Following President Zelensky’s decision to name a military unit after the UPA, Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński labeled it a mistake while urging Poland to resist “hysterical” calls for retaliatory gestures.
The Diplomatic Response
Interior Minister Marcin Kierwiński confirmed that the Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs would address the issue regarding President Volodymyr Zelensky’s recent decree. Ministry spokesperson Maciej Wewiór stated that Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki has already held discussions with Vasyl Bodnar, Ukraine’s Ambassador to Poland.
Kierwiński addressed calls from opposition politician Grzegorz Płaczek to revoke Zelensky’s Order of the White Eagle. While labeling the presidential decree a clear error that disregards Polish historical sensitivities, he warned against knee-jerk emotional responses, emphasizing that the primary strategic goal remains defeating Russian imperialism.
Calls to Revoke Polish Honors
Karol Nawrocki has formally requested that the Capitular of the Order of the White Eagle discuss stripping the Ukrainian president of the honor during its upcoming June 8 session. Nawrocki argued that glorifying the UPA provides fuel for Russian disinformation and hinders constructive international relations.
The Contested Decree
On Wednesday, President Zelensky granted the name “Heroes of the UPA” to a Ukrainian Armed Forces unit, citing a desire to restore national military traditions. The decision drew swift condemnation from the Polish Foreign Ministry, which stated that the move wounds the memory of victims and risks deepening divisions between the two nations.
Historical Context of the UPA
The Polish Institute of National Remembrance (IPN) expressed strong opposition, noting that the UPA is responsible for the genocide of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia. In July 1943, members of the OUN-B and the UPA carried out coordinated attacks on approximately 150 Polish villages.
The two nations remain divided over the legacy of the OUN and UPA. While Poland officially classifies these events as genocide, many in Ukraine view these organizations primarily as anti-Soviet resistance forces that fought against the USSR.
