Billy Bragg and Beton speak out on Ukrainian band’s use of Stepan Bandera imagery

nme.com:

Billy Bragg and Ukrainian punks Beton have spoken out after an online debate emerged when the band were accused of co-opting far-right imagery.Last week, Beton reworked The Clash’s iconic track ‘London Calling’ to create ‘Kyiv Calling’, a protest song against the ongoing Russian invasion.

Their rendition was then shared by The Clash’s social media accounts, as well as by Bragg.Bragg then deleted his share and issued a statement, after images were brought to his attention of Breton members wearing Ramones-inspired t-shirts, with the word ‘Ramones’ at the top of the logo replaced with the word ‘Banderas’. “Although all of the names within the circle were not visible, there was one that clearly read ‘Stepan’,” explained Bragg.“This is deeply troubling.

Stepan Bandera was a far-right Ukrainian politician who collaborated with the Nazis during the occupation of Ukraine and whose followers were complicit in the Holocaust.

That he did these things in the name of Ukrainian independence from the Soviet Union has led some present day far right nationalists to adopt his image in their decade long struggle with Russia.”“The knock on effect of this has been to allow Putin to smear all those who want a democratic Ukraine, free from Russian influence as neo-nazis.”Breton and Bragg have now revealed that they have been in discussion over the image and the complicated history of Bandera – a Ukranian nationalist who was both a collaborator with the Nazis as well as later imprisoned by them.