Zelenskyy refused to cancel the name "Heroes of the UPA" for a Ukrainian Armed Forces unit despite the scandal with Nawrocki
Kyiv • UNN
President Zelenskyy stated that he will not cancel the honorary name "Heroes of the UPA" for a Ukrainian Armed Forces unit, despite the decision of Polish President Nawrocki to strip it of the Order of the White Eagle. He emphasized that this was an initiative of the military, which he supported.
President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy stated that he does not intend to revoke the honorary title "Heroes of the UPA" awarded to one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine, despite the decision of Polish President Karol Nawrocki to strip him of the Order of the White Eagle. The head of state said this in an interview with the media, reports UNN.
Details
Zelenskyy emphasized that the decision on the honorary naming was an initiative of the military themselves, and he only supported their request.
"When they chose a name for themselves and appealed to me with a request, I signed such a decree. It was the initiative of the unit,"
The head of state also said that during his first official meeting with Nawrocki in Poland, he received from him books about the Volyn tragedy as a gift.
"The first visit. His gift to me when shaking hands — books about the Volyn tragedy,"
"Our soldiers defend Poland and Europe"
The president emphasized that Ukrainian soldiers today are defending not only Ukraine but also the security of European states.
"We are defending Poland, we are defending Europe now, not the other way around. Our soldiers defend and die,"
Zelenskyy added that he sees no grounds for reviewing his decision and has no intention of changing the decree.
"I support this. I will not revoke it now (the decree on awarding the title 'Heroes of the UPA' - ed.). I have never changed such decrees,"