Poland-Ukraine dispute flares over WWII military leader's legacy

Poland has denounced plans by Lviv Oblast authorities in Ukraine to honor Roman Shukhevych, the military leader of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), a move that signals a fresh rift in Kyiv-Warsaw ties. The council of the western Ukrainian region adopted decrees on Oct. 20 symbolically declaring 2027 as the Year of the UPA, the Year of Shukhevych, and the Year of Oleh Olzhych. Poland's charge d'affaires in Kyiv, Piotr Lukasiewicz, immediately reacted by saying that "glorifying the UPA and criminal figures runs counter to European values and the strategic and neighborly relations between Ukraine and Poland." Poland's defense and foreign ministries also decried the decision, saying it "does not build mutual trust." The Ukrainian Foreign Ministry stated the regional decision was counterproductive to efforts to develop Ukrainian-Polish relations and resolve contentious issues. The ministry stressed the decision was taken at the regional level without consultation with the central government. Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski said on Oct. 21 that he had requested that Sviatoslav Sheremeta, the head of the regional council's cultural committee, be placed on Poland's list of undesirable persons.