Polish Senate deputy speaker returns Ukrainian state awards amid deepening rift

The latest controversy erupted after President Zelensky named a military unit after the UPA, an organization that fought for Ukrainian independence but is primarily remembered in Poland for its role in the mass killings of Poles during World War II. This move drew widespread condemnation in Poland, leading Polish President Karol Nawrocki to strip Zelensky of the Order of White Eagle, Poland's highest state award. In response, several Ukrainian former and current officials returned their Polish state awards.

Kaminski, a member of the Union of European Democrats party, explained that he accepted the decorations for his contributions to Ukraine's EU accession efforts. However, he now feels he cannot retain them as Ukraine's authorities have not unequivocally condemned the perpetrators of the Volyn massacres. This dispute represents one of the most serious crises between Poland and Ukraine in years, highlighting diverging perspectives on the UPA's legacy. While Ukraine emphasizes the UPA's resistance against Moscow, Poland focuses on its role in the massacres of Polish citizens. The conflict is occurring a year before Polish parliamentary elections, with the current government facing challenges from conservative and far-right parties.