Poland has expressed discontent over Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s decision to award an honorary title linked to the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) to a military unit. The Polish Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, stated that this move is viewed as a mistake and called for rectification from Ukraine.
Sikorski emphasized that the responsibility for this action lies entirely with Ukraine. He remarked, “Please adhere to the Prime Minister’s statement. Ukraine made the error, and we expect it to correct this mistake.” His comments come amid domestic debates in Poland, where he criticized remarks made by a candidate for Prime Minister from the Law and Justice Party regarding the presence of Ukrainians in the Polish public administration.
According to Sikorski, such nationalist sentiments evoke troubling memories from Poland’s history. The controversy erupted in late May 2026 when Zelensky signed a decree granting the Separate Center for Special Operations ‘North’ the honorary title ‘in the name of the Heroes of UPA’ for exemplary performance in combat tasks. This decision sparked significant outrage in Poland.
In response to the backlash, a meeting of the Chapter of the Order of the White Eagle was convened to discuss the potential revocation of a similar award previously given to Zelensky. As of now, Polish President Karol Nawrocki has yet to make a final decision on the matter.
In light of the escalating tensions, Nawrocki described the situation as indicative of Ukraine’s unpreparedness for European Union membership and hinted at the possibility of rescinding Zelensky’s highest state award. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk also urged both nations to move past historical disputes to prevent external parties from benefiting from their discord.
The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry responded to the accusations, with spokesperson Georgiy Tikhy reaffirming that Poland remains Ukraine’s primary strategic ally. He highlighted the progress made in recent months towards mutual understanding, including the resumption of exhumation work and the activities of the Congress of Historians.
The Ministry called on partners to avoid letting historical disputes undermine their alliance and to focus on unity against a common adversary rather than seeking reasons for division.
Tensions between Poland and Ukraine have escalated following Ukraine's decision to honor a military unit with a title linked to the UPA. Polish officials have called for a correction, emphasizing the importance of maintaining alliances amidst historical disputes.
Source: РБК-Україна