Prof. Dudek on Polish-Ukrainian Crisis: Two Nationalist Presidents Are Destroying Everything

President Karol Nawrocki has revoked the Order of the White Eagle awarded to Volodymyr Zelenskyy after the Ukrainian leader named a military unit after UPA heroes, sparking a diplomatic fallout.

Revocation of the Order

President Karol Nawrocki decided to revoke the state honor from the Ukrainian leader following Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to name a Ukrainian military unit after the “heroes of the UPA.” In a released recording, Nawrocki emphasized that this action is not directed against the Ukrainian people and does not signal a strategic change in Poland’s security policy. He added that support for Ukraine in its war against Russia remains unchanged.

The decision was reached after consultation with the Chapter of the Order of the White Eagle. It came as a direct response to Ukraine naming a unit of its Armed Forces after the UPA.

Zelenskyy’s Response

The following day, Volodymyr Zelenskyy announced that he had sent the order back to Warsaw. He stated on social media that the honor was intended for the Ukrainian people and their army in 2023. He noted that while his country remains grateful for Polish support in the fight for independence, the order represents a symbol of trust and shared values.

Zelenskyy remarked that if the order is considered compatible with holders like Catherine the Great, Benito Mussolini, or Gerhard Schroeder, Ukraine will not dispute its return. He emphasized that such a symbol requires respect for the foundations of a community.

The Russian Intervention

Professor Antoni Dudek highlighted a statement posted by the Russian Embassy in Warsaw on Telegram shortly after the revocation. The embassy claimed that the victims of the UPA during the Volhynian massacres were Soviet citizens, as those territories were annexed by the USSR in 1939.

Dudek evaluated this as an attempt by Russian diplomats to exploit the conflict, noting that the forced imposition of Soviet citizenship in 1939 was part of a long-standing imperial policy affecting both Poles and Ukrainians. He cautioned against allowing this narrative to exacerbate the current diplomatic tension.

A Legacy Under Threat

Professor Dudek concluded that two nationalist presidents are currently destroying three decades of difficult historical dialogue for short-term political gains. He urged that the shared suffering caused by Moscow in 1939 should not be forgotten despite the current dispute.

Zelenskyy had received the Order of the White Eagle in April 2023 from then-President Andrzej Duda, recognizing his contribution to friendly relations, democracy, and security in Europe.