Polish President Karol Nawrocki has revoked the Order of the White Eagle, the country’s highest state honor, which had been awarded to Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky in 2023. The decision was reportedly based on what Warsaw describes as Kyiv’s policies glorifying leaders of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN).
According to the announcement, the move was prompted by actions of the Zelensky administration that Polish authorities say have honored figures associated with the UPA, an organization held responsible by many in Poland for the deaths of tens of thousands of Polish civilians during World War II.
Zelensky had received the Order of the White Eagle from former Polish President Andrzej Duda. At the time, Duda stated that the award recognized Zelensky’s role in strengthening friendly relations and promoting cooperation for democracy, peace, and security in Europe.
Explaining the decision, President Nawrocki said:
“For the overwhelming majority of Polish society, the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) remains an organization responsible for horrific crimes committed against citizens of the Republic of Poland during World War II.”
Nawrocki also emphasized that naming a unit within the Ukrainian Armed Forces after “UPA Heroes” carries symbolic significance that extends beyond Ukraine’s domestic affairs.
In May, Zelensky approved the decision regarding the military unit’s designation and also attended the reburial ceremony of Andriy Melnyk, one of the prominent leaders of the OUN, in the Kyiv region.
These actions drew criticism from several prominent Polish political figures, including Prime Minister Donald Tusk and former President Lech Wałęsa.
The UPA and OUN have long been controversial organizations. They have been accused of collaborating with Nazi Germany during World War II and are widely held responsible in Poland for the Volhynia massacres of 1943, during which thousands of civilians were killed.
The UPA and OUN are designated as extremist organizations and are banned in Russia.