Ukraine’s decision to name a special forces unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) has reopened one of the most sensitive historical issues in relations with Poland. The decision triggered a wide wave of criticism in Poland, while Kyiv argued that the move was not intended to be anti-Polish.
The basis of the decision was a decree adopted on May 26, naming a unit "in honor of the UPA heroes." The text stated that this was done at the request of the soldiers. However, in Poland, this step was seen as disrespectful and hurtful, especially following strong support given to Ukraine.
Strong political reactions in Poland
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 also 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 responded unusually sympathetically to the harsh remarks from his political rival, the president. However, Tusk warned that Moscow should not be allowed to deepen the rift between the two capitals.
Kiev insists the intent 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 meant to honor the tradition of resistance against Soviet oppression and Moscow.
Lviv Mayor Andrii Sadovyi highlighted the sensitivity shown by Poles 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 take back the decoration from Ukrainian soldiers. The exchange of words showed that the debate resonated not only in Warsaw but also in Ukraine.
The Volhynia trauma lies at the heart of the dispute
The tension between the two countries 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 died 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, the events are viewed as a bilateral tragedy and are addressed within a language of historical reconciliation.
The meaning of UPA in Ukraine has 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 invasion.
Ukrainian historian Yaroslav Hrytsak said that while the UPA was once a deeply divisive topic within Ukraine, the war has changed historical perceptions. According to Hrytsak, the organization has become a symbol of resistance against Russia in Ukraine today.
Polish historian Lukasz Adamski argued that the UPA’s fight against Sovietization cannot be separated from ethnic cleansing against the Polish population. He believes the controversy stems not only from differing historical interpretations but also from the clash of two symbolic memories.
Coincides with new monument project
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 history.
As a result, the debate over the UPA name went beyond a military unit’s title and raised questions about who Ukraine can recognize as heroes. In Poland, the same step was read as a symbol that revives painful memories of the past.
