The European Parliament criticized the name of the SSO unit in honor of the UPA for ignoring "Polish sensitive issues"

In a resolution on Ukraine's accession to the EU, the European Parliament criticized the name of a Special Operations Forces unit named after the UPA, stating that MEPs regret the disregard for Polish sensitivities and grievances and believe that this decision undermines neighborly relations. This is stated in the European Parliament resolution, reports UNN.

Details

In the resolution, in addition to "highly appreciating Ukraine's extraordinary efforts to strengthen its democratic institutions and ensure the separation of powers during wartime" and "welcoming Ukraine's progress in judicial reform and the fight against corruption," MEPs expressed "regret over the disregard for Polish sensitivities" regarding the naming of a Special Operations Forces unit after the UPA. 

Regarding the renaming of an elite military unit of the Armed Forces of Ukraine in honor of the heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), MEPs express regret over the disregard for Polish sensitivities and grievances and believe that this decision undermines neighborly relations, calling for de-escalation and a renewal of good-faith efforts for reconciliation 

Recall 

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy, on the sidelines of the NATO summit, held a meeting with President of Poland Karol Nawrocki — "it was an important and necessary conversation," they agreed to continue the dialogue. 

Context

President of Poland Karol Nawrocki decided to strip President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle and emphasized that there are limits in Polish-Ukrainian relations that cannot be crossed.

The decision was made after Nawrocki stated that he is critical of the decision of President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy to name a Ukrainian Special Operations Forces unit "after the Heroes of the UPA."

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy granted one of the units of the Special Operations Forces of the Armed Forces of Ukraine the name "after the Heroes of the UPA" at the end of May.

The Order of the White Eagle was awarded to Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2023 by then-President of Poland Andrzej Duda.

Zelenskyy sent the Order of the White Eagle back to the President of Poland via "Nova Poshta."

Later, in Poland, they criticized Ukraine's decision to create a National Pantheon.