Ukraine's Pantheon Law Triggers Diplomatic Row with Poland over UPA Honors

The Ukrainian parliament approved a law creating a National Pantheon, a memorial for figures who fought for the country's independence. The bill passed swiftly with 287 votes and was presented by President Volodymyr Zelensky, who said, “No one and never will tell us how to live, what to say, whom to love, whom to be grateful to and which heroes to respect.”

The legislation has sparked a diplomatic clash with Poland because it could honor members of the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA) and figures such as Stepan Bandera, whom Poland regards as war criminals. In response, Polish President Karol Nawrocki withdrew Zelensky’s Order of the White Eagle, which the Ukrainian president returned. Polish leaders including Donald Tusk, Władysław Kosiniak‑Kamysz and others publicly condemned the move.

Ukraine’s foreign minister Andrij Sybiha is scheduled to visit Warsaw with a compromise proposal, suggesting the inclusion of Ukrainian General Marko Bezruczka – a commander who fought alongside Poles in 1920 – as a shared hero. The proposal aims to de‑escalate the dispute, though Polish officials remain skeptical. The row has also prompted calls in the Czech Republic to strip Zelensky of its Order of the White Lion, underscoring the broader regional friction.

The episode highlights strained Polish‑Ukrainian relations over historical memory, while both sides emphasize continued cooperation on security and energy issues.