Ukraine not invited to Poland's largest-ever military parade

Ukraine has not received an invitation to participate in Poland's upcoming military parade, scheduled for August 15 in Warsaw. This event is set to be the largest military display in Polish history, according to the Polish Ministry of Defense. The parade will showcase 300 units of military equipment, 60 aircraft, and involve around 1,800 military personnel.

Several allied nations, including the United States, Canada, Australia, Lithuania, Estonia, Sweden, and Romania, are expected to send military contingents. A significant delegation from France, including a unit from the Foreign Legion, will also participate. A naval parade is also planned for the same day in Gdynia and Gdańsk, featuring over 20 vessels.

This exclusion comes despite Poland being one of Ukraine's staunchest allies in its ongoing conflict with Russia. Recent reports suggest a cooling of relations between Warsaw and Kyiv. Tensions have reportedly been exacerbated by historical grievances and differing interpretations of Ukrainian nationalist symbols, specifically the designation of a military unit as "heroes of the UPA." While Ukraine's Insurgent Army (UPA) is honored for its role in the fight for national independence, it is associated in Poland with the Volhynia massacre, a mass killing of Polish civilians.

This issue remains a sensitive point in Ukrainian-Polish relations. The situation is further complicated by President Andrzej Duda's decision to revoke the Order of the White Eagle, Poland's highest state decoration, from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. These developments occur against the backdrop of Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which began in February 2022, and the broader conflict that has persisted since 2014.