Navrotsky stripped Zelenskyy of Poland's highest state award
Polish President Karol Nawrocki decided to strip Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle due to his opposition to naming one of the units of the Armed Forces of Ukraine “Heroes of the UPA.”
The Polish leader emphasized that, as Grand Master of the Order, he is obligated to uphold its honor, as this award is a symbol of the highest trust and a special bond with the state. Navrotskyi called the Ukrainian authorities’ actions outrageous and deeply disappointing, as they undermine the mutual understanding that had been built between the heads of state over the past few months regarding complex historical issues.
The Polish president called on the Ukrainian side to return to the path of truth and mutual respect, emphasizing that Kyiv’s path to the EU requires a willingness to honestly confront the difficult chapters of their shared past. He recalled that Warsaw has provided unprecedented military aid and trained thousands of soldiers, so it is unacceptable to Poland that some of them would serve under the UPA flag, as there are red lines in Polish-Ukrainian relations that must not be crossed. At the same time, the head of state explained that this step is not directed against the Ukrainian people, and that Warsaw will continue to support Ukraine in its fight against aggression by the Russian Federation.
This is stated in Navrotsky’s post on X.
Earlier, Polish officials stated that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy could lose the country’s highest state award—the Order of the White Eagle—if Kyiv does not reconsider its decision to bestow the honorary title “Heroes of the UPA” on one of its military units.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski reported on private consultations with Ukraine regarding the possible conferral of the title “Heroes of the UPA” on one of the Special Operations Forces units. According to him, this issue is being discussed through diplomatic channels.
Warsaw has reacted to the decision to rename the Ukrainian military unit. The unit in question is an elite unit of the Special Operations Forces, which, according to reports, was named in honor of the Heroes of the UPA. This has sparked a critical reaction among the Polish public and in political circles.
