Key facts
- Ukraine's President Zelensky honored a special forces unit with the name of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA).
- The UPA is associated with mass killings of Poles during World War II, a fact formally recognized as genocide by the Polish parliament in 2016.
- In Ukraine, the UPA is increasingly viewed as a symbol of resistance against Russian domination, especially since 2014.
- The move has caused significant backlash in Poland, with officials and public figures denouncing it as insensitive.
- Ukrainian officials have stated the naming had no anti-Polish intent and was meant to honor those who fought against "imperial Moscow".
- Historical memory and framing of the UPA and related events diverge significantly between Poland and Ukraine.
Relations between Ukraine and Poland have been strained by a recent decision by Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky to name a special forces unit after the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA). This move has ignited historical grievances in Poland, where the UPA is primarily remembered for the mass killings of Poles during World War II, an event the Polish parliament formally recognized as genocide in 2016.
In contrast, within Ukraine, the UPA is increasingly viewed as a symbol of resistance against Russian domination, a perspective that has gained prominence since Russia's 2014 annexation of Crimea and its full-scale invasion. Ukrainian officials, including Foreign Minister Andrii Sybiha, have assured Polish partners that the naming had no anti-Polish intent and was intended to honor those who fought against "imperial Moscow." Ukrainian political scientist Yevhen Mahda noted that using historical examples to boost morale in wartime is common.
However, this argument has not resonated in Poland. Polish historian Lukasz Adamski emphasized that the UPA's struggle cannot be separated from the ethnic cleansing of Poles. The backlash has been significant, with Polish figures like Karol Nawrocki, president of Poland, proposing to revoke Zelensky's state honor, and conservative politician Przemyslaw Czarnek calling the move a "slap in the face." Even former President Lech Walesa expressed personal protest. Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk acknowledged the sensitivity while cautioning against allowing Moscow to exploit the division.
Historical memory regarding the UPA has shifted in Ukraine, particularly after 2014. Polls indicate a significant increase in positive views of the UPA among Ukrainians, transforming it from a divisive symbol into one of national resistance against Russia. This contrasts sharply with the persistent negative perception in Poland, where the legacy of the Volyn massacres remains a deeply sensitive issue.