Polish opposition demands explanations regarding the Ukrainian veterans' corps

Representatives of the Polish conservative opposition party “Law and Justice” (“PiS”) are demanding that the government explain its decision to establish a Ukrainian veterans’ corps in the country.

PiS lawmaker Andrzej Śliwka, in particular, is demanding that the government explain the creation of a Ukrainian veterans’ corps in Warsaw. His party colleague Przemysław Czarnek is also outraged.

During the UA Fest festival, which took place on September 19, the creation of a Ukrainian veterans’ corps in Warsaw was announced.

“Was this initiative reviewed by the relevant agencies, and did the government analyze its potential implications for the security of the Republic of Poland?” Šlivka asked.

As the lawmaker noted, “after the war ends, Ukraine will be forced to face the enormous challenge of reintegrating hundreds of thousands of people with combat experience.” “Some of them will struggle with the effects of trauma, particularly PTSD, while others may decide to start a new life outside Ukraine,” the opposition lawmaker emphasized.

In his view, “Poland cannot stand idly by” while the corps is being formed. He noted that in the future, this could lead to “a significant number of former military personnel from a foreign country with combat experience settling in Poland.”

“Helping Ukraine cannot mean abandoning the duty to protect the safety of Polish citizens,” he stressed.

According to Shlivka, concerns are also raised by “the veterans’ corps’ ties to circles associated with the 3rd Army Corps and Andriy Biletsky, whose activities are linked to ‘Azov.’” The politician stressed that “Azov” has documented ties to the glorification of the OUN-UPA.

In light of this, Shlivka appealed to the prime minister and the government for an explanation. In particular, he asked whether government officials were aware of the intention to establish such an organization, whether its funding sources had been vetted by the Internal Security Agency (ABW), whether the founders’ attitudes toward the OUN-UPA had been analyzed, and whether the prime minister would order a comprehensive security assessment of the organization’s operations.

The case involving the Ukrainian Veterans’ Corps has also caught the attention of Przemysław Czarnek, the “PiS” candidate for prime minister. The politician published a post on Platform X, in which he also demanded explanations from the government. “Who authorized this?” the politician asks.

“Helping Ukraine does not mean relinquishing control over who creates such structures in Poland and for what purpose. Poland cannot become a backwater for the problems Ukraine will face after the war. The safety of Poles must come first. The government is obligated to clarify this matter immediately,” Czarnek wrote.

This was reported by Polsat News.

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