Following President Zelensky’s decision to name a Ukrainian Special Operations unit after the UPA, Karol Nawrocki has proposed revoking the Ukrainian leader’s Order of the White Eagle, sparking a heated political debate.
The Controversy Over the UPA Name
Volodymyr Zelensky has named the “North” Special Operations Center of the Ukrainian Armed Forces after the “Heroes of the UPA.” He stated this was done to restore national military traditions and recognize exemplary performance in defending Ukraine’s territorial integrity.
The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) was a nationalist formation active between 1943 and 1945. Historical records indicate that UPA units conducted ethnic cleansing against Polish civilians in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia, resulting in the deaths of tens of thousands, including women and children.
Nawrocki’s Push for Revocation
Karol Nawrocki reacted to the news with sadness, stating that international relations cannot be built in this manner. He formally proposed to the Chapter of the Order of the White Eagle that President Zelensky’s decoration be revoked.
Law and Justice (PiS) MP Marcin Horała described Zelensky’s glorification of UPA figures as irrational, suggesting that such a person should not hold Poland’s highest honor. He characterized the move as a gift to Vladimir Putin, emphasizing that Ukraine currently needs Poland more than the reverse.
Opposition and Political Friction
Leftist MEP Robert Biedroń labeled Nawrocki’s reaction “hysterical,” noting that even Benito Mussolini once received the Order of the White Eagle without similar calls for revocation. Biedroń suggested that a direct, private conversation between the presidents would be more effective than public posturing.
Civic Coalition (KO) MP Robert Kropiwnicki criticized Nawrocki for failing to visit Kyiv during his nine-month tenure, arguing that the lack of dialogue serves only to benefit Putin. Ewa Schädler of Poland 2050 described the ongoing dispute as an internal political spectacle over who can adopt a tougher stance.
Procedural Barriers to Revocation
The revocation of the Order of the White Eagle is an exceptionally rare procedure; only former Prime Minister Wincenty Witos has lost the honor, and that was by court verdict. The President may initiate the process if an honoree becomes unworthy or if the decoration was granted based on misinformation.
Any decision to revoke the honor requires a non-binding opinion from the Order’s Chapter and a mandatory countersignature from the Prime Minister. Given these constitutional requirements, the process remains complex and politically charged.