Polish debate over Bandera label and Volhynian memory

Polish commentators are reviewing how the term “Banderowcy” is used in public discourse. They note that historical crimes in the 1929‑1934 period were primarily carried out by the Organization of Ukrainian Nationalists (OUN) and later by the Ukrainian Insurgent Army (UPA), involving both banderist and non‑banderist factions. The discussion highlights how Russian propaganda has reframed “Banderowcy” as a badge of anti‑Russian resistance, causing a linguistic clash in Poland. Some authors call for more precise terminology – distinguishing the wartime OUN‑B and UPA perpetrators from present‑day Ukrainian patriots – while also urging the exhumation and proper burial of Polish victims of the Volhynian massacres. Proposals range from building a memorial complex for the Kresy victims to urging balanced historical education, arguing that nuanced language can counter propaganda and honor the memory of those killed.