Former Polish Ambassador to Ukraine returns award from Zelenskyy over UPA decision
Kyiv • UNN
Bartosz Cichocki returned the order due to the naming of a UAF unit after the Heroes of the UPA. In Poland, this decision was called troubling for bilateral relations.
Former Polish Ambassador to Ukraine Bartosz Cichocki has returned the Ukrainian Order of Merit, which he was awarded in 2022. The reason for this step was the recent decision by President Volodymyr Zelenskyy to grant one of the AFU units the honorary title "Heroes of the UPA." This was reported by RMF24, according to UNN.
Details
Zelenskyy explained his decision as a desire to restore the historical traditions of the Ukrainian military and to honor the servicemen defending the country's independence. At the same time, the activities of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army remain a subject of sharp dispute in Polish-Ukrainian relations due to the events in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia during World War II.
In his statement, Cichocki noted that he returned the award because of decisions by the Ukrainian authorities which, in his opinion, honor the UPA and individuals associated with collaboration with Nazi Germany. At the same time, the diplomat emphasized that he would continue to support Ukrainians in the fight against Russian aggression, corruption, and historical falsifications.
The decision sparked criticism in Poland
The move by the Ukrainian authorities was also criticized by Polish officials. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk called it troubling for bilateral relations and something that affects the historical sensitivity of Polish society.
President of Poland Karol Nawrocki stated that the glorification of the UPA indicates Ukraine's unreadiness to share European values regarding historical memory. He also suggested considering the possibility of stripping Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle, which the Ukrainian president was awarded in 2022.