Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has officially named a military unit after the “Heroes of the UPA,” triggering a diplomatic outcry from Polish officials who labeled the move a direct insult.
The Controversy Over the UPA Designation
On Wednesday, President Zelensky granted the “Heroes of the UPA” title to a Ukrainian military unit, citing the need to restore national military traditions and recognizing the unit’s success in defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
Bartosz Grodecki, head of the National Security Bureau (BBN), described the decision as a “slap in the face” for Poland, emphasizing that the history of the UPA remains a highly sensitive issue for the Polish public. He noted that Ukraine possesses a vast pantheon of modern heroes following the 2022 Russian invasion, suggesting that glorifying the UPA contradicts the values of the European Union.
Calls to Strip the Order of the White Eagle
Presidential official Karol Nawrocki has formally proposed that President Andrzej Duda remove the Order of the White Eagle from Volodymyr Zelensky during a meeting of the Order’s Chapter on June 8. Nawrocki argued that the decision to honor the UPA provides fuel for Russian propaganda and demonstrates that Ukraine is not mentally prepared for European Union membership.
Grodecki confirmed that any such proposal to revoke the order, which was awarded to Zelensky in 2023, requires a countersignature from Prime Minister Donald Tusk. He stated that the administration is currently waiting to see if the Prime Minister will sign the document.
Divergent Historical Interpretations
Historians state that in July 1943, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN-B) carried out coordinated attacks on approximately 150 Polish-inhabited villages in the Volhynia region. This event is officially classified in Poland as genocide.
Poland and Ukraine continue to hold conflicting views on this history. While Poland views the actions of the OUN-UPA as genocidal, many in Ukraine argue that the events were a symmetrical conflict and emphasize the organizations’ anti-Soviet resistance rather than their anti-Polish operations.
