The conflict over historical memory and the activities of the UPA has reached a new level. Following Polish President Karol Nawrocki's decision to strip Volodymyr Zelensky of the highest Polish award, several high-ranking Ukrainian officials announced that they are returning the Polish orders they previously received.
The head of Ukrainian military intelligence, Kyrylo Budanov, stated that he is refusing the Golden Officer's Cross of the Order of Merit for Poland, which he was awarded last year.
According to Budanov, the decision of the Polish authorities will be a gift for Russia and may complicate relations between the two neighboring countries, which remain allies amid the ongoing war.
"Undoubtedly, this is a gift to the Moscow aggressor, which he will definitely use against both of our countries," Budanov said. "Our peoples are connected by long-standing relations and different pages of history—both heroic and tragic. However, this should be a reason for deep reflection, not for crude political speculation."
Earlier, Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sibiga announced the return of his award. He called Warsaw's actions a strategic mistake and stated that he does not consider it possible to keep the Commander's Cross with Star of the Order of Merit for Poland.
He was joined by the Ukrainian ambassador to Poland, Vasyl Bondar. He characterized the decision of the Polish president as historically unjust, but emphasized that cooperation between Kyiv and Warsaw on security, defense, and European integration remains important for both countries.
The diplomatic conflict was triggered by Polish President Karol Nawrocki's decision to strip Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle—the country's highest state award. The corresponding statement was made by the Polish leader in a video address published on the social network X.
The situation is related to the Ukrainian side's decision to name one of the Special Operations Forces units after a figure associated with the legacy of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). In Ukraine, the UPA is viewed as part of the struggle for the state's independence, while in Poland, the organization is primarily associated with the Volhynian tragedy.
The question of assessing events from World War II remains one of the most sensitive issues in Polish-Ukrainian relations. Despite the close cooperation between the two countries since the beginning of the full-scale Russian invasion, historical disputes regularly become a source of political conflicts.
What is important to know: the current dispute does not concern military cooperation or support for Ukraine, but rather historical memory. However, such conflicts can exacerbate tensions between allies and create additional problems in bilateral dialogue.
Criticism of Nawrocki's decision has also been voiced within Poland. Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that the deterioration of relations between Warsaw and Kyiv benefits Russia and raises concerns among the Western partners of both countries.
According to him, the task of the leadership of Poland and Ukraine now is to reduce tensions, not to deepen disagreements.
While the parties exchange harsh statements, there is currently no official talk of revising cooperation between the countries. Nevertheless, history has once again shown how painful questions of the past remain even amid current common threats.
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