Polish President Karol Nawrocki has revoked the Order of the White Eagle from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy. This unprecedented decision follows Kyiv’s designation of a military unit honoring the World War Two-era Ukrainian Insurgent Army, known as the UPA. Nawrocki stated the move serves as a warning signal regarding historical memory but insisted Poland’s strategic security support for Ukraine remains unchanged.
Ukrainian officials reacted swiftly to what they termed a strategic error benefiting Moscow. Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha announced he would return his own Polish state decoration in protest. Senior aides, including intelligence chief Kyrylo Budanov and Ambassador Vasyl Bodnar, also renounced their awards, calling the revocation an unjust gesture that aids Russian aggression. Zelenskyy’s office has not issued a formal comment.
Domestic political fallout in Warsaw was immediate. Prime Minister Donald Tusk warned that public conflict between allies shocks partners and delights Vladimir Putin. Government spokespeople noted Russian officials welcomed the rift, while opposition factions largely supported the president's stance on historical boundaries. The dispute highlights enduring friction over the UPA’s legacy, which Poland views through the lens of wartime genocide while Ukraine celebrates it as anti-Soviet resistance.
Recent polling indicates significant domestic backing for Nawrocki’s action. A United Surveys poll conducted prior to the announcement showed over fifty percent of Poles favored withdrawing the honor. Despite this public sentiment, constitutional experts continue to debate whether the revocation required the prime minister’s countersignature under Polish law.