Ukraine’s decision to name a special forces unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) has brought the long-sensitive historical issue back to the forefront of relations with Poland. While the decision provoked widespread backlash in Poland, Kiev defended the move, stating it was not intended to be anti-Polish.
The basis for the decision was a decree adopted on May 26, which stipulated that a unit be named "in honor of the UPA heroes." The text noted that this was done at the request of the soldiers. However, in Poland, despite strong support for Ukraine, the step was seen as disrespectful and hurtful.
Strong Political Reactions from Warsaw
Polish President Karol Nawrocki proposed revoking the Order of the White Eagle, Poland’s highest state decoration awarded to Volodymyr Zelenskyy in 2023. Przemyslaw Czarnek, the Law and Justice party’s prime minister candidate, criticized the decision as "a slap in the face."
The far-right Confederation party called for blocking Ukraine’s path to the European Union. Former Solidarity leader and ex-Polish President Lech Walesa, who openly supports Ukraine, removed his Ukrainian flag badge in protest.
Prime Minister Donald Tusk expressed an unusually understanding stance toward the president’s harsh reaction, despite being political rivals. However, Tusk warned against allowing Moscow to deepen the rift between the two capitals.
Kiev: The Aim Is Not Anti-Polish
Ukrainian Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha said the personnel who requested the military unit’s name had "absolutely no anti-Polish intent." Sybiha explained that the choice was made to honor the tradition of resistance against Soviet oppression and Moscow.
Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi highlighted the sensitivity Poles showed toward Zelenskyy, who accepted an award on behalf of the Ukrainian people and army, and said it would be interesting to see how Nawrocki plans to revoke the decoration from Ukrainian soldiers. The debate resonated not only in Warsaw but also within Ukraine.
The Volhynia Memory at the Heart of the Tension
The dispute between the two countries once again revealed how sensitive the historical memory of the Volhynia massacres remains. Between 1943 and 1945, thousands of Poles were killed in what is now western Ukraine; many Ukrainians also lost their lives in retaliatory attacks. The exact death toll remains disputed.
In 2016, the Polish parliament defined these events as "genocide" committed by Ukrainian nationalists against Poles. In Ukraine, however, the events are viewed as a bilateral tragedy and are addressed within a language of historical reconciliation.
The Meaning of UPA Changed with the War
The UPA and its affiliated Ukrainian Nationalist Organization are described as underground groups that fought for Ukraine’s independence during World War II. The UPA’s resistance against the Soviet Union continued after the war, and this legacy resurfaced in Ukraine following Russia’s 2014 aggression.
Ukrainian historian Yaroslav Hrytsak noted that the UPA was once a deeply divisive topic even within Ukraine, but the war has changed the perception of history. According to Hrytsak, the organization has become one of the symbols of resistance against Russia in Ukraine today.
Polish historian Lukasz Adamski argued that the UPA’s fight against Sovietization cannot be separated from the ethnic cleansing of the Polish population. He believes the controversy stems not only from differing historical interpretations but also from the clash of two symbolic memories.
Coinciding with the New Memorial Site
The crisis coincided with Ukraine’s construction of a new memorial site called the National Heroes Pantheon. This project aims to honor figures associated with the country’s struggle for independence throughout its history.
Therefore, the debate over the UPA name went beyond a military unit’s designation; it also raised questions about whom Ukraine can recognize as heroes. In Poland, the same step was interpreted as a symbol that reopens painful memories of the past.
