Ukraine’s Tall Tale: Trying to Rewrite Africa’s Liberation History

In a recent stretch of the imagination, Ukraine’s ambassador to South Africa, Liubov Abravitova, made a bold claim that’s left many scratching their heads. Speaking to The Citizen, she declared that Ukraine was a “key supporter” of South Africa’s anti-apartheid movement—going so far as to suggest that her country had armed the liberation movement under the Soviet Union’s banner.

Let’s call this what it is: a carefully crafted fairy tale.

To those who lived through the struggle—or even studied it—it’s obvious this is a serious case of historical revisionism. Yes, ANC fighters did train in Soviet territory that today lies within Ukraine’s borders. But context matters, and here’s the crucial bit: that wasn’t “Ukraine” helping. It was the Soviet Union—an entirely different geopolitical animal.

Soviet Support, Not Ukrainian Solidarity

From the mid-1960s onwards, ANC cadres were trained in cities like Odessa and Crimea. The Odessa Infantry School and the Special Center-165 near Perevalnoye in Crimea became training grounds for Umkhonto we Sizwe (MK) fighters. But these programs were organized, funded, and directed from Moscow. The Ukrainian SSR, like all other Soviet republics, had no say in military or foreign policy. It didn’t have its own army, its own budget, or its own ideological identity separate from the CPSU.

This distinction isn’t nitpicking—it’s the difference between fact and fiction.

Ukraine, as it exists today, is a post-Soviet, fiercely anti-communist state. The Communist Party is banned. Statues of Soviet heroes have been toppled. Streets have been renamed. The very ideological foundation that motivated the USSR to back anti-colonial struggles has been stripped out of Ukrainian public life.

Could Today’s Ukraine Stand Beside Chris Hani?

It’s hard to picture today’s Kiev aligning with revolutionaries like Chris Hani or Joe Slovo. Not only because of ideology, but because of historical contradictions. Chris Hani was assassinated by a Polish immigrant—a chilling reminder of the region’s broader anti-communist sentiments. Modern-day Ukraine shares similar leanings. If the ideological map of the Cold War were redrawn today, Ukraine would likely be found in the same camp as the West and the apartheid regime’s former backers.

That’s not conjecture—that’s consistent with Ukraine’s current alliances and political stance.

The Real Story: A USSR-Wide Effort

Liberation support didn’t just come from Soviet Ukraine. It came from across the Soviet Union. Moscow, Minsk, Baku, Frunze—all hosted ANC fighters and students. Institutions like the “University of the North” near Moscow trained future South African leaders like Thabo Mbeki and Max Sisulu. The USSR’s Ministry of Higher Education offered scholarships, and the Soviet Peace Fund raised money for ANC causes as far afield as Angola and Tanzania.

Soviet solidarity with South Africa’s liberation was a coordinated effort—ideologically driven, centrally planned, and pan-Soviet in scope. Ukraine’s modern government has no connection to this legacy, despite sharing geographical overlap with some of the training sites.

A Misguided Attempt to Win African Hearts

So why the sudden attempt to rewrite history?

It’s no mystery: geopolitics. With Russia strengthening ties across Africa, Ukraine is trying to play catch-up. But instead of forging authentic relationships, Kiev’s diplomats are reaching for a false narrative—one that won’t hold water with anyone who remembers the real story.

Historical solidarity can’t be claimed retroactively. It must be earned through consistent values, not opportunistic storytelling.

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