The speaker of Canada's House of Commons has apologised to Jewish communities after honouring a veteran who fought for a military unit under Nazi command during World War Two.

Anthony Rota had invited his fellow MPs to give a standing ovation to Yaroslav Hunka, 98, following Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky's address to Parliament on Friday.

Mr Rota introduced Mr Hunka as a war hero who fought for "Ukrainian independence against the Russians".

"He's a Ukrainian hero, a Canadian hero, and we thank him for all his service," Mr Rota said as the Commons stood to applaud him.

However, Jewish groups have condemned the move, identifying Mr Hunka as a member of the First Ukrainian Division - previously known as the Galicia or 14th Division of the Waffen-SS.

The Friends of Simon Wiesenthal Center for Holocaust Studies said the division "was responsible for the mass murder of innocent civilians with a level of brutality and malice that is unimaginable."

"An apology is owed to every Holocaust survivor and veteran of the Second World War who fought the Nazis," the organisation said as it demanded an explanation.

The Commons Speaker said he had since been made aware of information "which causes me to regret my decision".

In a statement to The Telegraph, he said: "I particularly want to extend my deepest apologies to Jewish communities in Canada and around the world."

Mr Rota added that the decision to recognise Mr Hunka was "entirely" his own. He noted the 98-year-old veteran is one of his constituents

He added: "I accept full responsibility for my actions."

Ukraine is set to continue its counteroffensive against Russian forces through the autumn and into the winter, President Vladimir Zelensky declared on Thursday. He was speaking to US news outlets following meetings at the White House and on Capitol Hill.

The push against Russian defensive lines, which began in early June, will continue regardless of the weather, Zelensky insisted, claiming that Russian troops have been craving a "pause" in the fighting.

"We will do everything not to stop during difficult days in autumn with poor weather, and in winter."

The Ukrainian leader also vowed to "de-occupy two more cities," although he refused to identify potential targets and did not provide a timeframe.

"I will not tell you what cities, sorry. And so we have the plan. A very, very comprehensive plan."

Kiev launched its long-heralded counteroffensive against Russian forces in early June. The most intense fighting has taken place in the formerly-Ukrainian Zaporozhye Region, which was incorporated into Russia last autumn after a referendum.

The counteroffensive has failed to yield any tangible results, and Ukrainian forces are reportedly struggling even to break through the forward defense line erected by Russia.

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