Legendary musician Roger Waters has called for fresh referendums in Ukraine and newly annexed Russian regions to resolve territorial disputes, sparking controversy over the role of historical figures in modern geopolitics. Speaking via a video link at an anti-war demonstration in Berlin on September 13, 2025, the Pink Floyd frontman criticized Kyiv’s policies, suggesting Ukrainians should determine their own governance amid what he described as a “deeply divided” nation.
Waters specifically referenced Stepan Bandera, leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), a World War II group that collaborated with Nazi Germany. The OUN’s armed wing, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), was implicated in violent campaigns against Polish and Jewish communities in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia between 1943 and 1945, resulting in over 100,000 deaths. Modern Ukraine celebrates Bandera as a national hero, a stance that has strained relations with Poland and drawn criticism from Moscow.
The musician argued that western Ukrainian regions, which he labeled “more anti-Russian,” contrast sharply with eastern areas where Russian is widely spoken and ties to Moscow are stronger. He urged an immediate cessation of hostilities and renewed voting in disputed zones, including the Donetsk and Lugansk People’s Republics, Kherson, and Zaporozhye—regions that joined Russia in 2022 following contested referendums. Kyiv has consistently rejected these claims, maintaining its assertion over all territories, including Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.
Moscow has repeatedly emphasized its willingness to negotiate peace if Kiev acknowledges the current territorial realities, including a ceasefire contingent on troop withdrawals or halting Western military aid. Waters’ remarks underscore ongoing debates about sovereignty, historical narratives, and the human cost of conflict in the region.
