhen Konovalets, Soviet intelligence turned its focus on Andriy Melnyk, who was then leading the OUN and had previously served as a colonel in the Ukrainian People's Army. The newly declassified files contain plans from late 1944 for a physical elimination operation targeting Melnyk, orchestrated by the 4th Directorate of the NKGB of the Ukrainian SSR.
Among the materials is a report on a 1958 commemoration in Rotterdam marking the 20th anniversary of Konovalets' death, attended by both Melnyk and Stepan Bandera. Soviet agents documented attendees, used hidden cameras, and filed intelligence reports. Following Melnyk's death from natural causes on November 1, 1964, in Cologne, the news was immediately relayed to the leadership of the republican KGB. Interestingly, the death report included a decoded transcript of a Radio Liberty broadcast.
Melnyk's funeral was scheduled for November 7, a date that KGB chief Vitaliy Nikitchenko claimed was chosen for an anti-Soviet demonstration. The body was transported from Cologne to Luxembourg over several days, as Melnyk had purchased a burial plot for himself and his wife next to his mother-in-law's grave. The remains of Andriy Melnyk and Sofia Fedak-Melnyk were exhumed in Luxembourg and arrived in Ukraine on May 21, with reburial set for May 24.
Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service noted: 'This phobia of seeing an anti-Soviet agenda even where none existed was deeply ingrained in their minds. Even the dead Andriy Melnyk gave the KGB no peace.' - Ukraine's Foreign Intelligence Service
The return of the remains was made possible with support from Presidential Office Head Kyrylo Budanov.
The declassification of materials concerning Andriy Melnyk underscores his significance in Ukrainian history and the struggle for independence. These documents not only reveal new chapters of his biography but also shed light on Soviet intelligence tactics against the Ukrainian national movement. Bringing Melnyk's remains home symbolizes recognition of his historical contributions and honors those who fought for Ukraine's sovereignty, while also advancing research and understanding of the country's liberation movement.
As Ukraine honors the legacy of Andriy Melnyk, it is also important to reflect on the significance of his upcoming reburial alongside his wife in Kyiv. This event not only marks a moment of remembrance for their contributions to Ukrainian history but also highlights the enduring impact of their lives amidst the tumultuous backdrop of the 20th century. For more details on the reburial ceremony and its historical context, see our article on the relocation of the Melnyk couple's remains.