Poland's President to revoke top honor from Zelenskyy over UPA unit naming

Polish President Andrzej Duda announced his decision to revoke the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest civilian decoration, from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This move comes after a unit within the Ukrainian military was named "Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)" by Zelenskyy's decree.

The UPA, associated with Stepan Bandera's Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists, is accused by Polish historians of ethnic cleansing and massacres of Poles, Czechs, and Jews in the Volhynia region during World War II. Duda described the Ukrainian authorities' decision to honor the UPA as "scandalous and incomprehensible," stating it damages historical memory and the trust built between the two nations.

"This is an attack not only on historical memory but also on the trust built over years and in recent months. It is an attack on the foundations of reconciliation," Duda explained his reasoning for revoking the award. He emphasized that the Volhynia massacre, where UPA units allegedly killed an estimated 100,000 Poles, is not a subject for negotiation.

Duda stressed that his decision is not directed against the Ukrainian people and does not alter Poland's strategic security policy, which continues to support Ukraine against Russian aggression. However, he warned that Ukraine must confront its "dark chapters of history" before joining the European Union, suggesting that historical disputes weaken both nations and benefit Russia.

“

Ukrajina mora da bude svesna da ništa ne služi interesima Kremlja više nego sukob Ukrajinaca i Poljaka. Svaki spor o istorijskom pamćenju slabi naše narode i jača one koji bi hteli da izazovu razdor o pokore Evropu