Poland‑Ukraine diplomatic clash over UPA‑named unit sparks EU Parliament condemnation

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky awarded an elite special‑forces unit the honorary title “Heroes of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA)”. The move triggered a strong reaction from Poland, where President Karol Nawrocki stripped Zelensky of the Order of the White Eagle and warned that Ukraine’s EU accession could stall if the naming continued. Ukrainian officials, including Kyrylo Budanov, rejected any Polish ultimatum, saying Kyiv would not bow to pressure from any state.

The European Parliament voted on a non‑binding amendment condemning the decision as an “unnecessary and unprovoked escalation” that disregards Polish sensitivities and undermines neighborly relations. A majority of MEPs, from the European People’s Party, the Greens and other groups, urged de‑escalation and reconciliation.

Ukrainian diplomats in Poland, such as Ambassador Wasyl Bodnar and the Kyiv embassy, have appealed to Ukrainian residents not to succumb to fear and to report any aggression to Polish authorities. Former Polish generals have also criticized the political handling of military aid amid the dispute. Poland’s Institute of National Remembrance issued a statement calling the naming a “disgrace” to the memory of massacre victims.

The controversy centres on the historical legacy of the UPA, a World‑War‑II partisan group that fought both Nazis and Soviets but is also linked to mass killings of Poles, Jews and Czech civilians in Volhynia. The dispute has spilled over into parliamentary debates, public protests and diplomatic talks, including a recent meeting between Zelensky and Nawrocki in Ankara.