Poland's Deputy Prime Minister addressed Ukrainians regarding the UPA and called on them to honor modern-day heroes
Polish Minister of Defense and Deputy Prime Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz issued a statement addressed to Ukrainians, in which he called for a reconsideration of the decision to name one of the Ukrainian Armed Forces units after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
In the letter, the Polish official emphasized that he understands Ukrainians’ desire to seek symbols of courage, struggle, and resilience in wartime, but for Polish society, the UPA is associated primarily with tragic events and crimes against the civilian population.
“For Poles, the UPA is not a neutral symbol of the struggle for freedom. For Poles, it is first and foremost a symbol of crimes committed against a defenseless civilian population,” Kosiniak-Kamysz noted.
He urged against choosing figures and symbols as patrons of state institutions that could negatively impact Polish-Ukrainian relations and undermine trust between allies.
Instead, the head of the Polish Ministry of Defense suggested focusing on today’s Ukrainian defenders who are protecting the country from Russian aggression.
According to him, modern Ukraine already has its own heroes—soldiers fighting in the Kharkiv region, the Donbas, Zaporizhzhia, and defending the Ukrainian skies.
At the same time, Kosiniak-Kamysz emphasized that Warsaw does not demand that Kyiv renounce its own history, but counts on an understanding that certain historical symbols may remain painful for Polish society and affect relations between the two countries.
Source: Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty.
Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced private consultations with Ukraine regarding the possible naming of one of the Special Operations Forces units “Heroes of the UPA.” According to him, this issue is being discussed in a diplomatic format.
Warsaw has reacted to the decision to rename the Ukrainian military unit. This concerns 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 in Polish society and political circles.
