Hero cult in the OUN and its influence on the youth of the time

The article examines the phenomenon of the cult of heroes within the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) as an effective tool for patriotic education of youth. The author analyzes the historical context of the formation of nationalist youth structures during the interwar period, their influence on the ideological worldview of Ukrainian youth, and the significance of heroic narratives in the process of national self-assertion. Special attention is given to organizations such as the Group of Ukrainian Statehood Youth and the Organization of Senior Classes of Ukrainian Gymnasiums, whose members included notable figures of the nationalist movement. A key component of this education was the promotion of heroism through symbolic actions, commemorations, underground publications, and the participation of youth in armed resistance. The article provides a detailed overview of the role played by the underground journal Yunak in spreading nationalist ideals. It also analyzes the political trials of young OUN members, which further popularized the ideas of the liberation struggle. The article highlights the ideological continuity between the youth movements of the 1920s–30s and later generations of independence fighters. The author proposes rethinking OUN’s educational experience in the context of contemporary patriotic education, especially under conditions of war with Russia. The study is based on a wide range of archival sources, periodicals, and academic research. In conclusion, the author argues that the cult of heroes in OUN was not only a means of mobilization, but also a powerful mechanism for shaping Ukrainian national identity.