The recent decision by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to bestow an honorary title on a military unit has elicited strong reactions from Polish officials and historians. The designation, which honors the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), has reignited historical tensions between the two nations.
Georgiy Tikhiy, spokesperson for Ukraine’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, addressed the backlash during a press briefing, noting that the reaction in Poland is disappointing, especially given the recent progress in Ukrainian-Polish relations. He stated, “We see a sharp reaction in Poland to the decision to name one of the Ukrainian units after the heroes of the UPA. It is unfortunate that this occurs against the backdrop of a broader trend toward resolving problematic issues in Ukrainian-Polish relations over the past year and a half.”
Tikhiy emphasized that both countries have made significant efforts to address complex historical issues, including the resumption of search and exhumation processes and the revival of the Congress of Historians after many years. He remarked, “The discussion regarding the past should be professional and based on reliable sources. Our history confirms that disputes between Ukrainians and Poles only benefit Moscow.”
He further clarified that the Ukrainian military’s fight is not only for Ukraine but for all of Europe. The honorary naming, according to Tikhiy, was not intended to offend the Polish people but symbolizes resistance against imperial policies from Moscow. He stated, “For our soldiers, the struggle of the UPA represents a confrontation with Moscow’s imperial politics and is in no way directed against Poles.”
The spokesperson acknowledged the complex history shared between Ukraine and Poland, which includes both glorious and tragic chapters. He referenced the recent commemoration of the 80th anniversary of the Grubeshiv operation, where Ukrainian insurgents and Polish partisans successfully attacked NKVD troops.
Tikhiy noted, “In previous eras, Ukrainians and Poles achieved many glorious victories against our eternal enemy in Moscow, from Orsha to the Miracle on the Vistula. However, it is impossible to deny the tragic events, including crimes against civilians committed by both Ukrainian and Polish military units during World War II.”
He reiterated Ukraine’s commitment to engaging in constructive dialogue regarding sensitive historical issues without politicization. Tikhiy stated, “We cannot allow quarrels over the past to undermine our resistance to a common enemy, especially as Ukraine, with Poland’s support, counters Russian aggression. We are grateful to Poland and the Polish people for their unwavering support since the onset of this unprovoked and criminal war.”
On May 26, President Zelensky issued a decree granting the Special Operations Center “North” of the Ukrainian Armed Forces the honorary title of “Heroes of the UPA.” The decree aims to restore historical traditions within the national military.
This decision has drawn condemnation from various Polish historians and politicians, who have reminded the public of the UPA’s historical actions against Poles in Volhynia. The Polish Institute of National Remembrance has stated that the UPA is responsible for “genocide in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia,” asserting that the creation of a cult around the UPA by the Ukrainian government should be opposed by all who remember the actions of this formation.
Former Polish President Lech Wałęsa, a Nobel Peace Prize laureate who has supported Ukraine, also criticized Zelensky’s decision, stating that he would remove the Ukrainian flag pin he has worn since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion. In a Facebook post, he expressed that honoring UPA members has offended him and the memory of all Polish victims.
Polish President Karol Nawrocki also criticized Zelensky’s naming decision and suggested that he would withdraw the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest honor, previously awarded to the Ukrainian president by former President Andrzej Duda.
The Ukrainian government's decision to honor a military unit with the name of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army has sparked significant backlash in Poland, highlighting ongoing historical tensions. Officials from both nations have expressed concerns over the implications of this action amidst efforts to reconcile historical grievances.