More PiS Politicians Return Ukrainian Honors

Senior Polish Law and Justice party officials, including Mariusz Błaszczak and Jarosław Kaczyński, have returned their Ukrainian state orders in protest of Kyiv’s recent embrace of historical figures linked to the UPA.

The Wave of Returns

“I am returning the Order of Merit with which I was decorated by the Ukrainian authorities,” announced Mariusz Błaszczak on social media. He described the move as a gesture of solidarity with families waiting for the commemoration of their loved ones, framing it as opposition to the current Ukrainian leadership.

Błaszczak stated his decision supports President Karol Nawrocki, arguing that the dignity of the Polish state and the memory of its victims are non-negotiable. Adam Bielan, Marek Kuchciński, and Zbigniew Rau have also returned their decorations.

Adam Bielan clarified that these actions are not against the Ukrainian people, urging continued support for Kyiv against Russia. However, he called on Ukraine to abandon identity politics rooted in what he termed the “Volhynian lie.”

Conflict Over Diplomatic Honors

The tension escalated after Karol Nawrocki moved to revoke Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s Order of the White Eagle following the naming of a Ukrainian military unit after the UPA. Zelenskyy responded by returning the honor to the Polish president.

In reaction, former Ukrainian presidents Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko, and Petro Poroshenko surrendered their Polish decorations. Several other high-ranking Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha and Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar, also renounced their Polish honors.

Kaczyński Joins the Protest

PiS leader Jarosław Kaczyński has also returned his Order of Prince Yaroslav the Wise, which he received in 2022 for his services to the Ukrainian state. He noted that while he initially sought to avoid escalating the conflict, he now believes the situation has been provoked by the Ukrainian side.