Photo: EPA
Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced that he has revoked the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest state honor, previously awarded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. The decision follows the naming of a Ukrainian military unit after the “Heroes of the UPA” (Ukrainian Insurgent Army).
In a public statement, Nawrocki said that the memory of the victims of the Volhynia massacres and other crimes committed against Polish civilians remains a deeply important issue for Polish society.
“At least 100,000 Polish citizens were killed by the UPA in Volhynia, Eastern Galicia, the Lublin region, and Subcarpathia simply because they were Poles, Jews, or members of other minorities,” Nawrocki stated.
According to the Polish president, granting a military unit a name associated with the UPA goes beyond Ukraine’s internal affairs and carries significant implications for Polish-Ukrainian relations.
“Therefore, in light of President Volodymyr Zelensky’s approval of the designation ‘Heroes of the UPA’ for a unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, and after consultations with the chapter of the order, I have decided to revoke the Order of the White Eagle,” he said.
At the same time, Nawrocki stressed that the move is not directed against the Ukrainian people and does not alter Poland’s strategic support for Ukraine.
“We have supported Ukraine and we will continue to support Ukraine because we understand that Russian aggression is a threat to Poland and to all of Europe,” he emphasized.
Nawrocki added that Poland remains committed to cooperation and dialogue with Ukraine but will continue to defend the memory of its citizens, the dignity of its national symbols, and its national interests.
The decision has sparked debate in both Poland and Ukraine, where differing interpretations of the historical legacy of the UPA remain one of the most sensitive issues in bilateral relations.
