Polish President Moves to Revoke Zelensky’s Top Honor
Polish President Karol Nawrocki demands revocation of Ukraine's Zelensky's state honour after Kyiv named a military brigade after UPA, a nationalist group Poland blames for wartime genocide.
The controversy erupted after Zelensky approved on May 27 the granting of the honorary title “Heroes of the UPA” to the Separate Special Operations Centre “North” of Ukraine’s Special Operations Forces, according to Brussels Signal. The Ukrainian president said the decision was meant to restore historical traditions of the national army.
The Ukrainian Insurgent Army, known as UPA, is held responsible by Poland for the massacre of approximately 100,000 Polish civilians in Volhynia and eastern Galicia—territories in what is now western Ukraine. The victims were mostly women and children, and Poland has officially classified these wartime killings as genocide.
Nawrocki sharply criticized the move, stating that by honoring the UPA, the Ukrainian president had handed Russian propaganda excellent material and considerable fuel. The Polish president expressed strong opposition to Zelensky’s decision.
Zelensky had received the Order of the White Eagle from Poland’s then-president Andrzej Duda during an April 5, 2023 visit to Warsaw. Now Nawrocki is calling for that honour to be revoked.
Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, whose government frequently clashes with the opposition-aligned president, attempted to moderate the dispute while acknowledging Polish sensitivities. Tusk said the Ukrainian decision wounds historical sensitivity and raises concerns about bilateral relations.
Despite his criticism, Tusk urged both nations not to become mired in historical disputes, warning that quarreling about the past would allow someone else to win the future. He called on both the Ukrainian president and Poles to understand this reality before it becomes too late.
Poland’s deputy foreign minister Marcin Bosacki summoned Ukrainian ambassador Vasyl Bodnar on May 28 to lodge a formal protest. Bosacki told the ambassador that the decision to honor the UPA was deeply painful for many Polish citizens.
The diplomatic row threatens to strain relations between Warsaw and Kyiv at a critical moment, as both countries navigate ongoing security challenges in the region.
With information from Brussels Signal
