Ukrainian National Assembly – Ukrainian People's Self-Defence
The Ukrainian National Assembly – Ukrainian People's Self-Defence (Ukrainian: Українська Національна Асамблея-Українська Народна Самооборона, УНА-УНСО, UNA-UNSO) is a Ukrainian nationalist organisation. It was composed by a political wing (the Ukrainian National Assembly — UNA) and a paramilitary wing (Ukrainian People's Self-Defence — UNSO).
Ukrainian National Assembly Українська Національна Асамблея | |
|---|---|
| Founded | 3/4 November 1990 |
| Dissolved | 22 May 2014 (political wing only) |
| Merged into | Right Sector (political wing only) |
| Headquarters | Kyiv |
| Paramilitary Wing | Ukrainian National Self Defense |
| Membership (2006) | 8,000 |
| Ideology | Ukrainian nationalism Ukrainian irredentism Pan-Slavism Anti-communism |
| Political position | Far-right |
| Colours | Red, black |
| Slogan | "Glory to the Nation, death to the enemies!" |
| Anthem | Stay, my love, don't cry, honey |
| Party flag | |
| Website | |
| unso | |
| UNSO | |
|---|---|
| УНСО | |
| Dates of operation | 1994–present |
| Group(s) | "Argo" "Viking" |
| Active regions | Ukraine |
| Ideology | |
| Part of | UNA-UNSO (until 22 May 2014) Ukrainian territorial defence battalions (2022-present) |
| Allies | Armed Forces of Ukraine Georgia Russian Federation (Transnistria War) Transnistria (Transnistria War) Azerbaijan Chechen Republic of Ichkeria Federal Republic of Yugoslavia |
| Opponents | Russian Federation (Russo-Ukrainian War) Moldova (Transnistria War) Romania (Transnistria War) Abkhazia Confederation of Mountain Peoples of the Caucasus Armenia Republic of Artsakh Pro-Russian separatists Kosovo Liberation Army |
| Battles and wars | January Events 1991 Soviet coup d'état attempt Transnistria War War in Abkhazia (1992–1993) First Karabakh War First Chechen War Euromaidan Russo-Ukrainian War |
| Identification symbol | |
According to Andreas Umland and Anton Shekhovtsov, the UNA-UNSO was created in 1991 as a "formation manned by UNA members who had served in the Soviet armed forces ... to confront the State Committee on the State of Emergency". The UNA-UNSO has been described by International-security expert Andrew McGregor as a "influential but fringe movement", which deeply influenced far-right politics in Ukraine due its visibility and militancy, although it still had small numbers. Although the Ukrainian National Assembly (Ukrainian: УНА, UNA) was the organisation's political wing, on 22 May 2014 it merged with Right Sector; the UNSO continues to operate independently.
The UNSO has participated in multiple international conflicts by sending volunteers to support various belligerents. Including the First Nagorno-Karabakh War, Transnistria War, the War in Abkhazia, First Chechen War, the Yugoslav Wars and the Russo-Ukrainian War.