Ukraine condemns Polish politician's vandalism of UPA monument

Braun, leader of the ultranationalist Confederation of the Polish Crown (KKP) party, known for his anti-Ukrainian views, posted a video on September 10 showing him and another party member smashing the monument with a hammer. The memorial, located in Poland's Lublin province near the Ukrainian border, honors UPA fighters killed in a 1946 battle with the NKVD, the Soviet secret police. Polish media also reported recent vandalism of the monument by unidentified individuals.

The UPA has been a source of diplomatic tension between Ukraine and Poland. While Ukraine remembers the organization for its fight against Soviet rule, Poland associates it with the Volyn massacres, where tens of thousands of Poles were killed in 1943. Braun stated in a social media post that the monument "offends the (Polish) victims" of the massacres and "must be dismantled."

In response, the Ukrainian Foreign Ministry denounced Braun for turning "remembrance and respect for the dead into a circus show to score political goals." The ministry added that "Fringe political figures in Poland can think of nothing better than waging war on graves while a real war is underway," referring to the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

Ukrainian authorities have urged their Polish counterparts to assess the legality of Braun's actions, restore the memorial, and take measures to prevent similar incidents. The reaction from Ukraine came as Polish Foreign Minister Radoslaw Sikorski was visiting Kyiv. Braun, who represents Poland in the European Parliament, is known for his ultranationalist and antisemitic stances, as well as his criticism of the current Polish government. His party currently polls around 8% ahead of Poland's upcoming parliamentary elections.