Poland confronts Ukraine's envoy over military unit named after WWII nationalist army
Kyrylo Budanov, chief of staff to President Zelenskyy, faced a wall of Polish anger in Warsaw on Saturday over the naming of a Ukrainian special forces unit after the UPA, a group Poland holds responsible for the wartime massacre of Poles.
A diplomatic mission met with frosty reception
Kyrylo Budanov, head of the Office of the President of Ukraine, arrived in Warsaw for a series of meetings with top Polish officials, the primary agenda being the fallout from President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's decision to name a military unit after the "Heroes of the UPA." The Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) is remembered in Poland for its role in the Volhynia massacres during World War II, making the move a lightning rod for Polish outrage.
Poland's defence chief draws a red line
Polish Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of National Defence Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz met Budanov on Saturday morning. He stated afterwards that while Poland and Ukraine are partners in security, history demands truth.
Kosiniak-Kamysz said he clearly presented Polish expectations regarding the decision.The memory of the victims of Volhynia is non-negotiable. There are boundaries that must not be crossed.
Presidential camp reinforces the message
Budanov then proceeded to the Belweder Palace for talks with Marcin Przydacz, head of the International Policy Bureau. Przydacz told the Polish Press Agency that he presented Poland's position in an appropriate form.
He added that the Ukrainian side indicated awareness of the reactions the topic provokes in Poland and expressed interest in dialogue. At Ukraine's request, Budanov also met with Bartosz Grodecki, head of the National Security Bureau, who conveyed President Karol Nawrocki's stance and discussed the consequences of the naming.An attempt to glorify criminals from the UPA banner meets and will continue to meet with a firm reaction.
The decision that ignited the crisis
At the end of May, Zelenskyy officially bestowed the name "Heroes of the UPA" on the Independent Special Operations Centre "North." The decree stated it was to restore historical traditions of the national army and recognise exemplary service. In Poland, the UPA is considered responsible for the brutal extermination of the Polish population in Volhynia. The decision triggered a wave of condemnation across the Polish political spectrum.
Escalation and the Order of the White Eagle
President Nawrocki assessed the move as providing material and oxygen for Russian propaganda. He announced that on Monday, 8 June, the Chapter of the Order of the White Eagle will convene, and he has proposed adding the revocation of Zelenskyy's order to the agenda. Zelenskyy received Poland's highest distinction in April 2023 from then-President Andrzej Duda. Prime Minister Donald Tusk said on Friday that while he might have reacted differently, he fully understands the president's reaction.
A parallel signal on historical cooperation
Amid the tension, there was a separate signal of progress. Ukraine's Ministry of Culture issued permits for further Polish exhumation works in Volhynia and Lviv, suggesting that despite the inflamed rhetoric over historical memory, both sides are still declaring a willingness to maintain a channel for dialogue. The Friday talks between Budanov and Deputy Foreign Minister Marcin Bosacki also confirmed the strategic nature of Polish-Ukrainian cooperation in the face of Russian aggression.
- Zelenskyy names Special Operations Centre 'North' after 'Heroes of the UPA'
- Budanov meets Polish Deputy FM Bosacki in Warsaw; Poland calls decision painful
- Budanov meets Kosiniak-Kamysz, Przydacz and Grodecki; Poland demands respect for Volhynia victims
- Chapter of the Order of the White Eagle to consider revoking Zelenskyy's award
