Following Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to name a Ukrainian military unit after UPA heroes, a public survey reveals that over 60 percent of readers support stripping the president of his Polish decoration.
Survey Results on the Presidential Award
We asked our readers whether Volodymyr Zelensky should be stripped of the Order of the White Eagle. Out of 15,429 respondents, 9,681 people (62.75 percent) supported the proposal. Conversely, 4,568 voters (29.61 percent) opposed the move, while 1,180 readers (7.65 percent) had no opinion. These results were collected on June 2, 2026.
Historical Controversy and the UPA
The dispute stems from Zelensky’s decision to honor a Ukrainian Armed Forces unit with the name “Heroes of the UPA.” The Ukrainian Insurgent Army is associated in Poland with the mass murders of Polish civilians in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia during World War II, which the Polish Parliament classified as genocide. In contrast, many in Ukraine view the UPA as a force that fought for national independence against the Soviet Union.
Karol Nawrocki, who criticized the decision, argued that by glorifying UPA members, Ukraine demonstrates it is not prepared for the European community of values. He announced plans to present a motion to the Order of the White Eagle Chapter on June 8 to revoke the honor from the Ukrainian president.
Diplomatic Reactions and Context
Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski noted that Zelensky’s move failed to account for Polish historical sensitivity but cautioned against allowing historical disputes to disrupt current political relations. He emphasized that the Russian Federation stands to gain from any Polish-Ukrainian conflict over the past.
Andrzej Duda awarded Zelensky the Order of the White Eagle in April 2023 to recognize his contribution to Polish-Ukrainian relations, European security cooperation, and his resolve during the Russian aggression. As the oldest and highest Polish state decoration, matters regarding its awarding or revocation fall under the authority of the President of Poland, who chairs the order’s chapter.
