Key facts
- Michal Kaminski is returning two Ukrainian state awards.
- Kaminski is the deputy speaker of the Polish Senate.
- The awards are being returned due to ongoing historical disputes.
- The disputes concern the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and the Volyn massacres.
- Ukrainian President Zelensky named a military unit after the UPA.
- This naming has sparked condemnation and reciprocal actions.
- The actions highlight a rift between Polish and Ukrainian officials.
Michal Kaminski, the deputy speaker of the Polish Senate, is returning two Ukrainian state awards to protest ongoing historical disputes between Poland and Ukraine. The specific point of contention is the naming of a military unit by Ukrainian President Zelensky after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). The UPA is associated with the Volyn massacres, a period of intense ethnic cleansing and violence against Poles in Volhynia during World War II. Kaminski's decision to return the awards signifies a strong disapproval of Ukraine's commemoration of figures and organizations linked to these historical atrocities. This action is part of a broader pattern of reciprocal actions and condemnations between Polish and Ukrainian officials, indicating a deepening rift over unresolved historical grievances. The dispute over historical narratives, particularly concerning the UPA and the Volyn massacres, continues to strain relations between the two neighboring countries.