Zelensky stripped of Poland’s highest honour over WWII unit naming dispute

Fri Jun 19 2026 23:27:50 GMT+0000 (Coordinated Universal Time)

Ukraine’s president loses Poland’s Order of the White Eagle after Kyiv names a unit after the controversial UPA fighters, sparking diplomatic tensions.

The Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelensky has been stripped of Poland’s highest state medal, the Order of the White Eagle, after Kyiv announced it would rename a military unit the Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). Polish President Karol Nawrocki described the decision as outrageous and deeply disappointing, citing the UPA’s role in the 1943‑45 Volhynia massacres of ethnic Poles. Ukrainian officials, meanwhile, view the UPA as national heroes who fought for independence against Soviet and Nazi forces. Despite the row, Poland insists it will continue supporting Ukraine against Russia and stresses that confronting difficult historical chapters is essential for EU integration.

Poland revokes Zelensky’s white eagle medal over naming conflict

Poland’s president, Karol Nawrocki, announced today that Ukraine’s Volodymyr Zelensky would no longer hold the country’s most prestigious honour, the Order of the White Eagle. The decision follows Kyiv’s plan to rename a newly created military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army, a World War II battalion that many Ukrainians regard as a symbol of resistance, but which Polish historians hold accountable for the mass killings of ethnic Poles in Volhynia in 1943‑45.

President Nawrocki said the move was "outrageous", "incomprehensible" and "deeply disappointing". He warned that such a decision would hurt Poland’s historical memory and undermine the trust built between the two nations over the past months. In a video posted on his official website, he stated the UPA is seen by most Polish society as responsible for the brutal crimes committed against its citizens during the war.

Ukraine’s foreign minister, Andrii Sybiha, described Poland’s action as a “strategic mistake” and “disrespectful”. He reiterated that Ukraine will return the award Zelensky received in 2022, asserting that “no president of another country can dictate our history.”

Despite the diplomatic row, Nawrocki insisted that Poland’s support for Ukraine against Russia would remain unchanged. He noted that millions of Ukrainian refugees were welcomed into Poland after Russia’s full‑scale invasion began in 2022, and that Poland’s openness should not be questioned by merely mistrusting history.

Ukraine is actively pursuing European Union membership, having entered the first phase of accession talks in Luxembourg this week. The controversy over the UPA name underscores how deeply history still shapes current politics in the region, even as Kyiv seeks to solidify its place in the European community.