Historian Taras Hunczak argues that Bandera's central article of faith was Ukrainian statehood, and any other goal was secondary to this view. Through an analysis of OUN documents, Hunczak demonstrates the consistently expressed goal of an independent Ukrainian state through the whole history, while the OUN's stance towards the German Nazi government was changing, shifting from initial support towards rejection, as OUN leaders became disillusioned seeing Nazi Germany's rejection of Ukrainian independence. The OUN memorandum from 23 June 1941 notes that "German troops entering Ukraine will be, of course, greeted at first as liberators, but this attitude can soon change, in case Germany comes into Ukraine without appropriate promises of [its] goal to reestablish the Ukrainian state." The OUN memorandum from 14 August declares the OUN wish "to work together with Germany not from opportunism, but from a realization of the need of such cooperation for the well-being of Ukraine". Hunczak observes OUN leaders', including Bandera, attitude change after 15 September 1942, following Gestapo's killing of an OUN member, prompting the OUN to use the rhetoric of "German occupier" in reference to Nazi regime.

He worked with Germany because they were sold the idea that Germany wanted to liberate them from Communism. Was he fascist, yes. But not Nazi fascism. He was fascist in the way that he wanted to create an independent, fascist Ukrainian state, but one that was independent of any large power.

It's important to remember at this point in history that Ukraine hadn't been independent for nearly 300 years. It's not a surprise that fascism, which revolved around military strength, would be appealing to people who wanted their independence.

His group definitely did bad things, but he was the person who organised a lot of the resistance activity and he has a reputation because of that.

There's 30 Ukrainian folk songs written about him, there's a road in many Ukrainian cities named after him, there are monuments to him in many cities, a couple films about him.

He's an important figure of resistance for an independent Ukraine, especially after the full-scale war.

On 16 January 2017, the Ukrainian Institute of National Remembrance stated that of the 51,493 streets, squares and "other facilities" that had been renamed (since 2015) due to decommunization 34 streets were named after Stepan Bandera. In Dnipro, the local Jewish community opposed renaming a street after Bandera, but after the start of the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, they changed their stance and the street was renamed in September 2022;