Poland Strips Zelenskyy of Highest Honor Over WWII History Row, June 21

Polish President Karol Nawrocki revoked the Order of the White Eagle—Poland’s highest state honor—from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy on June 19. The move follows Zelenskyy’s decision to name a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a World War II organization that Poland accuses of massacring tens of thousands of Polish civilians. The dispute threatens relations between two key NATO allies as Ukraine battles Russia’s invasion.

Why Poland Revoked the Award

Zelenskyy issued a decree in May naming a Ukrainian Special Operations Forces unit after the UPA, which operated during the 1940s and 1950s. Poland’s parliament officially recognized the UPA’s actions as genocide. Nawrocki said in a statement that honoring the UPA was “unforgivable” and weakened reconciliation between the nations. Former Polish President Andrzej Duda awarded the Order to Zelenskyy in 2023 for services to security and human rights.

Ukraine’s Response and Escalation

Zelenskyy announced on June 20 that he was returning the medal by postal mail to Poland’s presidential office. He stated the award was meant for Ukraine’s people and military, not to be weaponized in political disputes. Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha, Chief of Staff Kyrylo Budanov, and Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar also returned their Polish honors in solidarity. Budanov called Nawrocki’s move “a gift to the Moscow aggressor.”

The Historical Divide

Ukraine views the UPA as independence fighters who resisted Soviet occupation. Poland counts tens of thousands of civilian deaths from UPA actions in the 1940s, particularly in the Volyn region. The two nations hold conflicting historical narratives about World War II. Nawrocki stressed Poland’s support for Ukraine against Russia remains unchanged, but said boundaries must not be crossed in bilateral relations.

Risk to Strategic Alliance

Poland hosts hundreds of thousands of Ukrainian refugees and is one of Kyiv’s strongest supporters in the war. The dispute could complicate military and humanitarian cooperation at a critical moment. Zelenskyy appealed for dialogue to avoid “conflicting interpretations of the difficult and painful chapters of our shared past” while maintaining gratitude for Polish support.

Final Thoughts

Poland and Ukraine’s dispute over WWII history threatens their military alliance during Russia’s invasion. Both nations returned state honors, signaling deep strain in relations despite shared security interests against Moscow.

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