Following Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s decision to name a military unit after the “UPA Heroes,” Polish officials are considering stripping the Ukrainian president of his state honor, triggering a tense diplomatic standoff.
Proposal to Revoke State Decoration
In response to President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s move to honor a military unit with the title “Heroes of the UPA,” Karol Nawrocki, head of the Institute of National Remembrance, has proposed an agenda item for the Order of the White Eagle Chapter meeting. The committee is scheduled to convene on June 8 to discuss withdrawing the honor from the Ukrainian president.
Marcin Przydacz, Chief of the International Policy Bureau, characterized the Ukrainian president’s decision as scandalous, stating that a firm reaction was necessary. He expressed doubt that Prime Minister Donald Tusk would block the revocation, noting that such an act would be an affront to the memory of hundreds of thousands of murdered Poles.
Diplomatic Tensions and Calls for Accountability
Addressing the diplomatic friction, Przydacz argued that it is Zelenskyy, not the Polish president, who should initiate a call to offer an apology and provide an explanation for the decision. He suggested that the Ukrainian leader’s move may be a calculated political maneuver aimed at domestic elections or an attempt to divide the Polish political scene.
The Presidential Palace is currently awaiting a report on a recent meeting between Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki and the Ukrainian ambassador. Meanwhile, officials continue to debate the future of aid, with suggestions ranging from legislative bans on banderism to potential adjustments in military supply logistics.
Historical Divergence on the UPA
The conflict stems from long-standing disagreements regarding the history of the OUN and UPA. In July 1943, these organizations conducted a coordinated attack on approximately 150 Polish settlements in the Volhynia region, an atrocity classified by Poland as genocide.
While Poland views these events as a crime against humanity, the Ukrainian perspective often categorizes them as part of a symmetrical conflict. Ukrainians frequently emphasize the anti-Soviet resistance of the UPA, contrasting sharply with the Polish focus on the anti-Polish ethnic cleansing carried out during the Second World War.