Smilyansky explained the story behind sending Zelenskyy’s medal to Poland
On June 20, the head of “Ukrposhta” commented on the scandal surrounding the shipment of the presidential order to Poland, emphasizing that “Nova Poshta” is a logistics service, not a traditional postal service.
Ihor Smilianskyi, CEO of Ukrposhta, responded to the fact that President Volodymyr Zelenskyy had the Order of the White Eagle returned to Poland via a competitor, Nova Poshta.
Smiliansky noted that he does not know for certain why this happened, but he has three theories.
“First. Poland’s national colors are white and red, just like Nova Poshta’s. So, perhaps they decided that the state award should be returned in those colors.
Second: Perhaps lawyers at the Office of the President looked into the matter and found that the shipment of state awards via “Ukrposhta” (specifically by regular mail, not via express carriers) is strictly prohibited by law and regulations. “Nova Poshta” is not a postal service but an express delivery operator.
Third. Our deliveries within Poland are handled by Poczta Polska, and there may have been doubts about whether they would deliver them. For the past two months, “Ukrposhta” vehicles have been blocked by Polish customs, and we’ve been forced to bypass Poland via Hungary and Slovakia (where we face no issues) and, in essence, have rerouted all our transit flows to avoid Poland. But our customers don’t notice this because we’ve established alternative routes through other countries. The Poles let “Nova Poshta” vehicles through. Because, once again, they’re carrying express shipments, not government postal documents,” Smiliansky explained on social media.
As a reminder, Poroshenko was the last living president of Ukraine to decline a Polish order
Earlier, Zelenskyy sent Navrotsky the Order of the White Eagle via Nova Poshta.
Following that, Leonid Kuchma declined the Polish Order of the White Eagle.
Ukraine’s third president, Viktor Yushchenko, also declined the Polish Order of the White Eagle.
In addition, Borys Tarasyuk will return his Polish order due to Navrotsky’s policies.
