Poland Strips Zelensky of Honor Amid Ukrainian Army Renaming Dispute

Poland has taken steps to remove Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky’s highest national honor after he approved a controversial renaming of a Ukrainian military unit. This unit now commemorates the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a group held responsible for massacring tens of thousands of Poles during World War II. The decision carries potential implications for relations between Poland and Ukraine, while also possibly benefiting Russian President Vladimir Putin’s narrative that portrays Zelensky and Ukraine as Nazis.

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiha criticized the Polish decision as a strategic error that only benefits Moscow. The move threatens to spark a diplomatic conflict between the two neighbors, who have been allies since Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in 2022. This development unfolds just days before a conference on Ukraine’s reconstruction, scheduled to be held in Poland.

The WWII Legacy Influencing Poland-Ukraine Relations

Poland has been a steadfast supporter of Ukraine, with both countries finding common ground against Moscow. Over time, various issues have shaped Poland’s perception of Ukraine, including concerns about refugees, grain imports, and now, the historical impact of World War II massacres.

Polish President Karol Nawrocki explained his decision to revoke the Order of the White Eagle, stating it was due to Zelensky’s consent to honor the UPA by naming a Ukrainian Armed Forces unit ‘Heroes of the UPA.’ Nawrocki emphasized that this decision is not against the Ukrainian people and does not alter Poland’s strategic security policy. In response, Sybiha expressed regret on Facebook over escalating the conflict and stressed that no foreign president would dictate Ukraine’s historical narrative.

The Controversial UPA

Within Ukraine, the UPA is celebrated by some for its resistance against Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union, and is seen as a symbol of Ukraine’s independence struggle. However, the UPA’s involvement in the Volhynia massacre, where an estimated 100,000 Polish civilians were killed between 1943 and 1945, has led to widespread outrage in Poland regarding Ukraine’s decision to honor them.

A recent SW Research survey in Poland showed that 51.9 percent of respondents developed a more negative view of Ukraine and Zelensky following the decision. The Order of the White Eagle was initially awarded to Zelensky by former President Andrzej Duda for fostering bilateral relations and promoting democracy, peace, and security in Europe.

Putin’s Narrative and the Risk of Reinforcement

Since Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine began in 2022, Putin has positioned Zelensky and Ukraine as Nazi sympathizers, attempting to evoke Holocaust imagery to justify the invasion. In a television address on February 24, Putin outlined the invasion’s goals as protecting people from abuse and genocide by the Kyiv regime, and to demilitarize and denazify Ukraine.

Putin’s propaganda claims that Ukraine is led by extremists and remains deeply connected to the Soviet narrative of World War II. Research by the RAND Organization found that Russia spreads extremist narratives online, particularly the ‘Nazi Ukraine’ theme, which circulates widely in Russian-language forums. Despite Ukraine’s history with antisemitism and some far-right groups, these remain politically negligible.

The current fallout risks reinforcing Putin’s damaging narrative, posing a threat to Ukraine’s ongoing reliance on Western political support amid ongoing tensions.