Poland’s President Karol Nawrocki stripped Ukraine’s President Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle on Friday, escalating a bitter dispute over a World War II-era Ukrainian military unit that has now triggered reciprocal diplomatic retaliation.

On Saturday, Ukraine’s Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga, the country’s ambassador to Warsaw Vasyl Bodnar, and Kyrylo Budanov, head of Zelensky’s office, all returned Polish state awards in solidarity with Zelensky. Sybiga relinquished his own decoration, the Knights Cross of the Order “For Merit to the Republic of Poland,” while Bodnar announced he would return his state award and Budanov declined the Golden Officers Cross of the Order “For Merit.”

The Polish president acted on Friday after Zelensky signed a decree renaming a Ukrainian army unit in honor of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a nationalist paramilitary force active during and after World War II. Warsaw holds the UPA responsible for mass killings of Polish civilians, particularly in Volhynia and Eastern Galicia between 1943 and 1945.

Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski told President Nawrocki on Saturday that Moscow had welcomed the decision to revoke Zelensky’s award, warning that the move risked playing into Russian hands by deepening divisions between two key allies resisting Moscow’s invasion.

Ukrainian officials condemned the Polish move as historically revisionist and politically motivated. Sybiga called the revocation “an unjustified and politically motivated step that damages bilateral relations,” while Bodnar said the decision ignored Ukraine’s wartime sacrifices against Russian aggression.

The escalation comes as Poland and Ukraine struggle to balance historical memory with their shared strategic imperative to counter Russian expansionism. Poland has been a leading military and political backer of Ukraine since Russia’s full-scale invasion in 2022, hosting over a million Ukrainian refugees and supplying advanced weaponry. The UPA dispute, however, has exposed lingering tensions over how to reconcile competing national narratives of World War II.

Zelensky has not publicly commented on the withdrawal of his award, but his office’s refusal to accept a replacement Polish decoration underscores the depth of the crisis. The reciprocal return of honors by senior Ukrainian officials signals that the dispute has entered a new, more confrontational phase.

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Head of Ukraines Presidential Office rejects Polish merit award after Warsaw strips Zelenskyy of top honor #UkraineHead of Ukraines Presidential...

mastodon bot · 3 months ago

KYIV POST: To Poles and Ukrainians: Be Bigger Than Russia! Poles and Ukrainians must confront their difficult shared history with honesty while resisting the pull of Russias war against Ukraine. As Russia rejects accountability, Poland and Ukraine should choose a different path – one grounded in truth, mutual understanding, forgiveness, and unity. #Europe

mastodon bot · 3 months ago

Ukraines ambassador to Poland also returns his Polish state award Ukraines Ambassador to Poland Vasyl Bodnar has announced he will return a Polish state award following the decision to strip President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle.

ukrpravda · 3 months ago

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welt.de · 3 months ago

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welt.de · 3 months ago

Streit um Geschichte: Polen entzieht Selenskyj Auszeichnung Der ukrainische Präsident verliert die höchste Auszeichnung Polens. Das hat der polnische Präsident Nawrocki entschieden. Hintergrund ist ein als provokant empfundener Schritt Kiews.

tagesspiegel · 3 months ago

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handelsblatt · 3 months ago

Polish president strips Zelenskyy of top honor in dispute over World War II unit

gdeltproject.org · 3 months ago

Top Ukrainian officials return Polish awards in WWII row after Zelensky stripped of highest honor Polish President Karol Nawrocki stripped Ukraines Volodymyr Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle. On Saturday, Zelenskys top aide, Ukraines ambassador to Warsaw and Foreign Minister Andriy Sybiga relinquished Polish awards in solidarity.

le monde · 3 months ago

Polands President Karol Nawrocki has stripped Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of the Order of the White Eagle amid an increasingly bitter dispute between Kyiv and Warsaw over a World War II-era Ukrainian military unit.

bluesky bot · 3 months ago

Polish foreign minister points out to Polish president that his decision was welcomed in Moscow Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski has drawn Polish President Karol Nawrockis attention to how Russia reacted to his decision to revoke an award from the Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy over the renaming of one of the Ukrainian units after the heroes of the UPA. [The UPA, or Ukrainian Insurgent Army, was a nationalist paramilitary organisation that fought for Ukrainian independence during and after World War II, primarily against Nazi Germany and the Soviet Union – ed.]

ukrpravda · 3 months ago

Poland revokes Zelenskyys highest state honour over WWII dispute Polish President Karol Nawrocki revoked the Order of the White Eagle awarded to Ukraines Volodymyr Zelenskyy, after Kyiv named a military unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), which Poland holds responsible for mass killings of Polish civilians during World War II.

yenisafak · 3 months ago

Poland strips Zelenskyy of highest honour over naming of Ukrainian unit after WW2 army A unit of the Ukrainian army was recently named as Heroes of the UPA, despite the UPA history as an insurgent army that took part in massacres against Polish people in World War Two.

thejournal · 3 months ago

Ukrainian officials criticize Polish presidents decision to strip Zelenskyy of honor Polish President Karol Nawrocki has decided to strip Volodymyr Zelenskyy of Polands highest state honor

independent · 3 months ago

Ukrainian Foreign Minister Sybiha to return Polish medal over Zelenskyy snub #UkraineUkrainian Foreign Minister Syb...

mastodon bot · 3 months ago

KYIV POST: US Gives Poland Green Light to Negotiate Permanent Military Base The US has given Poland approval to start precise negotiations on establishing a permanent US military base on Polish territory, according to Defense Minister Władysław Kosiniak-Kamysz. Speaking at the Warsaw Defense Fair, Kosiniak-Kamysz noted that while a final decision is pending, the process has advanced significantly. #Europe #World

mastodon bot · 3 months ago

Head of Zelenskyys office refuses Polish order of merit – photo Kyrylo Budanov has returned a Polish order after Poland withdrew a previously awarded decoration from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.

ukrpravda · 3 months ago

📰 Polish president strips Zelenskyy of top honor in dispute over World War II unit🔗 #RussianInvasion #RussianWar #Ukraine

mastodon bot · 3 months ago

Head of Ukraines Presidential Office Budanov also declined Polands Golden Officers Cross of the Order "For Merit," and Ukraines ambassador to Poland Bodnar declined his own award, the Knights Cross of the Order "For Merit to the Republic of Poland."

telegram bot · 3 months ago

📰 Head of Zelenskyys office refuses Polish order of merit – photo🔗 #RussianInvasion #RussianWar #Ukraine

mastodon bot · 3 months ago

Nawrocki strips Zelenskyy of top Polish honor, Ukrainian Presidents Office declines to comment #UkraineNawrocki strips Zelenskyy of t...

mastodon bot · 3 months ago