Polish Activist: Zelenskyy Should Have Highest State Award Revoked

Andrzej Gwiazda, a co-founder of the Coastal Free Trade Unions and NSZZ "Solidarity," has stated that Poland's highest state decoration, the Order of the White Eagle, should be revoked from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. Gwiazda, himself a recipient of the order, believes the award was a mistake given Zelenskyy's decision to honor a Ukrainian military unit named after the UPA (Ukrainian Insurgent Army).

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If someone considers such an organization heroic, then it is impossible to award them the Order of the White Eagle.

Gwiazda, who previously served on the Order of the White Eagle's Chapter during the presidencies of Lech Kaczyński and Andrzej Duda, argued that recognizing the UPA as heroic is incompatible with receiving Poland's highest honor. He emphasized that heroes should serve as role models for an entire nation, and the UPA is associated with the murder of Poles. "If someone considers such an organization heroic, then it is impossible to award them the Order of the White Eagle," Gwiazda stated.

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Heroes are a role model to be followed. If someone is a national hero, then he is for all members of the nation. Zelenskyy's decision concerned those who committed murders of Poles.

He expressed skepticism that Zelenskyy would change his decision regarding the UPA unit's name, suggesting that such a reversal would be difficult. Gwiazda also reflected on Ukraine's historical actions, noting that while the UPA may have fought against Russia during World War II, its primary goal was Ukrainian independence achieved through the extermination of Poles and Jews. He questioned whether the UPA also targeted Russians or Germans, mentioning their involvement in the Volhynia massacres.

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I think not. Changing such a decision is difficult and I don't think it will happen. Our assessment of Ukrainians and Zelenskyy will not change either.

Regarding the potential impact on Polish-Ukrainian relations and Poland's support for Ukraine, Gwiazda suggested that revoking the award is a matter for consideration but not necessarily required. He recalled past efforts, including those by Karol Nawrocki when he was president of the Institute of National Remembrance (IPN), to address issues like exhumations, which were often met with refusal from the Ukrainian government. Gwiazda believes that while some exhumations have occurred, the Ukrainian government's overall stance remains uncooperative.

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The UPA fought alongside the Germans. Perhaps it fought against Russia during World War II, but above all, it fought for Ukraine's independence by slaughtering Poles, so that there would be neither a Jew nor a Pole there.