Tensions between Poland and Ukraine have escalated after Polish President Karol Nawrocki announced plans to seek the removal of Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy’s prestigious Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest state honor. The move follows outrage in Poland over Kyiv’s recent decision to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a controversial World War II-era nationalist group linked to massacres of Polish civilians.
The dispute has reignited painful historical tensions between the two neighboring countries at a time when both nations remain strategically aligned against Russia…
Why Poland is Angry at Zelenskyy?
The controversy erupted after President Zelenskyy signed a decree naming a Special Operations Forces unit after the “Heroes of the UPA” — the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, an armed wing associated with the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN).
Kyiv defended the decision as part of efforts to preserve what it describes as Ukraine’s historic military traditions and resistance movements against foreign domination. In modern Ukraine, parts of the UPA are often viewed as symbols of anti-Soviet resistance.
However, in Poland, the UPA remains deeply controversial due to its role in the Volhynia massacres of 1943–1944, during which an estimated 100,000 Polish civilians were killed in what historians describe as ethnic cleansing campaigns in areas of present-day western Ukraine.
For Poles, honoring the UPA crosses a political and moral red line.
Speaking Friday, Nawrocki condemned Kyiv’s decision, arguing it undermines reconciliation efforts between the two countries.
> “President Zelenskyy has shown that Ukraine, through its glorification of bandits and murderers from the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, is not ready to become part of the European family,” Nawrocki said.
The Polish president also confirmed he intends to raise the issue at a June 8 meeting of the chapter responsible for the Order of the White Eagle, signaling he will formally push for Zelenskyy’s honor to be revoked.
What is the Order of the White Eagle?
The Order of the White Eagle is Poland’s most prestigious state decoration, awarded to individuals who have made exceptional contributions to the country.
Zelenskyy received the award in 2023 from then-Polish President Andrzej Duda, recognizing Ukraine’s close wartime partnership with Poland and Kyiv’s resistance against Russia’s invasion.
Under Polish law, state honors can be revoked if the recipient commits actions deemed incompatible with the dignity of the award or becomes “unworthy” of receiving it.
Nawrocki argues that honoring the UPA falls into that category.
> “In the European family, bandits and murderers who killed women and children cannot be glorified,” he stated.
Political Backlash in Poland
The issue has triggered widespread criticism across Poland’s political spectrum.
Former Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller described Zelenskyy’s decision as “a spit in the face of Poles,” while former President Lech Wałęsa publicly condemned the move and announced he had removed a Ukrainian flag pin from his lapel in protest.
Poland’s Foreign Ministry also reportedly summoned Ukrainian Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar for a formal diplomatic complaint.
Meanwhile, senior members of Poland’s conservative Law and Justice (PiS) party accused Ukraine of undermining years of reconciliation efforts.
PiS politician Przemysław Czarnek called the decision “a scandal,” saying:
> “You cannot speak about partnership and reconciliation with Poland one day and then glorify groups responsible for massacres of thousands of Poles the next.”
The controversy comes at a politically sensitive moment in Poland, where rhetoric surrounding Ukraine and Ukrainian refugees has become increasingly polarized ahead of upcoming parliamentary elections.
PM Donald Tusk Warns Against Escalation
Despite the growing anger, Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk urged restraint, warning that divisions between Warsaw and Kyiv could ultimately benefit Russia.
Posting on social media platform X, Tusk cautioned:
> “If we quarrel about the past, someone else will win the future. The president of Ukraine should finally understand this. Poles too. Before it’s too late.”
Tusk’s remarks underscore concerns within Poland’s government that disputes over historical memory could weaken European unity and support for Ukraine amid ongoing regional security threats.
Historical Wounds Still Shape Poland-Ukraine Relations
The debate over the UPA reflects one of the most painful unresolved chapters in Polish-Ukrainian history.
During World War II, the OUN-UPA movement sought an independent Ukrainian state and, at times, collaborated with Nazi Germany while simultaneously fighting Soviet forces.
While many Ukrainians today honor some nationalist fighters for resisting Soviet domination, Poland remembers the movement primarily for the mass killings of Polish civilians in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia.
These conflicting historical narratives have periodically strained relations even after Russia’s 2022 invasion brought Poland and Ukraine into an unusually close strategic partnership.
Warsaw has been among Kyiv’s strongest allies, supplying military aid, supporting sanctions against Russia, and sheltering millions of Ukrainian refugees.
Yet the latest controversy highlights how unresolved historical grievances continue to influence modern diplomacy.
Could Zelenskyy Actually Lose the Award?
Whether Zelenskyy will actually be stripped of the Order of the White Eagle remains uncertain.
The decision rests with the award’s governing chapter, and any formal revocation could carry diplomatic consequences for Poland-Ukraine relations.
Analysts say the move may also reflect domestic political pressures in Poland, where historical memory remains a powerful electoral issue.
Still, the episode signals growing frustration in parts of Polish politics over Ukraine’s handling of historical figures linked to wartime atrocities.
As the June 8 meeting approaches, the dispute could become a major flashpoint in one of Eastern Europe’s most important alliances.
