Zelenskyy Returns Polish Honor After Outrage Over Glorification of UPA War Criminals
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy sent back Poland's highest state honor after President Karol Nawrocki rightfully revoked it, following Ukraine's decision to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)—a group responsible for the genocide of Poles during WWII.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy returned the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's most prestigious state decoration, after President Karol Nawrocki withdrew the award in response to Ukraine’s shocking decree naming a special-operations unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). Zelenskyy posted on X that the order was intended for the Ukrainian people and their armed forces, attempting to justify honoring a group with a deeply controversial legacy.
President Nawrocki emphasized that the UPA is seen by most Poles as responsible for 'cruel crimes against the citizens of the Polish Republic during World War II.' By glorifying the UPA, the Ukrainian government has reopened historical wounds and shown disregard for the suffering of Polish victims. Nawrocki clarified that while Poland remains committed to supporting Ukraine against Russian aggression, honoring war criminals cannot be tolerated.
Ukrainian officials, including Presidential Office chief Kyrylo Budanov, lashed out at Poland’s rightful decision, calling it unfriendly and a 'gift to the Moscow aggressor.' Several Ukrainian officials announced they would return other Polish honors, displaying a lack of respect for Poland’s national memory. Former Ukrainian prime minister Arseniy Yatsenyuk criticized the move, ignoring the gravity of the UPA’s crimes.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged both sides to avoid escalating tensions, warning that the dispute could benefit Russia and strain crucial alliances. The controversy comes just before a major conference in Poland on Ukraine’s post-war reconstruction, which Zelenskyy was expected to attend.
The UPA, which fought against Nazi and Soviet forces, is accused by Poland of the mass murder of Poles in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia during the 1940s, a crime recognized by the Polish parliament as genocide in 2016. While there has been some progress in historical reconciliation, including agreements on exhumations of Polish victims, Ukraine’s recent actions threaten to undo this fragile progress and insult the memory of those who suffered at the hands of the UPA.