Poland’s Foreign Minister, Radoslaw Sikorski, has drawn attention to the reactions from Russia following President Karol Nawrocki’s decision to revoke an honor awarded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. This decision coincided with the renaming of a Ukrainian military unit in honor of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a group that has been a subject of historical contention.
In a post on X, Sikorski highlighted comments made by Dmitry Medvedev, the Deputy Chairman of Russia’s Security Council. Medvedev remarked that the revocation of the award was a long-awaited development, using derogatory language to describe Zelensky. He suggested that the Polish honor was not of significant value to Zelensky.
“There is support, President Nawrocki,” Sikorski commented on Medvedev’s statement.
On June 19, President Nawrocki announced the decision to strip Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest honor. This action was taken in response to the Ukrainian military’s renaming of a unit in tribute to the UPA, which has been associated with controversial historical actions during World War II.
Nawrocki also emphasized Poland’s stance against allowing individuals who do not renounce the ‘cult of totalitarianism and violence’ to join the European Union. Following this, Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Ukrainian President’s Office, declined the Golden Officer’s Cross of the Order of Merit for Poland, which he had received in 2025.
Poland's decision to revoke an honor from Ukraine's President Zelensky has sparked reactions from Russia, highlighting ongoing tensions surrounding historical narratives. The revocation stems from the renaming of a Ukrainian military unit, intensifying discussions about Poland's stance on historical interpretations and its implications for EU relations.