[92751] Severe diplomatic crisis: Warsaw revokes Zelensky's decoration, Ukrainian officials return theirs

Diplomatic crisis: Poland and Ukraine in conflict over historical symbols

A severe diplomatic tension has erupted between Poland and Ukraine after the President of Poland, Karol Nawrocki, announced the revocation of the "Order of the White Eagle" from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky. Nawrocki explained that Zelensky had crossed the "pain threshold of the Polish people" after granting a Ukrainian military unit the name "Heroes of the UPA" (Ukrainian Insurgent Army), an organization viewed in Poland as responsible for crimes against Polish civilians during World War II.

In response to the decision, Ukrainian officials began returning their Polish decorations in protest. According to DW Главное, among the individuals who returned the medals are former Ukrainian presidents Leonid Kuchma, Viktor Yushchenko, and Petro Poroshenko, as well as senior figures in the Ukrainian government and diplomacy, including Andrii Sybiha and Kyrylo Budanov.

The reactions in Russia were sharp. Dmitry Medvedev, Deputy Chairman of the Russian Security Council, responded cynically in TASS and labeled the Ukrainian politicians "100 percent Nazis" due to their decision to support the UPA legacy. Sources identified with pro-Russian positions, such as Операция Z: Военкоры Русской Весны, quoted former Polish Prime Minister Leszek Miller, who suggested that the Ukrainians should "return tanks and MiGs instead of decorations."

Meanwhile, critical voices were also heard outside government circles. Kekenavts Analytics noted that these are "historical traumas" being raised repeatedly for political purposes, damaging the shared future of both countries, while Украина.ру used the crisis to criticize the policy of economic aid to Ukraine in Europe in general and in Germany in particular.