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Poland revokes top honor from Zelenskyy over WWII unit naming
🇬🇷 Greece /Conflict & Security

Poland revokes top honor from Zelenskyy over WWII unit naming

From Ta Nea · () Greek

Translated from Greek, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

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  • Poland's President Andrzej Duda revoked the country's highest honor, the Order of the White Eagle, from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
  • The decision was a reaction to Ukraine naming a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), an organization responsible for massacres of Poles during World War II.
  • Ukraine's Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba called the move a

Poland's President Andrzej Duda has revoked the country's highest honor, the Order of the White Eagle, from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This decision stems from Ukraine's naming of a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), an organization blamed for massacres of Poles during World War II.

In light of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's consent to name one of the Armed Forces of Ukraine units 'Heroes of the UPA' ... I have decided to revoke the Order of the White Eagle from the President of Ukraine.

— Andrzej DudaPolish President Andrzej Duda explaining his decision to revoke the honor.

Duda stated that the naming of the unit by Zelenskyy's consent was unacceptable. "In light of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's consent to name one of the Armed Forces of Ukraine units 'Heroes of the UPA' ... I have decided to revoke the Order of the White Eagle from the President of Ukraine," Duda announced.

The decision to revoke the Order of the White Eagle from the President of Ukraine is a strategic mistake by the President of Poland that benefits only Moscow.

— Dmytro KulebaUkrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba commenting on the Polish president's decision.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba criticized the move as a "strategic mistake" that benefits Moscow. He argued that no foreign president should dictate Ukraine's history and expressed regret that Poland chose escalation over solutions. The UPA is viewed by many Ukrainians as a symbol of resistance against the Soviet Union and Nazi Germany. However, in Poland, it remains associated with the Volhynia massacres of 1943-1945, where an estimated 100,000 Poles were killed by Ukrainian nationalists.

We regret that instead of seeking solutions, the Polish side decided to escalate this conflict to an unacceptable level. No president of another country will dictate our history.

— Dmytro KulebaUkrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba criticizing Poland's approach.

This incident strains relations between Poland and Ukraine, particularly as it precedes a conference on Ukraine's reconstruction in Gdansk. Duda has previously shown a critical stance toward Kyiv, opposing Ukraine's NATO and EU membership and blocking aid extensions for Ukrainian refugees. He has not visited Kyiv despite invitations.

For the vast majority of Polish society, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army remains above all an organization responsible for brutal crimes against the citizens of the Republic of Poland during World War II.

— Andrzej DudaPolish President Andrzej Duda's statement on the UPA's legacy in Poland.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Ta Nea in Greek. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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