Polish-Ukraine Rift Escalates Over Zelensky’s ‘Heroes of UPA’ Unit Naming

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy named a Special Operations unit “Heroes of UPA,” invoking the WWII Ukrainian Insurgent Army that was responsible for the massacre of up to 100,000 Poles. Polish President Karol Nawrocki responded by withdrawing the Order of the White Eagle he had awarded Zelenskiy, calling the naming “non‑negotiable” and a provocation.

Former Polish General Leon Komornicki described the move as a “creeping betrayal” and warned of hidden Ukrainian agents in Poland. Historian Antoni Dudek defended earlier Polish statements on wartime atrocities, saying both sides bear responsibility.

The dispute has spilled into defence policy. Opposition lawmakers accuse Prime Minister Donald Tusk’s government of endangering Poland’s own security by sending Patriot‑system missiles to Ukraine and suggest a possible cut to military aid. Deputy Defence Minister Cezary Tomczyk discussed the scale of aid, Patriot missile supplies, and broader security concerns in a radio interview.

German commentary in Die Welt argued that Zelenskiy’s decision damages Polish‑Ukrainian solidarity and could raise Polish opposition to Ukraine’s EU accession. The episode highlights enduring historical memory issues, including Poland’s parliamentary resolution recognising the Volhynian massacre as genocide and ongoing debates over exhumations.