A number of the men who came to the UK from Ukraine after the Second World War has seen active service in various armed services. The ex-servicemen who served with the Waffen SS Galicia Division began to discuss the idea of a veterans’ association whilst still at the prisoner of war camp in Rimini. After they arrived in the UK, they met other veterans from forces such as the Polish Airforce, and the need for a group which could offer membership to everyone became clear. A meeting was held...

A number of the men who came to the UK from Ukraine after the Second World War has seen active service in various armed services. The ex-servicemen who served with the Waffen SS Galicia Division began to discuss the idea of a veterans’ association whilst still at the prisoner of war camp in Rimini. After they arrived in the UK, they met other veterans from forces such as the Polish Airforce, and the need for a group which could offer membership to everyone became clear. A meeting was held at one of the POW camps in Staffordshire, but it was not until 30 July 1949 that the Association of Ukrainian Former Combatants (Ob’yednannya buvshykh Voyakiv Ukraiyintsiv u Velikiy Brytanniy- ObVU) had its first AGM at the St Pancras Halls. One of the founding aims of the ObUV was to ensure that its members would be ready to defend Ukraine if the need arose. Branches were established in the various towns and cities where the veterans settled. ObVU branches usually comprised a committee who organised social and cultural events, military education and commemorations and other community activities. Branches reported back to the Head Office which organised similar activities on a national and international basis, and also published a series of three almanacks documenting the history of the organisation. ObVU folded in the 2010s, as the number of veterans declined due to old age and poor health.