Poland and Ukraine clash over WWII commemorations

Diplomatic tensions between Poland and Ukraine have escalated following a decision by the Lviv region to designate 2027 as a year to honor the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and its leader, Roman Shukhevych. The UPA is a highly controversial group; while some in Ukraine view them as fighters against Soviet rule, Poland associates them with the Volhynia massacres between 1943 and 1945, during which approximately 100,000 Poles, primarily women and children, were killed.

Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk criticized the move, describing the decision as “suicidal” and arguing that it undermines international support for Ukraine. In response, Polish Foreign Minister Radosław Sikorski announced that the local official responsible for the commemorations in Lviv has been banned from entering Poland.

This dispute follows a period of strained relations, including the recent revocation of the Order of the White Eagle from Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy by Polish President Karol Nawrocki, which led to Zelenskyy skipping a reconstruction conference in Gdansk.