In a rare diplomatic move, Poland has stripped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle, its highest state honour, after Kyiv announced it would name a newly formed military unit the “Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.”
Polish President Karol Nawrocki called the decision “outrageous,” “incomprehensible” and “deeply disappointing,” citing the UPA’s wartime campaign of ethnic cleansing against Poles in Volhynia, which is estimated to have killed about 100 000 civilians. He warned that the UPA remains “responsible for the brutal crimes committed against citizens of the Republic of Poland” and that only those who reject totalitarian legacy can be part of a united Europe.
The Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha labelled the Polish decision a strategic mistake that disrespects Ukraine’s history and said it would cost “only Moscow.” He pledged to return the Polish award, insisting that “no president of another country can dictate our history.”
For Ukrainians, the UPA is a symbol of resistance and struggle for sovereignty; its red‑black flag is frequently borne by front‑line soldiers. In contrast, Poland frames the UPA as a criminal network responsible for ethnic cleansing during World War II. The rift highlights deep historical grievances between the two nations amid Ukraine’s ongoing push for EU membership and its reluctance to abandon its wartime legacy.
Despite the diplomatic flare, Nawrocki insisted that Poland’s support for Kyiv against the Russian invasion would remain unchanged, pointing to the millions of Ukrainian refugees Poland has welcomed since 2022.
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Zelensky was presented with the Order of the White Eagle in 2023 by President Andrzej Duda.
Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki says the decision to strip Zelensky’s award will not affect support for Ukraine.
