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Politics
Jun 20, 2026
Analyzed by GPT OSS 120B

Ukrainian Officials Return Polish Honors Amid WWII UPA Controversy

AI Summary
Top Ukrainian officials announced they will return the Polish awards they received after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was stripped of the Order of the White Eagle. The move deepens a diplomatic dispute over the naming of a military unit after the World War II Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).

Top Ukrainian officials said they will return the Polish awards they received after President Volodymyr Zelenskyy was stripped of the Order of the White Eagle, intensifying a diplomatic row over the legacy of the World II Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).

Ukrainian Officials Announce Return of Polish Decorations

Kyrylo Budanov, chief of staff to President Zelenskyy, Ukraine’s ambassador to Warsaw Vasyl Bodnar, and Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha confirmed on Saturday that they will relinquish the honors bestowed by Poland. The decision follows a decree on May 26 in which Zelenskyy named a military unit after the UPA, a group accused of massacring Poles during the war.

Timeline and Key Decrees Highlight the Escalation

  • 2023: Zelenskyy received the Order of the White Eagle from former Polish President Andrzej Duda.
  • May 26, 2026: Zelenskyy issues a decree naming a unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army.
  • June 19, 2026: Polish President Karol Nawrocki announces the revocation of the Order of the White Eagle.
  • June 20, 2026: Budanov, Bodnar and Sybiha publicly state they will return their Polish awards.

Strained Polish‑Ukrainian Relations and Regional Repercussions

Polish officials, including President Nawrocki, emphasized that the UPA is seen in Poland as responsible for “cruel crimes against the citizens of the Polish Republic during World War II.” While Nawrocki stressed that the decision would not end Poland’s support for Ukraine against Russia, Ukrainian officials described the revocation as “an unfriendly act toward our people” and a “gift to the Moscow aggressor.” Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that the conflict “delights Putin and shocks our allies,” urging both sides to calm tensions.

Potential Paths Forward for Bilateral Ties

The return of the awards signals a willingness by Kyiv to de‑escalate, but the underlying historical dispute remains unresolved. Continued diplomatic dialogue, possibly mediated through NATO or the EU, will be essential to prevent further deterioration and to keep the broader security partnership against Russia intact.