Ukraine Official Returns Polish Award Amid Diplomatic Row Over WWII Unit Naming

A diplomatic spat between Poland and Ukraine has escalated as a top Ukrainian official announced he will return a Polish state award. Kyrylo Budanov, head of Ukraine's Presidential Office, stated he will return his "For Merit to Poland" award in response to Poland's decision to strip President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle.

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He will return the 'For Merit to Poland' award to Warsaw in response to the stripping of Volodymyr Zelenskyy's highest state award from Poland, the Order of the White Eagle.

Budanov characterized Poland's move as an "unfriendly step." This action follows Ukraine's recent decision to name a special unit of its Armed Forces after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). Poland views the UPA as responsible for the massacres of Poles in Volhynia during World War II, a historical grievance that continues to fuel significant tension between the two nations.

Polish President Andrzej Duda cited Zelenskyy's consent to name the military unit after the UPA as the reason for revoking the prestigious award. The decision sparked outrage in Poland, where the UPA's legacy is deeply controversial. The Ukrainian president had justified the naming by referencing the restoration of historical traditions.

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He called the decision by Polish President Karol Nawrocki an unfriendly step.

This is not the first time a Ukrainian official has rejected a Polish award in connection with this dispute. Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba also refused a Polish order. The ongoing controversy highlights the complex and often fraught historical relationship between Poland and Ukraine, particularly concerning World War II-era events.

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In light of President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's consent to name one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine 'Heroes of UPA,' I have made the decision to strip the President of Ukraine of the Order of the White Eagle.