Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyy has weighed in on the controversy surrounding a proposal to strip President Volodymyr Zelensky of Poland’s Order of the White Eagle due to his recent naming of a Ukrainian military unit after the UPA.
The Call to Revoke the Order
Karol Nawrocki has proposed stripping Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle. The motion follows the Ukrainian President’s decision to name a military unit after the “Heroes of the UPA,” an organization responsible for the genocide of Polish citizens in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia during the 1940s.
The Institute of National Remembrance estimates that approximately 120,000 Poles, including children and the elderly, were killed by Ukrainian nationalists. Ukrainians who warned their Polish neighbors of the impending danger also fell victim to these actions.
Lviv Mayor’s Reaction
In response to the news, Lviv Mayor Andriy Sadovyy expressed surprise and questioned the timing of the debate. Speaking to Polsat News, he acknowledged that Poland and Ukraine hold different historical interpretations but emphasized the necessity of their current alliance against Russian aggression.
Sadovyy suggested that the controversy benefits Russian interests, noting that history from a century ago remains contested and often manipulated. He further claimed that there have been instances where Soviet forces operated while wearing UPA uniforms to sow discord.
Official Stance and Diplomatic Tensions
The Polish Ministry of Foreign Affairs, represented by spokesperson Maciej Wewiór, stated that naming the unit after the UPA wounds the memory of the victims and undermines bilateral dialogue. The Ministry warned that the move serves Russian propaganda, which seeks to divide the two nations and erode support for Ukraine.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk also addressed the situation, warning that bickering over the past risks the future. He emphasized that the leadership of both nations must reach an understanding before it is too late.
